Magnesium

For Muscles and Nerves

Magnesium is one of the most important minerals, and is indispensable for many body functions. In the human body, there is approximately 25 g of magnesium. In summary, magnesium can be described as the muscle and nerve mineral and is particularly important for athletes.

With a magnesium-rich mineral water, you can easily ensure that you will receive an optimal magnesium intake. Unlike in solid food, the mineral is dissolved, which increases its bioavailability. This means that the body can more easily absorb and better utilize minerals from mineral water than minerals from solid food.

This mineral boosts the immune system, thereby helping to fight infections effectively. This mineral also assists the metabolism. Magnesium is one of the essential nutrients that one need daily – human body cannot produce it, so it must obtain magnesium from a healthful diet.

Magnesium is involved in many bodily functions, but most importantly it’s required for efficient muscle and nerve function. It can be found in skeleton as it works in conjunction with calcium to build strong bones. It is present in muscles and between the cells. It activates more than 300 enzymes, in particular, those needed for energy metabolism and nervous system function. It helps to reduce fatigue and tiredness and contributes to a normal synthesis of protein. All of that makes it an important mineral, especially for highly active people and athletes.

How high the magnesium requirement is for an individual depends on their individual lifestyle: physically active people, pregnant and breast-feeding women require more.

Whole-grain cereal products, vegetables, nuts, milk, poultry, fish and potatoes are all noteworthy sources of magnesium. However, due to processing and some cooking methods, many foods can lose some of their original magnesium content. A natural alternative magnesium source is mineral water; studies have shown that as the magnesium is a dissolved format in mineral water, this increases its bioavailability. A mineral water is considered as source of magnesium only if it has a magnesium content of at least 50 mg per liter. The exact amount must be stated on the bottle label.

Magnesium (Mg+2): very important for cell energy production, and it aids bone growth. It protects against heart attacks, heart rhythm disturbances, asthma and kidney stones, as well as easing PMS. It is also beneficial for high blood pressure.

Lack of magnesium may lead to nausea, muscle weakness and cramp, irritability and heartbeat irregularities. It is unlikely that daily needs would be met simply by drinking mineral water – most brands contain too little.

Iodine (I-)

Iodine (I-1) is essential trace element that is vital for normal growth and development. First and foremost it is used by the thyroid gland to produce hormones which regulate all key metabolic functions including blood cell production and nerve and muscle function. Because our body heat is primarily derived from muscle metabolism, these hormones also regulate body temperature. Topically applied iodine is also useful to help prevent wounds from becoming infected, and iodine tablets dissolved in water provide an inexpensive way to purify water in emergency situations.

Iodine is not widely spread in natural resources and it is rare that Iodine is present in natural mineral water; this feature makes „St Petka“ water exceptionally balanced – with its content of I – 0.52 (ml/l) it can have therapeutic and healing properties.

The health benefits of iodine include:

• Iodine is necessary for the functioning of thyroid glands
• Plays an important role in maintaining optimal energy levels of the body
• Iodine has anti-carcinogenic properties
• Iodine removes toxic chemicals: Iodine can flush out chemical toxins like fluoride, lead, mercury, and biological toxins.
• It is included in the formation of healthy and shiny skin, teeth and hair. It is an important element for hair care, as a lack of this mineral can result in hair loss. Moreover, it also speeds up hair growth and increases follicle strength.
• It helps in the normal growth and maturity of reproductive organs.
• A sufficient quantity of iodine in pregnant women is essential to prevent stillbirths or neurocognitive conditions in newborns
• It is major booster of the immune system. Iodine is itself a scavenger of free hydroxyl radicals, and that, like vitamin-C, it also stimulates and increases the activity of antioxidants throughout the body to provide a strong defensive measure against various diseases
• Iodine can significantly reduce conditions like fibrosis, turgidity, and breast tenderness.

Therefore, a quincentenary long popular belief of healing properties of “St Petka” water is well supported with detailed analysis of its mineral content.

Sodium

For blood pressure and blood volume and aids muscle and nerve function

Some of the brands of bottled mineral water will contain high quantities of sodium so in these cases, you may be consuming excess amounts of salt. Drinking too much mineral water can also be detrimental to the health of people who suffer from high blood pressure. Because of this, you should opt for mineral waters with low levels of sodium.

Today, we rarely need to worry about sodium deficiency; salt is an integral part of many foods, especially those that are highly processed. Sodium occurs naturally and abundantly in most food so it is easy to reach the daily requirement, and easy to exceed it. Deficiencies in sodium are generally caused only by excessive fluid loss such as with diarrhea, vomiting and kidney disease, or by extreme exercise.

On the other hand, an excess of sodium can cause high blood pressure and strokes and there is strong evidence linking high sodium diets to increased rates of stomach cancer. A person’ level of exertion largely determines his or her daily requirement of sodium. Normally about 3 grams are necessary, but severe physical stress can bring the requirements up to 15 grams or more. The heart’s metabolism is affected by sodium as is the regular contraction of the heart.

Sodium is an essential element of the health and functioning of the body, but in the daily use of the water should not be by more than 150 mg/l, and it is recommended to be below 50 mg/l. This is because people with high blood pressure and heart problems as well as children with undeveloped kidneys are sensitive to its increased concentration. Water for daily use should not contain more than 30 mg/l sulfate, and for young children not more than 15 mg/l.

Daily requirement: 1,100 to 3,300mg.

Potassium

Important mineral to keeping the heart, kidney and other important organs in good working condition. Together with sodium, it helps conduct electrical impulses within cells. It controls blood pressure and can help prevent strokes.

Potassium and sodium need to be finely balanced, but the levels of potassium in mineral and tap waters are too low to make any significant contribution to overall health.

Two to four grams is usually a sufficient day’s supply of potassium. Children and young people should pay particular attention to their intake, since potassium aides the growth of cells. The pressure of water between cells is regulated by K+, which also makes sure each cell gets enough food. Potassium has special roles to play in muscle contraction and the formation and conduction of impulses and make smooth muscle tired.

Daily requirement: 3,500mg.

Bicarbonate

Present in all biological fluids, bicarbonate is essential for maintaining our bodies’ pH balance.

The substance is also found in stomach secretions. Lactic acid generated by physical activity is neutralized by bicarbonate dissolved in water; a similar process raises the pH of some acidic foods.

Bicarbonates are the primary transporters of oxygen in the body and are used to buffer acidity. Disease prefers the body to be in an acid state and fighting that acidity has many difficulties as the causes are many. The body’s natural solution to excess acid is to buffer it with bicarbonate and to this end it produces its own bicarbonate. With the onslaught of acidity from foods and stress along with decreasing ability of the body to keep up with buffering all this acidity, our bodies often cannot keep up adequately with sufficient production of bicarbonates (especially true as we age or if we have a chronic stress).

Bicarbonates (HCO3-1) acts as a buffer to maintain the normal levels of acidity (pH) in blood and other fluids in the body. These are the negatively charged ions that help to regulate acidity in the body. They help keep pH levels steady. Taking too much bicarbonate can cause diarrhea. In mineral waters they are natural, coming from the rocks through which the water filters.

Proper Electrolyte Balance: Electrolytes are nothing but salts (potassium, magnesium, chloride) that occur in the body. People experiencing electrolyte imbalance are asked to drink mineral water to restore and maintain normal electrolyte balance.

Daily requirement: There is no recommended daily requirement for bicarbonates, and the level of bicarbonates in mineral waters have little effect on health.

Sulfate

Sulfates act as a detoxifying agent and helps to cleanse the body thoroughly.

Sulfates are the salts of sulfur. They aid the liver in detoxification and help digestion by stimulating the gall bladder. Sulfates in high doses act as a laxative.

Fish, meat and milk contain sulfates, which are an important component of protein. The human body only absorbs small amounts of sulfates, but these amounts are sufficient to stimulate peristalsis by binding magnesium and sodium to water in the intestine. This effect makes mineral waters that are rich in sulfates, taste slightly bitter, suitable as “nonalcoholic bitters” after a meal.

People unaccustomed to drinking water with elevated levels of sulfate can experience diarrhea and dehydration. Infants are often more sensitive to sulfate than adults. As a precaution, water with a sulfate level exceeding 400 mg/l should not be used in the preparation of infant formula.

Older children and adults become accustomed to high sulfate levels after a few days. If sulfate in water exceeds 250 mg/l, a bitter or medicinal taste may render the water unpleasant to drink.

Silica

Silica is the key ingredient to keeping skin healthier, younger, and more radiant.

An essential mineral building block, silica is one of the body’s greatest energizing nutrients. Silica reduces the risk of heart disease and may prevent osteoporosis; it also helps tissue repair by serving as an antioxidant. Hair and nails are strengthened by silica. If bottled waters contain any silica, it is usually less than 20mg/l.

Most adults need between 20 and 30 milligrams of silica daily.

Trace Elements:

The human body needs iron, iodine, copper, fluoride, zinc and other trace elements as well as minerals. The recommended daily intake is fractions of a milligram for some substances and a few milligrams for others.

Nitrate

Nitrates are the main source of nitrogen for plants and an essential constituent for nucleic acids and amino acids. Nitrate in water is undetectable without testing because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

A nitrates water content of about 10 mg/l is considered normal and natural. The problems resulting from excessive nitrate presence are due to the toxicity of nitrate for human body: nitrates are transformed in nitrites or in carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Mineral water ‘S. Petka’ contains low levels of nitrate.

Mineral water with high nitrate content may be harmful for pregnant women and babies under six months old. It is, therefore, best to avoid brands that have nitrate content. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate is 45mg/l.

Nitrates are naturally present in all sources of water and it’s unlikely that no nitrate is present in the samples labeled as having 0 Nitrates. It could be construed that this 0 value is technically incorrect and misleading.