jo anne's place logo

Expect Better from Your Water


If your water tastes good and you have confidence in its quality, you will drink more. Why is drinking water so important? Water is essential to our well-being. Our bodies are comprised of about 60% water. Water improves the functioning of all major organs, which makes sense when you consider your brain and heart are about 74% water, your lungs are 83%, and your kidneys and muscles are 79% water. Every day humans must consume a certain amount of water to survive. To keep the body hydrated, experts recommend about 3 liters per day for men and 2.2 L per day for women. While some of this water is found in the food we eat, the majority comes from drinking water.


Water serves a number of essential functions like regulating our internal body temperature, carrying oxygen and nutrients to our cells, and aiding in digestion. Water boosts metabolism and assists with the breakdown of food which enables your digestive system to work well. By staying hydrated you will have healthier skin, less headaches, less muscle pain and will notice an increase in concentration and energy levels. Fatigue is usually the first sign of dehydration. Water lubricates our joints, protects our organs and flushes out harmful toxins from our bodies. It helps promote kidney function and reduces the risk of kidney stones. Without proper hydration, we open our bodies to a variety of health risks.



So what is actually in our drinking water? And what does it mean for our health? Water is referred to as a universal solvent, meaning that it has a tendency to dissolve minerals, salts and other chemicals that it comes into contact with. This can be good, like when drawing from a well and picking up ‘good minerals’ like calcium and magnesium, but issues come up with well water containing high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) as we tend to see more sodium chloride, iron and sulphur. Canadian federal and provincial guidelines recommend consuming less than 500 milligrams per liter of TDS. There is a certain amount of natural filtration that takes place underground, but influence from surface water does occur. Recent concerns have been raised about microbeads, as well as about elevated levels of pharmaceuticals cycling through our bodies and water systems.


Most municipalities draw surface water from lakes and rivers. Surface water is particularly susceptible to run off from farming which can lead to increased levels of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Aside from run-off, surface water also has much higher levels of micro-organisms and thus requires proper filtration and disinfection to ensure its safety. What this means for end consumers is the water enters your home with a chlorine residual. There is a concern out there over the long term effects of ingesting chlorine; when chlorine is combined with organic matter it can produce Trihalomethanes (chlorination byproducts), or THMs. The steam from showering can contain 50 times the chemicals of regular tap water! The good news is that chlorine is one of the easiest substances to remove once it has served its purposes and kept our water free from contaminants up to the point of consumption.


So how can we can ensure out water is the highest quality? A good home filtration system is able to remove chlorine as it enters your home. Granular activated carbon will do the trick, its one of nature’s greatest filters, improving taste and odour considerably. Reverse osmosis drinking water systems are easy to install in the kitchen or at the fridge, and provide the highest quality of drinking water. A reverse osmosis system removes >95% of dissolved solids and can be followed by a


re-mineralizing filter to raise the pH and add the calcium and magnesium back into the water. This process will improve the quality of drinking water from wells, as well as remove taste and odour from municipal water supplies.


Talk to a water treatment specialist today!


Our founder Jo Anne has always said that one of the best things you can do for yourself is to drink good quality water. That’s why we asked Lilli & Rowan to write this article for us! Lilli is a long-time wellness champion here in our community, we have loved getting to know her & her family over the years. She and her husband Rowan are the co-owners of McLeod’s EcoWater.


You can also enjoy mineralized, alkaline water at home with the Santevia Alkaline Water Pitcher. This convenient, hand-held pitcher fits in the door of your refrigerator, and restores your tap water to its mineral-rich state–just like nature intended.


With a Santevia Alkaline Pitcher, you’ll not only help maintain your body’s healthy pH balance, but you’ll also save money you would have spent on expensive mineral water in stores. It’s a great choice for the environment, too, since one pitcher eliminates over 8,300 single-use plastic bottles every year!


SANTEVIA


Mineralizing Water System


$52.99


Check out all of our filtration options in-store today!


Rebecca holding green smoothie in a glass cup with a straw
By April Allen February 20, 2025
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with these festive, healthier St. Patrick's Day recipes! We've added some brand new recipes to the list for 2025 - Slainte!
By April Allen February 20, 2025
Who run the world? Girls! March is Women's History Month, and March 8th is International Women’s Day. What better time than this to lift up the women around us! Because of the entrepreneurial courage of our founder Jo Anne & the continued efforts of our now owners & team (which is over 80% women), we have been serving Peterborough & The Kawarthas for almost 50 years! We are thankful not only for the amazing women in our team, but for the meaningful connections we have made with so many inspiring women in our community. It is important to us to continue fostering an environment where women feel safe, supported & inspired. We are excited to look to the future and continue to evolve to meet the needs of our community.
By April Allen February 13, 2025
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to indulge in something sweet, and this Avocado Chocolate Mousse is a rich, creamy, and guilt-free way to do it! Made with wholesome ingredients and naturally sweetened, this luscious dessert is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with healthy fats —so you can treat yourself (or someone special) without compromise. Whether you’re celebrating with a loved one or enjoying a little self-care, this silky-smooth mousse is sure to satisfy your chocolate cravings. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make , leaving you more time to savour the moment. Makes about 4 servings.
By Jonathan Tessier February 6, 2025
Why Buy Canadian? While tariff's have been paused for the time being, we still think it is a great time to highlight some of the amazing Canadian products in our store and talk about some of the benefits they have over American items.
By Jonathan Tessier February 5, 2025
Spicy Coconut Vegetable Stir F ry
By April Allen February 2, 2025
Struggling to find unique Valentine's Day gifts?
By April Allen January 30, 2025
Your body is home to trillions of microorganisms that play a vital role in your overall health. These tiny communities—your microbiome—exist in different areas, including your gut, mouth, lungs, skin, and, for women, the vaginal flora. When balanced, it supports digestion, immunity, and even mood regulation. But when disrupted by factors like poor diet, stress, or environmental factors, it can contribute to a range of health issues. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to nourish and support these essential microbiomes to help you feel your best from the inside out. And we'll discuss how they're all interconnected.
By April Allen January 28, 2025
Keep scrolling for some fun, festive, and functional Valentine's Day drinks!
A clock in the middle with an assortment of food underneath and the text
By Jonathan Tessier January 28, 2025
What is Chrononutrition? Chrononutrition is the science of how food, metabolism, meal timing, and your body clock interact. More research is currently needed, but for now, scientists are trying to understand how your body responds to food at different times of the day. They are interested in whether these factors influence metabolic health and the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes. How it effects your body We usually eat our largest meal toward the end of the day. So, chrononutrition researchers are trying to understand whether it's better to eat earlier in the day or later at night. In one study , a group of scientists followed 420 people on a 20-week weight-loss plan. The researchers split the groups into those who ate their main meal earlier and those who ate it later. They found that participants who ate their main meal earlier in the day lost more weight than the late eaters, even though both groups consumed similar amounts of food. Blood Sugar Levels When your body breaks down a meal, sugars enter your blood as glucose. Your body responds to this rise in blood sugar by releasing insulin. Scientists have shown that our body’s ability to control blood sugar varies across the day. On average, blood glucose responses appear to be better in the morning than in the afternoon . Fat Like glucose levels, after eating, levels of fat in the blood rise. However, they rise and fall much slower than blood glucose, taking hours to return to normal. Evidence suggests that our blood fat levels also change throughout the day. For instance, a study on healthy men found that their blood fat levels were higher after lunch than after breakfast — even though the two meals were identical. Avoid Late-Night Meals Avoiding late-night meals is an important part of chrononutrition. The body has a hormonal response any time you eat anything. If you eat late at night, when you're not using much energy, you'll increase your hunger and appetite. What’s more, late-night eating is linked to impaired metabolic function. In the evening, blood glucose levels are high and since you're not moving around as much, it stays that way. By eating during the day time, you can lower nighttime blood sugar levels. How to Get Your Eating Schedule on Track It can be hard to avoid a late-night meal, but if you're snacking before bed or eating late, it will impact your health. Luckily, it's easy to get yourself back on track. First things first, you should be practicing a healthy sleep cycle and try to go to bed at the same time everyday, since your eating habits often revolve around that. Try to make a schedule for mealtimes and stick to it. Try to eat breakfast later in the morning and have dinner earlier, if possible. If you sleep from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., have breakfast an hour after waking—sometime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.. If you have to eat later than usual, try to make it healthy. High carbohydrate and fatty foods are not ideal for late-night meals so try to go for protein if you can. Conclusion The time of day that you eat has an impact on your health, but as long as you maintain a strict meal schedule and avoid eating at night you should be fine. If you do need to eat later than usual, try to make sure it's a healthy snack. It doesn't take a lot of work, just perseverance to stick to your schedule. By maintaining a consistent meal routine and making healthier choices, you'll be setting yourself up for better health and well-being. Keep at it, and your body will thank you!
Two jugs of Natural Cleansing Laundry Detergent with the text
By Jonathan Tessier January 28, 2025
Why Choose Natural?
More Posts
Share by: