Writer Kim Jin-ho's Water and Health Story (74) Beware of 'Hungry Water' Without Minerals When Traveling Abroad
Recently, I visited Phu Quoc, an island called a hidden gem of Vietnam, with an acquainted couple. This island, bordering Cambodia and adorned with French-style architecture in preparation for the APEC Summit in November 2027, was filled with the vitality of change. However, what awakened my professional instincts during this peaceful journey was none other than a bottle of purified water handed to me by the tour guide.
The Other Side of Clean Water Made by a Cola Company
On a bus traveling from a hotel in central Phu Quoc to Vinpearl Safari in the north, a Korean tour guide distributed bottles of Aquafina, a global beverage company brand, calling it 'very clean water' to relieve the tourists' thirst. Perhaps due to the brand's recognition and clean design, people drank it without hesitation.
However, that evening, I quietly shared the facts about the water with the guide. As an expert who developed Mineral Maker and has researched the global water market, I could not remain silent about how the water we drink unconsciously affects our bodies.
'Hungry Water' Passes Through Your Body
Purified water produced by major global cola manufacturers (such as Aquafina and Dasani) is mostly produced using reverse osmosis (RO) technology. While this method filters impurities from water nearly perfectly, it simultaneously removes all minerals essential to the human body.
Experts call this kind of water 'hungry water.' Water devoid of minerals, the moment it enters our body, attempts to replenish itself by drawing calcium and magnesium from our bones and blood to maintain bodily balance. In other words, a paradoxical situation occurs where water drunk to quench thirst actually strips minerals from our body.
The Power of Minerals That Even Determines the Taste of a Cup of Coffee
The absence of minerals is not merely a health issue. Have you ever brewed coffee with mineral-free water? The unique flavor of coffee beans is expressed through chemical interaction with minerals.
⊙ Coffee brewed with hungry water: Depending on the roasting state of the beans, sharp and irritating sourness stands out, or conversely, the taste becomes bland and dull. Sometimes only an unpleasant bitterness remains on the tongue.
⊙ Coffee brewed with mineral-rich water: The sweetness and body of the beans come alive, offering a smooth and rich flavor.
If we expect to enjoy delicious coffee at a travel destination, the first thing we should check is not the beans, but rather the 'water.'
The Hidden Threat of Overseas Travel, 'Traveler's Diarrhea': Water is the Answer
The most common suffering experienced during overseas travel is so-called 'water adjustment sickness' or traveler's diarrhea. It is a rebellion of the intestines that have failed to adapt to unfamiliar water quality and microorganism environments. Regular purified water in disposable plastic bottles may serve to put out an immediate fire, but has limitations in long-term condition management.
On this trip as well, I brought my Mineral Maker water bottle. Ordinary demineralized water or purified water becomes a different story when placed in this bottle. It is reborn as alkaline ionized water enriched with abundant magnesium minerals. This mineral-enriched water stabilizes the intestinal environment, prevents traveler's diarrhea, and demonstrates excellent effects in recovering from travel fatigue.
The Wisdom of Choosing Healthy Water: The Aesthetics of 'Moderation'
That said, higher mineral content is not unconditionally better. Some mineral water imported from Europe, like 'hard water' with excessively high mineral content, can actually burden the stomach of Koreans accustomed to soft water.
The best water is water in which appropriate levels of minerals remain alive.
⊙ Avoid hungry water with no minerals at all.
⊙ Choose water containing appropriate minerals suited to your body.
⊙ If necessary, enhance water quality through portable mineral-enriched water bottles and similar means.
What Will You Fill 70% of Your Body With?
Approximately 70% of my body is composed of water. Depending on what type of water I use to fill my body, the vitality of my cells and immunity—in other words, the foundation of health—is determined.
Travel is a process of leaving daily life behind in search of happiness. The force that sustains that happiness ultimately comes from a healthy body, and it begins with the discernment to properly choose 'a glass of water.' I hope readers will also remember the warning about hungry water that I encountered on this Phu Quoc trip. A glass of 'nourishing water' with appropriate minerals is the easiest secret to protecting your health and happiness.