From claims that tap water is best to hundreds of filters on the market, something as simple as drinking water can seem pretty complicated! You probably already know that filtered water is best, but did you know that if you’re not adding one simple thing to your water, you could actually be doing more damage by drinking filtered water?
Why? There are many filters available that claim to remove chemicals and impurities from tap water, but most don’t live up to their claims. Carbon filters, like Brita, are very weak and remove very few impurities. The best option for removing nearly all impurities and chemicals from your water is an under the sink reverse osmosis system (it’s not as complicated as it sounds, I’ll explain below).Â
The problem with purified water, however, is it not only removes the impurities, it also removes the minerals that our bodies need. Many mineral deficiencies are caused when a person only drinks filtered water (as opposed to spring water which contains natural minerals). There is a simple fix for that. Simply add a pinch of sea salt to your water. Sea salt contains essential minerals and just a pinch will add the necessary amount to your water.
Swapping Frugally:Â While Brita filters can be cheaper, they are ineffective at purifying water. Many chemicals and impurities remain even after filtering through a Brita pitcher. A reverse osmosis system has a higher up front cost, but will do a much better job of purifying water. We bought a Whirlpool reverse osmosis system from Lowe’s for $131. It was easy to install. Every 6-12 months we replace the filters which cost about $42. It’s still much cheaper than buying bottled water and we don’t have to worry about any chemicals leaching from the plastic. If you buy it online and go through Ebates (more on Ebates here), you’ll receive 2.5% cash back on your purchase of the system, bringing it down to $128. If you’re a first time Ebates user, you’ll receive a $10 gift card, bringing the price down to $118.
Adding the sea salt to your water is simple and cheap. One container of sea salt will go a long way, as you’ll only need a pinch to add the minerals back in.
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