I am a urologist and this is what you should look for when buying bottled water to choose the best one.

Staying hydrated is one of the essential elements for having a good health . And water plays a fundamental role in the functioning of our body: it keeps the kidneys healthy, helps eliminate waste and toxins and reduces the risk of infections or stones, among other functions.

In this line, many people choose to buy bottled water have at home. And the offering in store is generally varied: you can find all brands and types, such as purified water, mineral water, etc. Which should we choose?

According to the Dr. Cristina Barrera, specialist in urology , There are several factors to consider when purchasing bottled water, as they are not all the same. and each body may have different needs.

As Dr. Barrera explained on his social media, It is important to look, first of all, at the mineralization offered by each brand of bottled water.

“Weakly mineralized water is not better, because it would be a kind of empty water.” without any additional mineral intake in the diet,” he explained.

Purified water is so called because, during the “purification” process, all minerals are removed. Instead, Mineral water retains some of its natural minerals.

Even so, purified water is a good source of hydration, however, the expert indicated that, in his experience, It is best to choose an alternative to “mineral” water that preserves these nutrients, as they are “very important in the diet”.

Now the question is: How to choose the best mineral water?

The urologist said that Pay attention to the components indicated on the labels because not all of them provide health benefits.

In this sense, according to the expert, The ideal mineral water should be:

• Low in sodium. “The first thing I notice is who has a low sodium level, which is the main component of salt, ideally less than ten,” Dr. Barrera said. In other words, the water should contain little sodium.
• With calcium intake. The urologist explained that people should consume about one gram of calcium per day, so the water we buy It must have “a moderate calcium content, between approximately 50 and 100 milligrams per liter.”
• With magnesium. This mineral, also important for human health, should be present in the bottled water we consume. The doctor recommended opting for brands that have “at least 10 milligrams in their vials.”

According to the Spanish Association of Urology (AEU) , Drinking mineral water poses no health risk. And some experts prefer purified water for patients with kidney complications because the minerals could affect its functioning.

In the same vein, the specialized health site Health Line explained that Both mineral water and purified water are “great alternatives” because both are safe to drink.

“The type of water you consume depends above all on your preferences and what is most accessible to you. In many cases, people choose the type of water that suits them best, which can be largely subjective,” they wrote on their site.

And they concluded: “You should choose the type of water you like to drink the most.”

Whether purified or mineral, The human body needs to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Howeverthe amount of water we need depends on each person and a series of factors. For example, someone who does more physical activity will have a greater need to hydrate.

It is also necessary to take into account the person’s age, climate where they live, health history, etc.

However, generally speaking, It is best to drink water when:

• you feel thirsty.
• You urine is dark (ideally transparent or pale yellow).
• After do sports (to compensate for water loss).

If you have trouble drinking water, here are some expert recommendations for increasing your intake:

• Have a reusable water bottle and try to take it with you everywhere.
• Take sips of water every 15 to 30 minutes.
• If you don’t like the taste of water, try adding fruits, herbs or vegetables (e.g. lemon, cucumber or mint).
• put alarms or reminders on your cell phone.
• Replace sugary drinks by water.
• If you drink tap water, buy a water filter.