Medical College Of Wisconsin research team
      The addition of chlorine to our drinking water began in the late 1800s and by 1904 was the standard in water treatment, and for the most part remains so today. We don’t use chlorine because it’s the safest or even the most effective means of disinfection, we use it because it is the cheapest. In spite of all our technological advances, we essentially still pour bleach in our water before we drink it. The long term effects of chlorinated drinking water have just recently being recognized. According to the U.S. Council Of Environmental Quality, “Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine.”

      Dr. Joseph Price wrote a highly controversial book in the late sixties titled “Coronaries/ Cholesterol/ Chlorine” and concluded that “ nothing can
negate the incontrovertible fact, the basic cause of atherosclerosis and resulting entities such as heart attacks and stroke, is chlorine.” Dr. Price later headed up a study using chickens as test subjects, where two groups of several hundred birds were observed throughout their span to maturity. One group was given water with chlorine and the other without. The group raised with chlorine, when autopsied, showed some level of heart or circulatory disease in every specimen, the group without had no incidence of disease. The group with chlorine under winter conditions, showed outward signs of poor circulation, shivering, drooped feathers and a reduced level of activity. The group without chlorine grew faster, larger and displayed vigorous health. This study was well received in the poultry industry and is still used as a reference today. As a result, most large poultry producers use de-chlorinated water. “It would be a common sense conclusion that if regular chlorinated tap water is not good enough for the chickens, then it probably is not good enough for us humans!”

      There is a lot of well founded concern about chlorine. When chlorine is added to our water, it combines with other natural compounds to form Trihalomethanes (chlorination byproducts), or THMs. These chlorine byproducts trigger the production of free radicals in the body, causing cell damage, and are highly carcinogenic. “Although concentrations of these carcinogens (THMs) are low, it is precisely these low levels that cancer scientists believe are responsible for the majority of human cancers in the United States“. The Environmental Defense Fund  Simply stated chlorine is a pesticide, as defined by the U.S. EPA, who’s sole purpose is to kill living organisms. When we consume water containing chlorine, it kills some part of us, destroying cells and tissue inside our body. Dr. Robert Carlson, a highly respected University of Minnesota researcher who’s work is sponsored by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, sums it up by claiming , “the chlorine problem is similar to that of air pollution”, and adds that “chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of modern times!”

      Breast cancer, which now effects one in every eight women in North America, has recently been linked to the accumulation of chlorine compounds in the breast tissue. A study carried out in Hartford Connecticut, the first of it’s kind in North America, found that, “women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer.”

      One of the most shocking components to all of these studies is that up to 2/3s of our harmful exposure to chlorine is due to inhalation of steam and skin absorption while showering. A warm shower opens up the pores of the skin and allows for accelerated absorption of chlorine and other chemicals in water. The steam we inhale while showering can contain up to 50 times the level of chemicals than tap water due to the fact that chlorine and most other contaminants vaporize much faster and at a lower temperature than water. Inhalation is a much more harmful means of exposure since the chlorine gas (chloroform) we inhale goes directly into our blood stream. When we drink contaminated water the toxins are partially filtered out by our kidneys and digestive system. Chlorine vapors are known to be a strong irritant to the sensitive tissue and bronchial passages inside our lungs, it was used as a chemical weapon in World War II. The inhalation of chlorine is a suspected cause of asthma and bronchitis, especially in children… which has increased 300% in the last two decades. “Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated levels of chloroform in nearly every home because of chlorine in the water.” Dr Lance Wallace, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

      Chlorine in shower water also has a very negative cosmetic effect, robbing our skin and hair of moisture and elasticity, resulting in a less vibrant and youthful appearance. Anyone who has ever swam in a chlorinated pool can relate to the harsh effects that chlorine has on the skin and hair. What’s surprising is that we commonly find higher levels of chlorine in our tap water than is recommended safe for swimming pools.

      Aside from all the health risks related to chlorine in our water, it is the primary cause of bad taste and odor in drinking water. The objectionable taste causes many people to turn to other less healthful beverages like soft drinks, tea or other sweetened drinks. A decreased intake of water, for any reason, can only result in a lower degree of health.
      The good news is that chlorine is one of the easiest substances to remove from our water. For that reason it logically should serve it’s purpose of keeping our water free from harmful bacteria and water borne diseases right up to the time of consumption, where it should then be removed by quality home filtration.

      No one will argue that chlorine serves an important purpose, and that the hazards of doing away with chlorine are greater than or equal to the related health risks. The simple truth is that chlorine is likely here to stay. The idea that we could do away with chlorine any time in the near future is just not realistic. It is also clear that chlorine represents a very real and serious threat to our health, , and should be removed in our homes, at the point of use, both from the water we drink and the water we shower in.

Ionized Water and its Effect on Your Hair and Nails

What you put into your system inevitably has a large impact on every single part of your body, including your hair and nails.  The quality of food and water that you consume has a lot to do with your overall wellbeing and health.  By using a water ionizer, you are opening up a world of possibilities that will allow you to have healthier and more attractive hair and nails.
 

Believe it or not:  the water that you drink can have a lot to do with the amount of nutrients and minerals that your body is able to absorb.  First, it's important that you understand exactly how important it is that your body be able to absorb the proper amount of nutrients including calcium.

We all want to have glowing, healthy skin that makes us appear fresh and young.  However, we often don't have the time to put hours of work into our skin to maintain its luminous appearance.  Or we don't have the money it takes to buy expensive toners and face washes that will help to keep our skin tight and flawless.

Fat Saves the Day or Does it?

I recently saw a sign that said, "You're not over-weight, you're over-acidic."What an interesting way to consider the obesity problem that we are seeing in modern day society!

All disease can be traced back to an imbalance in the body which puts undo strain on the organs and systems. As the body attempts to correct imbalances, even more are created creating resistance within the body to its own healing mechanisms. The combination of the body's inability to regain its natural balance and the continued overworking and under-nourishment of the system results in breakdown and disabling of the body's organs and functions.

An Acidic Body = A Breeding Ground for Disease. When we consume acidic foods, are exposed to pollution, or become stressed, we are creating an acidic environment within our bodies. Excess acidity leads to a general weakening of all processes within the human body. Dr. Sherry Rogers, author of "Tired or Toxic, a Blueprint for Health" states that she is Convinced that toxicity in the form of acidic waste is the primary cause of degenerative disease."

Ionized Water and Weight Loss

Believe it or not: the pH level of your body has a lot to do with weight gain and weight loss. To understand the affect that pH has on your body and weight, you first need to understand how pH levels work. The scale we use to measure pH is logarithmic, meaning that each whole pH value above 7 is ten times for alkaline than the next lower digit. On the other hand, if the pH changes from 7 to 6, then the substance is more acidic. Your body's highest priority is regulating the pH of your blood. The blood is the body's only transport system for nutrients; this means that it can't afford to be acidic.