Why is it important to use mineralized water?

December 1, 2025 •

3 min read

According to Trace Minerals, a significant portion of the adult population lacks sufficient levels of essential minerals like magnesium and calcium. Learning why it is important to use mineralized water can help address these deficiencies, as it provides a convenient and effective way to replenish vital nutrients for your body's optimal function.

Quick Summary

This article explores the science behind mineralized water, detailing its essential components and their roles in promoting cellular hydration, supporting bone and heart health, and regulating bodily functions. It compares mineralized water to tap and purified alternatives, discusses sourcing options, and highlights the benefits for digestive health and athletic performance.

Key Points

Replenishes Essential Minerals: Mineralized water restores vital elements like calcium and magnesium that are often removed during purification, supporting bodily functions.
Enhances Hydration: The electrolytes in mineralized water, such as sodium and potassium, aid in cellular hydration and fluid balance, making it more effective for replenishment.
Supports Bone Health: Rich in calcium and magnesium, mineralized water contributes to bone density and strength, potentially reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Boosts Cardiovascular Health: Magnesium-rich mineral water can help regulate blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels, promoting a healthier heart.
Aids Digestion: The mineral composition, particularly magnesium sulfate and bicarbonate, can help relieve constipation and support overall digestive health.
Improves Athletic Performance: Replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat helps maintain nerve and muscle function, critical for athletes and those with active lifestyles.

The Science Behind Mineralization

Mineralization involves adding essential minerals back into water. While natural mineral water from sources like underground reservoirs contains these elements, processes like filtration often remove beneficial minerals, resulting in demineralized water. Mineralized water helps restore this balance for better hydration and well-being. Minerals in water, such as calcium and magnesium, are free ions, which some studies suggest may be more easily absorbed than those in food.

Essential Minerals and Their Functions

Mineralized water typically contains key minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, though content varies by source. Trace elements like zinc and selenium may also be present.

Key Mineral Roles:

Calcium: Supports bone health, muscle contraction, and nerve function. Some research suggests absorption from mineral water is comparable to dairy.
Magnesium: Involved in over 300 bodily reactions, regulating blood sugar and pressure and supporting nerve, muscle, and bone health. It can help supplement diets often low in magnesium.
Potassium: An electrolyte important for fluid balance, blood pressure, and heart function. Useful for athletes losing electrolytes through sweat.
Bicarbonate: Found in many natural mineral waters, it helps maintain the body's pH balance and can aid digestion.
Zinc and Selenium: These trace elements offer antioxidant benefits and support immune health.

Mineralized Water vs. Other Water Sources

Understanding the differences between water types can inform your choice. The table below compares mineralized, tap, and purified water:


Feature	Mineralized Water	Standard Tap Water	Purified Water
Mineral Content	Consistently high due to source or additives.	Varies by location; health benefits from minerals are inconsistent.	Very low or non-existent, as minerals are removed during purification.
Source	Natural underground springs or filtered water with added mineral supplements.	Municipal water systems (rivers, lakes, groundwater).	Various sources (often municipal water) subjected to extensive processing.
Processing	Bottled at source or minerals added post-filtration.	Treated with disinfectants; travels through pipes.	Distilled, deionized, or reverse osmosis to remove contaminants and minerals.
Taste	Often distinct and pleasant due to minerals.	Varies based on local content and treatment.	Can taste bland due to mineral removal.
Health Benefits	Provides essential minerals, potentially aiding bone, heart, and digestive health.	Primarily provides hydration; inconsistent mineral contribution to health.	Hydrates but doesn't significantly add to mineral intake.

Benefits for Active Lifestyles

Hydration is key for active people. Mineralized water's electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium are vital for cellular hydration, muscle function, and nerve signaling. Replenishing these lost through sweat with mineralized water can improve endurance and aid recovery. A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine noted that mineral water helped reduce blood pressure in individuals with low magnesium and calcium levels. Find more details on this study in the National Library of Medicine's archive.

How to Ensure Your Water is Mineralized

There are several ways to get mineralized water:

Bottled Mineral Water: Natural mineral water from specific springs contains at least 250 ppm of total dissolved solids and is FDA regulated. Mineral content varies by brand.
Remineralizing Filters: Some advanced filtration systems, like reverse osmosis, have a final stage to add beneficial minerals back after purification.
Mineral Drops/Supplements: Adding mineral drops to filtered water is a simple way to remineralize.
Homemade Solutions: You can add food-grade mineral salts like baking soda and Epsom salt to filtered water.

Conclusion

Prioritizing mineralized water is a straightforward step towards better health. It helps restore essential minerals often removed by purification, enhancing cellular hydration, supporting vital functions, and promoting overall wellness. Whether choosing natural spring water or remineralizing at home, the benefits for bone health, heart function, and digestion are significant. Using mineralized water is an investment in your body's foundation for health and vitality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Purified water, through processes like reverse osmosis, has most minerals removed to eliminate contaminants, resulting in a low mineral content. Mineralized water, conversely, has had essential minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, added back to it, or it is sourced from a natural spring with a high mineral content.

Mineralized water contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium. These minerals help regulate fluid balance and aid in the absorption of water at a cellular level, ensuring more efficient hydration than water without these mineral salts.

Not necessarily. The mineral content of bottled water varies by brand and source. While bottled mineral water often has a higher and more consistent mineral profile than tap water, the mineral content in tap water can also vary greatly depending on location. The EPA regulates tap water for contaminants, but its mineral content is not consistently managed for health benefits.

Yes, you can make your own. A common method involves adding a specific mix of food-grade mineral salts, like baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), to filtered water. Pre-made mineral drop supplements are also available for convenience.

Key minerals include calcium for bone health, magnesium for muscle and nerve function, and potassium and sodium for electrolyte balance. Some also contain bicarbonate, which helps with digestion and acid-base balance.

Yes, mineralized water often has a distinct, sometimes slightly salty or sweet taste, depending on its mineral composition. This differs from the flat or bland taste often associated with demineralized water.

For most people, drinking mineralized water is safe. However, consuming it from plastic bottles may expose you to microplastics or other chemicals like BPA, especially when exposed to heat or for long periods. Additionally, highly carbonated mineral water can cause bloating or minor tooth enamel erosion, although the effect is far less than with sugary sodas.