Ask the Diva: Is Reverse Osmosis Treated Water a Good Idea?
There are a lot of ways to filter and purify water. Is treating water with reverse osmosis a good idea?
Q. I installed a reverse osmosis system for our drinking water. But I see a lot of conflicting information about whether reverse osmosis is good or bad. What is your take on it?
Answer. There are a lot of ways to filter and purify water, and different methods are more (or less) effective at removing different contaminants. Reverse osmosis is a good way to remove impurities like nitrites and arsenic, for example, but not so great at removing volatile organic compounds. When selecting a water filtration system, it’s always a good idea to know what’s going on in your local water, because both the type and level of contaminants vary dramatically from region to region.
See Also: What’s in Your Water
One downside of reverse osmosis
is that it also removes all the beneficial minerals from water. In fact, many bottled water companies use reverse osmosis to purify tap water and then add minerals back in—which also improves the flavor of the water. Seeing as the system is already installed, just make sure you’re getting plenty of minerals from other sources.
See Also: Is Mineral Water a Good Source of Nutrition?
Reverse osmosis filtration system from Shutterstock
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.
