Many people are concerned about whether reverse osmosis water is healthy to drink. A few factors may impact the answer to this question, including how much you drink and if you have an illness like severe acid reflux or gastrointestinal ulcers.
There is virtually no tried-and-tested evidence to suggest that drinking reverse osmosis water is unhealthy or harmful to your health. As long as you maintain a balanced diet and do not suffer from any digestive conditions, it is safe to drink RO systems water.
It Removes Contaminants
Reverse osmosis water filtration is one of the most comprehensive forms of filtration. It removes salts, dissolved chemicals and other impurities from your drinking water without wasting water.
Reverse osmosis systems use a semi-permeable membrane to separate water molecules from ions, unwanted molecules and larger particles. This process is called osmosis and it occurs naturally when a weaker solution migrates toward a stronger solution.
Reverse osmosis removes a wide variety of contaminants, including chlorine, lead and nitrates. It also reduces pH and adds minerals to the water. It can corrode plumbing systems and is not recommended for everyday use in households with low-quality water sources.
It Removes Minerals
Reverse osmosis is the process of pushing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure to remove salt, chemicals and other impurities. This can be an effective method of removing minerals, like calcium and magnesium.
Minerals are important for human health because they help maintain healthy teeth, bones, muscle contraction and the nervous system. Moreover, they control biochemical reactions in the body and regulate blood pressure.
In a reverse osmosis water filter, dissolved solids are removed through the process of osmosis and the resulting pure water is stored in a pressurized tank until use.
Reverse osmosis is a relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly method of treating water. It’s a common choice in many communities because it reduces the amount of dissolved solids in drinking water and helps prevent contaminants from reaching a home or business’s pipes. It also removes a lot of bacteria, protozoa and viruses that can cause illness and disease in humans. RO systems are also effective at removing fluoride and other toxic materials from the water supply.
It Reduces Acidity
Reverse osmosis is effective at removing toxins, lead, and other contaminants from water. But it also removes minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause the water to become slightly acidic.
It is not a good idea to drink acidic water, as it can damage your stomach and other gastrointestinal organs. That being said, the pH of reverse osmosis water is generally considered safe for consumption.
The pH scale spans from 0 to 14 and is based on the number of hydrogen ions present in a liquid. The higher the number, the more alkaline it is.
You can test the acidity of your reverse osmosis water with one of three reliable methods: litmus paper, pH strips, or a red cabbage indicator test.
A pH strip is the most reliable method, as it uses a color chart to help you determine where your reverse osmosis water lands on the acidity-alkalinity spectrum. However, it is best to use a strip that tests within the 5.5-8.5 range for RO water.
It Increases Electrolytes
Reverse osmosis water is a good source of potassium, magnesium and calcium. However, it is not rich in other essential minerals like sodium and fluoride.
The membrane in RO systems separates dissolved ions into a small portion that can pass through and a larger portion that cannot. This is a result of its 0.0001 micron pore size.
While this separation process helps to remove most contaminants, it leaves behind a considerable amount of waste water. The retention rate varies from system to system but is typically around 20%, meaning that 80% of the filtered water is flushed down the drain.
Remineralizing your RO water can be a hassle-free way to boost its mineral content without changing the taste. It can be done by using a remineralizing filter, or by adding trace mineral drops.
