Have you heard of soft water? But, does water ever become soft? Yes, it does, but it’s certainly not in the way you think it is. And, you’re probably wondering how it becomes soft and whether it’s a good idea to consume it on a daily basis.
Soft water is a type of filtered water, meaning some components that cause it to become ‘hard’ are removed in the process. Yes, water also becomes hard, and it’s because of the minerals in the water, particularly calcium and magnesium.
But, how will you know if the water you’re using is soft? Here are some signs that’ll indicate whether the water you’re using is soft:
- A lather is easy to produce when washing hands, dishes, and clothes.
- Absence of mineral stains on clothes
- Good water pressure throughout the house
- Sodium taste when drinking tap water, although, sometimes, it’s negligible
On top of that, using soft water may benefit your health in many ways, unlike hard water. That said, here are some health benefits you can enjoy when you start drinking one:
1. It Prevents Kidney Failure
The kidneys are one of the most important organs in the body. They’re responsible for filtering toxins from your blood, controlling the production of your red blood cells, and eliminating traces of drugs from your body. Aside from that, kidneys are also in charge of converting and eliminating waste products in the form of urine. This is why it’s important to promote proper kidney function. Otherwise, several complications may arise, and living a healthy lifestyle might seem impossible.
One way to prevent kidney or renal failure is to drink soft water instead of hard water. As mentioned earlier, hard water contains minerals. These minerals, over time, can block your kidney’s filtration system, making it difficult to filter toxins and convert waste into urine.
By drinking soft water, you’ll be able to reduce the risk of damaging your kidneys over time. This may help you keep your kidneys safe and healthy. However, keep in mind that drinking soft water isn’t a total solution to having a functional kidney.
You still have to be mindful of what you’re taking into your system. For example, you should also avoid eating salty foods in addition to staying away from hard water. With this, you’ll be able to ensure functional and healthy kidneys.
2. It Reduces The Risk Of Infertility In Males
Male infertility refers to the inability to procreate a child or impregnate a woman. It happens when the sperm count is below the average count necessary to help a woman conceive a child. This can be due to the following reasons:
- Exposure to different environmental factors, such as cigarettes, alcohol, prohibited drugs, medications, harmful chemicals, and extreme heat
- Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
- Abnormal sperm production due to infections and diseases, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and diabetes
Aside from these causes, some studies reported that drinking hard water may induce infertility in males. As you know, one of the minerals prevalent in hard water is calcium. And, excessive calcium deposits have been reported to cause oxidative stress, which can lead to male infertility.
It’s also been found that excessive calcium intake can cause issues in producing male reproductive hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone. Such issues may cause a decrease in sperm count and reduced reproductive functions.
Apart from calcium, fluoride is another element of concern that may induce male infertility. According to a study, long-term exposure to fluoride may result in decreased reproductive ability. This is why it’s important to consider drinking soft water instead because it has no calcium content that can reduce the amount of sperm in your body. So, if you’re having problems getting a child, this is the right time to purchase a water softener to procreate a healthy family easily.
3. It Promotes Hydration
Drinking plenty of water every day is extremely important to ensure a healthy body. It’s a crucial ingredient for ensuring functional bodily processes. This is why experts recommend everyone to drink eight ounces of water eight times per day—hence, it’s called the 8×8 rule.
However, even if you know how important hydration is, how would you enjoy drinking water if it tastes quite nasty and unpleasant? The answer is simple—get a water softener and convert your hard water into a soft one.
The process helps improve the smell, taste, and appearance of the water that flows throughout your home. All you need to do is install a water softener on every faucet across your home. With this, you can have clean water from your faucets.
On the other hand, here are the benefits of hydration you might want to know:
- Maximizes physical performance: Hydration helps prevent your body from suffering from fatigue to boost your endurance, maximizing your physical performance.
- Boosts brain function: Proper hydration helps promote good brain function. It prevents mood changes, memory malfunction, and reduced brain activity.
- Helps reduce kidney stones: Kidney stones are chunks of minerals that develop inside the kidney due to high mineral concentration and low water intake. Increasing water consumption may help prevent the recrystallization of stones by diluting minerals.
- Helps lose weight: If you want to lose weight, you should start by getting hydrated most of the time. Drinking plenty of water may increase your metabolism and improve your satiety levels, which helps decrease your food cravings.
Should You Be Wary Of Drinking Soft Water?
Drinking soft water may impose health risks on people experiencing high blood pressure. This is because soft water typically has sodium—an element necessary to replace calcium and magnesium molecules, which can elevate blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure, consult your doctor before installing a water softener. They might ask you not to install one to reduce your sodium intake and the risks.
Final Words
Drinking soft water offers great benefits. It promotes healthy kidney function, reduces the risk of male infertility, and motivates everyone to drink plenty of water every day. If you think your water has a significant level of hardness that can interfere with your health and day-to-day routine, consider installing a water softener across your home.