The human body is approximately 70-80% water. Water is the basis of who you are and how healthy you are. Your cells are composed of water, and that water is what the body uses to wash itself internally.

We all know that drinking water is healthy, but this statement can be misleading. Drinking pure, clean water IS healthy and many people believe they can get that from any bottled water. But here are a few things to consider:

The Source

Many bottled water brands are simply city water that has been run through a filter, and thus, may not be the pure choice you were hoping. Chlorinated city water contains 100 to 10,000 times more synthetic compounds as natural spring water (it is estimated that we absorb several times more pollutants from bathing than we do from drinking). So when reaching for a brand of water, read the label carefully and consider the source.

The Container

If you look on the bottom of a water bottle you buy in most stores, you will see a triangle that contains a number. That number relates to the kind of plastic used to manufacture the bottle. A number 1 usually identifies a clear plastic that is not totally polymerized. If you leave a number 1 bottle in the sun, the polymers from the bottle will enter the water, and what most people don’t realize is that plastics act like estrogen in our bodies causing hormonal imbalances. Estrogens unopposed by progesterone block zinc, magnesium and B6 from being naturally absorbed, and an accumulation of these estrogens have been reported to lead to a number of conditions from anxiety to allergies, to autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Some plastic bottles are made from polycarbonate and have the number 7 on the bottom. These bottles contain bisphenol A (BPA) which is now widely known as an endocrine disruptor as it interferes with estrogen and thyroid metabolism. BPA has been suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s. In 2008, concerns about its use were reported in the news media after several government studies issued reports questioning its safety.

High levels of estrogen can be a problem in both men and women with symptoms ranging from breast swelling and soreness, weight gain and hair loss in women to decreased sperm count and erectile dysfunction in men.

The Solution

Invest in a high quality filtration system for your home to ensure you are drinking healthy tap water and transport your water in a stainless steel container; glass is a good second option. If you buy bottled water from the store, buy a glass bottle and be sure to identify the source.

For more information, contact Preventive Medicine Center at (760) 320.4292 or visit www.hormonedoc.com.

Sources: 1) Healing is Voltage: The Handbook, Jerry Tennant MD, MD (H), Psc., D.; 2) Hypothyroidsim Type 2: The Epidemic, Mark Starr MD, MD(H); 3) http://naturalsociety.com/recycling-symbols-numbers-plastic-bottles-meaning; 4) http://naturalsociety.com/recycling-symbols-numbers-plastic-bottles-meaning/