Water: Essential for Life and Wellness
Water is essential to life — our bodies are composed of approximately 60% water, and we can only survive a few days without it. During fasting, its role becomes even more crucial, helping to maintain optimal hydration and support the elimination of accumulated toxins. But with so many options — tap water, spring water, or mineral water — how do we know which one to choose? Each type of water has unique properties, and your choice can directly impact your hydration and overall well-being.
Tap Water
Tap water is delivered through a network of pipes from its source (such as springs, boreholes, or rivers) to our taps.
The UK Health Security Agency recommends using cold tap water for drinking, food preparation, and cooking, as high temperatures can increase the transfer of metals from pipes and affect water quality.
Advantages
Affordable and widely accessible: Regularly tested to comply with health standards.
Disinfectant properties: Chlorine is added to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.
Disadvantages
Potential taste issues: Chlorine residues or traces of pesticides can affect its flavour and raise concerns about quality.
Ageing infrastructure: Older lead or copper pipes may pose risks in certain cases.
Tips for Fasting (and Everyday Use)
You can improve the quality of tap water through various methods:
Filtration: A charcoal-filtered jug can remove chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals, nitrates, and limescale.
Reverse osmosis: This advanced filtration process uses membranes to retain impurities, allowing only water molecules to pass through.
Distillation: Water is boiled, and the steam is collected, leaving behind minerals and microorganisms. Distilled water is often used in laboratories or for preparing homeopathic remedies.
Spring Water
Spring water flows naturally from underground sources and is classified as bottled water subject to strict regulations. It must originate from a protected underground source, requiring no disinfection or pollutant removal treatments like tap water.
Advantages
Low mineral content: Suitable for daily consumption and fasting.
Natural purity: Its underground origin protects it from chemical or bacterial pollutants.
Disadvantages
Environmental impact: Bottled spring water generates plastic waste.
Higher cost: More expensive than tap water.
Benefits for Fasting
Spring water's low mineral content supports metabolic exchanges and helps eliminate waste products efficiently during fasting.
Mineral Water
Mineral water, drawn from deep underground aquifers, is naturally rich in minerals and trace elements. Each brand offers a unique composition tailored to specific needs, such as digestion or remineralisation.
Advantages
Nutritional benefits: Its mineral content can help address specific deficiencies.
Health properties: Some varieties are recognised for improving digestion or strengthening bones.
Disadvantages
High mineral content: Can be too rich for fasting.
Cost and environmental concerns: Often expensive and linked to plastic waste.
Important Note for Fasting
During fasting, opt for water with low mineral content (dry residue below 500 mg/L) to support the elimination of metabolic waste.
Spotlight on Hydrotherapy: Revitalising Through Water
Hydrotherapy involves the therapeutic use of water, both internally and externally, through compresses, baths, steam, showers, or enemas. These techniques create a positive stress response in the body, stimulating cellular metabolism, balancing the cellular environment, and enhancing natural healing processes.
During fasting, regulating body temperature demands energy. Consuming warm water and being mindful of external heat or cold exposure can help conserve energy.
Therapeutic Effects of Water Temperature
Hot water: Relaxing and boosts the immune system.
Warm water: Reduces stress, especially in hot weather.
Cold water: Reduces inflammation.
Alternating hot and cold: Stimulates circulation and strengthens immunity.
Hydrotherapy Tips for Fasting
Fasting creates an ideal environment for eliminating toxins, and water plays a vital role in this process. Hydrotherapy can complement fasting to revitalise the body. Common applications include:
Compresses: Soothe inflammation or relax muscles.
Warm baths: Reduce stress and promote deep relaxation.
Cold showers: Invigorating, improving circulation and immunity.
Enemas: Occasionally used to aid detoxification.
Bonus: Adding herbs or essential oils can enhance water’s benefits, especially for respiratory issues when inhaled as steam.
Environmental Impact: Towards Sustainable Water Consumption
The type of water we consume affects not only our health but also the environment. By making conscious choices, we can promote both well-being and sustainability.
Choosing Tap Water
Tap water is often the most eco-friendly option. Unlike bottled water, it doesn’t require plastic packaging or long-distance transportation, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.
With a simple home filtration system (e.g., charcoal jug filters or reverse osmosis devices), you can improve its quality by removing chlorine and unwanted particles.
Recycling Bottles
If you use bottled water, always recycle the containers. In the UK and Ireland, around 60% of plastic bottles are recycled, but this is insufficient given the scale of production. Choosing brands that use 100% recycled plastic or glass alternatives can also minimise environmental impact.
Fascinating Water Facts
A person can survive up to three weeks without food but only 3–5 days without water.
Only 3% of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and less than 1% is directly accessible for human consumption.
Producing a 1-litre plastic bottle requires around 3 litres of water and a significant amount of petroleum.
Bottled water costs approximately 300 times more than tap water.
Water molecules remain, on average: 9 days in the atmosphere, 2 weeks in rivers, 10 years in large lakes, and 3,000–5,000 years in the ocean.
Up to 71% of natural wetlands have disappeared since 1900 due to human activity.
Hot water can freeze faster than cold water (the Mpemba effect).
Expiry dates on bottled water refer to the bottle, not the water itself.
In the Middle Ages, beer and wine were often consumed instead of water due to poor water quality.
In Conclusion
Water is your ultimate ally during fasting, supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes.
Tips for Optimal Hydration
Quantity: Drink 1.5–2.5 litres of water daily, depending on your activity level and needs.
Quality: Choose warm water, which is gentler on the digestive system.
Hydration hack: Incorporate sugar-free herbal infusions to enjoy the benefits of plants like mint, ginger, or chamomile.
By selecting the right water and incorporating practices such as hydrotherapy, you can enhance the benefits of fasting while reducing your environmental footprint.
Sources :
https://www.ecoconso.be/fr
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/water
https://www.britannica.com/science/water
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319835#what-is-water-fasting
https://www.sesemn.fr/
List of natural mineral waters recognised by the Member States (Official Journal of the EU No. 2013/C 315/01 of 29 October 2013)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/hydrotherapy
https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/hydrotherapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684131/