Hundreds of active and healthy centenarians live in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.

This
is one of the world's biggest "blue zones", where a large percentage of people enjoy
remarkably long lives. Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has studied the lifestyle of these long-lived
people, attributes their longevity to their physical activity and the fact that they drink hard
water, i.e., water high in calcium and magnesium which helps to maintain strong bones.
By contrast, it is estimated that approximately 28 million people (1 in 9 or 10.29%) in the
United States have osteoporosis and an additional 18 million have low bone mass. Many of
these cases could be caused because the drinking water is too pure and does not have
enough minerals to maintain equilibrium of the mineral ions in the bones. The situation is
aggravated by the use of domestic chemical water softeners which substantially reduce the
content of calcium in drinking water.


Calcium equilibrium was described by Professor B.E.C. Nordin in an editorial in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition:
Calcium intake, absorption, and excretion make up the 3 components of the calcium
paradigm. To remain in calcium balance, net absorbed calcium (the difference between
dietary intake and fecal output) has to equal calcium losses in the urine and through the
skin. If that is not achieved, the calcium balance becomes negative and the difference
between intake and output is drawn from the skeleton to maintain the (ionized) calcium in
the extracellular fluid. Sooner or later, probably in a matter of days, this requires bone
breakdown and the development of osteoporosis.[5]
Calcium (Ca
++
) intake is important at all ages, but the need is higher during childhood, fetal
growth, pregnancy, and lactation. Epidemiological, animal, and clinical studies show that the
occurrence of osteoporosis decreases as the dietary calcium intake increases. A diet that is
fortified in calcium may reduce the rate of age-related bone loss and hip fractures,
especially among adult women. In spite of this knowledge, nutritional surveys indicate that
more than half of North Americans consume inadequate levels of calcium and, on average,
adult women consume only 60% of the required daily calcium intake. Many foods, such as
orange juice, are now fortified with calcium, but naturally bioavailable calcium is found
almost exclusively in milk, milk products, and water. Drinking water may be a significant
source of calcium, and calcium-rich mineral water may provide over one-third of the
recommended dietary intake of this mineral in adults.[1]
Epidemiological studies also suggest that increased dietary intake of magnesium (Mg
++
)
reduces the occurrence of schemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden death.
Increased levels of magnesium in drinking water are associated with decreased occurrence
of cardiac disease. The majority of the U.S. population consumes less than the daily
magnesium requirement, and many individuals ingest less than 80% of the recommended
level. Magnesium is found in foods such as nuts, green leafy vegetables, cereals, and
seafood. However, magnesium in water is highly bioavailable, and is absorbed
approximately 30% faster and better than magnesium from food.[1]
Mineral Water Recipes:

Recipe 1: Calcium/Magnesium water
1 liter filtered tap water
1/8 tsp. magnesium sulfate (epsom salts)
1/8 tsp. calcium chloride

Recipe 2: Alkaline Magnesium water
1 liter filtered tap water
1/8 tsp. (teaspoon) sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
1/8 tsp. potassium bicarbonate
1/8 tsp. magnesium sulfate (epsom salts)

NOTE: Calcium Chloride should not be combined with the bicarbonates because calcium
carbonate precipitates. The sodium bicarbonate becomes sodium chloride (table salt), and
potassium bicarbonate becomes potassium chloride.
Ca
++
+ 2 HCO
3
-
CaCO
3
+ H
2
CO
3

H
2
CO
3
H
2
O + CO
2

Measure carefully. Make sure that the spoons are level and not heaping. If you cannot find a
measuring spoon set with 1/8 teaspoon, you can double the recipe. Use two liters of water
and the more common 1/4 teaspoon measure. It is advisable to filter the source tap water
with a water filter pitcherto assure that the water does not have heavy metals such as lead.
Mix all the ingredients until the mineral salts are completely dissolved.
Ingredients:
All these ingredients are GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO
4
7H
2
O) is
better known as Epsom salts, and has laxative properties
when more than 2 teaspoons are ingested at one time.
Epsom salts are sold in most drugstores and some grocery
stores.
Calcium chloride (CaCl
2
) is used to preserve the crispness
of vegetables during pickling. Food grade calcium chloride is
available from shops that provide ingredients for canning
and food preservation.
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO
3
), baking soda, is used as
an antacid and a leavening agent in self-rising flours. It has
wide application in making fluffy baked products. Baking
soda is available in most grocery stores. Do not confuse
baking soda with baking powder.
Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO
3
) is used to neutralize the
acidity of wines and keep them from being too tart.
Potassium bicarbonate can be obtained from winemaking
suppliers.
The bicarbonates make the water alkaline and can increase the pH of body fluids. The
molecular weight of these compounds can be used to calculate the amount of each mineral
in the recipe.
Molar mass of CaCl
2
= 110.984 g/mol (36.112% Ca by weight)
Molar mass of MgSO
4
7H
2
O = 246.475 g/mol (9.861% Mg by weight)
Molar mass of NaHCO
3
= 84.007 g/mol (27.367% Na by weight)
Molar mass of KHCO
3
= 100.115 g/mol (39.053% K by weight)
Since 1/8 tsp of each ingredient weighs approximately 0.6 grams (600 mg), the amount of
each mineral can be calculated by multiplying the percentage by weight in the molar mass
of the compound times the weight used in the recipe, e.g., 600mg 0.27 for sodium.
NOTE: The composition of home-made mineral water also depends on the minerals present
in the water before addition of these mineral salts. Check with the water commission in your
area to obtain an analysis of the minerals in your local water source. For example, the tap
water in Washington, D.C. [4] has the following average concentrations of minerals in mg/L:
Ca 38.9, Mg 10.3, Na 20.5, K 3.3.
Mineral Composition of the Water

Recipe 1: Calcium/Magnesium water
Calcium Ca
++
216 mg/L
Magnesium Mg
++
59 mg/L

Recipe 2: Alkaline Magnesium water
Magnesium Mg
++
59 mg/L
Sodium Na
+
162 mg/L
Potassium K
+
234 mg/L
Bicarbonate HCO
3
-
798 mg/L

For comparison, the table below lists the mineral compositions of several commercially
available bottled waters in North America and in Europe. The mineral content of the
Calcium/Magnesium water recipe above is similar to that of European waters with moderate
mineral content, such as San Pellegrino from Italy. The European waters with a high mineral
content are high in sodium and have a salty taste.
Avene Thermal Spring Donat Mg Mineral Wat FIJI Natural Artesia Liqumins
ConcenTrace Minerals NOW Foods Zinc Picol Nature2 Spa Stick Mi OtterBox
Defender Se PUR Advanced Faucet READY SPF 20 Founda
PrivacyAmazon.com
<a
href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V
20070822%2FUS%2Fscientificpsy-20%2F8006%2F42625399-5168-4432-aad0-
68b85eec024a&Operation=NoScript" target="_blank"><img
src="http://www.scientificpsychic.com/img/treasure-chest.jpg" width="120" height="123"
title="Product Specials" alt="Product Specials" /></a>
Adding Carbonation
Many mineral waters are effervescent when they emerge from the ground. The fizzines is
due to dissolved carbon dioxide (CO
2
) which forms bubbles as the water is decompressed
from a high underground pressure to the atmospheric pressure on the surface. You can
make your mineral water effervescent using a soda siphon and carbon dioxide cartridges
like the ones illustrated here. Once you have prepared the mineral water recipe, pour it into
the soda siphon, and plug in the carbon dioxide cartridge following the manufacturer's
instructions. The soda siphon with the carbonated water may be kept in the refrigerator
until ready for use.

Soda Siphon and Carbon Dioxide Cartridges