Distilled Water 
and
 Its
    Relationship to Health...
 
 
   Change Your Water
 
- Change Your Life
 
 
      Distillation Station- Aquamedia Group Companies- Copyright 2013- All
Rights Reserved
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Douglas Clayton Hoover
Author
 
 
 Douglas is a retired contractor, author, freelance writer, inventor, designer,
architect and lives in San Diego, CA with his wife Alice. He is the founder and developer of 
the “
Distillation Station,” the
very “first bottled water vending machines in the United States.”
 
The original station was placed in Bill's IGA Store, Brooklyn, Michigan, in
1976. Douglas Hoover has been studying water and its relationship to
health for over 40 years. He rarely debates with the distilled water naysayers, because, “A man with
an experience is not at the mercy of a man with an argument.”
Douglas is a living example of the miraculous health benefits of a “
fasting
lifestyle
” and drinking plenty of distilled water. In the year 1976, just a
stone's throw from the 
Michigan International
 Speedway, in Bill's IGA
(Independent Grocers Association
) distilled
 water was being installed by
Doug Hoover of the Aquamedia Corporation. Nine years later, in June of
1985, the owner of Bill's IGA store reported sales 
of Crystal
 Distilled
drinking water was in excess of 2500 gallons per week in addition to over
1,500 pounds 
of Crystal
 
Distilled ice
 cubes. Brooklyn has a population of
1,300! He was excited to add 
that the Crystal
 
Distilled drinking
 water from
the Distillation
 Station produced the highest profit margin of any item in his
store." Crystal Distilled water and ice is produced by steam vapor
compression distillation which kills all bacteria and cysts, removing
everything from the water, resulting in the purest, healthiest water
available, distilled! TABLE OF CONTENTS 
   
Preface
………………...............................….….…....   6
 
1
   What Is Distilled Water? ………………....................   7
 
2
   Distilled Water – Simple Yet Misunderstood …......  16
 
3
   Why Do I Need to Drink Distilled Water? ….........  22
 
4
  What's In Your Water? …........
............................  32
 
5
   The Fluoridation of Drinking Water  ....................  39
 
6
   Drinking Water and Cancer  ……….…….......
..........  42
 
7
   Does Bottled Water Pr
ovide Health Benefits? …....  47
 
 
 
8
   America – Overweight, Sick & Dying Earlier? Simple Solution: H
2
O …...........
............................. 61
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
(Cont'd)
 
 
 
9
   Dis
tilled Water Helps Burn Fat    . .................. 66
 
10  
Cooking With Distilled Water 
    . ................... 70 
11
  Comparing Orga
nic & Inorganic Minerals …... 78
 
12
  Mineral Chelates
 Are Not Created Equal …..... 82
 
13
  Carbon Filters: “Cheapest
” Water Treatment
     
... But Are They Effective? …......................... 86
 
14  
40 Years of Fasting With Distilled Water 
. …
…
.. 92
 
15
  
Fasting – Distilled Water – Exercise
............... 10
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preface
 
This book will expose the myths and falsehoods while 
revealing the
 truths
about water quality and its relationship to health 
and longevity
. Think of what you need to merely survive. Food? Water? Air? Cell 
phones? Obviously, by the book
’
s title, I
’
m going to 
concentrate on
 water. Water is of major importance to all living things; 
in some
 organisms, up to
90% of their body weight comes 
from water
. Up to 60-70% of the human
body is 
water;
 the brain 
is composed
 of over 70-72% water, and the lungs
nearly 90%. Lean muscle
 tissue contains about 75% water by weight, as
is the brain
; body
 fat contains 10-12% water and bone has 20-22% water. About 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food
, transport
waste, and control body temperature. Each day 
humans must
 replace 2.5
to 3 
quarts of
 water lost through the excretory  system,  with most of it
replaced through drinking, and the rest  from our foods. So it only stands to reason that the quality and quantity of 
water we
replace daily has a direct bearing on our health and longevity. I will be sharing many statistics and facts in this book while reiterating
some of what I already said in several chapters. We all learn from
repetition, therefore it has been said that the best speakers, teachers and
preachers will tell you what they
’
re going to tell you, then they will tell you,
and then they will tell you what they told you. So you hear it three times! CHAPTER 1
What Is Distilled Water? Why is it that water (H
2
O), which is the second 
simplest
 
substance
 
next to
oxygen (O), seems to be much too complicated for some medical doctors
to 
figure out? Not only is water number two in importance,
 it also happens
to be the most important next to oxygen for our survival. For the survival
of the Earth, for that matter. All living things require water to survive and
without a continuous supply, the average human will perish in only a few
days. Water is required for our bodies to produce blood, lymph, digestive 
juices,
lubric
ants, bile, extracellular fluid
 and cytoplasm, the fluid inside the plasma
membrane. It is common knowledge that most municipal and private water
supplies are severely polluted with everything from chlorine,
trihalomethanes, nitrates, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and
chemicals of every kind, to jet fuel 
and pharmaceuticals. Consider
 the factthat since the government established 
“
the priority pollutant list
”
 of 126
known cancer-causing chemicals:
 
Each year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews an
average of 1,700 new compounds that industry is seeking to
introduce. Yet the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act requires
that they be tested for any ill effects before approval only if
evidence of potential harm exists—which is seldom the case for
new chemicals. The Agency approves about 90 percent of the
new compounds without restrictions. Only a quarter of the
82,000 chemicals in use in the U.S. have ever been tested for
toxicity. And there are no guidelines for so called “safe” levels in
drinking water established for any of these pollutants. Some of
these pollutants can be found in every water supply 
in 
America
,
including rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, wells, 
and municipal
water supplies. David Ewing Duncan, National Geographic
 As a consequence of this alarming condition of America
’
s drinking water
sources, the bottled water industry has developed into a $15 billion profit
industry, including bottled waters, sports drinks, water purifiers such as
reverse osmosis (RO)
,
 distillation, filtration, plus the current fad of ionizers
that produce “alkaline” water. ONE OUT OF 4 DRINKS CONSUMED
IN AMERICA IS A SOFT DRINK!Let’s talk about filtration and distillation. FILTERS:
  Regardless of the process or the technology behind it, 
the
main
 purpose of these devices is to produce the cleanest, purest
,
healthiest
 water possible. The most commonly used method 
for cleaning
up tap water is the carbon block filter which removes 
the water’s
 bad
taste, smell, chlorine, nitrates and many chemicals. It is
,
 indeed
,
 the most
economical form of water treatment available
; however
, it comes with
several serious drawbacks:  
 

							
It does not remove all chemicals present;

							
Chemicals can build up in the filter to dangerous concentrations
which end up in your body if you don
’
t change the  filter
regularly;  

							
A carbon filter is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs;   

							
The filter can develop channeling from water taking the path of
least resistance. Therefore, unfiltered water can pass
straight through the
filter, unobstructed. The second most popular and effective filter system is reverse osmosis. The RO process involves a special membrane which most pollutants
cannot pass through, in addition to prefiltering and post-filtering, to ensure
that 99% of the pollutants are removed. The most effective process of rem
oving everything from the water,
including bacteria and cysts
,
 is steam distillation – along with 
a post
-
carbon filter to catch any resid
ual volatile gases that escape 
with the
steam. Because distilled water is pure, clean H
2
O and 
has a
 pH of 7
(neutral on the pH scale of 1 to 14 with “1” being 
acid and
 “14” alkaline), it
is used in science and medical 
laboratories and
 research facilities
including biology and chemistry 
lab
s due
 to 
its pure neutral qualities. Unlike with RO and distillation, filtration and the ionizers do not remove the
hardness or inorgan
ic minerals from the water. According to Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic and the American
Medical Association, Harvard Medical School, along with many doctors
and  nutritional experts, have determine
d that very few of the minerals
found
 in water are 
organic
,
 nor are they chelated 
or 
able  to be absorbed
easily 
by our cells and tissues. Consequently,
 they contribute to many
ailments and 
diseases related
 to the intestinal tract. They also contribute to
kidney stones
, gall stones, hardening of the arteries and plaque buildup 
in
the
 colon. Dr. Charles M
ayo, Founder of the Mayo Clinic, said, 
“
water
hardness
”
 is the underlying cause of many, if not all, of 
the diseases
resulting from poisons in the intestinal tract. These (hard minerals) pass from the intestinal walls and get into the
lymphatic system, which delivers all of its products to the blood which, in
turn, distributes to all parts of the body. This is the cause of much human
disease. Since the ionizers and filters do not remove the minerals from the
water (including chemicals and other toxins), advocates, manufacturers
and sales associates malign the use of reverse osmosis and the distillation
process. They claim that the minerals in water are good for you and that these two
processes remove the 
“
valuable
”
 minerals. They also go so far as to say
that because reverse osmosis and distilled water is so pure, they will leach
good minerals from your body, depleting the supply. Promoters of alkaline
water even say that distilled water is an acidic which causes it to dissolve
even more minerals. Distilled has a pH of 7 (neutral). The alkaline water industry is now extremely profitable and has become so
by making false medical claims that 
this 
water can cure a myriad of
diseases and prevent many others. In order to support their claim that
alkaline water is superior to any other purified water, they must find fault
with the two purest and healthiest water purification processes available. The main reason for the popularity of the alkaline water machine is
because of the exorbitant profits and the fact that it is sold through multi-
level marketing (MLM). Each machine retails at between $2,000 and
$5,000.Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? There are medical doctors such as Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Zoltan
Rona who also promote an MLM water filter for the whole house, shower
or sink, prompting both of them to claim that, 
“
drinking pure, clean, healthy
distilled water
 will result in early death. ”
 This is not only a false claim, it
would cause anyone with common sense to question the scientific
knowledge and medical judgment and reliability of these doctors or any
other 
“
nutritional 
experts. “The
 next time you hear anyone claim that:
  
 

							
The minerals found in water are totally beneficial to our body
’
s
health; 

							
Distilled water is acidic; 

							
Distilled water will leach valuable minerals and nutrients from
your body; or 

							
“
Early death will come from drinking distilled water
,
” 
Ask them, i
f these claims were true, why would the government allow tens
of thousands of naval sailors to continuously drink distilled water found on
all Navy ship
s for well of over five decades? Also ask, “Why would the Mayo Clinic and many other hospitals, medical
centers and clinics recommend distilled water to their patients
? ” 
 
 
 
 Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., nominated as one of Newsweek
’
s 
“
top 100 most
influential people in the world,
”
 states that, 
“
the minerals that the body
needs come from our food, not from our water, and the pH of foods or
water does not have an effect on the body
’
s pH.”
 
Dr. Andrew Weil also 
states
 that
, 
“
the minerals 
that the
 
body needs come
from our
 food, not from 
our water
, and the pH 
of foods
 or water does not
have an
 effect on the body
’
s pH.” Alkaline water machines 
and their
product, alkaline water, 
are “
bogus. ”
  
Dr. Weil continues,
 “
Don
’
t buy a machine or the 
alkaline water
; save your
money. Whether you
’
re drinking distilled 
water with
 a pH of 7 or 
orange
juice
 with a pH of 5.5 or alkaline 
water with
 a pH of 8.0, when 
these reach
the stomach, their pH 
is changed
 immediately to the pH 
the body
requires.”
 
If we were to
 drink something extremely acidic, 
the duodenum
 wouldneutralize the
 acid. And if it is extremely alkaline
, the
 stomach will 
produce
additional
 acid to neutralize it.”
 
The distillation process involves turning
water into steam, 
leaving behind
 all of the pollutants, then capturing the
steam, cooling it
, converting
 it back to a liquid free of pollutants. This is
how 
mother nature
 has been purifying water since this planet was created.The Hydrological Cycle
 
The hydrological
 cycle is the process of water being heated by the sun
,
evaporating
 and collecting in the atmosphere in
 the form of clouds
; cooling
,
condensing, and falling back to earth as 
pure (
distilled) water free of
pollutants which were left on the 
earth
’
s surface
. Drinking Unpolluted WaterThe Hunza people living in the Himalayan 
Mountains 
are
 known 
to 
live for
well over 100 years. They experience
 few diseases and little 
or no
sickness, 
are extremely
 health
y, vibrant and strong. It has b
een 
determined that, in addition to eating homegrown  fruits and  vegetabl
es
and hormone-free meat, their source  of  drinking water is melted glacier
ice
 (distilled water). These glaciers were formed thousands of years ago (before the
atmosphere was polluted) as 
a result
 of pure rain and 
snow (
distilled
water). This 
author 
has been drinking one to one-and-a-half gallons of
distill
ed 
water daily
 for 
over 40 years
, in ad
dition to fasting (
not eating any
food) 
for a minimum
 
of 21
 days per year. As a result, I am in perfect
health 
and free
 
of sickness
 and disease. So for those of you who have a
desire 
to argue, feel
 free. But,
 
“
a man with an experience is not at the mercy 
of a
 
man [
or doctor
] with
 an argument.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
CHAPTER 2
Distilled Water –
Simple Yet Misunderstood
 
 O
ne of the very first signs of dehydration is fatigue and lack of energy…
80% of all Americans are dehydrated to some degree. Our body
’
s cry for more water is usually mistaken for a hunger for food;
so we end up at the refrigerator instead of the water tap. This
 results in a
two-fold problem: 
becoming overweight and being dehydrated – thus the
cycle continues
. Water is t
he Key 
to
 Excellent HealthMost people do not drink
enough water to satisfy their body
’
s 
needs. When their body is screaming
for water to aid in critical body functions, they mistake this craving for
hunger, even if they ate a couple of hours earlier. Consequently, most
Americans are dehydrated and when the body gets dehydrated it goes into
survival mode and start storing water. The problem with that is
, fat
 cells
are used to store the water. So instead of having enough water to
metabolize fat, the body stores the fat to store up the water for possibly
worse conditions to come. The body is not getting the proper amount of water it needs for all 
the
organs to function properly; so the body takes the supply of water from
less important organs to allow enough water for the major ones such as
the heart, lungs and kidneys. To compound the problem, instead of drinking good, clean, healthy 
distilled
water which the body craves, they drink Sport drinks, soft drinks,Starbucks, malts, shakes etc. Just as bad, if not worse, is tap water
which contains chlorine, hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons
 
and dozens of other
carcinogenic 
chemicals and compounds – all at safe levels according to
the EPA. Yeah, right, I
’
m going to walk into a restaurant and ask for a glass
of water, and oh yeah, please add a slew of cancer-causing chemicals,
but go easy, I
’
m trying to quit. Not only does the body need to use vital energy to process these 
tasty
alternative treats in order to end up with the water it needs, the water it
contains is not enough. Since it was not an adequate quantity to meet the
need of the body, dehydration follows, resulting in the body storing more
water in fat cells. Now the vicious cycle begins. The human body cannot
continue to be abused without serious consequences. The simplest way to lose weight is to drink a gallon of water per day,
sipping a little at a time. You won
’
t be as hungry and the body will
metabolize the fat that has been stored instead of storing more. This is
why some lose so many pounds the first week of a fast or crash diet. They are actually losing stored water. Our bowels need plenty of water to
function properly with moving waste through its 30 foot length.The
elimination of undigested food and other waste products is equally as
important as the proper digestion and assimilation of food. The very best diets can be no
better than the very worst if the sewage system of the colon is clogged
with a collection of waste and corruption. Of all the vital organs in the body, the one that 
suffers the most abuse from
modern dietary habits is the large intestine, otherwise known as the colon. Our colons were intended by nature to function as smoothly flowing sewer
systems, in order to promptly flush digestive wastes from the body. Instead, they have become stagnant cesspools, the physiological
equivalent to a festering pile of uncollected garbage or a broken toilet that
continues to be used for defecation. The average
American and European colon today carries within it over 5
pounds of
putrid, half digested red meat plus another 5-10 pounds offoul toxic waste
impacted for years in the folds of the colon with mucus. While you are fasting your body will need more water than usual. Again,you may mistake its cry for more water as hunger, so be very
diligent in drinking water all day. Your body needs extra water to detoxify
and to keep waste moving through the colon, kidneys and bladder. It would
be easy to dehydrate if you don
’
t.
 
  
Our bodies are made up of over 60% water, and unless this water is
replenished daily, we will die in a few days. The human brain contains 90%
to 95% water, our blood over 80% and lungs 85% to 90%. Our body can
be severely affected by as little as a 2% decrease in bod
ily fluids, these
symptoms are the result:
   
 
1. Sleepy, tired, less active
2.
				
dry, sticky mouth   
3.
				
acquired thirst 
4.
				
decreased urination  
5.
				
reduced tears when crying 
6.
				
dry skin  
7.
				
mild to severe headache 
8.
				
constipation
9.
				
fuzziness, dizzy, light-headed
 Severe dehydration will include:
 
 

							
extremely dry skin, no elasticity 

							
extreme thirst 

							
no sweat 

							
no urination or dark yellow urine 

							
accelerated heartbeat 

							
sunken eyes  

							
accelerated breathing  

							
no tears when crying

							
fever

							
possible delirium or even unconsciousness. One of the very first signs of dehydration is fatigue and lack of  energy…
80% of all Americans are dehydrated to some degree. Our body
’
s cry for
more water is usually mistaken for a hunger for  food; so we end up at the
refrigerator instead of the water tap. This results in a two-fold problem:
becoming overweight 
and being
 dehydrated – thus the cycle continues. Most disease is a result of our organs being starved of 
necessary water
,
so the body is in a constant battle to store up water in 
fat cells
, with one
organ robbing water from another. Water is 
critical for
 every bodily function
and for the life and health of every 
single cell
, from our brain to our little toe. Glacier water is pure clean healthy distilled water
 Water:
 
1.
						
provides lubricants for our joints;
2.
				
provides digestive juices/saliva and stomach acid;
3.
				
controls body temperature through perspiration;
4.
				
is used to manufacture blood and lymph;
5.
				
delivers nutrients to the cells and carries away waste
6.
				
helps move material through the intestinal tract; and
7.
				
regulates the body
’
s metabolism. Pure (distilled) water is nothing but H
2
O, so consequently it is 
the most
effective water at meeting the required needs of the body 
– especially
 with
cleaning toxins and waste materials from the 
cells of
 the body. The Mayo
Clinic has discovered that plenty 
of distilled
 water can decrease the risk of
colon cancer by at 
least 45
%, bladder cancer by 50%, in addition to other
forms of cancer
, including
 breast cancer. Many medical experts agree that
most disease
 is a result of not drinking enough clean, healthy water 
for the
body to function as it needs to, such as flushing the bladder of   toxins and
chemicals. When the body does not receive 
enough water
, the result is
dis-ease. Then to complicate the 
unhealthy condition
, doctors prescribe
drugs to deal with symptoms 
which then
 can 
result in
 additional health
problems. CHAPTER 3
Why Do I Need to
Drink Distilled Water? How the EPA Has Failed
T
he consequences of EPA
’
s failure to establish standards 
for organic
chemical contaminants in drinking water are very serious. First, because
the establishment of standards is a 
necessary prerequisite
 for monitoring
the quality of drinking water, 
water suppliers
 are not presently required to
monitor the water they 
sell for
 organic chemical contamination. The only
contaminants 
they must
 look for are the relatively small number presently
included in
 the current regulations. Thus, unless chemical contamination of a supply is so gross as 
to cause
taste, odor or public health problems, most water 
utilities across
 the
country do not routinely monitor for 
unregulated contaminants
 and,
accordingly, do not know the chemical 
quality of
 the water they provide. Second, and equally important, 
other regulatory
 programs designed to
prevent contamination 
of ground
 water are keyed to the National Primary
Drinking 
Water Regulations
.Under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 
leachate 
from
hazardous waste landfills is only tested for the presence 
of chemicals
included on the agency
’
s short list of primary 
drinking water
. Toxic
chemicals at thousands of hazardous waste sites 
across the
 country
continue to seep into the nation
’
s underground
, contaminating
 the land, and
poisoning the air. The U.S.
Accounting Office says 
that the
 Superfund program will 
be required
 to
clean up in excess 
of 300,000
 sites, which appears to be, at the present
t
ime, an insurmount
able task. Over 6 billion tons 
of solid and
 hazardous
waste are 
generated in
 the United States 
each year
. 400 million
 pounds of
toxins 
are discharged
 each year into 
our waterways
 by American
Industry
, according
 to recent data from 
the EPA
. In 1997, Americans generated 
340 million tons of municipal waste, which
averaged 1.272 tons per person. (15 years later there was 250 million tons
of municipal solid waste generated.) It is estimated that since 1990, more
than 11 billion tons of domestic and foreign waste have been disposed in
the U.S. This is equal to covering every acre in the nation with 4.7 tons of waste. Relying on EPA
’
s Franklin Associates, which calculates price per ton of
municipal waste disposal at a conservative $100/ton, the total cost to
consumers of all waste disposed in the U.S. since 1990, is in excess of
$1.1 trillion. COVER-UP OR WATERED-DOWN FACTS
It is interesting to hear how so many water utilities brag about the superior
quality of their water. San Diego (my city) boasts of its water quality when
at the same time it contains 500 to 600 milligrams per liter of dissolved
solids, which is considered undesirable for drinking by most health
standards. It is rated in the top 10 of the most polluted cities with over 24
hazardous chemicals in its water supply. Sierra Club director, Carl Pope, is the author of 
“
Hazardous Waste in
America. ”
 He recently wrote in 
California Magazine:
 “The water that is
rejected at the Sacramento tap flows into the city sewers, where it mixes
with household waste and industrial effluent containing a variety of heavy
metals and solvents. Some of these, but only some, are removed by the
sewage treatment plant.Agricultu
ral Drainage into t
he Aqueducts
 
The remainder of the water dissolves in the effluent, and pours down 
into
the Delta where the Sacramento is joined by the San Joaquin River. Down
the San Joaquin River come toxaphene, mercury, chlordane, PCB
’
s,
arsenic, cadmium, copper, chromium, lead and selenium, all of which are
on the EPA
’
s list of priority pollutants. This mix makes it one of the most
heavily polluted rivers in the state. Most of this pollution comes from
surface and subsurface agricultural drainage into the aqueducts; the
remainder comes from mining, timber and other industrial activities. The
Delta itself adds more pesticides and herbicides from agricultural
operations, heavy metals from energy facilities and organics from gasoline
storage and transfer facilities. EPA officials estimate that of the 2.5 million
storage tanks, as many as 100,000 are leaking 11 million gallons of
gasoline a year. Other sources indicate that as many as 420,000 tanks
may be leaking now; and experts predict that 75% of all tanks will begin
leaking over the next 5 to 10 years. Then, as the water makes its way to
San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego in the California Aqueduct, it
continues to pick up pesticide residue from spraying operations on farm
lands along the aqueduct itself. “
As goes California, so goes the rest of
the country. ”
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEGALIZED POISONING
 
Every year, millions of pounds of chemicals that can cause cancer, birth
defects or sterility – even in trace amounts –are released directly or
indirectly into our drinking water. This takes place with the approval,
sanction and authority of state and federal agencies. In addition to these
contaminants, the water utilities add many other chemicals during
treatment. A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, water is only truly pure if it
is distilled. In its natural state, water contains a number of chemicals,
among them sodium, calcium, fluoride, carbon dioxide, and a number of
minerals. Most minerals found in water are inorganic which our bodies do
not chelate and assimilate. But nature
’
s contribution is only a start. As many as 60 chemicals may be added during the collection, treatment
and delivery process; e.g., CHLORINE: a disinfectant to kill bacteria and
other microorganisms. (Science has now discovered that when chlorine
comes in contact with decayed plant and animal matter, trihalomethanes
[THM
’
s] are created, which have been found to cause cancer in humans.) LIME: added to retard corrosion of pipes, or to neutralize water that is too
acidic. COPPER SULFATE: to kill algae. ALUMINUM SULFATE: to force
solid particles to clump together and settle out. SODIUM BISULFATE or
sulfur dioxide: added to correct an over-supply of chlorine in the water. SODIUM FLUORIDE or hydrofluorosilicic acid 
–
 an unstable poisonous
corrosive acid known primarily in the form of its salts. Proclaimed by the
government to help fight tooth decay. Thirty-two people die every day from bladder cancer in the USA. Although
the National Academy of Sciences has identified 
as carcinogens
 twenty-
two of the chemicals found in drinking water, 
the vast majority of theestimated 1,200 chemicals so far detected in drinking water have not yet
been tested. Little is known 
about the
 adverse health effects of many of
these chemicals, especially  in the minute amounts that may be present in
drinking water. What about the additional threat of combining the chemicals 
in water
 with
those found in our foods? Such effects are not 
always immediate
, though. It may be decades, even generations, 
before certain
 health problems
appear. And it may be just as long 
before scientists
 can be sure of the
risks. With the aid of 
modern technology
, water utilities are doing all they
can to clean up 
the water
. However, regardless of the fact that the
chemicals 
and other
 cancer causing substances are at safe levels and
considered fit
 for human consumption, based on government 
safety
standards
, should we still drink it? Do they drink their own? Los Angeles boasts of its water quality. “
Despite
spending $1 million in the last two years to assure 
Los Angeles
 residents
that their tap water is not only safe to drink 
but also
 top quality, City
officials spent $88,900 in public 
money during
 that time on bottled water
from private firms. The Department
 of Water and Power, which supplies
the City
’
s 
water and
 promotes it, spent the most on bottled water, 
paying
$
31,160. ”
 
Atlanta Journal Constitution 
01/04/06
. Since water is the most important single element for 
supporting 
life
, second
only to oxygen, should it not be something that 
you know
 something
about? We can live without food for 40 days, 
but will
 die if we go without
water for, at most, 6 days. Water 
serves three
 major purposes in our
bodies:
 
1. It controls body temperature. 2. It is the solvent for the foods we eat, carrying the nutrients to
every cell of our body. 3. Water replaces bodily fluids such as blood plasma, lymph
,
digestive
 juices, bile, etc., and washes and bathes every cell
,
flushing
 and carrying away waste materials and toxic poisons. If water is so vital to our health and existence, shouldn
’
t we 
drink the
healthiest water possible? What would that be, you ask? The answer
 is:
Distilled water. Distilled water is true H
2
0, one part hydrogen, two parts
oxygen
, and
 
nothing else. Rainwater would be pure distilled water if 
itwere
 not for air pollution. The same goes for any water source 
on our
planet, because it has come into contact with the earth, 
and our
 earth is
polluted. Consequently, these pollutants are 
picked up
 by H
2
0 and the
H
2
O becomes a formula of “H
2
0 + whatever 
it picks
 up.”
 
 
Impure water is usually distilled by boiling it and capturing the steam 
in the
process. The detractors of drinking distilled water most often use the
argument that it doesn
’
t contain any minerals. But they forget about one
important fact: that the minerals our bodies need are supposed to be
ingested as part of our food, not water. The minerals that are found in water are inorganic and cannot be
assimilated or chelated by the body. The minerals our bodies need are
organic, the kind found in fruits and vegetables. Minerals get absorbed into
the cells of the food directly from the soil. Water is not our source for
minerals, food is. Because water is used to replace our bodily fluids and
clean our bodies, it makes sense to use the cleanest water possible. Water is to our bodies as gas and oil are to our car. If the engine doesn
’
t
receive enough oil it begins to overheat and the various parts begin to
wear down. As a consequence, if any one part on an engine fails, the
whole engine is affected. Water regulates body temperature by causing us to sweat; as the sweat
evaporates heat is pulled from our skin and water moistens our tissues
such as those in the mouth, eyes, nose and throat. Water protects the
body
’
s organs and tissues, lubricates joints, prevents constipation, carries
nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and carries away waste for elimination. An adequate supply of water lessens the burden on the kidneys and liver
by flushing out waste products. Water helps dissolve minerals and other
nutrients to make them accessible to the body and aids in the elasticity of
muscles . If water
is that critical for the health of every bodily cell, 
how 
important
 would it be
with regard to the water
’
s quality? Would 
it make
 sense to attempt to wash
your dishes in a sink of 
dirty water
? Of course not, and neither does it
make sense to 
drink dirty
 water and expect it to clean your cellular
system. I
’
ll 
cover the
 relationship more thoroughly later on. So why drink distilled? Distilled water is the only water that can be 
called Water (
H
2
O) – a
molecule of 2 parts Hydrogen and 1 part Oxygen, period. Plus 
nothing
more
! All other “water” is actually H
2
O plus something. That “something”
could be whatever the water came into 
contact with
 and was able to
dissolve, absorb and retain. In nature, water is heated by the sun causing it to turn to 
its gaseous
 form,
evaporating, rising into the upper atmosphere
, cooling
 and condensing into
tiny droplets and gathering to 
form clouds
. As the droplets cool further, the
molecules 
clump together
, becoming heavy, then fall back to earth as
distilled water
 (this process is called the hydrological cycle). Unfortunately
,
our
 atmosphere is polluted by ozone, particulate matter, 
sulfur dioxide
,
nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Read more:  National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS). Unfortunately, by the time this pure distilled water reaches 
the 
earth
, it is
H
2
0 + volatile organic compounds (VOCs) +NO
x
 + CO
+ numerous
carcinogenic chemicals. But it doesn’t stop there. After the
 mildly polluted
water reaches ear
th it
 begins on a journey 
of absorbing
 and dissolving
everything it contacts on the surface 
of the
 ground prior to soaking into the
soil or running off into 
storm drains
. At this stage, the once pristine water
cleans the oil, dust
, dirt
 and toxic residue off the streets, highways and
parking lots
, including
 fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides from
yards
, gardens
 and farmlands and the list goes on. There is not one stream, river
,
 lake or underground aquifer that is
pollution-free. Guess where the food and beverage processing industry, 
cities and
municipalities get their water? You guessed it, those 
same rivers
, lakes
and ground water. These are the chemicals found in San Diego, 
CA, drinking
 water:
 
20 Total Contaminants Detected (2004 – 2009):Aluminum, Bromide,
Barium (total), Manganese, Nitrate, Monochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic
acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid,
Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromoform,Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes
(TTHMs), o-Xylene, m- & p- Xylene, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Gross
beta particle activity (pCi/L)  Note: Information on violations is drawn
directly from EPA
’
s national violations database in the Agency
’
s Safe
Dri
nking Water Information System. I reside in San Diego, where over half the population drinks from the tap. After all, why not? If the water was unhealthy, wouldn
’
t our caring,
compassionate, ever expanding government warn us? The facts are,
according to California
’
s Department of Public Health, San Diego
’
s drinking
water system contained eight chemicals exceeding health guidelines as
well as two chemicals that exceeded the EPA
’
s legal limit. In total, 20
contaminants have been found. One of those in excess of the EPA limit
was trihalomethanes with one being chloroform. The other was
manganese, a natural element that
’
s a by- product of industrial
manufacturing and is poisonous to humans. Did I find out that I have been drinking these chemicals from my tap
because the City of San Diego warned me with a notice in my water bill? NO! I had to diligently search out the facts on the internet. D
espite the fact that most drinking water in the U
. S
. generally 
is not
healthy, at least most Ameri
cans can afford to treat their 
water or to
purchase bottled water. Most tap water in the 
United States
 has beendisinfected On the other hand, more than 
525 million
 Chinese, and 700
million people in India are deprived 
of safe
 drinking water. Worldwide,
countries generate close to 
500 billion
 tons of industrial waste annually,
much of which ends up 
in the
 water supply. In developing countries, water
pollution 
has been
 linked to high miscarriage rates and severe brain
damage
, resulting
 in learning disabilities. Amoebic dysentery 
contracted
from
 polluted water supplies has resulted in the loss of over 
two million
children
’
s lives annually. Br
oad Range
of Pollutants
Found in 10
of the Top
Brands of
Bottled Water
 
Care to take a guess which ones? It really doesn’t matter if you could have guessed all ten right, because 
if
the top ten companies are found to have chemicals and/or bacteria in their
water, and they are acclaimed to be the best ten, what about those that
aren
’
t? Why would they be considered any more trustworthy or
accountable? As 
I
checked
 the prices of 
various drinking
 
water brands
 in one 
particular
grocery store, I was shocked to find some over $2 for 16 oz. Fiji 
was
$
2.35 for 16 oz. (128 oz./gal ), or $18.80 per gallon. What on God
’
s greenearth is so 
special about
 Fiji water other than imported from Fiji
, halfway
around the world? Fiji water is owned by an American woman living in the
States. Why Fiji? Because the Fiji dictatorship gave them an offer they
couldn
’
t refuse: no taxes and the military junta would protect them. Fiji Water
’
s chief marketing whiz and co-owner (with husband Stewart) is
Lynda Resnick, well-known westerners who are living high on the hog. The locals are living in dire poverty with a per capita income of $3,900. “Nowhere in Fiji Water
’
s glossy marketing material will you find reference
to the typhoid outbreaks that plague Fijians because of the island
’
s faulty
water supplies. The corporate entities that Fiji Water has
 
—despite the
owners
’
 
mention
 of financial transparency
 
— are set up in tax havens like
the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg; or the fact that its signature bottle is
made from Chinese plastic in a diesel-fueled plant and hauled thousands of
miles to its Eco-conscious consumers. And, 
of course, yo
u won
’
t find mention of the
 
military junta for which Fiji
Water is a major source of 
global 
recognition
 and legitimacy. Fiji Water
posters across the 
island declare
, 
“
Fiji,
”
 and the slogan is almost eerily
accurate: The 
reality of
 Fiji, the country
,
 has
 been eclipsed by the
glistening brand of 
Fiji, the water. If you drink bottled 
water,
 you
’
ve
probably drunk Fiji – or 
wanted to
. Even though it
’
s shipped from the
opposite end of the globe
, even
 though it retails for nearly three times as
much as your 
basic supermarket
 water, Fiji is now America
’
s leading
imported water
, beating
 out Evian. It has spent millions pushing not only the seemingly life-changing
properties of the product itself, but also the company
’
s green
“creds” and its charity work. Put all 
that together
 in an iconic bottle emblazoned with a cheerful
hibiscus,  and everybody, from the Obamas to  Paris and Nicole to Diddy
and  Kimora, is seen sipping Fiji. Why 
is Fiji
 America
’
s leading imported
water beating out Evian? What does that say about Eco-conscious
Americans who 
support this
 status symbol of Hollywood and Washington,
often 
serving Fiji
 water at their gatherings?The Audacity of Branding
 
Seizing on the bottle
’
s ubiquity,
Tourism 
Fiji
 has
 been circulating
this photo of President Obama
at an event featuring Fiji Water. CHAPTER 5
The Fluoridation of
Drinking
 
Water
 
Think about it:  Does it make sense to debate whether or not  fluoride is
beneficial in reducing tooth decay when it is being  added to a “soup” of
known chemicals such as chlorine,  trihalomethanes, nitrates, herbicides,
fungicides and heavy  metals, to name a few? Would you add spice to a
soup that 
you already
 determined was not edible? This is what our
government is
 doing with our water. WHO has warned dental professionals, public health officials 
and
administrators
 that they should be aware of current 
total quantities
 of
fluoride that the population is exposed to 
before adding
 any additional
fluoride in their program of tooth 
decay prevention
. There are millions of people being subjected to 
exorbitant quantities
 of
fluoride naturally found in many aquifers and 
other natural
 water sources. Many people who consume this 
water suffer
 from mild dental fluorosis,
including debilitating 
skeletal fluorosis
. This serious situation continues to
be unpublicized
, unrecognized
 and ignored for many reasons. The Main Reason is a Political One
 
The majority of the population is totally unaware of the fact that the fluoride
added to municipal drinking water is by no means clinical grade fluoride. On the contrary, it is in fact a toxic waste by-product of the fertilizer and
aluminum manufacturing industry, called hydrofluoro-silicic acid, used in
the manufacturing of poison. Guess which industry contributes the largest
donations to the American Dental Association? You guessed it, the
aluminum manufacturing industry. Hydrofluoro-silicic acid actually causes
mottling and brittleness of the teeth in children. Staining and pitting of teeth
is caused by clinical dental fluorosis from drinking fluoridated water; and in
some cases the enamel is actually damaged. Fluoridation of drinking water can also cause skeletal fluorosis, the result
of fluoride accumulating in bones over many years. This results in
distortion, deafness and joint pain. Calcification of ligaments and severe
changes in bone structure with crippling effects can also be attributed to
long-term exposure to fluoridated drinking water. A publication of the World Health Organization (WHO) warns 
water
utilities of the need to take great care not to exceed the minimum
levels of fluoride in municipal water supplies due to the known
research showing the negative effects. Low concentrations of naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water are
actually good for teeth; however, excessive amounts will lead to serious
health issues. In particular
, fluorosis
 of the skeletal structure can be
devastating t
o a community. For example: 
1
. More
 than ten million Chinese are estimated to be 
suffering from
fluorosis of the skeletal structure.2. Other areas of the world where
 fluoride occurs at high concen
trations
include Africa, southern Asia, and the Mediterranean area. 3. Among the highest known concentrations of fluoride in the water exist in
Turkey, Iran, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, China, and Northern Thailand. 4. There are several regions of the world where water sources are
scarce (Africa) and they contain dangerous quantities of fluoride. As with other toxins, fluoride has varying effects on people. Consequently
there is a wide range of symptoms which depend  on many different
factors, such as genetics, amount of fluoride  retained by the body, the
method of exposure, and length of time  exposed (whether chronic or
acute as by ingestion of fluoridated  water or food). Even though the proponents of fluoridation have managed 
to collect
 a
certain amount 
of positive
 statistics regarding 
the possible
 benefit of
fluoridated drinking water, the fact 
remains that
 there are still plenty of
negative results. There are 
already many
 very bad chemicals in all
municipal water 
supplies nationwide
. So should one more be added,
regardless if it 
could be
 shown to be a health benefit? To mention a few, chlorine, THMs, nitrates, pesticides, fungicide, 
herbicides, heavy metals and thousands of industrial chemicals  and
pharmaceuticals have already been added. So now they 
want to
 add yet
another chemical to help prevent tooth decay? How about
 removing
everything that
’
s in there now so you can 
drink good
, clean, pure H2O
plus nothing? Now that
’
s healthy! CHAPTER 6
:
Drinking Water and Cancer
 
Recently, prior to starting a 40 day fast on distilled water, I 
made an
appointment with my doctor at the VA Medical Center in 
La Jolla
, California. At first the doctor was very much opposed to 
a 40
-day fast, especially
since I purposed to eat no food at all, 
and drink
 nothing but distilled water. But after explaining that I have been fasting this way every 
year for
 over
40 years, she seemed to be a little more receptive. Especially after
viewing the lab results of my blood cells
, cholesterol
 levels and blood
pressure. She was amazed 
to discover
 that at age 65, I seemed to have
the 
“
heart of a 25-year- old
”
 – and the results of my blood test were
“
excellent. ”
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
My doctor asked me why I was drinking distilled water as 
opposed 
to
 any
other kind, which prompted me to ask her what type 
of water
 she drank. I
was shocked to hear that she and her 
family drink
 San Diego
’
s water from
the tap. My next question to 
her was
, “Do you have any idea how many
pollutants are present 
in San
 Diego
’
s municipal drinking water?” The
doctor 
immediately retorted
, 
“
If it wasn
’
t safe to drink, I
’
m sure they would
let 
us know
. ”
 By the time I finished sharing with her what I knew 
about the
chemicals and carcinogens (all at “safe levels,” according 
to the
 EPA), as
well as water and its relationship to health, she 
was ready
 to purchase a
reverse osmosis filter. This is a small example of the serious problem we have 
with regard
 to the
ignorance of Americans in trusting our 
government with
 our health. Regardless of where you live, if you were to 
call up
 your local water utility
and ask them if there are 
any dangerous
 chemicals or carcinogens in the
municipal 
drinking water
, they would say yes, several, but they are all at
safe levels. When I drink water, I would like to think that it is H
2
O 
plus
nothing
: pure, clean and healthy. I do not want to be 
concerned with
 many
dangerous, cancer-causing substances at “safe” levels. Fortunately, many communities across the U.S. are voicing concerns
about the potential and known links between the chemicals found in
municipal water and cancer. Even though water utility companies are
required by law to follow specific guidelines with regard to the levels of
cancer-causing chemicals, there is much debate on what exactly are
“
safe levels. ”
 
 
As a result of much public concern, new laws have been enacted requiring
water utilities to publish the results of their water testing every year for
public review. Therein lies the problem: virtually no one reads these
reports or, for that matter, even know they exist, let alone have knowledge
of the situation. Consequently, the general public continues to drink water
that is by no means healthy or safe. A glass of city water is not going to kill you or give you cancer any more
than one cigarette will give you cancer; it is that cigarette after cigarette
after cigarette. O
r glass after glass after glass of tap 
water. One
 of the
most serious cancer-causing chemicals found in our tap water was put
there by the water utility company, 
“
for our safety and health. ”
 Chlorine is
widely known to cause cancer in humans, yet it is the safest chemical
available to control water-borne diseases. Not only is chlorine a
carcinogen, but when it comes into contact with humic acid (decayed plant
and animal matter), it creates Trihalomethanes. Some 
THMs
 are:
 
Chlorodibromomethane
Chloroform
Bromoform
Lodoform
Dichlorobromomethane
Fluoroform
Chlorodifluoromethane
 
Now, as a result of adding one cancer-causing substance, chlorine, we
have eight carcinogens which are linked to rectal, bladder and pancreatic
cancers. Yet another chemical added to our water for our health and well-
being, fluoride, has also been determined to cause cancer. The national
toxicology program study found that fluoride is linked to cancers affecting
the pharynx, mouth and rectum. Another study published in the Journal of
Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology found fluoride directly
linked to a rare bone disease, osteosarcoma. Most people are aware that there are hundreds of chemicals being
released into the environment every year; yet none of these is being
tested to determine whether or not they cause cancer in humans, or at
what specific level they are deemed to be safe. With thousands of chemicals found in our nation
’
s water and food supplies,
imagine what astronomical combination of compound chemicals could be
created exponentially. If the result of combining chlorine with humic acid
can create eight carcinogens, then what can the result be of mixing
hundreds of unknown chemicals on the environment or our bodies? No water utility has the ability or technology to remove this 
soup 
of
potentially hazardous chemicals from our water supplies. Keep in
 mind that
this is true with most bottled water companies, 
the majority
 of which obtain
the water they bottle from the 
same source
 as the water utility. Many experts believe that the majority of disease in the 
world today
 comes
from our unhealthy drinking water in 
combination with
 dehydration (not
drinking enough water). So if you want 
to live
 healthier and longer, drink
plenty of pure, clean, 
healthy distilled
 or purified water and eat plenty of
fresh fruits 
and vegetables
. CHAPTER 7
Does Bottled Water
Provide Health Benefits? What’s In Your Bottled Water – Besides Water? Twenty-nine brands have ignored California’s new disclosure law. More
than a quarter of the water bottles purchased in California did not list
certain consumer information on the label or failed to provide a water
quality report when contacted by EWG, as is required under state law. These brands include Fiji Natural Artesian Water and Green Planet Pure
Handcrafted Water.” 
NRDC
 is the nation
’
s most effective environmental action group, combining
the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the
courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and
other professionals. The New York Times
 calls NRDC 
“
One of the nation
’
s most powerful
environmental groups. ”
 The National Journal says they
’
re 
“
A credible and
forceful advocate for stringent environmental protection. ”
 
Bottled Water
 
1. Isn
’
t bottled water safer than tap water? 2. Can bottled water actually be unsafe? 3. Could the plastic in water bottles pose a health risk? 4. How can I find out where my bottled water comes from? 5. How can I determine if bottled water is really just tap water? 6. What action can I take to improve bottled water safety? 7. How does drinking bottled water affect the environment? 8. If I drink tap water, should I use a filter and what types of filters
are most effective? 9. How can I obtain test results on my tap water? Isn
’
t bottled water safer than tap water? No, not necessarily. NRDC conducted a four-year review of the bottled
water industry and the safety standards that govern it, including acomparison of national bottled water rules with national tap water rules,
and independent testing of over 1,000 bottles of water. Their conclusion is
that there is no assurance that just because water comes out of a bottle it
is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap. In
 fact, an estimated 25
percent or more of bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle –
sometimes further treated, sometimes not. 2. Can bottled water actually be unsafe? Most bottled water appears to be safe. Of all the bottles 
we tested
, the
majority proved to be high quality and relatively 
free of
 contaminants. The
quality of some brands was spotty
, however
, and such products may
pose a health risk – primarily 
for people
 with weakened immune systems
(such as the frail, elderly
, some
 infants, transplant and cancer patients, or
people 
with HIV
/AIDS). About 22 percent of the brands we tested
contained
, in
 at least one sample, chemical contaminants at levels 
above
strict
 state health limits. If consumed over a long period of time
, some
 of
these contaminants could cause cancer or other 
health problems
. 3. Could
 the plastic in water bottles pose a health risk? Recent research suggests that there could be cause for concern
, and
 that
the issue should be studied closely. Studies have 
shown that chemicals
called phthalates,
 which are known to 
disrupt testosterone
 and other
hormones, can leach into bottled 
water over
 time. One study found that
water that had been stored 
for 10
 weeks in plastic and in glass bottles
contained phthalates
, suggesting
 that the chemicals could be coming from
the 
plastic cap
 or liner. Although there are regulatory standards 
limiting
phthalates
 in tap water, there are no legal limits for phthalates 
in bottled
water – the bottled water industry waged a 
successful campaign
 opposing
the FDA proposal to set a legal limit for 
these chemicals
. How to Avoid Phthalates
:  
Phthalates mimic hormones and have
been linked to numerous health problems, but remain legal. Unfortunately, it
’
s not particularly easy to avoid phthalates. You
’
ll rarely find
the word 
“
phthalates
”
 on a label (except for the occasional 
“
phthalate-free,
”
 which is helpful). Here are some tips for identifying products that
have, or are likely to have, phthalates or another compound, Bisphenol A,
that has raised similar concerns and is found in similar products. Read the ingredients. According to the organization, Pollution in
People, you can identify phthalates in some products by their
chemical names, or abbreviations:
 
DBP
 (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate) are often found in
personal care products, including nail polishes, deodorants, perfumes and
cologne, aftershave lotions, shampoos, hair gels and hand lotions. (BzBP,
see below, is also in some personal care products.) DEHP
 (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is used
in PVC plastics, including some medical devices. BzBP
 (benzylbutyl phthalate) is used in some flooring, car products and
personal care products. DMP
 (dimethyl phthalate) is used in insect repellent and some plastics (as
well as rocket propellant).Choose plastics with the recycling code 1, 2 or
5. Recycling codes 3 and 7 are more likely to contain bisphenol A or
phthalates. 4. How
 can I find out where my bottled water comes from? A few state bottled water programs (e.g., Massachusetts and New
York) maintain lists of the sources of bottled water, but many do not. Try calling or writing the bottler to ask what the source is, or call the
bottled water program in your state or the state in which the water
was bottled to see if they have a record of the source (your state
’
s
health or agriculture department is most likely to run the bottled water
program). If you choose to buy bottled water and are concerned
about its safety, buy brands with a known protected source and ones
that make readily available testing and treatment information that
shows high water quality. 5. How
 can I determine if bottled water is really just tap water? Often it
’
s not easy. First, carefully check the bottle label and even the
cap 
–
 if it says 
“
from a municipal source
”
 or 
“
from a community water
system
”
 this means it
’
s derived from tap water. Again, you can call
the 
bottler
 or the bottled water program in your state or the state
where it was packaged. 6. What
 action
 can I take to improve bottled water safety? Write to your members of Congress, the FDA, and your governor
(see below for contact information) and urge them to adopt strict
requirements for bottled water safety, labeling, and public disclosure. Specifically, point out to these 
officials that they should: 
(a) 
set strict
limits for contaminants of concern in bottled water, including arsenic,
heterotrophic-plate-count bacteria, E. coli and other parasites and
pathogens, and synthetic organic che
micals such as 
“
phthalates
”
; (b)
apply the rules to all bottled water whether carbonated or not and
whether sold
 intrastate or interstate; and (c) 
require bottlers to display
information on their labels about the levels of contaminants of concern
found in the water, the water
’
s exact source, how it
’
s been treated,
and whether it meets health criteria set by the EPA and the Centers
for Disease Control for killing parasites like cryptosporidium. 7. How
 does drinking bottled water affect the environment? In 2006, the equivalent of 2 billion half-liter bottles of water were shipped 
to
U.S. ports, creating thousands of tons of global warming pollution and
other air pollution. In New York City alone, the transportation of bottled
water from 
Western
 Europe released an estimated 3,800 tons of global
warming pollution into the atmosphere. In 2006, 18 million gallons of bottled
water were shipped from Fiji to California, producing about 2,500 tons of
global warming pollution. And while the bottles come from far away, most of them end up close to
home – in a landfill. Most bottled water comes in recyclable PET plastic
bottles, but only about 13 percent of the bottles we use get recycled. In
2005, 2 million tons of plastic water bottles ended up clogging landfills
instead of getting recycled. 8. If I drink tap water
,
 should I use a filter, and what types of
filters 
are most effective? The real long-term solution is to make tap water safe for everyone. However, if you know you have a tap water quality or taste problem, or
want to take extra precautions, you should purchase filters certified by
NSF International (800 NSF-MARK). These filters designate which
contaminants they remove, and you can look for one that removes any
contaminants of special concern such as cryptosporidium. Such
certification is not necessarily a safety guarantee, but it is better than no
certification at all. It is critically important that all filters be maintained and
replaced at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer, or they
might make the problem worse. See our guide to water filters for more
information. Also, see chapter on Carbon Filters. 9. How can I obtain test results on my tap water? Under new 
“
right-to-know
”
 provisions in the drinking water law, all tap
water suppliers must provide annual water quality reports to their
customers. To obtain a copy, call your water provider (the one that sends
your water bills).You also can test your water yourself, though this can be
expensive. There are state-certified drinking water laboratories in virtually
every state that can test your water. Call your state drinking water
program or the EPA S
afe Drinking Water Hotline (800-
426-4791) for a list
of contacts. Standard consumer test packages are available through large
commercial labs at a relatively reasonable price. 2011 Bottled Water Scorecard
 
What’s In Your Bottled Water – Besides Water? Twenty-nine brands have ignored California’s new disclosure law. More
than a quarter of the water bottles purchased in California did not list
certain consumer information on the label or failed to provide a water
quality report when contacted by EWG, as is required under state law. These brands include Fiji Natural Artesian Water and Green Planet Pure
Handcrafted Water. When someb
ody drinks a Coke, what happens? 
								
In the first 10 minutes: 
10 teaspoons of sugar hit your
system. (This is 100% of your recommended daily intake.) You
don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness
because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor, allowing you to keep it
down. 
								
20 minutes:
 Your blood sugar spikes, causing 
insulin
 burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get hold ofinto fat. (There’s plenty of that at this particular moment.) 
								
40 minutes:
 Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils 
dilate,
your blood pressure rises, and as a response your liver dumps
more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in
your brain are now blocked, preventing drowsiness. 
									
45 minutes:
 Your body ups your dopamine production,
stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically
the same way heroin works, by the way. Within 60 minutes:
 The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and
zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is
compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners, also
increasing the urinary excretion of calcium. Within 60 Minutes:
 The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. (Itmakes you have to urinate.) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the
bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that 
were
 headed to your bones as
well as sodium, electrolytes and water. Within 60 minutes:
 As the rave inside of you dies down, you’ll start to
have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You’ve
also now literally urinated all the water that was in the Coke, leaving behind
the garbage. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body
could have used for things like the ability to hydrate your system or build
strong bones and teeth
. Sports Drinks
 
Bottled waters and sports drinks are a multibillion-dollar industry, but ABC
News
’
 medical contributor Dr. David Katz says these drinks offer little
more than extra calories, sugar and sodium to our diets. Katz reviews the
winners and losers of sports drinks and fortified waters. The Losers
 
Gatorade 
–
 
8 ounces has 50 calories and 110 milligrams of sodium. Dr.
Katz says that Gatorade might be appropriate for elite athletes like Michael
Phelps. But it is marketed to everyone, and provides un-necessary
calories, sugar and salt to the average person. Gatorade says the drink
’
s
“
ingredients serve to help rehydrate, replenish and 
refuel for optimal
performance.”
 
Powerade 
–
 
32 ounces contains 280 calories, 220 milligrams of sodium
and 76 grams of sugar. Like Gatorade, Powerade, made by Coca-Cola, is
a 
“
sports drink
”
 marketed to appeal to Olympic couch potatoes, says
Katz. Glaceau Vitamin Water 
–
 
8 ounces has 50 calories from sugar. Katz
says, 
“
If we had a problem with epidemic malnutrition in this country, a
drink such as Vitamin Water might make sense. But since we have,instead, epidemic obesity and diabetes, how about we just leave water
alone, instead of using it as a delivery system for sugar no one needs? ”
Vitamins are
 better obtained from food or even a calorie-free supplement,
he says. Glaceau responded by saying, 
“
Artificial sweeteners don
’
t work,
and may in fact increase the incidence of obesity. What does work is an
all-natural, low-calorie approach, like Vitamin Water. ”
 
 
 
 The Winners
 
Plain Old Water – Zero calories. Katz says there
’
s no contest: Unless you
’
re a true high-performance
athlete who is losing electrolytes that can
’
t be replaced with food, pure,
clean water is the way to hydrate. Polar Fruit Flavored Mineral Water – Zero calories. Contains carbonated water and natural fruit flavorings. Katz
’
s
recommendation for people who want something more interesting than
water, without the superfluous calories, sugar and electrolytes. Natural Fruit Juices
Calories, sugar, sodium and vitamin content will vary. Katz says when you
do want a drink that provides calories, energy, nutrients and something to
satisfy your sweet tooth, choose an all-natural juice like orange or apple. Is Flavored Water Really Healthy? Plain water is 
“
still the best. ”
 As a result of America
’
s love affair with sugar
and their habit of having their taste buds constantly titillated
, flavored
 water
has become very popular. We all know that drinking plenty of water is
healthy. But because water is not tasty for most people, it can be difficult to
drink the recommended seven to eight glasses per day. As a
consequence, water not only comes in flavors, 
it offers vitamins or herbs,
and even ingredients that may improve 
athletic performance. Are these
ersatz waters just as good as plain water? How about better, in some
cases? Although flavored waters may taste better than plain water, you
may not want to put the contents into your body. Artificial Sweeteners vs. Sugar
Plain water has no calories and no 
artificial sweeteners. Unfortun
ately, that
is not the case with many flavored waters, since they do contain artificial
sweeteners or sugar. Artificial sweeteners have been connected with
memory loss as well as other possible unhealthy side effects. Some
flavored waters even contain sugar. So much for flavored water being a
healthy substitute for just plain old, pure water. Many flavored waters that
contain fruit also contain preservatives. If you
’
re looking for a chemical-
free drink with zero (or very little calories), most flavored waters do not fit
the bill. Vitamins and Minerals? Although some flavored waters do contain vitamins and/or minerals, many
of these waters also contain ingredients that you do not need. For
example, Glaceau Vitamin Water
’
s
 Energy
 formula 
contains vitamins
;
however, it also contains crystalline fructose, caffeine, gum ester, artificial
flavoring and caramel coloring (chemicals). It also sports 125 calories per
serving. Other products have similar ingredients. Snapple
’
s 
Antioxidant
water contains electrolytes and vitamins, but it also contains modified corn
starch, sugar, disodium 
EDTA
, and epigallocatechin gallate. “
Give me
distilled water, please!
distilled-water-and-health-hoover-douglas.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        Distilled Water 
and
 Its
    Relationship to Health. Change Your Water
 
- Change Your Life
 
 
      Distillation Station- Aquamedia Group Companies- Copyright 2013- All
Rights Reserved
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Douglas Clayton Hoover
Author
 
 
 Douglas is a retired contractor, author, freelance writer, inventor, designer,
architect and lives in San Diego, CA with his wife Alice. He is the founder and developer of 
the “
Distillation Station,” the
very “first bottled water vending machines in the United States. ”
 
The original station was placed in Bill's IGA Store, Brooklyn, Michigan, in
1976. Douglas Hoover has been studying water and its relationship to
health for over 40 years. He rarely debates with the distilled water naysayers, because, “A man with
an experience is not at the mercy of a man with an argument. ”
Douglas is a living example of the miraculous health benefits of a “
fasting
lifestyle
” and drinking plenty of distilled water. In the year 1976, just a
stone's throw from the 
Michigan International
 Speedway, in Bill's IGA
(Independent Grocers Association
) distilled
 water was being installed by
Doug Hoover of the Aquamedia Corporation. Nine years later, in June of
1985, the owner of Bill's IGA store reported sales 
of Crystal
 Distilled
drinking water was in excess of 2500 gallons per week in addition to over
1,500 pounds 
of Crystal
 
Distilled ice
 cubes. Brooklyn has a population of
1,300. He was excited to add 
that the Crystal
 
Distilled drinking
 water from
the Distillation
 Station produced the highest profit margin of any item in his
store. " Crystal Distilled water and ice is produced by steam vapor
compression distillation which kills all bacteria and cysts, removing
everything from the water, resulting in the purest, healthiest water
available, distilled. TABLE OF CONTENTS 
   
Preface
………………. ….
Douglas Hoover
Who is the author of the book and the founder of the "Distillation Station"?
The main purpose of carbon filters is to produce the cleanest, purest, and healthiest water possible. However, it has several drawbacks, including not removing all chemicals, allowing chemicals to build up in the filter, and creating a breeding ground for bacteria and germs.
What is the main purpose of carbon filters, and what are some of its drawbacks?
The author drinks one to one-and-a-half gallons of distilled water daily and claims to have experienced perfect health and freedom from sickness and disease.
What is the author's daily water intake, and what are the health benefits he claims to have experienced?
The main difference is that distilled water is the only type of water that is 100% pure and clean H2O, whereas other types of water may contain inorganic minerals and chemicals. According to the author, it is the most effective because it is the only water that can be used for the healthiest water possible.
What is the main difference between distilled water and other types of water, and why is it the most effective?
The author opposes the addition of fluoride to drinking water, stating that it is a toxic waste by-product of the fertilizer and aluminum manufacturing industry.
What is the author's opinion on the addition of fluoride to drinking water, and what is his recommendation?