What is the difference between mineral water, spring and drinking water

According to the VENDEN poll devoted to World Water Day, 20% of the population of Latvia is the most important factor in the choice of water. Almost as many (19%) indicated that quality is of utmost importance to them, and another third (30%) of respondents mentioned the taste of water. Experts are informed on how to understand what the label says and to know who should pay special attention to the price when choosing water.

What kind of water? You must first look what type of water is indicated on the label. There are many names labeled by marketers to create consumer confidence, such as spring water, natural mineral water, natural sparkling mineral water, gas rich in underground deposits , sparkling mineral water or simply drinking water. . In addition, many brands in the names play different combinations of words, mixing, for example, the concepts of "natural" water and "drinking" that are not correct.

"According to the legislation of the EU and Latvia finally, natural mineral water," says Solvita Muceniece, head of the Public Health Surveillance and Control Service . Mineral water belongs to the natural waters, it is obtained groundwater aquifers, retaining all its original properties and untreated. "

The taste of a mineral water depends on the water. location and depth of mineral water.Mineral water can also be carbonated – by adding natural food to natural mineral water with added carbon dioxide. the only substance that can be added to natural mineral water.To obtain natural mineral water in store, it must be registered and published on the website of the Veterinary and Food Service (PVD), and the product and its production unit must be subject to certification o

which is provided by nature, does not require any additional treatment, with the exception of the fine mechanical filtration of particles. Source water is known in Latvia as being naturally derived from groundwater and derived from drilling and unpurified, but like natural mineral water, spring water has very strict quality criteria .

Drinking water can be derived from a wide variety of places: lake, river, water pipe, so manufacturers must seriously treat its treatment and must do so by established standards.

"Unfortunately, European and Latvian legislation does not require the producer of drinking water to indicate the place of extraction. This means that in the case of" drinking water " , the consumer does not even know what water he buys.When choosing "drinking water", it must be ensured that he is regularly tested according to the requirements of the law, tested for the However, it is better to choose the water, where its extraction site and its chemical composition are indicated, "explains VENDEN, General Manager Aldis Škutāns .

] 2. Degree of mineralization, composition When choosing water, it is important to pay attention to its composition.Compound knowledge can also be avoided, for example, by l & # 39; addition of sodium or chlorine.

Mineral waters have varying degrees of mineralization, ranging from 0.01 to 14 g / l Water with a high degree of mineralization should not be ingested in an uncontrolled manner because, in unlimited quantities, high levels of mineral salts can negatively affect the body. If it is indicated on the label that the degree of mineralization of the water is greater than 2 g / l, it is advisable to choose a water with a lower degree of mineralization. If the water contains a lot of sodium ions and chlorine, this water is considered a salt, but the salt is already consumed daily by the inhabitants of Latvia. Individual groups of people (infants, children, elderly, etc.) can only use these mineral waters under the supervision of a doctor. For an optimal degree of mineralization, 0.5-1.5 g / l can be considered. In addition, if the water quality interests you, it is advisable to focus on natural mineral water.

3. Carbonated or non-carbonated water – at your discretion. It is understood that it is best to drink water without gas, because the water remains alkaline. The survey showed that not only 77% of respondents prefer fresh water, but 29% consider that this factor is one of the three most important in the choice of water. "In fact, experience shows that soda water is not worse than gasification, although there are often myths that carbonated drinks cause cellulite, damage to the skin." Stomach, etc., "says Baiba Grinberga nutritionist and physiologist . "In other words, it is advisable to rely on their feelings on this issue.If the sparkling water causes bloating, better to refrain, but if you do not feel any unpleasant sensation and that you like this type of water better, drink it safely without worrying about the formation of the stomach and intestines.