Are black, artesian, alkalised waters really good for you?

ARTESIAN, fulvic-enhanced, alkalised, energisingly-high silica, all-natural mineral water. Confused? We are too.

For something we can all get for free from the tap, the bottled water market is huge. In 2013, Choice found that the bottled water industry is worth $500 million dollars each year, and it seems like there’s a new brand popping up on supermarket shelves every week.

The latest offender is blk, a “premium fulvic-enhanced, all-natural mineral water” which is a murky black coloured liquid encased in a slick looking 500ml plastic bottle, selling for $4.50.

The brand claims that “blk is what happens when fulvic trace minerals are added to pure water. blk is powerful electrolytes and a high pH. blk is serious hydration. blk is a delicious beverage without any sugar, carbs or calories.”

In plain English, blk’s main sell, fulvic trace minerals, is condensed plant matter. But do we need this in our diet?

“The belief is that it’s really nutrient rich,” explains nutritionist Zoe Bingley-Pullin. “But I think no, we don’t need it — if you’re eating the correct recommendation of fruit and vegetables each day, managing sleep and stress well, if you’re abiding by all those things then you don’t need any additional supplementation.

“Personally, I also have a problem with any water that comes in plastic because of the preservatives in the bottles. All these nutritional claims are completely negated by what they’re packaged in!”

Indeed, three other players on the market — Fiji, Voss and Nakd waters — also come in plastic bottles. While all of these bottles claim to be high grade PET and therefore safe, they also claim to be “artesian” water.

Put simply, artesian water is naturally filtered water that comes from an underground aquifer (water-bearing permeable rocks), and is bottled before it comes into contact with the air, man, or any other pollutants. Artesian water brand Antipodes use this handy little infographic to explain it:

Usually, artesian water is sourced from somewhere like Fiji, Norway or New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. So far so fancy, but is it any better or more hydrating than tap water? No, according to Bingley-Pullin.

“Drinking tap water is your best starting point,” she says. “I have a restaurant owner friend who buys it, specifically because it doesn’t have preservatives and tastes clean. So if these waters make you want to drink more water, then okay, do it.”

And what about “alkalised” water? Alkaline or ionised water is water that has a high pH level, and is meant to help the body neutralise acidity and stay in balance. Blk and Nakd waters both claim to be highly alkalised. So, do we need water that is extra-alkalised?

“We want our body to be a balance of alkaline and acid so we can break our foods down and maintain our health,” says Bingley-Pullin. “But water is already alkalised. If you’re worried you can add things like lemon, it works with the natural balances in the body.”

The same goes for minerals like silica. “Whether we need to start adding that into water as well, I’m not so sure. Silica is the compound related to strong hair and nails, but we don’t need a huge amount, especially if you’ve got a balanced diet,” she says.

So if most of the benefits these waters are offering can be gained from mainitaining a healthy, balanced diet, why should you drink fancy water?

“You will get some passionate healthies that say drinking these bottled waters is a better way to do it, and maybe that is the case, and try it by all means,” says Bingley-Pullin. “If you notice a difference to your health, stick to it. If it makes you drink more water, buy it. I personally don’t drink those waters and I consider myself to be very healthy, but I’m diligent about drinking the right amount of water for me.

“More than anything else, I’d just like people to be drinking the amount of water they should. Constantly sipping all day works well, and that can include herbal teas. You can add fresh strawberries, apples, mint into your water if you’re struggling to drink it, that might make you more excited for it. But I don’t think you need to be buying a product. You want to make sure you’re getting something that is more than just a fancy label on a bottle.”

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