Why Is Filtered Water Better For Us?

Hazards Lurking in Our Drinking Water

Many people ask us “why is filtered water better”? Even the tiniest bit of research shows that public water has many impurities in it. And our government allows for quite a bit to be present in our drinking water.

Dirt, chemicals, minerals and other impurities affect the way our water tastes and smells. Not to mention, there may also be microscopic organisms and bacteria in our water that can be damaging our health.

This has been a concern for over a century — dating back to the early 1900’s when municipalities began adding chlorine to our public drinking water. In fact, tap water commonly has higher levels of chlorine than is recommended safe for swimming pools!

While chlorine has helped with some issues, it’s actually a highly poisonous gas that was used in chemical warfare during WWII!

The EPA even defines chlorine as a pesticide — whose sole purpose is to kill living organisms. In other words, whenever we consume water containing chlorine, it kills some part of us by destroying the cells and tissues inside our bodies.

There’s another huge problem with drinking chlorinated water:

When it’s added to our water, it creates nasty byproducts called Trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs trigger the production of free radicals in your body, causes cell damage, and are highly carcinogenic.

Many researchers are convinced that damage from free radicals is one of the biggest causes of cancer. And according to the U.S. Council of Environmental Quality, your cancer risk is up to 93% higher if you drink chlorinated water than if your water doesn’t contain chlorine.

93%!!!

So how are we supposed to remove the chlorine from our water, so we can drink the highest quality water?

Chlorine is one of the main things eliminated or reduced by most water filtration systems. But most people think using a “traditional filter” like a Brita or PUR is enough. These actually could fill your body with other nasty health-destroying toxins like fluoride and lead. (The reason the water in Flint, MI is still undrinkable is because it’s loaded with lead.)

Other Toxins That Might be Present in Your Glass of Water

The Environmental Working Group has identified 316 chemicals present in tap water across the U.S. Some of the “hidden contaminants” include aluminum, ammonia, arsenic, fluoride, and lead (to name only a few).

More than half of those chemicals are unregulated. And of the regulated chemicals, nearly half of them have levels that exceed the health regulation guidelines.

If you want to reduce the toxins in your life that are sabotaging your health, then you need to drink less toxic water.

This is as clear as a glass of filtered water. 😉

So what’s the best Water Filtration System?

Our all-time favorite water filtration system is the New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Countertop Water Filter. It is easy to install (no plumber required) and you get chlorine-free, odorless water that tastes great – in no time at all!

Here is a list of some of the impurities completely removed or greatly reduced by a 10 Stage Plus Water Filter:

Chlorine
Chloroform
Cancer causing organic/chlorine compounds called trihalomethanes (TTHM)
Hydrogen sulfide (gives water a rotten egg smell)
Other bad odors
Rust
Floating solids
Pesticides
Herbicides
PCB’s
Toxic heavy metals including lead, mercury, organic & inorganic arsenic, cadmium, asbestos and more
Micro-organisms (protozoa & cysts) such as cryptosporidium and giardia
Dozens of other lesser known organic contaminants

While it is important to discuss the things removed by a water filter, it is also important to note the beneficial components of water that aren’t removed. The 10 Stage Water Filter does not filter out any magnesium, calcium and potassium, three minerals that are beneficial to our bodies.

Which 10 Stage System Should I buy?

Many new kitchen sinks have a sprayer right on the faucet. If this is the case for you, then you can install the countertop 10 Stage Water Filter System in a bathroom, like we did.

Or you can opt for the Under Sink 10 Stage System. This uses the same filter cartridges, but the housing goes under your kitchen sink and a sleek slim faucet is installed on your sink for filtered water right at your fingertips. This system does need to be installed by a plumber or the warranty is voided.

Do I have to buy a water filter?

Buying a water filtration system is a great way to reduce the chlorine and other dangerous toxins from your tap water. But what if you’re out and about and only have bottled water available?

One of our newest products we added to our store is the Alkaline Wand and it solves that issue.

I love the Alkaline Wand so much because of its diversity — you can simply drop it in any bottle or glass to alkalize your water in about 3 minutes. This makes it perfect if you’re at home or on the go!

When you alkalize your water with the Alkaline Wand, it reduces the chlorine levels in your water and raises the pH level of your water to 8.5. This boosts your immune system and makes your body inhospitable for many types of viruses and bacteria that might be lurking in your water.

And alkalized water has antioxidant properties that help further prevent the growth of free radicals.

So not only are you minimizing THMs in chlorine that trigger the production of free radicals, but you’re also preventing their growth thanks to the antioxidant properties.

And the Alkaline Wand isn’t crazy expensive! Each wand is only $10.99 and lasts for about 3 months. Once you notice a change in taste to your water, it’s time to replace your wand.

If you’d like to try an Alkaline Wand and improve the quality of your water, you can grab one using this link.

While filtering (and/or alkalizing) your drinking water is the most important step in reducing the amount of toxic water you consume, there are other ways toxic water can creep into your body and damage your health — like in your shower or bath water.

Why do we need shower or bath water filters?

Do you know your skin is your body’s largest organ?

When we shower or bathe, chemicals in the water are absorbed into our skin at an alarmingly high rate. In fact, 5 – 100 times more chlorine is absorbed by our body during a shower than while drinking our 8 glasses of water each day!

Question:

How long is your shower — 15 minutes? How long does your child sit in the tub? Being immersed in contaminated water for a long time, even an hour, multiplies the effects of a short shower by 10.

To make matters worse — children are inherently more vulnerable to toxins due to their rapidly developing bodies and brains, and higher blood flow rates.

Do you find yourself always applying moisturizers or lotions to your child’s sensitive skin? Do they complain of burning eyes and itching skin? Or perhaps they’ve developed eczema, psoriasis or another form of skin irritation.

Some studies have even found that exposure to chlorine increases the likelihood of children developing allergies and asthma.

Running your water through a bath water filter should remove the chlorine and other contaminants that can cause all these issues.

Unfortunately, we don’t sell a bath water filter at this time, but you can purchase a shower filter cartridge and run the water through there for chlorine-free bath water.

Or you can try adding 1/4 tsp ascorbic acid or sodium acerbate powder to the bath water five minutes before getting in. This will neutralize the chlorine.

Note: this is the first time I have ever recommended using a synthetic vitamin! For this, synthetics are actually recommended. (But don’t forget, if you are going to ingest a vitamin C supplement, make sure it isn’t synthetic!)

Filtering your shower water may also help with the following:

Dry skin
Brittle hair and nails
Burning or itchy eyes

If you need a shower filtering system, we offer the New Wave Enviro Shower Filter System.

It eliminates up to 98% of the chlorine in shower water, as well as 99% of lead and mercury. Lead and mercury are both neurotoxins with potentially bad health effects including cognitive problems, central nervous system damage, and others.

Filtered shower water is definitely safer and healthier for our health. But it also leaves our hair softer and stronger and our skin more moist and smooth.

Plus, you can run your water through the shower filter for baths so your kids can enjoy chlorine-free water too!

How often do I need to change my water 10 Stage Filter Cartridge?

Each 10 Stage water filter cartridge will filter about 800 gallons of water. New Wave Enviro suggests one cartridge will last for one year for an average family of four. That’s a little over 1/2 gallon per person per day.

But if you consume a lot of water or live in an area where the water quality is terrible, then you’ll probably need to change your 10 stage filter cartridge more frequently.

I can tell you we drink more than that in my family. And sometimes we take it and may not drink it all.

My daughter takes a 1/2 gallon jug to school with her every day just for soccer practice. She also brings a 20 oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle to school every day. And we fill up our 36 oz water bottles before we work out.

My family needs to change the filter every 6 months.

How often do I need to change my New Wave Enviro Shower Filter cartridge?

Like the 10 Stage Filter, this shower filter can last for a year for a typical family of four. If at any time you smell chlorine or anything else “unusual” in the water, it’s time to change it.

A drop in water pressure can also indicate that the filter cartridge should be changed.

But please note that the filter cartridge may need to be changed even if there is not a drop in water pressure.

It all depends on what is in the water in your area. The life of the filter can be limited by the quality of the water in your area, especially if the tap water has high amounts of sediment or chlorine.

If there are less than 4 people in your house or if it doesn’t get used regularly, it’s possible a shower filter cartridge can last up to 18 months.

But make sure of the following first:

The water still does not smell like chlorine
You have not noticed any increased dryness of your skin and hair
You have not noticed a decrease in the amount of lather from your soap or shampoo

For maximum benefits, New Wave Enviro does not recommend using any shower filter cartridge for more than 18 months.

How can I remember to change my water filter cartridge?

Here at Nourishing World, we have a filter reminder. Let us know, and we will send you a reminder as often as you set up.

Want a 10 stage cartridge reminder yearly? Or a shower filter reminder every 6 months? Let us know – we can send you a reminder or set up an auto ship if that is easier. We’re here to help. 😉