Overview

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid functions as vitamin C for some animals but not others, and vitamins D and K are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" actually refers to a number of vitamer compounds, which form a set of distinct chemical compounds that show the biological activity of a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A," which (for example) includes retinal, retinol, and many carotenoids. Vitamers are often inter-convertible in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Types of Bottled Water

Concerns about pollution and disease-carrying bacteria have prompted many people to focus on mineral water as a substitute for the normal tap water. What initially as a fad is now a billion-dollar industry.

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), the Professional Association of mineral water industry with headquarters in Virginia, said many households in the United States consume water in bottles. Currently there are hundreds of bottling plants in the United States produces more than 600 brands of bottled water water.

Bottled can be in many ways. In general, they fall into two categories: non-sparkling or still water in bottles and sparkling wine or "carbon dioxide" water.

More than 90 percent of bottled water consumed in the United States are among the non-sparkling or still variety . Still Water is water, without bubbles. This is normally associated with drinking, cooking, or at the ice cubes. Ordinary tap water or drinking water has been filtered is an example of water.

Sparkling still or carbonated mineral water is usually purchased, rather than soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. This is water from a tap or U-source (like a feather), the carbon dioxide gas. This gas is what makes the water "shine" or bubbly.

The carbon dioxide may be natural (at source) or man-made (injected to the product before it in bottles). These products can be seasoned (with a perfect orange taste) or unflavored (with a "clean" taste),

club soda, seltzers and mineral water are examples of carbonated water. Soda-Club is filtered tap water with severe carbonation and mineral salts such as bicarbonate, citrate, phosphates and sodium. It has a higher sodium content than in other waters with carbon dioxide. Seltzer is also from the tap water and carbon dioxide, but has no minerals or mineral salts added. This makes it very low in sodium.

Mineral water is water with dissolved minerals that either underground or surface water. Technically speaking, all with the exception of distilled water or purified water contains minerals such as bicarbonates, calcium, chloride, fluoride, magnesium or potassium.

However, the IBWA defined as a mineral water bottled water, contains no less than 500 parts per million of dissolved solids. "Natural mineral water" usually comes from a spring and has the minerals found only in the water as it flows from the ground. If the product is not as "natural", it means some minerals have been added or May removed.

Finally's distilled water, which is nothing other than pure water without chemicals or minerals. In the distillation, one of the oldest cleaning, water boiled to a high temperature to remove impurities before the vapor is recondensed.

This type of water has a high degree of purity and is cheaper than other products. But it is tasteless and not generally preferred by most people. (Next: mineral water is better?)

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Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_A_Bell

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