Find the right "water" for you ~ Nutritionist's Column Vol.85
The ability to adapt or not adapt to a particular land or environment is sometimes expressed as "being in good condition" or "not being in good condition."
Many people have probably experienced changes in their health, such as poor skin or hair condition or stomach upset, while traveling abroad or moving to a new place.
This is often caused by problems that arise when the water is different from the water we normally ingest or touch our skin.
Water not only affects your physical condition, but also the taste of your food.
Water also plays a major role in bringing out the flavor of ingredients, such as dashi stock, the basis of Japanese cuisine, bouillon, the base of French soups, and fonds, the base of sauces.
This time, I will talk about water.
The role of water for people
Approximately 60-65% of an adult human's body weight is made up of water, known as "body fluids," and taking in water into our bodies every day is essential to maintaining life.
The water we take in through drinking water and other sources is absorbed by the intestines and becomes body fluids such as blood, which constantly circulate throughout the body.
It also carries oxygen and nutrients taken in through food to cells via the blood, and excretes waste products from the body in the form of urine and sweat.
In addition, sweating helps regulate body temperature by releasing heat from the body, and the moisture on the surface of the body also helps prevent the skin from drying out.
The water we consume every day without even thinking about it is extremely important for our lives.
If you don't drink enough water and become dehydrated, it becomes difficult to excrete waste products, your blood becomes thick and the nutrients you ingest are not distributed properly, causing physical discomfort.
That being said, it's not a good idea to drink all the fluids at once.
By drinking water frequently - when you wake up in the morning, while you're at work, after bathing, before going to bed, etc. - you can maintain a constant level of hydration without putting strain on your body.
Type of Water
Water can be classified according to the components it contains.
Water mainly contains calcium ions and magnesium ions, and the amount of calcium and magnesium dissolved in 1000 ml of water is called "hardness."
According to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), water with a hardness of 120 mg/L or less is considered soft water, and water with a hardness of 120 mg/L or more is considered hard water.
Whether water is soft or hard depends on the soil composition of the area and the length of time it remains in the soil.
Next, let's look at the characteristics of "soft water" and "hard water."
Characteristics of soft water
Tap water in Japan is generally said to be soft water.
This is largely due to Japan's geography.
In Japan, steep mountains have been formed as a result of active volcanic activity and crustal movement, which means that rivers are short and have steep slopes to the sea. This means that groundwater flows through the strata in a relatively short time, resulting in soft water that does not contain many minerals.
Because it contains a low amount of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, it has a light, mellow mouthfeel and refreshing flavor that makes it easy to drink.
Cooking rice using soft water results in fluffy, sweet rice.
The umami component of kelp, glutamic acid, dissolves easily in soft water, making it useful for making good stock and for making simmered dishes softer and more flavorful.
It is said that fermented foods have been developed and passed down in Japan because of the availability of soft water that contains almost no iron, which koji mold dislikes.
In this way, soft water is essential to bring out the deliciousness of Japanese cuisine.
Characteristics of hard water
There is a lot of hard water overseas, especially in Europe and the United States.
This is because the rivers are long and have a gentle slope down to the sea, so as they slowly seep into the earth's layers over time, minerals dissolve into the water, making it harder.
While it has a strong mineral flavor, it can also have a peculiar taste, be heavy on the palate and feel bitter.
It is expected to have detoxifying effects such as replenishing minerals when you sweat during sports, etc., and relieving constipation.
In terms of cooking, it is suitable for cooking methods such as paella and pilaf that give foods a chewy texture, bone soup where the minerals bring out the flavor, vegetable dishes that you don't want to fall apart, spicy fish dishes, meat dishes such as beef stew, and when boiling pasta.
In our daily lives, if the hardness of our hair is too high, soap or shampoo will not lather well, our hair will feel rough, and our skin will become dry.
Types of mineral water
In recent years, many different types of mineral water have been available on store shelves.
It is said that there are more than 1,000 brands, including both domestic and imported products.
This mineral water is groundwater collected from a specific source and has had minerals such as calcium and magnesium dissolved in it.
You may think that mineral water is all natural water, but according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's "Guidelines for Quality Labeling of Mineral Water," the only mineral waters that can be called natural water are "natural water" and "natural mineral water."
Water other than groundwater, that has its own unique water quality, and that does not contain minerals, such as "alkaline ionized water," "deep ocean water," and "pure water," are classified as "bottled water."
Next, I will introduce some of the characteristics of water that we hear about often these days.
The Role of Vitamins and Minerals ~Nutritionist's Column Vol.21 (Part 2: About Minerals)
Characteristics of alkaline ionized water
This stands for "alkaline electrolyzed water," and refers to water that is produced by electrolyzing tap water, and has a slightly alkaline pH of 8 to 10 (pH value: a number that indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions).
It can be made using a home water purifier, and it is also available commercially in plastic bottles.
Alkaline ionized water is expected to improve various gastrointestinal problems such as stomach upset, indigestion, and diarrhea caused by an intestinal acidity bias. In addition, because the water molecules are small, it is easily absorbed by the body and has a detoxifying effect as it helps expel waste products that have accumulated in the body.
Characteristics of hot spring water
In addition to taking a bath in a hot spring, you can also drink it as a way to take in the hot spring water directly into your body.
Since ancient times in Europe, it has been common to see people at hot springs pouring hot spring water into a glass and drinking it slowly.
There are places in Japan where you can drink hot spring water directly from the hot springs, but many of them have a sulfur smell or contain salt, making them difficult to drink.
Most commercially available bottled hot spring water has been filtered and its flavor adjusted to make it easy to drink while preserving the original ingredients.
Depending on the type, they are also expected to gently support the body's ionic balance, hydrate from the inside, and restore the body's natural healing ability.
Characteristics of hydrogen water
It is "water" that has hydrogen gas (hydrogen molecules = H2) dissolved in it.
Since there is no official definition, the concentration required to call hydrogen water varies depending on the manufacturer.
Hydrogen water is said to be effective in anti-aging, improving various symptoms caused by active oxygen, which is the cause of aging and disease.
It is also believed to have immune-boosting effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, as well as a weight-loss effect by increasing energy metabolism.
Hydrogen water is sold in plastic bottles, cans, aluminum pouches, etc.
Hydrogen dissolved in water has the tendency to escape over time, so once opened, it is important to drink the bottle as quickly as possible.
Here are some of the characteristics of water.
When choosing the water that's right for you, one thing to consider is based on your lifestyle and concerns. For example, if your regular diet is lacking in minerals, choose hard water, which is rich in minerals. If you're experiencing bowel movements or gastrointestinal problems, try alkaline ionized water.
Still, the most important thing is whether the drink suits your body, is easy to drink, and allows you to hydrate frequently.
Water is essential for health and beauty, so be sure to consume the necessary amount every day to live a vibrant lifestyle.
With so many types of water on the market, it's up to you to find the one that's right for you.
