Think your tap water is clean? Think again. Modern filtration and chemical treatment stripped the life out of our water — along with the minerals that kept our ancestors strong. Here’s how to fix it naturally.
Water Isn’t Just Water Anymore
Let’s be real — most people don’t even question what comes out of their faucet. If it’s clear and cold, it’s considered “safe.” But clean doesn’t always mean healthy.
What we drink today barely resembles the water our ancestors relied on. They got theirs straight from natural springs and rivers, full of minerals like magnesium, calcium, and silica — the kind that build strong bones, stable energy, and a calm nervous system.
Modern water? It’s been filtered, stripped, and chemically treated until it’s basically sterile H₂O. Sure, it won’t give you cholera — but it also won’t nourish you.
And the truth is, the same chemicals that keep tap water “safe” are quietly wrecking your mineral balance and your gut.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use and trust.
The Hidden Cost of “Safe” Tap Water
Most people have no idea what’s actually in their water.
Here’s the short list of what we’re all drinking — and what it’s doing to you.
1. Fluoride — The Dental Savior That Went Too Far
Fluoride was added to tap water decades ago to “prevent cavities.” But now study after study links it to thyroid issues, reduced IQ in children, and disrupted calcium metabolism.
Fluoride binds to minerals like calcium and magnesium — the same minerals your bones, teeth, and nervous system need.
So instead of building health, it’s quietly draining it.
And here’s the thing: our ancestors never needed fluoride to have strong teeth. They just ate real food and drank mineral-rich water.
2. Chlorine — The Gut Killer
Chlorine disinfects water by killing bacteria — but it doesn’t stop there. It also kills off the beneficial bacteria that make up your gut microbiome, and those microbes literally control your digestion, mood, and immunity.
If you’ve ever noticed your skin feels tight or dry after a shower, that’s chlorine damage in real time.
Your skin and gut microbiomes work hand in hand — when you kill one, the other pays for it.
Easy fix: Install a shower filter that removes impurities – my favorite (Jolie Showerhead)
You’ll notice the difference in days — smoother skin, less itchiness, and no chemical smell after every shower.
3. Over-Filtration — When “Pure” Means Empty
Then there’s the other extreme — people obsessively purify their water with reverse osmosis or distillers until nothing is left.
That’s not hydration. That’s dead water.
Reverse osmosis removes the junk, yes, but it also wipes out the good minerals that give water its structure and charge.
Without minerals, water can actually pull electrolytes out of your body to rebalance itself — which means you can drink a gallon a day and still feel dehydrated.
If your water tastes flat and leaves you feeling dry, that’s the reason.
Why Minerals Matter More Than You Think
Water isn’t just about H₂O — it’s about what comes with it.
Magnesium, sodium, potassium, and trace minerals are like the spark plugs of your body. They control nerve firing, hydration, muscle contractions, and energy production.
When you’re low, it shows up fast:
- Fatigue, brain fog, or that wired-but-tired feeling
- Cramps, bloating, or slow digestion
- Restless legs at night
- Dry skin and brittle nails
- Low mood or anxiety
Sound familiar? That’s what happens when you drink “clean” water that’s missing the spark of life — minerals.
How to Fix Your Water the Ancestral Way
You don’t need to spend thousands on fancy gadgets. You just need to drink real water again — water that’s alive, structured, and mineralized.
Here’s how to do that in a modern world.
1. Add Real Salt to Your Water
One of the simplest fixes? Add minerals back in.
A pinch of Redmond Real Salt or Baja Gold Salt in your water restores sodium, potassium, and magnesium — the natural electrolytes your body expects.
I do this every morning before coffee or food. It’s a simple way to reset hydration after sleeping eight hours without water.
2. Drink Water That Still Has Its Minerals
If you can, go straight to the source.
Spring water in glass bottles — like Mountain Valley Spring Water still contains silica, magnesium, and calcium that modern systems remove.
If you’re lucky enough to live near a natural spring, you can use findaspring.com to locate one near you.
It’s free, local, and about as close as you’ll get to ancestral hydration.
3. Filter Smart, Not Aggressive
You want a filter that removes chlorine, fluoride, and heavy metals — but keeps the minerals.
If you have the money and are willing to spend my recomendations for home water filters would be Berkey Water Filter or carbon block systems that filter intelligently instead of wiping everything clean. Otherwise a cheaper alternative to keep in your fridge is the LifeStraw Glass Water Pitcher.
They don’t just make your water safer — they make it taste like real water again.
4. Rebuild Empty Water With Minerals
If you’re using reverse osmosis or distilled water, you have to remineralize it — otherwise, it’s just draining you.
Add a few drops of ConcenTrace Trace Minerals to each glass or fill a glass jug with filtered water and mix in a pinch of Redmond Real Salt.
You’ll feel more hydrated and alert almost immediately — no sugary “electrolyte drinks” needed.
5. Hydrate Like an Ancestor
Hydration doesn’t just come from what you drink — it comes from what you eat.
Our ancestors got fluids from bone broth, raw milk, fruit, and fermented foods, not plastic bottles.
Try swapping a plain glass of water for a warm cup of homemade bone broth or a few ounces of raw dairy.
Both are loaded with minerals, collagen, and amino acids that help your cells actually absorb water.
If you’re not into making broth from scratch, grab a few grass-fed soup bones and follow my DIY collagen broth guide from my gut-healing post.
The Real Problem Isn’t Water — It’s Disconnection
We’ve disconnected from the earth so much that even our water is synthetic.
Our ancestors didn’t need hydration packs or electrolyte powders — they just drank what nature gave them.
Now, we’re trying to reverse-engineer what used to be normal.
It’s not about being extreme — it’s about remembering how simple health actually is when you stop fighting biology.
Start with your water. You’ll notice the shift — better digestion, calmer energy, clearer skin — all from fixing something most people never think twice about.
Resources:
- Peckham S, Awofeso N. Fluoridation: A review of its effects on the human thyroid gland. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2014;68(7):569–572.
- Rapant S, et al. Fluoride and human health. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 2021;43:2631–2652.
- Oehlschlaeger S, et al. Chlorinated drinking water, dysbiosis, and gut microbiome effects. Microorganisms. 2023;11(2):421.
- Rosborg I, Kozisek F. Drinking Water Minerals and Mineral Balance: Importance, Health Significance, Safety Precautions. Springer; 2019.
- Heaney RP. Calcium, magnesium, and fluoride interactions in bone mineralization. Journal of Nutrition. 2001;131(2):701–703.
- WHO. Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, 4th edition. World Health Organization; 2022.
Leave a Reply