Water is an essential element for our survival. It nourishes us, transports nutrients throughout the body and supports several metabolic processes all at once. That said, were you aware that the quality of the water you consume on the daily is also a driving factor that influences your gut microbiome? Well, it’s true.
Purified water, as vital as it is to quench your thirst, plays an integral role in maintaining a healthy digestive system. No, this isn’t some new “health trend”. Let’s dissect the link between the two in detail to understand why investing in a high-quality water purifier is one of the best decisions one can make for their well-being.
What is Gut Micorbiota?
Gut is often referred to as one’s “second brain”. This troop of gastrointestinal (GI) tract includes the stomach, intestines, and colon. The latter houses trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome. These form a complex ecosystem that primarily breaks down food, aids in nutrient absorption and performs the vital task of protecting the body against pathogens. By this, we can grasp the importance of maintaining this delicate balance not only for facilitating digestion but also for maintaining overall health.
How Can Water Impurities Affect Your Gut?
Many individuals still drink water straight from the tap to this day. While unfiltered water may seem clear and devoid of dirt, it can contain hidden impurities that can potentially disrupt one’s gut microbiome, leading to health problems. Some of these impurities include:
- Chlorine: Yes, chlorine in water is not limited to just swimming pools. Diluted chlorine is often added to water to kill harmful bacteria. However, even in diluted amounts, longer exposure to chlorine water consumption can lead to allergies, chronic diseases and so on.
- Heavy Metals And Pesticides: Polluted water can often contain heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic as well as chemicals such as glyphosate. These can permeate the water due to agricultural or industrial water disposal. Such toxins can have fatal effects on the body leading to gut, renal and kidney diseases.
- Pharmaceutical Residues: Similarly, improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and lack of wastewater treatments can also lead to trace amounts of antibiotics, hormones, etc in the tap water. Accumulated, long-term effects of these drugs in common drinking water can potentially lead to antibiotic resistance in gut bacteria, making infections harder to treat.
- Microorganisms: Lastly, contaminated water bodies also contain microorganisms such as parasites and bacteria such as E.coli. These are known disruptors of our gut microbiota and thus cause several gastrointestinal infections.
So, the solution? Purified water!
Benefits of Purified Water for Gut Health
Here are some of the ways purified water can benefit your gut well-being:
- Targets chlorine and other disinfectants to allow your diverse gut microbiota to flourish with ease.
- This leads to better digestion, improved nutrient absorption and stronger immune function.
- Protects gut lining and reduces inflammation caused by contaminants.
- Supports a healthy gut pH.
- Purified water is devoid of unpalatable taste and unpleasant odour; hence, it boosts daily water consumption and enhances hydration.
The Takeaway
Gut health isn’t simply governed by what we eat but also by what we drink. The need for better focus on our well-being and avoiding diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery has brought the focus back on ensuring purified water. Investing in a high-functioning water filter, such as the ones by A.O. Smith, can help you eliminate the above-listed contaminants with ease. This results in healthy water that allows your gut the support it needs to thrive.
With a range of purifiers on the market, buying one can seem quite confusing, especially for a first-time buyer. Well, the trick is to know the source of water, the products’ filter change policy or just skip all the stress and pick one from A.O. Smith, like the ProPlanet P7 from the ProPlanet RO water purifiers series. These fashion a revolutionary RO+Silver Charged Membrane Technology which promises you 100% baby-safe water. It delivers convenience, pleasant healthy water with a worry-free one-year warranty. What more does one need from their water purifiers!
