As nutrition experts emphasize, minimally processed foods offer the best nutrition. Yet the U.S. trend of drinking "raw water"—untreated, unfiltered spring water—pushes this principle to dangerous extremes. Advocates claim it's packed with minerals and probiotics that benefit skin, hair, joints, energy levels, weight management, and even anxiety. However, this unsterilized water can harbor serious pathogens.
Spring water may sound pristine on paper, but treatment exists for good reason. Untreated sources can contain chemical contaminants like arsenic, harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even animal feces. A July 2017 WHO report warns that raw water transmits diseases including cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and poliomyelitis. Meanwhile, U.S. startups are capitalizing on the hype: at Live Water, a 10-liter glass jug costs $16—or about €13. Premium pricing for untreated water.
