News You Can Use
‘Tap’ into a good water source
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Kasia Haupt
July 30, 2004
STARKVILLE, Miss—When it comes to buying bottled water, you may be pouring your money down the drain, says a Mississippi State University nutritionist.
“What’s important is drinking plenty of water every day, not the name brand of the water,” said Virginia Braddock. The contents of plain old tap water are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and are as healthy as that you find in a bottle—unless there’s an occasional water advisory, she noted.
One advantage of tapwater is that, unlike its bottled counterpart, it is fluoridated. And it has the clear advantage of a lower cost, Braddock said.
“While the minerals and electrolytes in some bottled-water products are beneficial to the body, the average person does not need to drink them in supplemental form,” she explained.
For many, she said, drinking tap water is a matter of getting used to the taste. “If your tap water seems particularly chlorinated, home purifying systems can effectively reduce this undesirable taste,” Braddock said.
A few other pointers to remember about water include:
-- Drink 8-10 cups of water a day to prevent dehydration. If you feel thirsty, dizzy, or have a headache, you may already be dehydrated.
-- To see how much water you need while exercising, weigh yourself before and after a workout. Replace every pound lost with two cups of water.
-- Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks actually dehydrate, so don’t count these beverages towards your daily water intake.