The art of drinking water, like other arts, requires constant attention to master. Drinking good water is key to a healthy body.
1. Raw Water: Raw water contains various bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are harmful to humans and can be transmitted between humans and animals. Drinking raw water can easily cause acute gastroenteritis, viral hepatitis, typhoid, dysentery, and parasitic infections. Especially today, as rivers, reservoirs, and well water of all sizes are contaminated to varying degrees by industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, and pesticide residues, drinking raw water is even more likely to cause disease.
2. Aged Water: Commonly known as "stagnant water," this is water that has been stored for a long time without moving. Drinking this water often can slow down cell metabolism in minors, affecting physical development; in middle-aged and elderly people, it can accelerate aging. The incidence of esophageal and stomach cancer is increasing in many places, and according to medical research, this may be related to long-term consumption of aged water.
3. Re-boiled Water: This is water that has been boiling on a stove all night or for a long time, as well as water in an electric water heater that has been boiled repeatedly. Because it has been boiled for too long, this water has a high content of non-volatile substances such as heavy metals like calcium and magnesium, and nitrates. Drinking this water for a long time can interfere with gastrointestinal function, causing temporary diarrhea and bloating. The toxic nitrites can also cause hypoxia in the body, and in severe cases, lead to coma, convulsions, or even death.
4. Steamer Water: This is the leftover water from steaming food like steamed buns. Steamer water that has been used repeatedly, especially, has a high concentration of nitrates. Drinking this water often or using it to cook congee can cause nitrite poisoning. The limescale that often enters the human body with the water can also cause digestive, nervous, urinary, and hematological system diseases, and even premature aging.
5. Unboiled Water: The tap water people drink is disinfected and sterilized by chlorination. Thirteen harmful substances can be separated from chlorinated water, among which halogenated hydrocarbons and chloroform are carcinogenic and teratogenic. When the water temperature reaches 90°C, the content of halogenated hydrocarbons increases from 53 micrograms per kilogram to 177 micrograms, which is twice the national hygiene standard for drinking water.