How big is the difference between bottled water that costs 1 yuan, 2 yuan, and several hundred yuan?

Expert of this article: Pan Jingwen, Assistant Engineer, Henan Food Inspection Institute

This article was reviewed by Liu Zhiyong, Professor of Henan Food Inspection Institute, Chief Science Expert of Henan Province

Water is the source of life, and almost all physiological activities and biochemical reactions in the human body require water.

Different drinking water has different physical and chemical properties, and long-term drinking will have different effects on human health. In addition, drinking water safety is also an important issue that cannot be ignored.

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Nowadays, there are many kinds of drinking water on the market, including oxygen-rich water, hydrogen-rich water, spring water... The prices range from one yuan to dozens of yuan, one hundred yuan, or even over ten thousand yuan.

Are they really as "magical" as advertised? This article will tell you the truth.

What is drinking water?

Drinking water refers to water that can be drunk directly. Water is one of the important components of the human body, one of the important substances involved in metabolism, the medium of all chemical reactions in the human body, and a platform for the transportation of various nutrients and substances.

There are many types of drinking water on the market, how to choose?

With the improvement of living standards, people's requirements for drinking water are getting higher and higher, and more and more people pay attention to quality and health.

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So how do you choose among the various packaged drinking waters on the market that are advertised as having certain functionalities?

Oxygen-enriched water

Refers to a type of drinking water that has active oxygen added to pure water.

The oxygen-rich water sold on the market claims to have a certain effect in relieving physical fatigue, but in fact, there is currently no strong scientific data to support this view.

It may show certain non-specific effects in a short period of time, but it does not mean that it really has effects.

Hydrogen-rich water

Also called hydrogen water, it refers to drinking water containing trace amounts of hydrogen molecules.

It has been scientifically proven that hydrogen has good effects in anti-oxidation, anti-aging, enhancing immunity, repairing the human body, improving allergic constitution, and promoting metabolism.

However, there is no data to support the effectiveness and safety of adding hydrogen molecules to drinking water. In addition, hydrogen molecules can be produced by intestinal bacteria in the human body, and the amount produced increases with the intake of dietary fiber, etc.

Therefore, the jury is still out on whether drinking hydrogen-rich water actually works.

Spring water

Specifically refers to natural drinking water that is produced through the self-purification of the mountain from specific protected mountainous areas.

Water sources are generally exposed on the surface or flow in shallow layers of the surface, dissolving mineral components that are beneficial to the human body.

However, since hygienic indicators are greatly affected by environmental factors, there may be safety risks.

How to drink water correctly?

Drinking a glass of water on an empty stomach in the morning can help expel stool.

Drink a glass of water before meals to increase satiety, reduce appetite, and help lose weight;

You can drink a little water before going to bed at night, but don't drink too much, as it will increase the burden on your kidneys.

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Drink water proactively, don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water;

Don’t drink water in large gulps, as this can cause burping, abdominal distension, or even hyponatremia (water intoxication).

Drink slowly and in small amounts, especially when exercising.

Drink more boiled water, not raw water: Fresh boiled water is not only sterile, but also removes some harmful substances and retains more than a dozen minerals needed by the human body. Drinking raw water may cause acute gastroenteritis, viral hepatitis, etc.

Do not drink water that has been stored for too long, water that has been boiled multiple times, or water that has been left overnight. Although these "old waters" are sterile, they have boiled away many minerals that the human body needs, and may also contain certain harmful substances, such as nitrites.

Don't drink beverages as water.

How to choose packaged drinking water?

According to the inspection of packaged drinking water by inspection agencies over the years, the overall pass rate is still relatively high, but there are also individual indicators that fail to meet the standards.

For example, the unqualified items of drinking natural mineral water are mainly limit indicators; the unqualified items of drinking purified water and other drinking water are mainly microorganisms (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

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Therefore, it is recommended that consumers pay attention to the following points when purchasing and drinking packaged drinking water:

1. When buying, choose big brands first, as the quality of big brands is guaranteed;

2. When buying, try to choose new barreled drinking water, check whether there are impurities in the barrel and whether it is sealed intact. Be sure to check the production date and shelf life of the water, and do not buy water that is about to expire;

3. After opening, try to drink it within a week, otherwise the bacteria content in the water will exceed the standard;

4. Clean the water dispenser frequently to ensure the surface of the dispenser is clean.

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