* Thank you so much to our Marketing and Program Development Coordinator Lilly Brice for helping to put together this post. It contains affiliate links.
A quality water filter is an essential tool for good health. 60-70% of our bodies are made up of water and that hydration is imperative to naturally flush out toxins, aid digestion and absorption of nutrients, boost immunity, and keep our skin looking supple and happy.
Some sources of water contain 300+ chemicals and pollutants, and many of these chemicals can be more easily absorbed from water than from food. According to research from the Environmental Working Group. Among these contaminants are:
Chemicals and compounds like CHLOROFORM
Heavy metals that can create toxicity like ARSENIC
Carcinogens like TRIHALOMETHANES
Disinfectants like CHLORINE
The list goes on depending on your location and tap.
I, like I think a lot of folks do, made the mistake of assuming high quality would automatically be more expensive. Initially, yes. However, this is a tool we want to have for years, so let's look at the cost of use versus only the up front. Again, this was a mistake I made, and I literally paid for it. The cheaper filter I bought ended up costing me more money in replacement cartridges than the better quality filter.
Fortunately, there are quite a few systems available at all price points, so let’s go through some of the options:
Pitchers (i.e. Brita):
Initial Investment: $20-$40
Cost to Use: about 20¢ per gallon
Overview: less expensive than other filter options upfront, but require frequent filling and replacement of cartridge; reduce chlorine, but are not effective at removing VOCs, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors or fluoride.
Verdict: better than nothing, but doesn’t remove the worst offenders and is somewhat costly to use compared to other options.
Initial Investment: $100-200
Cost to Use: about 11¢ per gallon
Overview: removes hundreds of chemicals including herbicides, pesticides, chloride and bacteria; consists of a BPA-free plastic body
Verdict: removed more contaminants than pitchers or the R.O., but does not filter fluoride and requires that the multiple filters be changed regularly.
Reverse Osmosis Filter (RO):
Initial Investment: $150-250
Cost to Use: about 25¢ per gallon
Overview: removes a large amount of contaminants such as arsenic, asbestos, heavy metals, and fluoride, but wastes more water than it produces; does not reduce VOCs or endocrine disruptors and removes necessary minerals from the water
Verdict: removes more offenders than pitchers, but not the most environmentally friendly due to the amount of water waste
Initial Investment: $250- $360
Cost to Use: about 2¢ per gallon
Overview: removes over 200 contaminants including heavy metals, chloride, glyphosate and other materials; prevents bacteria growth while keeping good minerals in the water; more expensive initial investment, but the high quality stainless steel material is long lasting, takes a little less than one hour to filter one gallon of water, and holds six gallons (lower maintenance and lasts)
(I've personally used all of these filters, and at the end of the day, prefer the Berkey above the rest. This is the filter I use in my own home, and I'm really happy with it.)
Verdict: while this is the most expensive up front, the Berkey removes the most contaminants, is easy to clean, and the filters could last five or six years, which makes it the least expensive over time.
Prioritizing our health truly does come down to being informed and prepared, particularly when it comes to something as foundational as hydration.
A quick recap on the importance of adequate hydration:
Increases blood volume, mobilizing nutrients to our organs and cells.
Aids the body’s natural detoxification, digestion, and makes water soluble nutrients bioavailable.
Improves the immunity (a big buzzword right now, but something that is always important)
Consider yourself water blog-ged…
Sources: *at bottom of page
Need more personalized help reaching your goals? Let's work together. I can help you take your wellness visions and make them a reality.
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The Author:
Hi! My name is Sarah. I'm into clean eating, traveling (beach please), helping folks eat and feel better, gardening, and bopping around my neighborhood with my dog. Thanks for reading!
Sources:
https://www.berkeyfilters.com/pages/comparing-berkey-water-filters
https://www.berkeyfilters.com/pages/the-top-10-home-water-filters?utm_campaign=BF%20-%202%2F18%20%20Distilled%20Water%20%28YjrTGV%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Klaviyo&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIkhiYUhLRSIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJzbWFzb25wQGdtYWlsLmNvbSJ9
https://wellnessmama.com/8079/water-filter-options/
https://kellyleveque.com/recent-posts/hydrating-tips-for-cold-flu-season?rq=hydration