Our Folk: Nutritionist Danielle Svensson

Water is the source of all life.

For that reason, its importance in our lives is of the highest degree.
Humans are made up of at least 60% water, with organs such as the brain and kidneys being closer to 80%.

Water is the most vital nutrient and building block of our cells. It carries other nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the body. It regulates body temperature, insulates vital organs, it assists in metabolising and digesting foods and supports the flushing of waste and toxins from the body. We can appreciate that being optimally hydrated is incredibly important and plays a role in almost every aspect of our health.

Beyond how much water we are consuming, a deeper question follows – what is the quality of the water we are consuming?

The reality in our industrial modern world is that the tap water that is available to us in our homes has been treated before getting to us. This isn’t to deny that the distribution and access to generally safe water in abundance is a privilege that we have. However, it is important to understand what that means for the water we are using and consuming in our every day lives.

To ensure the safety of water in urban and rural communities, things such as chemicals, potentially harmful organisms, contaminants, and other sediments must be removed. The final stage of water treatment is disinfection, and the most used chemical disinfectant is chlorine. The measured level of chlorine is deemed safe from a public health perspective; however we may notice the presence through smell and taste.

From a proactive and holistic health perspective however, our level of exposure to things such as chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, and other impurities through water must be considered alongside long-term health outcomes.

Whatever we take in from our external environment, including the water we drink, is something that our body still needs to filter and process. Continued and long-term exposure to things such as heavy metals and endocrine disruptors have been well-documented on their potential detrimental health effects.

Whilst we cannot eliminate all exposure to harsh environmental toxins and compounds from the environment, we can take important steps to reduce our individual exposure and be proactive in preventing the onset of related symptoms and health conditions.

Investing in and prioritising filtered water is one of the best ways we can do this.

Our bodies need clean, filtered water. Having your own at-home water filter is a far better option for your health, the environment, and your wallet in comparison to plastic bottled water.

The benefits of consuming filtered water include -

• Improved smell and taste
• Supports absorption of key nutrients
• Supports optimal hydration (which supports digestion, metabolism, cellular function, hormone synthesis, lymphatic, and immune function – to name a few)
• Naturally supports bodily functions of detoxification
• Reduces burden of environmental toxins and pathogens
• Eco friendly and cost-effective

Adequate hydration through clean, purified water should not be underestimated as one of the most essential foundations to supporting optimal health and wellbeing. Making the change to filtered water is a health-supportive act that not only provides immediate benefits but supports our health, energy, and vitality for years to come.

Written by Danielle Svensson – Clinical Nutritionist (BHSc. Nut Medicine). 
See more from Danielle here. 

Cover image: @arlesstudio