Reverse osmosis is a water filtration technology that assures you clean, pure, safe, and healthy drinking water.
It eliminates almost all contaminants present in your water, making it the best for cooking and drinking.
Although pure, there has been some debate over the health benefits of reverse osmosis water. Is RO water good for you? Should you drink reverse osmosis water? Is it healthy for you to drink RO water?
How healthy is reverse osmosis water? Reverse osmosis water is free of contaminants that can endanger your health and thus very healthy.
This guide explores the health benefits of reverse osmosis water. Continue reading to learn more.
What is Reverse Osmosis Water?
Reverse osmosis water is water that has been filtered using a reverse osmosis system. The system uses several filters, including sediment pre-filters, an activated carbon filter, and a post-filter.
Between the activated carbon filter and the post-filter is a reverse osmosis membrane that eliminates most contaminants from water.
Water is forced at high pressure during reverse osmosis through each filtration stage before entering the RO membrane.
The RO has tiny pores (0.0001 microns) that only water molecules pass through. The contaminants which are too large to pass through are sent down the drain with wastewater.
The water that leaves the reverse osmosis system is the reverse osmosis water. This water is clean, pure, healthy, and safe for drinking and cooking.
Health Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water
Reverse osmosis water is free of lead, arsenic, fluoride, mercury, ammonia, and phosphate.
These compounds can cause cancer, eye problems, and reproductive issues, among other health issues.
The water is also free of bad smells and tastes that can discourage you from taking water. Should you fail to drink enough water daily, you’ll get dehydrated.
Reverse osmosis water is clean, fresh, and great tasting, features that encourage people to drink more water.
Pure water also leads to low consumption of sugary drinks like soda and flavored juices, which are unhealthy.
- Has Zero Lead
Lead is very harmful to human health, whether large or in trace amounts. It is so dangerous that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency recommends no lead in public drinking water.
The harmful effects of lead include:
- Muscle damage
- Fertility issues
- Nerve damage
- Blood pressure spikes
- Brain damage
- Poor development in kids
- Severe anemia in kids
Reverse osmosis water is free of lead and thus healthy for human consumption.
- Has Reduced Sodium Levels
Sodium can get into your drinking water through natural processes, ion water units, and water treatment methods.
Although a glass of water may not have high sodium levels, you can consume a lot of sodium if you take enough glasses of water per day (the 8 glasses recommended by health experts).
Excessive sodium leads to high blood pressure, resulting in severe health complications like kidney problems and heart diseases.
Reverse osmosis removes 90 to 95% of sodium from your home’s water supply making the water safe and healthy for drinking.
- Safe for Cancer Patients
Reverse osmosis water is the best water for cancer patients with weak immune systems, especially during chemotherapy.
Drinking contaminated water can compromise their health and lead to more complicated issues. Cancer patients are therefore advised to avoid drinking or cooking with tap water.
Reverse osmosis systems are highly effective at removing bacteria and viruses to produce pure water safe for these patients’ use.
- Has no Parasites or Bacteria
Reverse osmosis filters out parasites, including cryptosporidium, which affects the small intestines causing fever, cramps, and diarrhea.
The parasite affects kids causing malnutrition and dehydration.
Giardia is also another parasite usually present in contaminated water. It’s most common in children and can cause death if left untreated for long.
Reverse osmosis water is free of parasites and bacteria, thus safe and healthy for your family to drink.
- Better Cooking Option
RO water is not only healthy for drinking but also for cooking. It gives your food a better taste.
Cooking foods with contaminated water may affect the taste of your food. The taste worsens, especially if boiling the food in the water.
Pure water makes a huge difference when boiling pasta, making soups, or preparing bread. The food turns out great, and your loved ones will enjoy every meal.
Conclusion
People believe that because reverse osmosis water lacks minerals, it’s not good. The truth is the water is not unhealthy at all.
Your body actually gets most of its minerals from the food you eat. Just ensure that you accompany your reverse osmosis water with a healthy diet, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
The reverse osmosis process removes most contaminants from your drinking water, making it better for your health.
And although you might find that reverse osmosis water tastes different, you’ll come to appreciate it with time.