Can Reverse Osmosis Water Cause Stomach Problems?
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated: Sep 15, 2023
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If you’re planning to switch to reverse osmosis water, you may have noticed some potentially worrying claims about its impact on the digestive tract and a person’s overall health.
However, it’s also easy to see that those claims are highly controversial.
Is there anything to worry about in the end? Can reverse osmosis water cause stomach problems? Here’s what you need to know!
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Key Takeaways
- Under normal circumstances, reverse osmosis water does not cause stomach problems.
- The only scenario when RO water might be causing stomach ache is if it’s been contaminated with germs or other harmful pollutants due to the filtration process or storage being faulty.
Can Reverse Osmosis Water Cause Stomach Problems?
So, can reverse osmosis water cause stomach problems (stomach ache)?
Generally speaking, drinking reverse osmosis water shouldn’t lead to any stomach problems. After all, it’s just water – the only thing special about it is that it lacks any of the impurities and contaminants normally present in drinking water. Removing those can’t lead to any issues with your stomach. Quite the opposite, actually – reverse osmosis water might be better for your stomach if you are already suffering from certain problems.
How Could Reverse Osmosis Water Cause Stomach Problems?
That’s not to say that drinking reverse osmosis water can’t cause any problems at all – but when it does, this has nothing to do with the reverse osmosis process itself. Rather, it’s because contaminants have been able to make their way into the water one way or another. This usually happens when water needs to pass through additional sections of your plumbing after being filtered, which is common in whole house filtration setups. Or…
Pathogens Growing in Your RO System
If pathogens start growing in your reverse osmosis system, then this could definitely cause to stomach problems. If you are lucky, the pathogens will get filtered out by the RO process. However, things are different if those pathogens start growing in a spot after the reverse osmosis membrane. In that case, there might be nothing left to stop them, and they could end up in your drinking water. This can happen in your RO storage tank, for example.
Is RO Water Too Low in Minerals?
Reverse osmosis water contains none of the minerals that water normally has. Some people see this as a downside, due to the fact that humans normally rely on a certain amount of those minerals in their diets. Don’t worry though – first of all, this won’t cause any stomach problems. Second, you have various options available for remineralizing your reverse osmosis water.
Is RO Water Too Acidic?
Reverse osmosis water is slightly acidic, but far from enough to cause any stomach problems. Some experts recommend adding small amounts of minerals to the water to decrease its acidity. Look into adding around 20-50 mg/l of calcium and 10-30 mg/l of magnesium if you’re concerned about this.
Further Reading:
How to Prevent RO Water Causing Stomach Ache
The best way to prevent reverse osmosis water from causing stomach ache is to keep an eye on your reverse osmosis system and keep it in good condition throughout the year. This includes replacing the different filters (not just the reverse osmosis membrane itself, but also the various pre and post-filters used in the setup), sanitizing the system, checking for leaks, and anything else recommended by the manufacturer. Check the instructions that came with your system to find out what you should be doing.
Can Reverse Osmosis Water Cause Diarrhea or Other Side Effects?
No, reverse osmosis water can’t cause diarrhea or any other side effects. As long as you pay attention to the state of your reverse osmosis system and keep it well maintained and sanitized, that’s all that matters.
The only possible exception is if you’re suffering from a chronic condition that requires you to stay away from acidic drinks. In that case, you should consult your physician before introducing reverse osmosis water into your diet. Alternatively, if biological contaminants like bacteria find their way into your filtered water supply, they can definitely cause problems. But this has nothing to do with reverse osmosis itself.
If you have any thoughts about the question, can RO water cause stomach ache, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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