Reverse osmosis is one of the most effective water treatment solutions. It purifies water by removing all contaminants. But did you know that this process removes essential minerals as well?
Yes, it’s one downside that we can’t ignore. While getting rid of toxic chemicals and foul odor from the water, RO strips off healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Does this mean that you should avoid purifying your water through reverse osmosis? No. It’s not the end of the world. You can remineralize reverse osmosis water (Amazon link) and make it healthy again.
So, Why should you remineralize reverse osmosis water?
- Minerals are essential for the body
Our bodies require healthy minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium to survive. These minerals are lost during RO. And yes, you can argue that you can still get these minerals in high concentrations from food.
But if you keep up with affairs from the World Health Organization(WHO), you might be aware of a report they released discussing the implications of drinking RO water. The report stated that it’s unfavorable to drink RO water every day.
Reason?
This water pulls out minerals from the food you eat and reduce the amount available for absorption. The same thing happens if you use the water for cooking. For instance, when boiling vegetables, all minerals get leached from the vegetables and into the water.
- It Encourages Hydration
RO water tastes bland because it has a low pH. Most people don’t enjoy drinking it as they are so put off by the taste. Remineralizing the water increases its pH level and makes it tasty. You will most likely take more glasses of water after this process and stay hydrated.
- It Makes Water Tasty
As aforementioned, reverse osmosis makes water flat. People find it unpleasant and mostly reach out for a glass of juice or soda instead of water. Adding minerals to the water makes it more enjoyable.
Minerals that Reverse Osmosis Removes
Some of the minerals removed during reverse osmosis include;
- Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral in the body and helps to stimulate and control biochemical reactions. Alongside calcium, it helps to develop and maintain healthy bones.
Deficiency in magnesium causes multiple health issues like the disruption of the heart rhythm, seizures, numbness and muscle cramps.
- Calcium
Calcium can be found all over the body and is considered to be an essential mineral. You need calcium for strong bones and teeth, muscle and heart contraction, blood clotting, functioning of the nervous system, and hormone regulation.
Calcium deficiency can lead to heart arrhythmias, convulsions, and weak bones.
- Trace minerals
Other minerals that can be removed during reverse osmosis include copper, chromium, fluoride, manganese, iron, zinc, selenium, and molybdenum iodine.
Some of these trace minerals are equally of great importance to the body. Sodium helps to balance minerals and water in the body. Potassium helps regulate heartbeat while phosphorus, just like magnesium and calcium, is needed to form bones and teeth.
So, do we avoid reverse osmosis altogether?
No, not necessarily.
You don’t have to avoid reverse osmosis; instead, add minerals to your purified water. In other words, remineralize the RO water so that you enjoy the benefits of pure water while still getting all the essential minerals that your body needs.
How to Remineralize RO Water
The following are ways that you can use to remineralize RO water
- Use trace mineral drops
Using trace mineral drops to remineralize RO water is the easiest and cheapest solution. All you need to do is add a few mineral drops to the water to get the task done.
Ensure that you get the mineral drops from established manufacturers who have done detailed research on their products for years. This will ensure that you get the best results.
A bottle of trace mineral drops should treat up to 200 gallons of water.
- Use an alkaline water pitcher
You can also use an alkaline water pitcher to raise the pH level of your water and add minerals such as calcium and magnesium back in.
Alkaline water pitchers contain a filter cartridge that adds a specific(measured) amount of minerals into the water. For the best results, add the RO water from the tap to your pitcher and wait for some minutes for filtration to take place.
Alkaline water pitchers come at an affordable price, at around $20 – $40 per pitcher hence a great option. You, however, need to replace the pitcher’s cartridge from time to time as they have a shorter lifespan.
- Add a mineral-rich salt – Himalayan pink salt
Himalayan sea salt contains 84 trace minerals and thus an excellent ingredient for remineralizing RO water. It has all the essential minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium that your body requires.
For the best results, add a pinch of the salt to a batch of water you want to remineralize. Avoid using excess salt. You need to remember that idea here is to add the minerals back into the water and not make your water salty.
Himalayan salt is an affordable and easy solution for remineralizing water. It also helps in weight loss, betters respiratory function and also lowers high blood pressure.
- Use an alkaline water bottle
When on the go, the best way to remineralize RO water is by using an alkaline water bottle. With this method, you won’t have to do much. Simply fill your water bottle with reverse osmosis water and carry it with you.
An alkaline water bottle contains a filter that increases the water pH level and adds minerals to improve its taste. These bottles come at a very affordable price but require you to replace the filters after some time (roughly six weeks).
- Use remineralizing filters
You can also remineralize RO water by adding an extra filter to your reverse osmosis system. Most systems come with an optional remineralization filter that produces alkaline water from the faucet. With it, you don’t have to make the extra effort of adding mineral drops.
Most remineralizing filters remineralize RO water with magnesium or calcium. The best can add up to 5 types of minerals back into your reverse osmosis water.
If your RO system doesn’t come with a remineralization filter, buy one that you can install with ease. Ensure that the filter comes with its housing and connections.
A point to note is that you’ll have to replace the filter after every six months of use.
Conclusion
Although reverse osmosis helps you get pure water by getting rid of chemicals and contaminants, it removes good minerals. Remineralizing the water makes it possible for you to have the best of both worlds.
It is easy to remineralize RO water by using quality products to replace the minerals. Get high-quality Himalayan sea salt, the best remineralizing filter, pitcher or alkaline water bottle from reputable manufacturers for this process. Do so, and you’ll get to enjoy delicious pure water that is rich in all essential minerals.