Water, water everywhere
The next time you work up a sweat and grab a glass of water to rehydrate, take a second to say thanks. According to the United Nations, more than 1 billion (yes, billion) people lack safe, clean drinking water, and more than 2 and a half billion don’t have access to adequate sanitation.
But for those of us who have clean water, water can be a wonderful thing. Water, the most vital of vital nutrients, varies in mineral composition from place to place. The Blue Zone scientist Gianni Pes discovered that the water in Nicoya, Costa Rica, is particularly rich in calcium.
Last week, deep in the University of San Jose’s archives, we found a map showing water hardness (calcium and magnesium content) in different regions of Costa Rica. We noticed that here in Nicoya, water is the hardest. To confirm this, we tested the drinking water in 20 different areas throughout Nicoya. The result: The water is off-the-charts hard in this area—at least 500 parts per million!
The World Health Organization has studied so-called “hard” water and found that water with more minerals (hard water) affords its drinkers some health benefits, specifically in terms of their cardiovascular health. While scientists don’t fully understand the reasons populations drinking hard water show lower rates of cardiovascular mortality, it is important to note that calcium and magnesium in water seem to offer added protection for one’s heart.
So be sure to stay hydrated – not everyone has clean water at their fingertips.
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