Have you been wondering what all the talk is about hard water?
You’ve probably heard of hard water, and you’ve probably heard that it can be bad for you. But now you are probably asking why.
Well, we’ve got you covered with a full rundown of what hard water is, how it is different from soft water, and what its health effects are. So, let’s dive straight in and start answering these questions!
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is a term that refers to water that is high in minerals. Minerals are chemical particles that are found in rocks. When water passes through rock, it picks up some of these particles.
So, hard water is water that has a high level of chemical particles in it.
The main types of rock that water percolates through are gypsum, limestone, and chalk. The main chemicals that are found in these rocks are:
- Calcium
- Bicarbonates
- Sulfates
- Magnesium carbonates
So, this is the technical definition of hard water, but to understand its impact on our health, we need to go a little deeper.
Hard Water vs Soft Water
The interesting thing is that many minerals are actually good for the body. You find calcium in milk, for example, and scientists suggest this is good for bone health.
So, drinking hard water can actually have some health benefits over drinking soft water, which is low in the minerals listed above, but high in sodium.
The main issue with hard water comes when you are dealing with skin health.
Hard Water and Skin Problems
The minerals in hard water have specific chemical properties that make them react with soaps and shower gels. A chemical reaction occurs between the hard water and the soap, forming a residue that remains on your skin.
Also, the hard water stops the soap from cleansing your skin, so it is a double issue.
The main result is that the pores of your skin become clogged and your skin is less smooth.
How to Deal with Hard Water
Fortunately, you can stop these effects on your skin. If you are wondering how to test water hardness, try and see if you have large buildups of limescale and soap scum in your shower. These represent the residue of the soap mixing with minerals.
You can buy a hard water filter to get rid of the minerals in your water and protect your skin.
Look for products like the Kenmore Water Softener, which should clean your skin up very quickly.
Holistic Health
You may not think that the water coming out of your shower can do you harm, but you need to think of your body as a complete system.
It is best to try and keep your body as clean as possible—not just on the outside, but also on the inside. Dealing with the issue of hard water is one step you can take in the direction of holistic health.
If you have found this information useful, why not check out some of our other articles on health in the home?
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