Markethealthbeauty.com | Is it Safe to Drink Rainwater? Water is an essential need for every living thing to survive [1]. Humans make up their entire body weight, 75% of which is a component of water [1].
When doing activities, the body will lose water where the water in the body comes out through urine and sweat.
That’s why, the body needs lots of fluids and humans are recommended to drink 2 liters of water per day [1].
Drinking water can be obtained from anywhere, such as rivers, wells, springs, faucets, and bottled water (usually in the form of bottles).
But Is it Safe to Drink Rainwater for the body?
Children, in particular, they will be more excited when it rains and may even be interested in drinking rainwater [2.
Is it safe to drink rainwater?
There is no statement or evidence regarding whether it is safe or wrong to drink rain water.
In other parts of the world, there are still a number of countries whose people depend on rainwater as a source of their drinking water consumption [2].
Even though, as long as rain water is clean there will be no problem to drink, people still need to know that not all rain water is clean and safe for consumption.
Even though the initial rain water is clean, environmental factors are able to turn it into unclean again and can endanger the health of those who drink it [2].
The environment is able to make rainwater contain viruses, bacteria, and parasites so that rainwater consumers can be susceptible to disease if they are not careful [2].
Are there any health benefits of drinking rainwater?
Some people or information may state that drinking rain water is safe and beneficial for health. There are even those who believe that rainwater is much healthier for consumption than other water sources.
However, the claim that drinking rainwater is healthy so far has not been supported by scientific evidence.
As a body hydrator, rainwater can be useful, but consuming it every rain and providing health benefits for the body has not been proven.
There is also a claim that the alkaline content of rainwater is higher than that of tap water [4].
Because of this, drinking rainwater can increase the pH in the blood and cause it to be more alkaline [4].
With alkaline content or alkaline properties, it is also said that drinking rain water has a powerful detoxifying effect [4].
Thus, the digestive process becomes smoother and healthier because every day, consciously or unconsciously, the human body absorbs free radicals and various kinds of toxins that increase the level of acidity in the blood. [4,7].
Every human body has an efficient system that helps to maintain the blood pH at a constant 7.4 [5].
When blood pH decreases or increases excessively, these levels will increase the risk of various serious diseases [5].
Although it is called alkaline and is able to make the blood pH more alkaline, generally rain water is not like that because it has a pH of 5.0-5.5 so it is classified as slightly acidic. [6].
If you drink rainwater in a highly polluted environment, the acid level will be higher than expected ,6].
So if rainwater is clean because it comes from an environment that is also clean with low air pollution levels, the level of safety for consumption is higher [6].
For better digestion and detoxification of the body, make sure to drink clean rainwater [4].
However, if you are not sure because you are in an air polluted environment, you should avoid consuming it.
Types of Safe Water Sources for Consumption
Rainwater is still not proven completely safe to drink, therefore, choose a better and safer source or type of water for drinking, such as:
- Well water: Well water is a source of water that comes from the ground, which, although raw and not a type of treated water, is considered safe if it is boiled before drinking.
- Alkaline Water: Alkaline water or alkaline water is believed and used by many people to neutralize acid in their body because it has a negative ORP component (negative oxidation reduction potential) and alkaline minerals.
- Detox Water (Infused Water): detox water or infused water is water with flavors or water that has been added to natural sweeteners (fruits and vegetables) as well as artificial or flavoring.
- Purified Water: Purified water is ground water or tap water that has gone through a purification process so that various germs have been removed.
- Distilled Water: Distilled water is a type of water that has gone through a boiling process in which the steam is collected and then returned to a liquid.
- Carbonated Water (Sparkling Water): This carbonated water or sparkling water has gone through the process of giving carbon dioxide gas when it is under pressure.
- Mineral water: Mineral water is a type of water that contains various types of minerals that are good for the body.
- Faucet water: Tap water is a type of water that is not always clean, but in some countries tap water is allowed and safe to drink.
Learn more:
Distilled Water vs Purified Water: Pros and Cons
Conclusion
So, Is it Safe to Drink Rainwater? There are still pros and cons regarding whether rainwater is safe to drink because until now there is no scientific evidence that states the safety of rainwater consumption.
So that rainwater can be drunk more safely for the body, it is better if rainwater can go through several processing processes.
Rainwater is raw water, so boiling it can eradicate various germs contained in it; however, some require other processes to ensure that the water is safer for consumption.
- Barry M. Popkin, Kristen E. D’Anci, & Irwin H. Rosenberg. Water, Hydration and Health. Nutrition Reviews; 2011.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rainwater Collection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021.
- Image: Pixabay
- Heartwater. Rainwater Benefits. Heart Water; 2022.
- Wataru Aoi & Yoshinori Marunaka. Importance of pH homeostasis in metabolic health and diseases: crucial role of membrane proton transport. BioMed Research International; 2014.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. Acid Rain Students Site: pH Scale. United States Environmental Protection Agency; 2022.
- Barry M Popkin, Kristen E D’Anci, & Irwin H Rosenberg. Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition Reviews; 2010.
- Video: Josh The Nerd
