Water is the life force for every living thing on this planet.
As humans, we can only live 3 days without water. Only 3 days! That’s nothing. Some people don’t poop for three days. And actually, for most of us, we would die much faster than 3 days because we are chronically dehydrated.
Now, would you believe me that this incredible ingredient to life can be the greatest source of toxins that we encounter on a daily basis today. I don’t know about you, but that’s crazy! Pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, nanoplastics, heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, and even pharmaceuticals can be found in our drinking water. If it’s a water soluble chemical then, most likely you will find in your tap.
So, what the hell do we do about this?!
At Home:
These projects can be really overwhelming. Trust me, I have been there. Like, “what is safe?!” The easiest place to start is where you spend the most time. Most families in the US have some sort of filter for water whether it’s something like a Brita filter and/or a filter on a refrigerator water dispenser. Unfortunately, these are just not strong enough. They do not filter a small enough particle size.
My favorite countertop water filter on the market is the Berkey Filter. Berkey filtration systems are gravity fed and are backed by independent third party testing. Filling the reservoir from the tap can be cumbersome and if you want cold water you need to filter it, and then put it in a container to be kept in the refrigerator. Otherwise, they are the shit! The water reservoir comes in many different sizes depending on family size/needs. Splurge for the fluoride filters, they are worth it. It’s important to note that this water isn’t just for drinking. You should use filtered water for steaming, boiling, and cooking as well. From personal experience, it’s hard to remember sometimes 😊.
If a countertop water dispenser isn’t your thing and you are willing to spend a little more money for either a sink dispenser or whole house water system then, I recommend a reverse osmosis system. A reverse osmosis filter uses pressure to push water through a semipermeable membrane filtering out unwanted chemicals, metals and salts at a molecular level. It even clears out the minerals in the water, so you may want to add these back in later. You can easily find a reverse osmosis filtration system for a sink dispenser on Amazon. This involves putting a filtration system under the sink and a tap on the countertop above it. Things you want to look for when purchasing through Amazon- make sure it’s certified. The system should be certified that it actually works (duh, I know). An independent third party testing would be an extra plus. Make sure it has a warranty. These filtration systems aren’t cheap and if the company is proud of their product and guarantee their product then they should offer a warranty. Lastly, make sure the system is manufactured with quality parts and materials. These systems should reduce your toxic exposure, not increase it.
For the whole home, this is definitely a bigger project to take on and requires working with a local plumber once you decide on a system. In a perfect world, I would recommend all my patients take this route to ensure they are only exposed to clean water at home but, most of the time these system are just not feasible, and that is okay! A countertop filter or a sink dispenser are great options. For sink dispenser and whole home systems check out The GoodFor Company. They have been recommended to me and they use very high quality materials and Puronic filters.
It’s also important to think about what you are drinking water out of. Are your cups made of plastic? Is your water bottle made of plastic? A good thing to keep in mind is that NO plastic is safe. Even if its BPA-free, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t 100s, if not 1000s, of other chemicals that you are getting exposed it while using plastic. By using plastic anything (glasses, dish wear, food storage etc.) you are going to get exposed to unwanted plastic. Stop buying bottled water and invest in a reusable water bottle. I personally use Hydro Flask for a water bottle and glass at home.
The other place that you are exposed to water in the home in high volumes is in the shower. If you have a whole home reverse osmosis filter than this doesn’t matter. But, if not, you should protect yourself while taking a shower. It might sound crazy but, if you are taking hot showers the water is being aerosolized and you then breathe in those toxic chemicals and heavy metals. And even if you don’t take hot showers your skin is like a sponge, it’s going to absorb the crap that’s in the water as it runs over you. Berkey and The GoodFor Company both make a water filter for shower heads. You can find some fancy ones with vitamin C enhancements to improve skin but, definitely not necessary.
Note: if it requires a filter, it is important to change the filters on a frequent basis! The timing for this is going to depend of the manufacturer and how much it’s being used. Whether it’s on the counter, under the sink, or for the whole home, change the filters.
The last thing I will mention about dealing with water at home is to remember that we get a lot of water from the foods we eat. Obviously, you are not going to go to the farmer that raises the cow that you will later eat and grill him about the water used on the farm for his cows. That would be ridiculous. However, fruits and vegetables have a high water content and you can reduce toxic exposure by buying organic as much as possible. It’s not fool proof, but definitely better than buying conventional fruits and vegetables. Also look for organic frozen, canned, and packaged foods as well.
Outside of the Home:
So, how do you deal with reducing exposure outside of the home is a bit more complicated. First thing to think about is where you are going to get exposed to water. For most of us, the biggest culprits are going to be at restaurants and at the office. At restaurants, I personally opt to bring my own stainless steal water bottle with water from home when it’s an appropriate. It’s always okay to ask the waiter if the tap water is filtered. You can always order bottle water, however, it may come in a plastic bottle. At the office, I have been lucky enough to be in an office that provides filtered water. I understand this isn’t always the case. If your office or company brings in water from elsewhere then check that the company is actually providing filtered water. When in doubt, bring a large water bottle from home.
Lastly, it is worth noting, that eliminating all exposure it just impossible. You are going to go out to dinner and drink the tap water. You are going to travel or run around town and you are just going to need to buy a bottle of water. You are going eat noodles not boiled in filtered water. THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. The point of this blog is not to lose sleep over the tap water you drank at lunch with your girlfriends. It’s to show you ways to reduce your overall exposure and do the best you can in the current environment that we all live in.
Don’t try to take on all these changes at once. Unless, this isn’t overwhelming, then go for it. Otherwise, I recommend making small changes. Replace your daily water bottle. Next, replace your home drinking glasses for stainless steel or glass. Change the water system at home. Finally, decide how you will make changes to your routine outside the house to reduce exposure. Remember, it’s about doing your best while living your life.
Debunk The Func 