If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water,” quoth anthropologist and natural science writer Loren Eisely. There’s nothing quite potent than this colorless, life-giving liquid. There are umpteen benefits to tanking up on it too but there are moments when ennui sets and we begin to yearn for different ways of making it palatable. Its tastelessness is a put-off for many. So we go from hot to cold, regular to infused, colorless to colored. But what’s the best water for us? Here is a decoder.
Black Beauty
The latest hot-footer on the drinkable elixir circuit is infused alkaline blackwater with pH 8+. It’s been a saleable concept abroad and has now jockeyed into India. But is the hype worth it? “It detoxifies the body faster than normal water, as it gets absorbed faster than the regular water, thus, hydrating dehydrated cells faster. Rich in dissolved oxygen, it increases the metabolic rate to a reasonable extent. But it’s not as great as some make it out to be. It can be good for people who drink very less water daily. Blackwater contains fulvic acid and humic acid (mainly found in soil sediments in the aquatic environment). These ingredients are not required by our body. We can easily neutralise the acidic environment inside our system by eating more alkaline foods and less acidic foods,” says Chennai-based dietitian Deepalekha Bhattacharjee.
Shilpi Madan for Sunday Standard