Water Wisdom

When it comes to natural mineral water versus tap water, health expert Alice Kavounas comes down firmly in favor of natural, since it helps replenish vital minerals in the body. But even mineral water should be checked carefully, particularly if you are on a diet.

Kavounas, author of "Water: Pure Therapy," published by Kyle Cathie, warns that if you are on a low-salt diet, "check labels for the sodium content of the water." She says one study has shown that drinking 11/2 liters (about three pints) of mineral water with 300 milligrams of salt per liter would equate to eating 11/2 grams of table salt.

But one important advantage of mineral water is that "it can certainly provide more calcium than tap water," says Kavounas. "If you drank two liters (about two quarts) per day of water containing 121 milligrams of calcium per liter, you would be getting around a quarter of your daily calcium requirement."

Kavounas notes that mineral water should not be confused with distilled water. Aside from tasting distinctly unpleasant, she says, the distilled variety "robs the body of minerals" and has no supplemental health value.