Water from various sources contains dissolved minerals, organic and inorganic substances. Water is the key ingredient in most beverages. Water restores fluids lost through metabolism, breathing, sweating and the removal of waste. Distilled water is water without impurities. Distillation involves boiling water and then condensing the steam into a clean container. The bottled water phenomenon refers to the transition of reliance from tap water to bottled water as a source of drinking water, especially among industrialized nations often due to the presence of chemicals like chlorine and fluoride in tap water. For labeling purposes, standards of identity define types of water. Ground water must not be under the direct influence of surface water. Mineral water is water containing not less than 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids. Artesian water comes from a well tapping where a confined aquifer is submerged and the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer. Collecting Artesian water requires an external force to increase the natural underground pressure. Purified or demineralized water is water that has undergone distillation, deionization or reverse osmosis. Sparkling water contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from its source, although it is acceptable to remove the bubbles during and then replenish the CO2 after treatment. Spring water flows naturally from an underground source to the surface of the Earth. Sterile water meets the requirements of "sterility tests" in the United States Pharmacopoeia. Well water comes from a hole bored or drilled in the ground that taps into an aquifer. The bottled water phenomenon refers to the general transition of reliance from tap water to bottled water as a source of drinking water, especially among industrialized nations. Due to the presence of chemicals in tap water, including chlorine, fluoride and small concentrations of heavy metals and bacteria, many people turn to bottled water as a main source of drinking water.

Diet Drinks

Diet drinks, sometimes known as light drinks and are sugar-free, naturally or artificially sweetened, non-alcoholic beverages typically marketed to health-conscious people, diabetics, athletes, and other people who want to lose weight or stay fit. Many diet drinks are carbonated. Aspartame, known by the brand name NutraSweet, is one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners. Many Americans choose to consume soft drinks morning, noon, and night. They are tasty drinks, available everywhere, and are relatively inexpensive. Unfortunately, for most Americans, soft drinks are also a prime source of extra calories that can contribute to weight gain. Using artificial sweeteners in soft drinks instead of sugar or high fructose corn syrup offers an advantage by sidestepping common problems associated with weight gain or diabetes. Artificial sweeteners contain zero carbohydrates, no fat, and no protein, so they do not directly influence caloric intake or blood sugar levels. The bottom line is switching from sugar-sweetened soft drinks to diet drinks cuts calories. The FDA approves the use of five artificial sweeteners. Gram for gram, each one is sweeter than sugar. Approved sweeteners include: aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), which is 180 times sweeter than sugar; acesulfame-K (Sunett, Sweet One), which is 200 times sweeter than sugar; saccharin (Sweet'N Low, Necta Sweet), which is 300 times sweeter than sugar; sucralose (Splenda) which is 600 times sweeter than sugar; and neotame which is 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar. Tooth Decay Regular soft drinks contain a lot of sugar, which can cause cavities. Diet soda is naturally or artificially sweetened and does not necessarily contribute to cavities. Soda pop is a sweetened, acidic, often caffeinated, carbonated drink. Regular soda pop is sweet because of different kinds of sweeteners whereas "diet" pop is sweet because of added natural or artificial sweeteners. Every year the average American consumes 45 gallons of soda. Adults are just as prone to tooth decay, despite well-developed and well-calcified tooth enamel. Soft drinks can be double-trouble for teeth. More than sugar, the acids in many popular soft drinks contribute to tooth enamel decay and make teeth more prone to rot.