RO Water Is Good For Health Or Not?

The RO water treatment, also known as reverse osmosis water treatment, was introduced in North America way back in the 1970s. Since then, it has grown largely popular in many parts of the world. Today, the technology is mostly used by companies producing and distributing bottled water as well in government installations, manufacturing plants, and military bases. However, the questions remain: Is RO water good for you? Is RO water healthy?
 

So, What Kind of Water Is RO Water?

Ro water is water that’s been taken through a unique purification process that involves putting it under pressure and forcing it through a membrane (semi-permeable) fitted with carbon filters. Basically, RO is short for Reverse Osmosis. Unlike in distillation, RO water doesn’t have to be heated as the process is entirely scientific. This process results in the removal of contaminant molecules, ions, and other unwanted larger particles from the drinking water.

Still, the question of whether RO water is good for health or not remains a contentious issue. You might want to know its pros and cons to better find the “balance” in the question.

 

The Pros

First off, you understand that the main goal of water purification is to get rid of harmful compounds, and RO water seems to deliver on that. With this process, you get rid of organic chemicals, copper, arsenic, lead, and nitrates. All these are harmful to the human body.

Besides that, the process also works to eliminate dangerous parasites, like the Cryptosporidium, that could cause fever, diarrhea, and painful stomach cramps. Also, the removal of the bad elements leaves the water with a better taste than when filled with sulfur compounds, iron, lead, and nitrates.

Clearly, this is a big win for RO water. Now, is RO water good for you? The pros may make it look awesome. However, let’s also check out the cons.

 

The Cons

You see, taking water through such an indiscriminative purification process means that, besides getting rid of the bad elements and compounds, you also end up stripping it of the useful and healthy natural minerals. Because the membrane is larger than particles of minerals like sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, the minerals end up filtering out too. This could leave the water almost tasteless since it’s these minerals that give the water its natural taste.

The absence of these minerals may also lower the water’s pH value and turn it acidic, and that could be a health hazard.

 

 

The Final Take

The fact remains that it’s better to take purified water than gulping glasses of untreated water full of all manner of chemicals and parasites. In fact, RO water can come in handy in some circumstances like during camping or when water is too contaminated and other methods don’t work properly or fast.

However, it’s smart to add a dash of sea salt and some other pre-dissolved minerals to your RO water to compensate for those filtered out during the purification process. Besides boosting the nutrient content in the water, it also brings back the original taste of the water. That’s something you would surely enjoy.