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Nutritional Profile
Energy value (calories per serving): None
Protein: None
Fat: None
Saturated fat: None
Cholesterol: None
Carbohydrates: None
Fiber: None
Sodium: Low to high
Major vitamin contribution: None
Major mineral contribution: Sodium, calcium, magnesium, fluoridesAbout the Nutrients in This Food
Water has no nutrients other than the minerals it picks up from the earth
or the pipes through which it flows or that are added by a bottler to give
the water a specific flavor. Hard water contains dissolved calcium and mag-
nesium salts, usually in the form of bicarbonates, sulfates, and chlorides.
Soft water has very little calcium and magnesium, but it may still contain
sodium. Some bottled mineral waters may contain as much as 200 to 400
mg sodium in an eight-ounce glass.
The only absolutely pure water is distilled water, which has been
vaporized, condensed, and collected free of any impurities. Spring water is
water that flows up to the earth’s surface on its own from an underground
spring. Well water is water that must be reached through a hole drilled into
the ground. Naturally sparkling water is spring water with naturally occur-
ring carbon dioxide. Sparkling water, artificially carbonated with added
carbon dioxide, is known as seltzer. Club soda is sparkling water flavored
with salts, including sodium bicarbonate.
The purity of bottled water depends on the integrity of the bot-
tler. In 1996, responding to questions about possible contaminants in
some bottled waters, the FDA imposed limits on levels of contaminants
in bottled water. In 1998, the FDA amended the rule to require bottlers
to monitor water sources and finished products for contaminants once
a year.