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Lumigrate's Experts' Opinions on Drinking Water: What's Good, Better, Best?
Sun, 07/29/2012 - 4:59pm
Isn't it ironic that there is so much controversy and confusion about something as simple as water we drink? And rip-offs abound. I hope the information I provide on Lumigrate helps people learn what some of the options are to study about, consider and then take action on. It's about YOU doing a little work, I'm just hoping to make it easier for our YOUsers.
I hope this topic brings solutions for those who find and read it. This topic was prompted by someone I know being very excited to find out at their local health food store about "alkaline water", which they are paying $2/quart for. Yes, $8/gallon. That's fine if a person can and wants to spend that kind of money, but it's also not very convenient. They're hauling boxes of the bottles; couldn't you make it easier and have something delivered in the home, or in their case install something to make their home's water safe to consume and also shower and bathe in?
Can you imagine what was going through my head? What kind of bottle does that come in... and is that going to increase your risk for cancer and other illness? What about the impact of making and disposing of or recycling the bottles and the transportation 'footprint' on the environment to get it from where it was bottled to where it is consumed at home? It costs $2/quart? You use 4 a day per person -- That's about $500 a month for a family when you consider what you'd use for cooking and other beverages such as coffee or tea. Do you really have that in your budget? And they shop at a natural grocery store that I am normally very supportive of. So I learned that even good vendors are pushing things on people to increase their sales rather than guiding them to the options that are overall more effective.
And then I had to be reminded that I've had an intermittent 'uphill battle' as a health eductor on the Internet because there are so many people in the public today RIGHTFULLY angry at all the people making money off of the fears or pain of people related to health products and services. I get thrown into the bath water that they're about to toss out. They're broadbrushing and including me, and I don't fit the mold. I'm trying to find the most effective, efficient solutions to pass onto our YOUsers and hope the ripple effect goes out from there with YOUsers educating others with better information.
So I thought I'd turn to several of the experts at Lumigrate to ask them to provide their opinion about 'water for consumption' and what they see 'out there' and how they suggest people navigate and spend their resources of time/energy and money. Stay tuned below for what they have to say, when they have time to provide feedback for our education.
I really liked most of the information presented at the following FAQ tab at WaterCure.com (though you'll find in other sources I provide, differing opinions on some of it) 
www.watercure.com/faq.html --- the highlights so you can see and hopefully go read the whole piece follows:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get dehydrated?
How do you know if you’re dehydrated?
How much water do you need to drink, when to drink?
What should we drink? What we shouldn't drink?
Can we drink too much water?
How do you know your tap water is safe to drink?
How about bottled water?
How about filters and filtered water?
Drinking tips for healthy hydration
How do you know if you’re dehydrated?
How much water do you need to drink, when to drink?
What should we drink? What we shouldn't drink?
Can we drink too much water?
How do you know your tap water is safe to drink?
How about bottled water?
How about filters and filtered water?
Drinking tips for healthy hydration
Since we're focusing on filtering on this topic, I've not transferred the initial 7 items from the information but here is what they have about filters and filtration:
WHAT ABOUT FILTER AND FILTERED WATER?
It is always wise to get a filter if you are not sure how safe your tap water is.
Mardy's Note: In 2014/2015 I became aware of information that I present on other threads about cyanobacteria (algae) and the overall water problem with that story now coming to light in the mainstream media. I also present the very unique research of a man named Steve Beddingfield relative to cyanobacteria and a wildly toxic and growing interplay with other things, such as something called 'giant sulphur bacteria' in our environment. You'll see a link, below, to the topic about his research, and I thought this so important that my 2015 Mother's Day blog, easily found on the Blog tab titled what I want mothers and all others to know, directs people to all the topics about this emerging information.It wouldn't hurt to be removing some things with a filter for some of your household water use, but ultimately there is not enough that is removed with carbon filters. Then the matter comes down to reverse osmosis versus distilled. I present that as well, so please use the opportunity here at Lumigrate to streamline learning about the overall and getting into those details. Now, back to what I'd prepared in 2012.
There are many water filter products on the market at many different prices. To shop for a good filter, you need to know what a filter factually reduces, or removes, and what it costs. Ideally, you want water that has been filtered via a reverse osmosis process that removes chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, bacteria, and viruses.
How do you choose a good filter? It is important you do your own research – ask your local health food store, do on-line research and check the Consumers’ Report for products and prices evaluations. We are not in the business of selling water or any water products; however, here are a couple of recommended sources:
The water shop: “The Alkalizer” pure reverse osmosis water filter:www.watershop.com
Multipure water filter: www.multipureusa.com
DRINKING TIPS FOR HEALTHY HYDRATION:
Start your morning’s right: Morning is when you are most full of toxin and dehydrated. Reach for a big glass of water first thing in the morning – even before coffee. This water in the morning really gets the blood flowing.
-Drink a glass of water when you get up and another when you go to bed.
-Take regular water break breaks.
-Avoid relying on sodas to provide your fluid need.
-Drink water before and after food; ideally drink a glass of water half an hour before you eat your meal and half an hour after the meal. You can drink water with meals, and drink water anytime your body feels like it.
*It is very important you balance your sodium intake with your water consumption. Take 1/4 teaspoon of salt per quart of water - every 4-5 glasses of water. Be sure to get sea salt. The best is Celtic sea salt or Himalayan sea salt, both of which are readily available at any health food store.
You should always drink water prior to eating, and after eating, to support the digestive process. The stomach depends on water to help digest food, and lack of water makes it harder for nutrients to be broken down and used as energy. The liver, which dictates where all nutrients go, also needs water to help convert stored fat into usable energy. If you are dehydrated, the kidneys turn to the liver for backup, diminishing the liver’s ability to metabolize stored fat. The resulting reduced blood volume will interfere with your body’s ability to remove toxins and supply your cells with adequate nutrients.
Keep a water bottle by your side at all the times. Use either bottled water or tap water, and carry it with you everywhere, to the gym, in your car, to your office. Start by adding water to your daily regiment, during the first week, and then incorporate more as needed. The point is not to wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
AGAIN, Please follow the link I provided above to see more as I think it is very good! ~~ Mardy
What I Call "The Pricey but Good Gadgets"
I see the way the doctor who has The Water Cure website addressed the home unit question. He is not focusing at all on what I call the 'fancy water gadgets' which passes the water through ceramic filters which magnetize the water, or others have a process which alkalanizes it. These gadgets have many supporters and substantial information to support what they are about, and in general I have found in my looking into them, they are valid and what they provide likely is benefitial to health and wellness, ultimately. If someone has the money to do those elaborate things and wants to, and doesn't short themselves on other things which are important (such as organic foods, supplements and providers who are outside of what insurance reimburses for, then 'great!'
But I liken it to 'frosting the cake' and in reality, most people do not have access to them. If people are fortunate enough to be able to purchase one, then I recommend to do your research, as with any purchase, and scrutiize the information, ask around in person or on the Internet on boards you might be able to find easily, and simply be a savvy, informed consumer. "
I also understand that anyone who has the resources and wants to take the initiative to be a distributor can sign up to be a distributor for those products which are sold via direct marketing/ multi-level marketing companies and get them at a reduced cost. I was 'loaned' one of these gadgets in the past and it was really quite lovely to have something so simple and pretty on my counter which turned tap water so easiliy into great tasting and 'feeling' water; it was seemingly an improvement to what came out of the tap before it went through the gadget, though the distributor was honest with me and reported when I asked about fluoride, that it did not take all the fluoride out. That was a major concern to me, as fluoride is added to the water at the plant that comes to my house, so that was a 'deal-breaker' for me. If that were not added at the plant, I likely would have been interested in purchasing one; Nikken and Kangan seem to have much merit to them. I suggest you look for a distributor who has substantial knowledge about the subject, with experience in the distributorship, and keep in mind they can be 'pumped up' about whatever it is they're distributing and their enthusiasm can sometimes be infectious. Don't lose sight of being a discerning consumer and spending your money according to your intentions and budgets.
The Grate Fluoride Debate --This summer of 2012 we have been focusing on water, and kicked off with 'the flouride debate' and have gotten a new group off the ground called SWIG: Safe Water is Great, which focuses about fluoride in water but branches out into fluoride topically as well as other things about water. There has been much interest in the topic I provided titled 46 Reasons to Drink More Water, and about the same number of reads of the topics related to fluoride supplementation. I hope you follow the link I provide and go see why we think that fluoride in water is a topic for education for all people who are concerned with health, and then take action according to the opinions formed, naturally.
From my perspective, and what is the "basic" for wellness is to have fluoride not added to water at treatment plants and then people can use simple and inexpensive carbon filters to have safe, quality water, as it gets out chlorine. People can also inquire about the chlorine used at the plants that provides their water as there are different forms being added now which don't 'outgas' if the water is left to the open air, but in the past we used to be able to simply let pitchers of waters to become safe for our gut related to chlorine. For showers I personally put a carbon filter on my showerhead so that it's cleaned up before it gets on my skin or I breathe in the steam from showering. If there's no fluoride being added to the water, you can just fill up from that one filter and a family can have healthy water on and in their bodies for a very low amount of money.
Since many of us, myself included, have to work around the fluoride added by the treatment plants (for now, we hope that will change in time, eh?), and I am concerned about the toxins that come with some types of plastic bottles, I have six containers that add to 9 gallons of water which are "PBA Free" and I haul those to the health food store which has the cheapest price on reverse osmosis water at a quarter a gallon, or the grocery store which is 39 cents. I have hurt myself more than once lifting the containers however, and so I suggest people think through the size and shape of the containers they chose if they go this route. (NOTE: I started having artesian water delivered, the reverse osmosis water seemed to really change my gut health, I was getting heartburn which is very unusual for me. I very much look forward to the shift ahead I believe is coming with the realization that fluoride chemicals added to water are harmful and keeps our water from being safe.)
WHAT DO THE LUMIGRATE EXPERTS HAVE TO ADD? See in comments. I will also add on in comments over time, so be sure to scroll through and look at the most recent additions which will be at the end of comments.
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Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
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Mardy,
Alkalinization is the answer! However, the cost may be somewhat prohibitive to some. Besides encouraging my patients to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, I talk a lot about water. It does dilute the acidity fairly well. But if you want to easily alkalinize your water until you can afford the great machines, there is a simpler way to do it.
What is the easiest way to alkalinize your water? Add citrus fruits! At my office every day, we offer either lemon water, lime water or orange water. Citric acid is usually considered acidic, but when it enters the human body, it becomes alkaline. This is a very easy and inexpensive way to make your water more alkaline, and it tastes GRATE!
Do not drink too much of these citrus fruits, because they can hurt your kidneys at high levels. But, a light flavoring by cutting up a lemon, lime or orange (rind and all) and adding it to about 2 quarts of water should be just right. The citrus fruits are a really easy and efficient way to get this part of your health plan in order.
And you will be surprised how much better this water tastes to you!
Most regular tap water is neutral in acidity. But I do suggest you do some filtering at the level you can afford. I even filter my shower water.
At our office, Renewed Vitality www.renewedvitalitymd.com, we believe in a total body approach to health. Water is a very important part of staying hydrated, detoxified and vibrant.
Best wishes for your future health,
Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD
"There is no one to blame. There is simply taking action!"........Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD Dr. Spurlock presently works in Dallas, TX treating people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bio-Identical Hormone Deficiences and Environmental Illnesses. He has been doing this work exclusively for the last 9 years. In the fall of 2011 he opened a new health center; please visit his website, which is where he posts education beyond what is sprinkled at Lumigrate. http://www.renewedvitalitymd.com/ Through a total body approach, the treatments he and his team provide are 85-90% successful in returning patients to their previous health potential. You can see his complete vitae in Lumigrate's forum "About Our Writers" (link: http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/my-vitae-wm-marcus-spurlock-m...), and the majority of his contributions on Lumigrate are in the FMS/CFS/CPain section, where you'll see a forum which includes his name: http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro....
I ought to be in somewhat good shape by having modified the Moscow Mule to what I call the "Mardy Mule". Moscow Mules were re-popularized by Oprah but my family of origin had them once a year when I was a kid -- ice in a copper mug, vodka, squeeze and throw in a quarter of lime and fill to over the ice with ginger beer. BUT ginger beer has a lot of sugar (as does the alcohol naturally) and so I substitue with thinly sliced ginger with some gratings and selzer or sparkling water water.
Just thought I'd throw that out for the entertainment value of it. 
And this is one for you perhaps and certainly for Dr Kennedy (DDS of the holistic variety). I believe that the way you have described the dilution, it's not at risk for the tooth enamel and since I have a hunch that is going to be a question in some people's minds based on the conversations I have had over time with people related to their particular dental/enamel history and experiences when eating fruit, that clarification would be appreciated. Or the others -- whomever feels it's within their realm of expertise.
ANOTHER question I have is if it matters that you load this acid which alkalzes early in the day or if it's any time of day. I believe I'd heard with other strategies about alkalizing that it was a 'first thing in the morning' instruction and aside from that being an empty stomach I didn't really understand what difference that would make. That was a 'tip' about doing a 'green drink' such as barley grass, etc.
Live and Learn! Learn and Live Better! Thanks for helping with that process! ~~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Great suggestion, Marc, on adding citrus to filtered drinking water. I always ask for a lemon wedge when out eating to put in my water glass.
Mardy, I'm glad you asked the question too: there is no danger of damaging the enamel of your teeth by adding citrus to drinking water. The citric acid is diluted enough to not cause a problem. If you chew or suck on a lemon or lime, this can be damaging to your teeth but only if you have a habit of doing this frequently.
As for drinking clean water, it is much cheaper in the long run to buy a filter and a stainless steel water bottle and make your own water to take with you. The price of bottled water is ridiculous and is placed in a plastic bottle that releases bis phenol A into the water.
Most of the bottled water you buy is just filtered tap water put into bottles to be sold along with soft drinks by companies like Pepsi or Coca Cola. There are some exceptions, like Fuji but this is still in a plastic bottle and then you have the issue of the 'carbon footprint' of transporting the product from the bottling facility location to the consumer.
Pricey but good options in bottled water would be Pellegrino or Perrier, they come in glass bottles. Sometimes when you are out your only alternative to tap water is bottled water and then this may be your best choice.
Dr Kennedy moved to Grand Junction in 2003 with his wife, Liz, a registered nurse. Previously, he had practices in Detroit and Denver. He has limited his dental practice to the treatment of TMJ dysfunction, dental orthopedics and orthodontics, and the fabrication of dental appliances for snoring and sleep apnea. Office phone: 970/242-1900; Website: www.dentocranial.net
His pieces on Lumigrate can be found in the forum related to things of the head in the section related to chronic pain, fatigue and fibromyalgia at http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/head/.... Please also refer to The Cranial Academy for providers in your area who have similar treatment approaches at: http://www.cranialacademy.com/
I don't have a big opinion on wheat or barley grass inclusions.
The issue with citrus water is that it has a mild diuretic effect, and probably should not be ingested prior to bedtime. The other benefit, however, is cleansing the liver. Lemon especially makes the bile ducts contract.
Plus all the citrus waters help with alkalinization of the body. It's nice to add the juice of 1/2 lemon into 8 oz of heated water and drink in the morning. It helps with stimulation of bowel movements, eliminates any excess fluid on board, and alkalinizes the body. I learned this from Anne Louise Gittleman. Her primary website is: www.annlouise.com . I suggest you check her out if you're interested in this information!
"There is no one to blame. There is simply taking action!"........Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD Dr. Spurlock presently works in Dallas, TX treating people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bio-Identical Hormone Deficiences and Environmental Illnesses. He has been doing this work exclusively for the last 9 years. In the fall of 2011 he opened a new health center; please visit his website, which is where he posts education beyond what is sprinkled at Lumigrate. http://www.renewedvitalitymd.com/ Through a total body approach, the treatments he and his team provide are 85-90% successful in returning patients to their previous health potential. You can see his complete vitae in Lumigrate's forum "About Our Writers" (link: http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/my-vitae-wm-marcus-spurlock-m...), and the majority of his contributions on Lumigrate are in the FMS/CFS/CPain section, where you'll see a forum which includes his name: http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro....
Most people would agree that water is good for you and essential for life, energy and survival. What is interesting is how accurate are you in estimating how much water you drink on an average day?
I would suggest you actually measure for three days in a row. Then figure out the easy way for you to get enough water in your day. I know if I have a refillable water bottle with me, I drink more water. If I have a glass in my office, I drink it. It is a good habit for life and one of the best - when you drink it straight up without added vitamins, sugars or artificial flavors-
I consider my impact on the environment and go for a reusable bottle that has a filter in it- so I can refill from any tap with ease. Keep it simple and make it easy.
Gwen is a life transitions coach who looks forward to your email at gpspiral@gmail.com. You will gain balance in health, life and play from coaching with Gwen. She is a regular contributor to Lumigrate's forum on life and health coaching (www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/therapy-behavioralmental-health/life-and-health-coaches) and has her own website presence for more learning if you follow to www.gpspiralconsulting.com
Gwen, thank you for your input. I believe I have purchased TWO bottles with filters in them for refilling with tap water because of reducing what goes to the recycle or trash piles. They will take out chlorine but not fluoride; I believe there are some good resources at the website Marc/Dr Spurlock provided, above.
The first one I bought was of clear, pliable plastic and had a charcoal filter -- I've seen a lot of them in use -- and does not take out fluoride, and I live in Grand Junction, Colorado (USA) and all three of the water plants here add fluoride toxin to the water, following the old habits from before all the studies came out that have shown it lowers IQ and is a neurotoxin; it's long been known it affects thyroid gland function negatively, it's just unbelievable it's been added and added as everyone says 'there's an obesity epidemic!'.
(Please see SWIG or fluoride here at Lumigrate for more information, SWIG is a group that I initiated and collaborated on forming in 2012 related to fluoride in water, and water used by people and other animals 'overall'). (The little town to our east, Palisade, quit 'feeding' fluoride into their plant in early 2012 thought! We are hoping it catches on here and EVERYWHERE!)
The next filter bottle I bought (at a street fair), for about $40, is one that 'allegedly' takes out fluoride, and you can even use it with water out of streams and lakes and puddles or whevere you can find water. It's a different type of filtering material that's in the filter, but the design and concept is the same. I have found that some of the water filter - sellling companies' websites are not so clear about details like 'does this take out fluoride?' One that a client had purchased intending to get fluoride removed didn't respond to my inquiry being their 'deputy detective', so they returned it to the store it was purchased from. So 'do your homework!' (and it's not that easy!).
And this works in some 'emergency preparedness' concepts here! I keep an extra 10 gallons of drinking water in my home in bottles beyond what I utilize and have replaced every two weeks from the Deep Rock delivery guy. Now that the coldest January on record is over, I don't have to worry about getting the water inside before it freezes! Such a pain in the neck, and an added cost to health, but I feel it is very important and a priority. In the past, I would look at water delivery as something you afforded 'in easier economic times', and now I look at where I can shave another $X/day/week/month and make it a HIGHEST priority.
Marc/Dr. Spurlock: I checked her out -- I'd never heard of her, or 'studied'/tuned in, because she looks very 'commercial' related to 'fat' and about quick fixes, but I did go and look around and there is more to her than you see at first impression, it seems! Environmental medicine information too! Thanks for the tip of a new resource. And I got up this morning and heated a cup of water and put the juice of a half a lemon into it, sure enough, it 'gets you going!'.
Another little 'tip' I learned years ago related to detoxifying your body is to use a NEWLY sliced lemon on the underarms instead of commercial deodorant. Believe it or not, I was learning that back when I was using commercially made ANTIPERSPIRANT! I still will occasionally use antiperspirant, if there's a super important function, but it's like anything you do that's not 'ideal' for your wellness -- you know the consequences and it's a trade-off. You see where my 'signature line?' comes from? "Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better!' ~~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Reverse osmosis machines are in every store that sells groceries -- health food chain (not the locally owned, small little store downtown) to Kroger, Safeway, and even WalMart. Though their drip tray had slime in it when I happened along in the store and noticed it and thought I'd go check it out. Most charge 40 cents and you bring your own bottle .. BYOB, grins... Naturally they sell containers and people then have to look into that for their situation too --- some who believe in auricular medicine type information like the German physicians I know via Facebook and other Internet learning say if you're with the neuro-endocrine type issues to only use glass (or stainless steel) because small traces of mercury come with the plastics, even when it's the 'safer' BPA-free kind.
So since it was the clear front-runner of what people are doing that I'm aware of, at least in CW Colorado (USA), I thought I'd start with r/o (reverse osmosis).
I was coming back around to the water information after seeing which of the topics on Lumigrate about water was going to be the best one to tack onto. Honestly, for something that would seem there would be an easy and clear front-runner of how to get safe, pure, good-for-you (and other animals) water withOUT the things in it that are NOT good for you, it's just not that easy. Many different schools of though. I was pleased to see that 2,400 people had accessed this topic since it was created (and today is 1/11/15). I hope it continues to serve YOUsers with useful, helpful and healthful information.
I thought I'd present a separate topic about the various forms and will make a separate comment about each of the main ones so that they keywords are picked up on the Search bar (within Lumigrate) better (and presumably on whatever search engine from people's browsers too).
Reverse osmosis, or r/o, ends up being what comes up the most often. So here's what Wikipedia has about it --- it's actually very interesting and I learned a lot, such as it was used long ago in making maple syrup! This brings out the primary concern well --- it takes out a lot of the minerals and is used in industry to do things like wash windows without detergent and demineralize things. So then do you want that or do you then add in trace minerals.
A good salt will have some of the minerals but not all. But some is better than none maybe in some situations at least. And what is good salt? You'll have to search on that one as that's another seemingly simple thing that ends up being a bit of a working adventure to figure out. It just depends on what you're concerned about getting and NOT getting with the product.
I found that I liked the taste of a trace mineral liquid product and it's easy for me to obtain from Natural Grocers a mineral product made in nearby Utah -- they actually have gotten into more supplements over the years it seems (surprise, surprise, supplements coming out of Utah? .. grins!).
I was so tickled to meet some people from California who were here for a family emergency who were getting their r/o water at Natural Grocers and I met them over the decision making of what eggs to get as all the brands were different for them than at home. I noticed the water in the their cart and asked if they were camping as they had their own five gallon bottle. So I learned why they were here. "And the guy up front doesn't even know that you need to put minerals back in or it messes you up and detoxes minerals out" and so I was able to tell them where the minerals were AND that I'd made the written suggestion to put the minerals or something inviting people to GO in the STORE and get some IF they were interested in putting trace minerals back in. And they were just in the usual shock people have when they come to the area from an area that has more people who know these things and consumers that demand higher levels of things, there's a spiral of going up and up as the consumers and markets adjust! So I really enjoyed talking with them.
Neat, young couple with the most amazing dreadlocks and wearing clothing that just would have had me remembering them had I ever seen them before. Or else I just picked up on that they were not from here by the quandry about the best eggs to buy. I just love those encounters -- that was last fall, on the anniversary of my father's passing and they were here for her father. I gave her my number, she called, I gave her a complementary session on the phone and actually learned a lot from her as she was very up on her stuff about what's going on in the world.
I then had a conversation with the staff and they said they have to use the r/o water on the produce anyway so why not offer it to customers super cheaper than anywhere else. And so I then asked the Kroger store manager when I happened to walk out of the building when they did if they did the same and they do, which I just was not thinking about the produce sections using anything but tap water.
Which, considering I do not want the fluoride chemical that is added at the water plants around my area on my food, though I'm not one that's sensitive to fluoride and it makes me break out or have other problems, I was suprised I'd not thought of THAT one as a hidden source of fluoride. But they use r/o water. So good for the organic vegies and fruits that get sprayed! And the reason by the way was NOT for the consumer's produce but for the equipment not to build up stuff in it.... Interesting, eh?
So those are some basics about r/o. Some are adamant no on r/o... distilled is good. Others are adamant no on distilled, r/o is the way to go. But those two come down together in the many discussions I've had since getting into looking closely at water in 2012. And since R/O is what most people are doing today, I wanted to start with that one. This won't necessarily be in order of what I think is best or what I think most people are doing as I have no idea really, but it seemed r/o was way the front runner at this time and most people would be at least going in a better direction to know about it. IF they didn't already.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
When creating a NEW topic thread at Lumigrate recently, about cyanobacterias contributing to (or is the better word 'causing') the myriad of chronic health issues that massive numbers of people now experience to a lesser or greater extent, water purification and ozonation was a significant portion of a very simple protocol that a clever and observant, dedicated independent, civilian researcher had come up with relative to his (and his group's) theory about what is causing chronic illnesses. He'd been a victim and had a background as a microscopic photographer. That's what brought me back to looking at the water topic at Lumigrate and now adding onto it.
Below is what you'll find at the thread about this brilliant and hard working guy and his theory and his group on Facebook when it's in the part that's about the protocol. This is just #s 5 and 6 of the protocol, so if you're interested in the rest of it, please take the trip on the link and see what it's about. It's very interesting and they might have possibly gotten to the bottom of things that would indicate layers of covering up about other things such as Lyme maybe not being as much a factor as these cyanobacteria, algae, and etc.
It's a big rabbit hole by the way. I always like to remind to sometimes not get so mired in looking into all the information that you don't TAKE ACTION on something and get going, and I think water is the most important SIMPLE thing people can be getting to taking steps on. Much easier to drink a glass of a differently obtained and prepared water than to learn to cook and make meals that you enjoy that don't have grains, for instance, or which are plant-based and not grain-based which is a step. Remember it takes steps and a lot of them and you just have to keep moving. Some people shuffle, some walk, some trot, some run, some sprint. But move on it, be proactive, take action.
5. Purify or ozonate your water. Some in our group are finding relief from symptoms just by ozonating their water sources. So many of the cyanobacterias are in our air, water and soils. If you can find a way to ozonate your water, consider doing so. There is ongoing discussion about other water treatment options. The key is finding a system that filters out the smallest particles (0.2 or smaller? – need to confirm)
This is a model that is currently being used with great result by some members:
http://www.amazon.com/A2Z-Ozone-Aqua-Purpose-Generator/dp/B0...
6. Treating discomfort: if you find yourself terribly uncomfortable internally or externally, slow down your dosing. Take a break if necessary. Drink plenty of water to help the body rid itself of the algal masses that will come.
^ this can be found at www.lumigrate.com/forum/steve-his-images-his-protocol-and-facebook-group-community-and-other-resources-chronic-illness
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
A nice summary I saw someone say and thought I'd post it here
AND be sure that people know about the other topic on Lumigrate, which has resources such as a three hour conversation over two days with Joseph Bender, that I transcribe - overviewed so people can also read it and listen along and reinforce and hopefully be able to get as much learned to take action from as possible. Here's the link: www.lumigrate.com/forum/water-key-environmental-wellness-or-illness-more-important-today-ever-many-aspects-consider
Live and learn. Learn and live better! ~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!