Why do we get thirsty?
Thirst is a message that the thyroid glands communicate to us via the mouth and means that they have to be watered. However, this is a requirement which has personal and psychological dimensions and which varies from person to person. While some humans drink 2 glasses of water a day, others may consume 2 liters of water daily.

Should we drink water in higher amounts in summer?
Yes! We should definitely drink more water during summer. Especially in during summer the body sweats more the more it heats up and looses water. Consequently it is essential to replace the water stock frequently and in higher amounts.

Does our skin really contaion high amounts of water?
Yes, it is a fact that our skin contains a water rate of 50 percent, but such rate may vary as per age and gender. While it goes up to 80 percent for babies, this rate is about 60 percent for male and 50 percent for women. The water amount on the epidermis layer of the skin is twice as higher than that on the subskin layer and plays the leading role for the clear and shining look of the skin.

Does the water has other additionally functions in the body?
The water in our bodies steps in as a reservoir enabling first of all the organism to be washed out in case of emergencies. The regulation of the body temperature and to keep the skin healthy is among its basic skills. Meanwhile it is also clear why cosmeticians put so much importance on water. Just have a look at the contents of cosmetic products produced in the last years.

How does the moisturing process work?
If we imagine water as a fluid in which all cells are rinsed, we will find out easily why the skin dries out and becomes scaly when the water level decreases. However, this is not a frequently faced situation. The body requires water to enable al enzymatic and immune systems to do their job. When pointing out that again water is required for formations between the cells as well as for the formation of antiradical enzymes we should also remind that in pores form up on the skin in case of deficiency.

Can water be a good make-up cleaner?
Especially in the summer months when you rinse your skin with plenty of water after using your cleansing lotion or foam it will help to refresh your skin. Especially little granules having the function to peel the skin, are ideal to free the skin from dead cells and from dust. The most important functions of such creams is to reach the dirt in the lowest part of the pores and to cleanse deeply.

Which are the characteristics of good water?
Good water has the following characteristics:
1. It has a characteristic "sweet" taste;
2. It is even able to reduce the poisoning effect of alcohol;
3. It is light;
4. It is found rarely and heats up and cools down fastly;
5. It cools down and chills easily in the winter and warms up easily in the summers;
6. It has no other taste and smell;
7. It doesn’t remain in the stomach for a long while;
8. It boils easily and fast.

What is the distribution of water in the body?
Water, is a substantial element which must be taken by creatures in order to keep alive. Every creature has water in its structure. The water content in a creature varies as per the type, structure and parts of the creature. The material that is found most in the human body is water. Water is distributed to all parts of the body. The amount of water caries according to the organ and the tissue. The ratio of water is high in organs such as muscle, liver and kidneys while it is low in the bones and teeth. There are various substances found in the body water. Multilateral vital events such as the transport, use of the necessary materials and the discharge off the body takes place by the help of water. It is better to say body fluids instead of body waters in order to point at the water in the body. 55-65% of the body fluid is inside the cells, while 35-45% is outside the cells. The main fluids outside the cells are blood plasma, the fluid which fills the spaces between the cells and the lymph. The ejection of the salivary glands, the gall, the pancreas juice as well as the secretions of the glands in the digestion system are considered as fluids outside cells. The fluids inside and outside the cells are kept in balance with respect to volume, density and other aspects. Various systems and organs operate in order to keep this balance.

The rate of water in the body varies as to different factors such as age, gender, fatness and thinness. Up to 50-65% of the body mass of adults consists of water. While for Babies, the rate of water is much higher; this rate decreases the more the baby grows. The rate of water is low in case of fat people, since the rate of fat is high, while it is high in case of thin and muscular people. The body water is renewed continuously. The excessive loss of water cannot be sustained. Meeting the loss of water in the body is vital for the life.

What are the duties of water in our bodies?

Water is a good flux. Many substances can dissolve in it. Almost all substances are found in the cytoplasm of the cell in different grades, dissolved in water. Many different substances are found also dissolved in water within the cell-external fluids. Due to this and other reasons water functions in the take-in into the body, the digestion, absorption of commodities, transport to the cells and in the metabolism. Water prepares a fluid space where reactions can take place. The operation of the cell carries on in water and with materials dissolved in it.

Water ensures also the discharge of waste products and harmful substances formed due to the metabolism by transporting these to the lungs and kidneys.

Another duty of the water is to keep the body temperature on a normal level and to balance the inside temperature. Since considerable temperature is spent for the evaporation of water, temperature loss takes place when the water evaporates. Thus, the body tries to keep the temperature on a normal level. Water evaporates by means of the lung and the skin and water loss takes place through sweat.

1)- Loss of Body Water: Loss of water from the body takes place all the time; it is vital for the continuance of life to cope with this loss and the maintenance of the balance of the water. Loss of water from the body takes place through the kidney, the skin, sweat, feces and lungs. Water is also lost through saliva, tears, mucus and proliferation, and through milk during the period of lactation. The amount of daily loss of water varies in dependence to age, environmental temperature, diseases and other characteristics of the individual.

2)- Loss of Water through the Kidneys: under normal circumstances, loss of water takes place mostly through the kidneys. 95% of urine consists of water. In case of adults, about 40 gr. of refuse is discharged from the body per day through urine. Substances discharged through urine are the following; metabolic nitrous refusals such as urea, uric acid, ammoniac, potassium, chlorine and other metabolic refusals. 500-900 ml of water is discharged from the body compulsorily in order to get rid of these and other similar substances. However, Loss of Water through urine is under normal circumstances about 1200-1500 ml per day.

The kidneys keep the compound and volume of the body fluids in normal levels through the help of other regulating and protecting systems; disposes from harmful, unnecessary and surplus substances and reabsorbs necessary substances. Nearly 150 liters of blood arrive at the kidneys in one day. The necessary substances and a major part of the water inside this blood are reabsorbed. The kidneys have a maintaining, regulating and managing function. Water at the amount enabling the refusal substances to be discharged is discharged together with such substances. If water is not taken in at the amount which meets this process, the water which is necessary for the disposal of the refusals is met by the body fluid. This condition harms the balance of the body fluids and consequently the functioning of the body and endangers the life.

Too much protein and salt has an increasing effect on the loss of water through the kidneys. Urine may increase or decrease in various diseases. Such condition relates to the functioning of the kidneys.

3)- Loss of Water of the Gut: The amount of fluid that is excreted to the digestion canal through saliva, stomach juice, gall, pancreas and intestine juice is about 5-8 liters per day. A major part of this is reabsorbed. About 100-300 ml is disposed through feces. Diarrhea increases the loss of water through the gut.

4)- Loss of Water through Respiration Skin: the daily loss of water through the lungs and the skin varies between 600-1000 ml. About 300-400 ml of this amount is contained in the air breathed out. The rest takes place in form of invisible evaporation through the skin and through sweat. The degree of heat, cold, physical activity increases the loss of water in this way. The hot environment, heavy physical activities and in case of feverish diseases, water in form of sweat is lost in higher amounts. It was reported that persons who work very hard at extreme hot days have a loss of water of up to 5-12 liters per day.

Under normal circumstances, the daily total loss of water of adult persons is about 2500-2750 ml. This amount increases in circumstances such as excessive perspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, lactation and diseases. The water balance can be maintained provided that water is taken in amounts which cover the loss.

As a loss of about 2500 ml. water takes place in average each day, the same amount should be taken in by the body in order to maintain the water balance. In case of need of water, healthy persons get thirsty and cover the deficiency by taking in water. Babies and diseased may not feel thirst even if they need water. Therefore it is compulsory to cover this loss in these cases and in case of failures where the loss of water is high.

The major part of the water taken in the body is absorbed in the small intestine and the minor part in the large intestine and added to the body fluid. The metabolic water formed in the cell also enters the body fluids. The water in the body is continuously restored. It has been observed that approximately a half of the total body water is replaced in average 10 days through water taken in from outside. The daily turnover of the water in the body is approximately 6% at adults and nearly 15% at babies and children. This is why the water requirement of babies and children is higher than of adults in proportion to the body dimension. According to the spending of energy, adults should take in average 1.0 ml and babies in average 1.5 ml of water for each calorie.

Conditions such as excessive protein, salt, vomiting, diarrhea, perspiration, feverish diseases, working in a hot atmosphere increase the water requirement. Healthy persons can cover their water requirement easier.

The body is very weak against water deficiency. In case of diseases or in those the water loss is very high; it can be perilous if water is not given in time. In case of water deficiency or reduction of the body fluid (dehydration), and water as well as electrolytes are not duly met the body function may fail. A loss up to 5% of the body fluid may be sustained, but if this figure rises to 10-15%, grave damages in the vital activities may come in the foreground. The situation may lead to death if it continues.

Babies, little children and seniors are very sensitive against thirst. In order to avoid the reduction of body water in cases such as diarrhea and vomiting where the loss of water increases, water should be given in form of salty ‘Ayran’ (drink made of yogurt and water) and watery foods. In case of grave diarrhea, the balance of water and electrolyte may be harmed dangerously. A person in such condition should be under medical supervision.

In dangerous situations such as accidents or natural catastrophes where water and food resources are short, water must be given priority. If water is short; physical activity must be reduced, perspiration must be avoided, energy must be met in a medium level, and protein and salt should be taken in little amounts in order to reduce the loss of water through urine. Drinking too salty water or sea water does also increase the thirst, spoil the water and electrolyte balance and may be fatal. It is known that in marine casualties those who drank seawater in order to quench, lost their life since their thirst got even more.

What is the reason for water retention of the body?
The higher intake of sodium comparing with water and consequently higher retention in the body fluids may lead to the situation called edema (swelling). The osmosis pressure rises through the sodium density in the cell-external fluid, so that cell-internal fluid pours out of the cell in order to maintain the balance. As a result of this, the cell-exterior fluid increases while the cell-interior fluid decreases so that edemas are built-up. Such edemas appear as a result of the disturbance of the water and electrolyte balance in case of various diseases and in cases such as drinking seawater.

The decrease of plasma proteins, especially the decrease of the albumin level leads to edemas, too. When the protein level in the plasma goes down or when the permeability of the capillary vessels increases the transit of the plasma to the fluid between the cells accelerates too. The result is that the osmosis pressure of the plasma decreases, the plasma draining into the fluid between the cells cannot return and starts to accrue by and by between the cells. The increase of the fluid volume between the cells leads to the formation of edemas all over the body or more visible in the face or in the legs. When pressing a finger on a point with an edema, it leaves a trace of a whole in that point.

What are the differences between bottled water and tap water?
There are really immense differences. The main differences are the following:

1)-The bottled form of Natural spring water has the meaning that permit was received by the Ministry of Health according to very strict regulation provisions in order to bottle the subject the spring water, that the water is continuously under audit and that the assurance is provided that the water carries no risks with respect to the health of the people. While the same strong assurance can not be given for tap water.

2)- Bottled natural spring water is pure and clean in its form obtained from its very source. You can drink the water directly from its source without the need for any additional process. The pureness and cleanness of the water is under very strict control from its very first fountain, i.e. its spring, to the filling in bottles and closing the bottles through full-automatic machines. On the other hand, the travel of the water in general to the tap is very different: In case of tap water, the water sources convert to surface waters in form of creeks and rivers and such waters arrive at the catchment basins or barrages by carrying all kinds of contaminant items (rests of pesticides and insecticides, metals, parasites, microbes and viruses) with them. Waters caught in this way are subjected to various filtering, chlorinating and disinfection processes and pumped afterwards to the residences via water network pipes. Disinfectants used in such processes such as chlorine carry carcinogen risks for the health in the long run and besides this, any types of items such as foreign substances, rust, soil, parasites, microbes and viruses that me be found in the pipes and water storage tanks reach the residences within the tap water.

3)- In general, tap waters have a bothering smell and taste due to disinfectants it carries inside such as chlorine. While in case of bottled waters we can speak only of the water’s own natural taste.

4)-Bottled natural spring water is finally a commercial product which has to draw the human appeal and reliance of the consumer through its hygiene, package and brand. Huge investments are made; except of a couple of unserious companies, no reasonable water-industrial would take the risk to erase his company off the market by endangering the health of his customers. Talking generally; the motivation of the public active in the production and service of tap water towards quality is definitely lower than the motivation of the private sector.

5)- There is a great difference between tap water and bottled water with respect to the production volume, number of consumers to which service is provided and consequently with respect to the understanding of quality. While in case of tap water the issue is to meet the water requirements of hundreds of thousands or even millions of people by the public; the commercial idea of meeting the water needs of much fewer consumers in the best quality is the principle of bottled water.

Do natural spring waters undergo any kind of process?
The taste of Natural spring waters is completely natural and such waters are not subjected to any additives nor do they undergo any chemical treatments.

Natural spring waters are only subjected to filtration and ozoning, which are physical treatments, as permitted in the related regulation. Filtration is performed in order to retain the sand particles on micron dimension, which may break away and come from the source point of the water. Ozoning is means the process of pressing O3 (Ozone) in amounts between 0.2-0.4 ppm in the filled bottle, i.e. in the product in order to guarantee hygiene. The method of ozoning is the most common and most reliable method used by water producers all over the world for assuring hygiene. This process is made right before the bottles are filled, and full hygiene is established so that your product can be kept for long periods without going bad. The ozone gas that is found in the water in the bottle after filling disappears automatically in dependence to the room temperature after 5-20 hours and turns into oxygen.

What factors affect the life of use of bottled water?
This is a question which needs a detailed answer. Here we should think of 4 important factors together:

1)-The degree of air permeability of the bottle package: the type and thickness of the bottle determines the air permeability. This in turn determines whether the said package is protected against exterior odors or not. While this issue is not discussed for glass bottles, water in plastic and polycarbonate packages should be protected against exterior odors due to the molecular structure of the bottle material.

2)-The mineral concentration of the water (whether it is hard or soft): since the mineral concentration of soft waters is lower and since they are purer, such waters catch the environmental odor in higher degrees than hard waters.

3)-Whether 100% hygiene is provided during the production stage or not: If full hygiene is failed to be provided in the production stage, the spoiling of the water (such as getting mossy, thrush) in the next days will be unavoidable even if a very little amount of microorganisms are left in the water during filling.

4)- The storage conditions of bottled water: Especially due to air and odor permeability, waters in plastic bottles should be stored in very good conditions; this will have positive effect to the maintenance of its quality and consequently the life of use.

Under which conditions should we store bottled water?
You should store your water in a cool (5-15 degrees), darkened (away from sunlight) and dry (moisture less than 50%) place. You should also keep your water away from chemicals, detergents, cleaning agents, gas and the like materials as far as possible. Because, water is a pure substance and it has the characteristic to catch slowly even odors that we don’t sense in our environment towards itself.

What does hard water mean?
While waters on the earth vaporize and get stored in the clouds and return back to the earth in form of rain, they dissolve the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere so that a part becomes acidic. Such acidic rain water dissolves calcium carbonate through various rock layers and aquifers. The waters that carry exactly these dissolved minerals are called hard waters. The degree of hardness of a water depends on the degree calcium carbonate is dissolved in that water. Similar chemical reactions apply also for magnesium sulfate, chloride, acid silicic salt and iron. However, dissolved calcium carbonate is the element which has the highest effect on the hardness of water.