Since 2017, more and more often you can hear about a new trend in the Western health food industry - the use of raw water, which has unique healing properties.
Read to the end to get the most useful information.
What it is?
Raw water (from the English. raw water) is water directly from natural sources, that is, not filtered, not sterilized and not subjected to chemical treatment. Raw water proponents claim that it has unique medicinal properties.
As mentioned above, raw water is of natural origin, that is, it is rainwater, groundwater, as well as water from wells, lakes and rivers. In addition, it does not undergo technological processes, therefore, as its supporters are convinced, it has unique beneficial properties:
● primarily contains probiotics - bacterial flora that positively affects the functioning of the body,
● contains useful minerals that are absent in purified or filtered water,
● does not contain the chemical compounds typical of tap water, such as fluorine or chlorine, and does not pass through contaminated lead water pipes,
● has the best taste.
But just because raw water comes from natural sources doesn't mean it's good for your health. Experts warn that drinking such water can harm health and even life.
How does raw water affect health?
There is no evidence that raw water contains any "probiotic bacteria" the body needs. However, researchers have no doubt that it may contain substances harmful to health.
Raw water is untreated and unfiltered water, and therefore non-sterile. Such water, even if it comes from a crystal clear mountain stream, can contain numerous viruses, bacteria, including E. coli (E.coli), which can cause severe food poisoning with vomiting and severe diarrhea and urinary tract infections. In exceptional cases, E. coli lead to meningitis and sepsis.
In addition, raw water can be a source of numerous gastrointestinal parasites that are the cause of giardiasis (giardiasis) is one of the most common parasitic diseases in humans, dogs and cats.
Raw water can also cause type A viral hepatitis, as well as a source of pathogens responsible for diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever.
It is important to remember that before the introduction of a treatment system, water from wells, streams or lakes could kill entire villages and cities. Thus, drinking raw water can lead to an epidemic or even a pandemic.
Where to buy raw water? What is its price?
Raw water is expensive and is sold in health food stores, claiming its unique health benefits. It can be bought online, but the composition and origin will be questionable.
For 1 liter of raw water directly from a mountain spring in the Beskydy you need to pay $ 2.6. Expensive? In the USA it is even more expensive. A 2.5 gallon capacity costs $ 37, and a decorative container of the same capacity increases to $ 60.
Tap water quality
In many regions tap water is of very good quality. Research confirms that in most cases there is no difference between it and the raw water sold in stores. In addition, tap water can be additionally filtered, disinfected with chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet rays. The purpose of these procedures is to eliminate viruses and bacteria that are quite common in the environment.
