Although it is important that we drink water on a regular basis in order to keep the body well-hydrated, it is just as important that our drinking water is pure and toxin-free. After oxygen, water is the next most important substance required by the body for our continued good health.
Water is known as a universal solvent and as a transport medium, making it the basis of all biological processes in the human body. Drinking water is vital for the digestive system because it is the main medium that nutrients are transported throughout the body.
Drinking water regularly is also important because water ensures that the core body temperature remains constant. It is for this reason that it is important to drink water regularly, and why it is important to drink water when we have a fever.
Why is it Important to Drink Only Pure Water?
It is vital to our good health that our drinking water is pure because if it is not, the microorganisms and parasites that are in the water may make us very ill.
Impure drinking water could cause the following health problems:
· Bacteria
Bacteria in your drinking water could cause typhoid fever, which would present with the following symptoms: diarrhoea, severe vomiting, enlarged spleen, and an inflamed intestine. Typhoid fever could be fatal if not treated.
Bacteria could also cause cholera, which would present as diarrhoea, severe vomiting, and dehydration. Cholera can be fatal if left untreated.
Bacterial dysentery is also caused by bacteria in drinking water. Diarrhoea caused by bacterial dysentery is rarely fatal, except in cases where infants have it and it is not treated.
Enteritis or gastric enteritis as it is more commonly known, causes nausea, vomiting and severe stomach pains. It is rarely fatal.
· Viruses
Viruses in drinking water can cause infectious hepatitis, which causes fever, loss of appetite, a severe headache, jaundice, abdominal pain, and an enlarged liver. Hepatitis is rarely fatal, but it could cause permanent liver damage.
· Parasitic Protozoa
Parasitic protozoa cause amoebic dysentery, which causes severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a headache, chills, and a fever. Amoebic dysentery can cause liver abscess, bowel perforation and even death if not treated.
Giardiasis is also caused by parasitic protozoa, and leads to abdominal belching, cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea, and fatigue.
· Parasitic Worms
Parasitic worms could cause schistosomiasis, resulting in anaemia, a skin rash, abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, and chronic general ill health.
· Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a parasite commonly found in rivers and lakes, although it sometimes enters our drinking water through animal waste and sewage. Cryptosporidium causes a gastrointestinal disease called cryptosporidiosis in those with damaged immune systems.
Ensuring that your drinking water is pure and free of toxins is important for maintaining good health. This can be done by using either a water filter to rid your drinking water of toxins or by purchasing a water cooler that will provide you with chilled, filtered drinking water.
Get bottled water coolers and mains water coolers from Living-Water.
