Water Works... Healthy & Strolling Memory Lane

The Circle of Life
You start something, you get away from it, then unexpectedly you're back into it!

Happy May Day! Growing up as a kid and attending school in NYC, May Day was a special, fun-filled time. It was the great showcase of our school talent when each grade and class would show-off their cultural skills by performing a historical folk dance from yesteryear. We kids would proudly assembly in our school yard, all neatly dressed in our costumes, where our parents and family sat waiting to beam enthused as the kids did their polka, minuet, dosey-do, ritual dance, merengue, you name it. Truly it didn't matter what we did, we all participated in the May Day Pole Celebration. A grand time was had by all, and the punch and cookies were the best. In those days, Nabisco could really smoke some cookies!

Yeah, I'm a babyboomer! And back way back then it was inconceivable that one would ever pay for water. The whole idea of doing such a thing was preposterous. Water was free, it was everywhere! You could stop in any city park and get a slurp of warm, wet water from any available fountain. In those days, people didn't spit in the fountains so it was safe to drink the water. Having grown-up in an era when water was one's inalienable right, frankly, I'm NOT a fan of buying water. But today, in 2006 it's a whole different story. Unless of course, you know where to get the good free stuff, if you want water to drink, you better be prepared to plunk-down a buck or three to quench your thirst!


But after you dig into your pocket and belly-up to the cash register, are you getting your money's worth and is the water you're buying anything special?

Now, I must admit that the availability of bottled water has definitely and greatly increased the amount of water most of us drink on a daily basis... and that's a good thing. Keep your body properly hydrated is really important for maintaining good health.

Storing and bottling water is centuries old. People have always had to carry their water supply with them. Whether by camel, mule, or slaves carrying water had to be done. And as we all have experienced, water-carrying is no light task. Even though the innovation of recycled plastic containers in 1980 has made individual water-carrying more practical and easier, still carrying water is a weighty issue. But we have adapted readily to the idea of carrying our water and have made water bottlers very rich in the process. How rich?

According to Beverage Marketing Corporation, an industry research and consulting firm in New York City, in 2004 bottled water sales for the U.S. reached t $9.2 billion... that a lot of peanuts! In addition, stats show that we consumed 6.8 billion gallons, an 8.6% increase over 2003. This averages to 24.0 gallons per person, which means U.S. residents now drink more bottled water annually than any other beverage, other than carbonated soft drinks (CSDs). They go on to report that it not just the easy of portability that is push the water consumption trend. Now-a-days water not only can quench your thirst, it can also be a status symbol of who you are and your water works politics. These days, you can get your water to do all sorts of "other things" for you, as well as, be exotic. Today's bottled water varieties comes with vitamins and fruit essence, or electrolytes to replish excess body water loss, or made from glacial ice, or farmed from the world's deepest water reservoir located in Ohio, or you can even get water that will help clear-up your skin or natural elements to help you lose weight.

While this newest trend in water-additives is not harmful, there is no scientific evidence that its helpful or needed, according to Dr. David Robbins, a director in the division of digestive diseases at New York City's Beth Israel Medical Center. He says, "... the reality is that if you are a healthy individual who has a good diet, then these are just marketing ploys." Be mindful that some of these " enhanced waters" may not technically be considered bottled water at all. The FDA has specific standards that must be met for any water stating that it's spring, purified, mineral, sparkling, artesian or well water. Any enhanced water — such as those that contain added flavor, enhancements or vitamins—is considered a soft drink.

So what's the take-away from this boom in water works... well be sure to drink plenty of water but don't spend a lot for the water you do drink and don't expect enhanced waters to part the seas or perform any miracles.

Read more... visit International Bottled Water Assoc. website or Forbes' Magazine insightful article by Susan Yara featured on 04.13.06 entitled: Your Health: Everybody In The Water!

"Food and water are natural healers; Eat well and drink wisely."