Mineral Water Code – Decree-Law 7.841, of 08/08/1945

Besides satisfying thirst and hydrating the body, mineral water makes a big contribution to your health.
The therapeutic properties of mineral water have been known since ancient times. But the first scientific studies of hydrotherapy (curing using water) only began to be documented after 1604, when Henry IV published, in France, the first mineral water legislation. Since then and up until today, healing with water has become accepted throughout the world, as a complementary medicine called Crenotherapy, a term derived from the Greek crenos, which means source.

Water and beauty

Generally, all mineral water has health and beauty benefits. Besides replacing energy, aiding the proper functioning of muscles and nerves, it has special beneficial effects on the skin, to hydrate and eliminate toxins resulting from cellular burning. Because of this, some dermatologists believe that mineral water is good for facial and body (and even hair) cleansing, and also to minimize the blemishing effects of the sun.

Making up a big proportion of the body, water takes part in and aids all physiological functions, thus being fundamental to the permanent hydration of the body. Even burning fat is due to a property of water.

Thirst

It is important to note that you don’t need to wait until you feel thirsty before you drink water.
Thirst is a symptom of dehydration, which means the body is already in debt.
When the reduced water content approaches 1% of the body’s weight, an alarm system is started in the body to signal the danger of dehydration: The kidney drastically reduces the production of urine; at the same time the water contained in the body is redistributed, moving to those organs where it is essential to maintain the vital functions such as the heart, the brain and the lungs. The first place that water begins to disappear from, at the first sign of dehydration, is the mucus of the mouth. That’s why our mouth feels dry when we feel thirsty.
It's worth noting that the body is constantly losing water. Just from transpiration, urine and excretion, you loose 1.5 liters a day.
It is recommended to consume 2 liters of water a day, depending on the hydration necessities of each person. It is true, for example, that athletes need greater quantities.

Other benefits

Between 60 and 70% of our body is composed of water. Organs such as the kidneys have up to 83% water, while the heart, lungs and blood have around about 80%. Or rather, the vital functioning of many organs depends on the amount of water in the body.
Therefore drinking water is essential to life. To satisfy thirst is the first survival instinct, much more than to satisfy hunger. If a person can go up to two months without ingesting solid food, they would not endure more than 48 hours without consuming liquids without serious risk to their health. The loss of 15 to 20% of the body’s water can cause death from uremia, which is intoxication of the blood.

Water is equally important for digestion, for regulating body temperature, for ensuring the good health of the kidneys, bladder and the prostrate and for the absorption of oxygen by the lungs. It also acts as a lubricant for the eyes and between the bones and participates fundamentally in cerebral activity and the functioning of the nervous system.

In cooking

Recently, mineral water has started to be used a lot in the preparation of cocktails, meals and deserts. According to specialists, mineral water brings out the flavors of the food, improving the taste and contributing to the rising and the consistency of breads, cakes and sweets. When having drinks on the rocks it is recommended that the ice be made from mineral water, as the chlorine or other chemicals used in the treatment of tap water alter the taste of, for example, a genuine 12 year old whiskey.

Source: (“Água&Vida” magazine)