Labels tell you what kind of water you drink
Each of us have different water needs. The label helps us choose the water we drink according to these specific needs
Mineral or spring water labels may provide very detailed information about mineral and trace elements contents. This allows everyone to be aware of the big compositional characteristics differences between waters, be they mineral or spring. Choosing a bottle of water instead of another is not neutral. A little regulation reminder about differences in waters…
According to the European regulation, there are three categories of water:
Water for human consumption (including tap water), coming from surface waters and which bacteriological security has to be assured by chemical disinfection treatments (most of the time, chlorine) or ozone.
Bottled waters such as natural mineral water (carbonated or not) and spring water, both extracted from an underground water table or deposit and microbiologically wholesome at the source; this is the reason why they are not chemically treated during the bottling process.
What does the label of bottled natural mineral and spring water say?
About bottled water labeling, and according to the European regulation, there are mandatory and optional indications, as follows:
Mandatory indications: sales description, volume, the “best before…” date, the storage and use conditions, he name and address of the manufacturer and/or packager, the batch reference, the place where the spring is exploited, the name of the spring, and of course the analytical composition for natural mineral waters (mineral content, trace elements and dry residues) + information of any treatments among the few permitted (e.g. total or partial elimination of carbon dioxide).
Optional indications: about the properties related to health. It’s important to know that all indications attributing properties related to the prevention, treatment or cure of a human illness to natural mineral water are prohibited, except for indications that are on a very specific list.
Here are some examples from the list : contains calcium – contains magnesium – contains bicarbonate – low mineral content – rich in mineral salts – contains fluoride – suitable for a low-sodium diet – suitable for the preparation of infant food – stimulates digestion – may be laxative – may be diuretic…
Choosing water according to yours needs :
According to its mineral content, miner hydration role it plays in the human organism. For instance, if you have insufficient calcium intake because you don’t eat enough dairy products, it is recommended that you choose a calcium-rich mineral water. Some can contain more than 500 mg/L of calcium! Drinking 1.5 liters per day of a water rich in calcium can allow you to meet your calcium need for the day!
These waters are really useful for people having high calcium needs like teenagers, pregnant and breast-feeding women and senior citizens.Water with high magnesium content is very interesting if you lack this mineral, like people having an unbalanced, insufficient and low vegetable diet.al water can be of interest in terms of nutrition or health, in addition to the major
Low mineral content watersare adapted to people having a healthy diet and who don’t have mineral deficiency. Waters rich in mineral salts (like calcium and magnesium) are worth drinking for those who are on a low-calorie diet or for people having an insufficient and unbalanced diet. In that case, the risk of mineral deficiency is high; drinking this type of water allows raising the level of mineral intake.
Conclusion:don’t choose a bottle of water randomly; give it as much care as when you buy food, read the label thoroughly to be aware of the nutrition profile of the water. Apart from its taste, you’ll take advantage of the other qualities it may offer!
Dr Laurence Plumey, Nutritionist, Paris