If you’re pregnant. Congratulations! Your body is now busy growing a tiny human! It’s a very special time and a time to be extra kind to your body and the little human growing inside it.

You may be doing all the right things, like taking folic acid and eating greens but one simple thing that may get overlooked is the fact that you’ll need to drink more water.

And filtered water is a great healthy option for you and your growing baby.

So why do you need to drink more water if you are pregnant?

Firstly, water is needed to form amniotic fluid to protect the baby for nine months.

The body also needs enough water to absorb the extra vitamins and nutrients. And help  transport them to the placenta and then onto the baby.

Your doctor will most probably advise you to stop drinking caffeine and alcohol.

So what’s the next best thing? You got it…filtered water!

According to Dr Emma Derbyshire in her book,  ‘Nutrition in the Childbearing Years’, she advises that water is an excellent choice for mums-to-be. A great way to rehydrate without the extra calories and sugars.

Pregnancy can sometimes take its toll on your body too so drinking enough water also helps with some pregnancy related conditions.

1. To Help Cool Down & Regulate Body Temperature

Pregnant ladies often feel the heat more so drinking enough filtered water helps regulate body temperature and helps to keep the body cool.

2. Helps Prevent Tiredness

Drinking more filtered water helps keep the pregnancy tiredness and headaches away.

3. Helps Prevent Swollen Ankles

When pregnant your body often produces excess sodium which can lead to edema or swollen feet and ankles. Drinking enough water helps your body get rid of the excess sodium and helps stop the swelling.

4. Stops  Constipation and bloating

Again constipation and bloating can be more common in pregnancy. This is because of extra pregnancy hormones which slows down metabolism. Drinking filtered water will help with this. It can also help with morning sickness and nausea.

5. Helps to Prevent UTIs

Drinking enough filtered water can help prevent UTIs, these can be more common in pregnancy. Eating and drinking for two means twice as much comes out the other end! So the filtered water helps dissolve waste and flush out your kidneys and keeps your urine diluted so helps prevent UTIs.

6. Helps Stop Dehydration

In pregnancy severe dehydration may lead to miscarriage and preterm labour. Don’t be alarmed but be aware of  the common dehydration signs and if in doubt consult your doctor.

Tap Water vs Filtered Water?

Our Australian tap water is disinfected with chlorine to kill bacteria and viruses which stops widespread waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera. It makes our tap water drinkable. The amount of chlorine is heavily regulated by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

However, there are some controversial views that suggest that the chlorine in tap water can be a problem. Some report an increase in the risk of certain cancers. (Read more here.)

The World Health Organisation states that “The risk of illness and death resulting from exposure to pathogens in drinking water is very much greater than the risks from disinfectants and DBPs…Efficient disinfection must never be compromised.” (Read more about the amounts of chlorine in drinking water.)

The fact remains that we use chlorine in our swimming pools to keep them clean. Should we really be drinking it?

In the past there’s also been instances reported of cysts found in Sydney tap water. Like the 1998 Sydney water crisis  which involved the suspected contamination by the microscopic pathogens cryptosporidium and giardia of the water system of Greater Metropolitan Sydney.

If you are concerned and want to make a healthy choice to remove the chlorine and potential nasties then it’s best to install a water filter such as a WFA inline water filter. You’ll have the peace of mind that the water filter will filter down to one micron and will remove any potential cysts and harsh chemicals like chlorine. Without the chlorine, your water will taste better too.

I’m Pregnant…How much more water should I drink?

The Institute of Medicine recommends about 10 cups of fluid a day.

Dr Emma Derbyshire advises,
“Women should increase their total water intake by an extra 300 ml/day during pregnancy and 700 ml/day during breastfeeding, make water the first choice when it comes to hydration.”

Generally as a guide try to remember to drink one more glass of filtered water than usual. But don’t drink it too quickly. Another tip is to drink water slowly in sips. As the baby grows everything gets a little squished and your bladder will need emptying more frequently too!

Birth & Breastfeeding

Once you have your baby in your arms you may choose to breastfeed. If that’s the case then you’ll need to drink more filtered water as your body needs it to produce breast milk. It’s good practice to drink a glass of water every time you feed your baby.

If you choose to use formula then with a WFA water filter there is no need to boil it as all the nasties have already been removed. You can make life easier and invest in a Hot and Cold Duo water filter – it’s cheaper and faster than boiling a kettle and you’ll be able to make the bottle the correct temperature. Getting the bottle to the baby faster is always a good thing!

After Weaning & Beyond

Once your baby is old enough to drink water, you may want to give him or her filtered water  as a healthy option. And without the smell or taste of chlorine they’ll want to drink more. So they’ll already be on the way to a healthy drinking water habit.

By the time the first tooth pops through you’ll be happy you invested in a water filter that keeps the fluoride in as it will mean less trips to the dentist!

For a growing family a WFA water filter will be the best investment you’ll ever make. Better than some of the other baby gadgets that are outgrown very quickly! Plus we’ll give a reminder each year to change the cartridge and a lifetime guarantee!

Buy a WFA water filter today or better still put it on your baby shower gift list!

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. That’s the recommended amount the professionals advise to stay healthy. Make it filtered water and you’re adding even more health benefits by removing the potential nasties that may occur in tap water. Plus it will taste better so you’ll want to drink more.

But those 8 glasses a day don’t necessarily have to be cold. In fact there’s some beliefs that claim drinking warm or in some cases hot filtered water can be greatly beneficial to your health.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Beliefs

Take traditional Chinese medicine beliefs and Chinese culture. If you’ve ever walked into a restaurant in China you can expect to be offered hot water or tea as standard. You’ll have to ask for ‘cold’ water.

The reason for this?

Firstly, it’s a cultural and historical tradition. Some believe it is a ‘cure all’. That’s everything from the common cold to cholera!

Legend has it that in 1862 when the Shanghai cholera epidemic wiped out up to 3000 people a day and spread to Beijing, the people in the south remained untouched by the disease. It was widely known that most of the ‘Southerners’ drank more hot water than the north.

Historical research suggests the disease was actually carried north by the mailboats but common myth is that it was all down to the southerners drinking regular amounts of hot water!

In traditional Chinese medicine it’s thought that drinking cold water disrupts the normal body temperature and slows down organ function so it’s better to drink it warm or hot. Another belief is that it’s not good to mix hot food with cold water at meal times as your body has to work harder to balance the water temperature with the food in order to digest it.

All About Balance

To put it in simple terms, it’s all about balance. According to traditional Chinese medicine, every human body is made up of ‘yin’ and ‘yang’ elements. And to stay healthy it’s all about keeping those elements balanced. If the yang gets too strong then the body’s internal temperature rises and that person becomes susceptible to illness.

In order to treat an illness the extra yang (or excess heat) has to go. The best way to do this is to consume food and drinks that are thought to be a ‘yin’ food or drink. Hot water is a yin drink and it’s believed by drinking it, it lowers the body’s internal temperature and restores balance.  (Source – The Culture Trip)

8 Health Reasons for Drinking Warm / Hot Filtered Water

1. Improves & Aids Digestion

A glass of warm water first thing in the morning kick-starts the digestive system. It’s thought cold water taken with food can slow down the digestion process and lead to indigestion

2. Improves blood circulation

It’s believed that hot or warm water aids blood flow so improving circulation. As the blood flow increases, this in turn helps to rid the body of toxins.

3. Helps to Reduce toxins

Warm water helps to flush out toxins in the body. It’s great for flushing the liver tissues so the toxins can be removed via the skin and bowels.  This in turn helps the kidneys to filter properly.

4. Relieves Constipation

This condition can often be brought on by dehydration. It’s good to be aware of the common dehydration warning signs. A glass of warm filtered water in the morning will help to improve bowel functions. The warm filtered water will help break down foods so they can pass easily through the intestine.

6. Helps with Menstrual cramps

If you suffer from uncomfortable cramping at a certain time of the month then a glass of warm filtered water can help. It will help the muscles relax and the cramps to ease.

4. Helps with a Cold & Sore throat

Got a niggly cold, sore throat or sinus problems? Drink a glass of warm filtered water. It acts as a natural expectorant by helping to get rid of phlegm in the respiratory tract.

Add ginger and lemon for added vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties, plus a bit of honey to ease the throat. Read on for the recipe.

7. Decreases Stress

By drinking a glass of hot/warm of the water, it helps your muscles to relax. This in turn increases a general sense of wellbeing. Add a herbal tea such as Chamomile before bed and it can help with a good night’s sleep too.

8. Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight

Many people believe that by drinking a glass of warm water in the morning will aid weight loss. This is because the warm water increases your body temperature and metabolic rate, so your body will burn more calories and your kidney function will improve. Add a slice of lemon and it will help break down adipose tissue (aka body fat).

Instant hot, warm or cold filtered water in seconds

Boiling a kettle each time can take time you want to drink a glass of hot filtered water can be time consuming and expensive. A simple solution is a WFA Duo hot and cold water filter.

The water filter system is compact and fits neatly under your kitchen bench. And you’ll have instant hot filtered water at the touch of a button. You can also control the temperature for warm or ambient filtered water.

A Simple Hot Lemon, Ginger & Turmeric Recipe

To add even more health benefits to your hot or warm filtered water, try adding lemon, ginger and turmeric.

The lemon will give you the vitamin C you need along with flavonoid compounds for anti-oxidants. Ginger, is great for its anti-inflammatory properties and to boost your immune system. Plus add a little bit of turmeric. This member of the ginger family is thought to have great anti-inflammatory properties. Some believe it helps lower cholesterol, prevent Alzheimer’s and inhibit cancer cell growth. Whatever your beliefs this warm filtered water recipe tastes great and will help keep you on track for your eight a day!

You’ll need:

• • 2 and ½ cups of boiling filtered water
  • 1 organic lemon cut into slices
  • ½ inch of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
  • ⅛ teaspoon of ground turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons of honey (optional)

Bring the water to the boil or add hot water from WFA Duo hot cold water system to a teapot or heat proof container. Add lemon, ginger and turmeric. Let it steep for 30 minutes. Then strain and enjoy. (Recipe inspired by The Harvest Kitchen)

You don’t just have to use the WFA Duo hot and cold water filter system for drinking hot or warm filtered water, there’s so much more you can do with it…like cooking pasta quicker, blanching vegetables, heating up baby bottles…more ideas to come.

Purchase a WFA Duo Hot and Cold Water Filter System today.