We explain what mineral water is and what types of mineral waters we can find. In addition, its health benefits.
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What is the water mineral?
Mineral water is a type of water that contains minerals and other dissolved substances such as gases , salts or sulfur compounds, which modify and enrich its flavor or provide therapeutic capabilities. This type of water can be of natural origin or manufactured artificially.
In the past, mineral water was available directly from its natural sources, such as thermal baths and mineral wells, which people went to receive invigorating or even healing treatments. Currently, however, mineral water is usually bottled or packaged directly at its source , to be later distributed and offered commercially, which has made access to natural sources more difficult.
Mineral water is free of organic or microbiological contamination , since it comes from the subsoil, in a state of great purity due to the filtering effect of rocks and underground sand. However, these waters have a high content of minerals and salts, which give them particular chemical characteristics, depending on their region of extraction.
For example, carbonated waters naturally have carbon dioxide bubbles inside (carbonated waters), which can be reproduced artificially, of course, but not with the same chemical content as pure water.
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Types of mineral water
Commonly, mineral or mineralized water is classified according to the presence and proportion of minerals dissolved in it, as follows:
- Very weak mineralization . It has dry residues of up to 50mg per liter.
- Weak mineralization . It has less than 500 mg per liter of dry waste.
- Strong mineralization . It contains more than 1500 mg per liter of dry waste.
- Sulfated . It contains more than 200 mg per liter of sulfates.
- Bicarbonatada . It contains more than 600 mg per liter of bicarbonates.
- Chlorinated . It contains more than 200 mg per liter of chlorides.
- Calcic . It contains more than 150 mg per liter of calcium.
- Ferruginous . It contains more than 1 mg per liter of iron.
- Sodium . It contains more than 200 mg per liter of sodium.
- Magnesium . Exceeds 50 mg per liter of magnesium.
- Acidulated . It has more than 250 mg per liter of carbon dioxide.
- Fluoridated . It contains more than 1 mg per liter of fluorides.
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Benefits of mineral water
Water consumption is recommended in humans , but the consumption of mineral water provides essential mineral elements for health , including:
- Calcium (to harden bones and teeth).
- Magnesium (to regulate electrical muscle function, prevent cramps and fatigue).
- Sodium (indispensable for cellular metabolism ).
- Iron (vital for hemoglobin and oxygen transport).
- Sulfates (to restore bacterial flora).
- Bicarbonates (soothe acidity and help digestion).
