What Toxins Are Lurking In Your Water?

A Guide to Water Filters

You've likely heard that staying well hydrated is essential for good health. But if your goal is to heal, reverse chronic illness, prevent illness, or achieve optimal health and well-being, the quality of the water you drink is just as important as the quantity. Water usually contains beneficial minerals, but it can also contain a host of hazardous contaminants with SERIOUS health effects. Unfortunately, all water is not created equal, and the type of water you drink has a huge impact on your overall health.

Simply put, we want to keep the toxins out and the helpful minerals in, which is done through proper filtration. Unfortunately, most tap water in the United States is chock-full of toxins. There are regulations to keep these levels in check, but it's incredibly common for the limits to be exceeded despite these guidelines. You can check the levels of pollutants in your local tap water by checking out the Environmental Working Group's website. It's also worth noting that even "safe levels" of many of these chemicals can damage your health and that not all potentially harmful contaminants are monitored through government agencies. This all means that the responsibility of keeping your drinking water safe is up to you.

Toxins in Tap Water

If you drink tap water, you're likely consuming a cocktail of chemicals that are altering your hormones, destroying your gut, and damaging your health. A few of the toxic contaminants most commonly found in water today are fluoride, lead, mercury, chlorine, PFAS, pharmaceuticals, herbicides and pesticides, harmful microbes, arsenic, VOCs, and phthalates. This is just the beginning of the list.

Fluoride

In the 1950’s they started adding fluoride to our water and convinced us that it was harmless and would help to minimize tooth decay. However, they neglected to educate us on the systemic toxicity of fluoride and its anti-thyroid, neurotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting effects. Fluoride is known to reduce the production of sex hormones, impairing fertility and potentially disrupting puberty, and up until the 1950s, it was used as a thyroid SUPPRESSANT. 

According to Dr. Izabella Wentz, 2-5 mg of fluoride per day effectively suppresses an overactive thyroid. And if you're drinking the recommended 8 cups of water daily and not using a fluoride filter, you are most definitely ingesting enough fluoride to suppress thyroid hormone, which can eventually lead to an under active thyroid. This mineral can remain and accumulate in the body for years, wreaking havoc and causing many symptoms of illness, including hypothyroidism, obesity, depression, chronic fatigue, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic cystic acne, and more. If that wasn't bad enough, fluoride has also been shown to contribute to glucose intolerance which causes blood sugar spikes and further drives hormonal imbalances. Looks like the small benefit of this public health measure to prevent tooth decay comes at a MASSIVE price.

Chlorine

Chlorine is another chemical that's frequently added to tap water. This is done to help kill harmful microbes living in water, but it also comes with a side of hormone-disrupting effects. Drinking chlorinated water does kill dangerous microbes, but it also harms the beneficial microbes in the gut that are essential for good digestion, mood regulation, hormone production, and so much more. Studies have suggested that exposure to chlorine may increase the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth defects. Chlorine also tends to replace iodide in thyroid hormones, which means the inactive thyroid hormone can't convert to the active form, resulting in hypothyroidism. A good filter will remove harmful microbes, meaning chlorine is unnecessary.

PFAS

PFAS you may be less familiar with but this large group of toxic man-made chemicals are definitely something you want to lookout for. These chemicals are often used in a variety of industrial and consumer products. They are known as “forever chemicals” as they do not break down easily in the environment and are known to bioaccumulate in the human body. Studies show that more than 98% of the US population have PFAS in their blood.

Due to their persistent nature, PFAS are accumulating in the water, air, and soil in many parts of the world. This is especially true here in the US. An EWG analysis shows that anywhere from 43 to 200 million Americans are served water that exceeds the recommended levels of PFAS.

This is quite alarming as PFAS have been linked to a wide range of adverse health effects, including developmental and reproductive problems, thyroid disease, liver and kidney damage, and multiple types of cancer.

And this my friends, is just the tip of the iceberg. Other substances found in our water supply can also cause gastrointestinal disruption, neurological issues, reproductive troubles, and so much more. So getting a thorough filter for your water is an essential precaution to reduce these dangers and keep your body healthy long-term.

Water Filters

I understand that the world of water filters can seem complex and intimidating, so I'm going to make it simple for you. The best type of water filter will depend on your budget, lifestyle, and the quality of water you want to end up with. There are options for everyone.

Please note that there are a few affiliate links down below, which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase via the link at no extra cost to you. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or not.

Pitchers

One of the most popular methods of water filtration is a pitcher. While these are convenient, there are many pitcher filters on the market that do very little in the way of removing harmful substances. Brita is the most popular brand, and it only filters out a handful of chemicals (chlorine, copper, cadmium, mercury, and zinc) of the HUNDREDS of health-harming toxins tap water contains. A far better option is this Water Pitcher by Clearly Filtered. This surprisingly powerful filter removes up to 365 contaminants, including lead, fluoride, chlorine, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and PFAS. It's a low-hassle and affordable option for general household use that's lightyears ahead of a basic Brita.

Countertop and Under the Sink Filters

Beyond pitchers are the larger countertop or under-the-sink options. These are generally more expensive but more thorough with their filtration process and much more convenient. The Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under the Sink Water Filter System is an easy-to-install option that can even be used by renters. The Berkey Water Filter is also an incredibly simple countertop option that uses gravity-fed filters requiring zero electricity to operate. It's important to note that the Berkey system doesn't filter out fluoride without their fluoride filter add-on. The most common type of filter used for these systems is activated carbon which absorbs impurities.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

The "highest tier" of water filtration systems is what's known as reverse osmosis. These systems use pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane, and it's the most effective way to remove virtually all contaminants. They come in countertop versions like the AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis System or under-the-sink options like Waterdrop G3 Reverse Osmosis System. Investing in one of these is truly the gold standard for water filtration, and it will preserve your health for years to come.

However, keep in mind that if you're using a Reverse Osmosis System, everything will be removed, including 99.9% of all beneficial minerals. So if you decide this is the best option, I recommend remineralizing your water with either some Celtic sea salt, an electrolyte powder, or a greens supplement.

Bottle Filters

An affordable bonus category of water filters worth mentioning is filtered water bottles. These work similarly to the pitcher but on a smaller scale. The straw portion of the bottle contains the filter, so you can simply fill it with tap water, and whatever passes through the straw will be instantly purified. This is incredibly convenient for travel and on-the-go use but is best for individual use and can't be relied on to filter large amounts of water at a time. This Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle from Clearly Filtered is an excellent choice I recommend to all my clients.

Whatever option you choose that best suits your lifestyle right now will be a great step toward improving your health. Your body is made up of 60% water, so making sure the water you're drinking is toxin-free is one of the most critical factors contributing to your overall wellness. Every step you make towards a healthier you counts.