Can babies drink mineral water? Is mineral water suitable for babies?

Can babies drink mineral water? Mineral water is a common daily drink. Many parents think that the mineral water sold in stores is better and more high-quality and suitable for babies. Is this really the case? Today, let's introduce to you the question of whether babies can drink mineral water.

Can babies drink mineral water?

Many parents believe that children need to supplement trace elements in their diet during their growth and development, which can be supplemented by giving their children mineral water, and it is very convenient, so why not do it? So, is mineral water good for the human body, especially is it suitable for children? Now let us learn about mineral water together.

Mineral water is deep underground water that can be drunk without disinfection. Therefore, strict aseptic operation technology is required. However, both domestic and foreign reports have found that the total number of bacteria in mineral water exceeds the standard. So from this point of view, mineral water has hygiene problems. Babies have weak gastrointestinal resistance, so they cannot drink mineral water.

Mineral water can be divided into sodium bicarbonate minerals, bicarbonate alkaline earth minerals, sodium chloride minerals, sulfate minerals, iron springs, iodine springs, bromine springs and silicate springs. In addition to salt, mineral water also contains elements that are beneficial to the human body, such as iron, copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, fluorine, etc., but some mineral waters also contain some harmful elements such as beryllium, lead and radioactive elements such as radon, radium, thorium, etc., and can only be drunk after removing harmful components. Beryllium and its compounds are highly toxic. The oral absorption rate of beryllium is generally less than 1%. Most soluble salts form phosphates in the intestines and are not absorbed. Beryllium can accumulate in various organs of skeletal muscle, with a long incubation period, and can cause chronic poisoning. Research results from scholars in the UK show that the chemical element antimony is used in the manufacture of mineral water polyester (PET) bottles. Plastic bottles may continue to dissolve "antimony" into mineral water, which is a potentially fatal toxin to human health in the long run. Chemists at Heidelberg University in Germany believe that "the longer the plastic bottle is left, the more easily the toxic substances contained in the plastic will be absorbed by the mineral water, and the more harmful the water will become."

As can be seen from the above, the advantage of mineral water is that it can supplement trace elements, while the disadvantage is the chronic harm of harmful elements and radioactive elements. Therefore, from a hygienic point of view, boiled water is the most suitable for the human body, and it plays an important role in human metabolism.

Is mineral water suitable for babies?

Since mineral water contains a lot of minerals, and the metabolism of minerals must go through the kidneys, too much minerals will increase the burden on the kidneys. Babies' organs are not yet fully developed, so they should not drink mineral water. Therefore, the best drink for babies is boiled water, and parents must pay attention to this.

The hardness of mineral water is measured by its mineral content. Generally, mineral water with a mineral content of less than 50 mg per liter is called "very low mineral content"; 50-500 mg is "low mineral content", which has a softer taste and a certain sweetness; most drinking mineral water has a mineral content between 500 and 1500 mg; mineral water with a mineral content of more than 1500 mg per liter is called "high mineral content" mineral water, which is mostly used in sports, saunas and other situations where the human body loses more minerals.

For young children, the mineral content in each liter of water should not exceed 100 mg, of which sodium should be less than 20 mg and fluoride should be less than 1.5 mg. Exceeding this value may pose a threat to the kidneys of newborns. Obviously, most mineral water is too "hard" for children.

Some parents may ask, is it better for me to give my baby purified water? The answer is still "NO"! Purified water that has undergone secondary processing is also not suitable for the digestive system of young children. As mentioned earlier, the concentration difference between the inside and outside of cells is the driving force for the absorption of water through osmosis. The mineral content of purified water is too low, resulting in a large gap between the two, which can also cause absorption disorders. In addition, long-term drinking of purified water can also cause children to lack certain minerals, and some industrial raw materials used in the purification process of purified water may have adverse effects on the liver function of young children.

What kind of water is suitable for babies?

Some people believe that boiled tap water is the most suitable water for babies to drink. Is this true?

As we all know, tap water that has been disinfected will contain residual chlorine. Chlorine-disinfected tap water can only kill some bacteria and viruses, but it cannot remove heavy metals and volatile substances in the water. And after long-distance transportation, the pipeline will inevitably age and rust, which will cause secondary pollution to the tap water.

In addition, the tap water in high-rise residential buildings also has the hidden danger of water tank/tank pollution. In addition to faucets, cast iron pipes, copper pipes and other water pipes also contain lead to a greater or lesser extent. Water pipes made of these materials can also cause tap water pollution.

As can be seen from the above picture, many pollutants in tap water cannot be removed by boiling. Therefore, we can say with certainty that boiled water is not suitable for infants and young children to drink.

What is the right water for babies to drink?

①Weak alkaline: Natural weak alkaline water can help babies maintain the body's acid-base balance.

② Low mineralization: The appropriate mineral content can not only meet the daily needs of the baby's body, but also avoid mineral deposition in the kidneys. Long-term drinking will not cause a burden on the baby's body.

③Natural and pollution-free: Baby drinking water is non-toxic and pollution-free, safety is the most important thing!