If you are in warm countries or do a lot of exercise, it is particularly important to drink plenty of water.
But I know how easy it can be to forget and also in some, poorer countries you can never be sure how clean the water is.
So we invested in a gravity-fed water filter and it’s one of the best purchases we have made. Our choice was the Go Berkey Kit. We take it with us everywhere.
It comes in two parts – a stainless steel two-part container and a blue bottle for when you are on the move.
Both are easy to use. The blue bottle has a built-in filter and straw. No matter where I am - and provided I have access to water - I know I can get a drink and it helps cut down on having to purchase plastic bottled water, which has been shown to be unsafe.
The Berkey is a Sterasyl grade ceramic and contains pure silver. Bacteria cannot live on silver. The filter thus eliminates bacteria and many strands of parasites. It dramatically reduces pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals, toxins, flouride and chlorine.
I can take running water from almost any source and the filter immediately converts it to drinking water (don’t try it on salt water, though, as it will damage the filter. As a general rule, the muckier the water, the quicker you will have to replace the filter).
Carrying a bottle around makes it easier to ensure you are properly hydrated. Just seeing the bottle reminds you to take a swig and keep it topped up. Out of sight, out of mind.
In Florida and Trinidad and Tobago, where we were recently, it’s hot and humid. Your body loses moisture all day long. I exercise a lot, too. So it’s essential I drink frequently. Someone reminded me recently that for every 15 minutes we fail to consume water (except when we are sleeping, of course), our bodies age. Water is THAT important. It feeds our cells and is the main source for eliminating toxins.
I know the Berkey works because water in the US that comes from taps has always had a peculiar taste for me. But when I use the Berkey, my water tastes fine.
The Berkey system has been thoroughly tested and the filter is incredibly long-lasting (even if you are using it daily).
My only complaint is that when transporting the blue bottle, it often leaks (even with a tight lid) if maintained in a horizontal position. But given all the benefits, that’s something I can live with.
Fast facts (courtesy of the Hippocrates Health Institute via Pam Blue)
Water makes up 75 per cent of human bodyweight, 80 per cent of the brain, 90 per cent of blood and 96 per cent of our liver
A 5 per cent reduction in water intake can result in a 25-30 per cent loss of energy
Water helps in shifting fat
A person can lose on average 8-10 cups of water a day (without exercising)
In 37 per cent of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger
It is common to find trace amounts of nitrates, pesticides, heavy metals, radioactive compounds, petrochemicals and parasites coming from local water supplies. The toxins and free radicals in these waters are made more toxic by the addition of chlorine, which can aggravate the respiratory system, harden arteries and destroy protein
Hot showers increase the amount of contaminants that can be absorbed by our bodies because it opens our pores - cold showers are better
Traces of over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs have been found in the water in 24 major cities in the United States
A four-year study by the National Resources Defence Council, released in 1999, found that one-fifth of the sampled bottled waters contained known neurotoxins and carcinogens
Avoiding re-using plastic water bottles - studies show that they may leach DEHP (another probable human carcinogen) and better yet drink out of glass or stainless steel reusable containers
Abrams Family World Travel Tip: The Berkey filtration system is one of many on the market. It suits us because we are travelling. But others worth considering, in order of preference, are ambient air to water system, distilled, reverse osmosis and carbon activated/charcoal filters.
I use an MSR (Mountain Safety Research) filter pump, which doesn't depend on gravity, and so produces more water in less time. For people wishing to go beyond filtration, activated charcoal and silver-containing purifying cartridges might be needed; however, these units have a limited life: the charcoal can only adsorb (not absorb) just so many chemicals, and silver only kills to the degree that it can supply ions; that's not forever. Another drawback is that if the purifier is designed with the silver incorporated into the charcoal component, then as soon as the charcoal's surface is exhausted, the unit, no matter what silver may remain, becomes useless—and not many of these units are made such that the charcoal can be rejuvenated by gassing off the adsorbed chemicals.
Posted by: Bill Moss | 17 November 2010 at 01:55 AM