What’s hiding in your water? The big risks you didn’t expect when drinking “natural” water

When clean water isn’t so clean

Ever wondered what’s really in your water? Earlier this year, headlines rocked the world: Nestlé, the parent company of Perrier, was caught filtering it’s water and selling it as “natural mineral water.”

For many living in the Middle East, this story hit close to home. In countries where the climate demands constant hydration and where tap water is already viewed with suspicion, bottled water has become the default. But now, even that choice feels uncertain.

The issue is bigger than taste or convenience. It’s about what you might be unknowingly drinking every single day and how that could be sabotaging your energy, digestion, metabolism, and hormones. In other words, you may be doing everything right: eating healthy, exercising, sleeping well and still feeling stuck. The problem might be hiding in your glass.

7 ways water impacts your health, hormones & detox

You drink it. Cook with it. Shower in it. But water isn’t always as pure as it looks. Depending on the source, it may be carrying substances that silently erode your health over time. Here’s how:

1. Slows your metabolism. Heavy metals and plastic contaminants can overload your liver, one of your main detox organs. When your liver is busy filtering out toxins from your water, it can’t focus as effectively on metabolizing fats and balancing blood sugar. This slows down your metabolism and makes weight loss more difficult, even with a healthy diet.
2. Disrupts thyroid hormone function. Your thyroid relies on iodine to produce hormones, but chlorine and fluoride in tap water compete with iodine and block its absorption. This interference can lead to low thyroid function, fatigue, mood changes, and cycle irregularities.
3. Mimics hormones and creates imbalance. Microplastics and chemical residues in water can act like estrogen in the body, contributing to hormone disruption. This can cause symptoms like bloating, PMS, and trouble regulating weight and energy.
4. Drains your energy. If your body is constantly trying to filter out waterborne toxins, it uses up energy meant for your daily activities. The result is often persistent fatigue, brain fog, and a general feeling of burnout that no rest or coffee can fix.
5. Harms your gut microbiome. Chlorine and heavy metals in water can damage the lining of your intestines and kill off beneficial bacteria. This throws off your digestive balance and affects everything from your immunity to your mental clarity.
6. Triggers inflammation throughout the body. When your gut barrier is weakened and toxins build up, your immune system responds with inflammation. This may show up as joint pain, skin issues, headaches, or even anxiety.
7. Depletes key minerals. Drinking purified or distilled water without re-mineralizing it can leave you low in important electrolytes like magnesium, potassium, and chloride. These minerals are crucial for energy production, hydration, and muscle and nerve function.

➡️ Related: Mistake #2: Ignoring chronic inflammation

Why your thyroid and liver need clean hydration

Around 60% of your body mass is made up of water, and that number climbs even higher in babies and children. Every detox process in your body relies on it. Your kidneys use water to flush out waste, your liver depends on it to break down toxins, and your gut needs it to move waste out of your system. Even your thyroid, a small gland with a big role in regulating metabolism, requires a steady flow of clean, mineral-rich water to function properly.

But what happens when the water you rely on is part of the problem?

• Fluoride and chlorine in tap water interfere with iodine uptake, which is essential for making thyroid hormones.

• Microplastics in bottled water may act like estrogen in the body, leading to estrogen dominance and poor progesterone levels.

• Arsenic and lead, often found in aging pipes slow down enzyme function in the liver and disrupt digestion.

When your detox organs are overloaded, you might:

• Wake up feeling tired despite sleeping eight hours
• Struggle with cravings and weight that will resist despite best efforts
• Feel bloated or puffy after meals even the lighter ones!

➡️ Read more: Why detox isn’t just a trend – it’s necessary

What you can do: smarter hydration starts here

The solution isn’t to panic or obsess over every drop. It’s to make intentional changes that reduce your exposure and support your body.

Practical steps for cleaner hydration

• Install a quality water filter at home. Look for options like reverse osmosis or carbon-ceramic systems that filter out chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, and microplastics. Brands like Berkey are popular among wellness experts because they offer broad-spectrum filtration. While Brita jug filters can improve taste and reduce some common impurities like chlorine and lead, they don’t reliably remove microplastics, fluoride, or hormone-disrupting chemicals.
• Avoid plastic bottles whenever possible. This is especially important in hot climates like ours, where bottles are often exposed to high temperatures that accelerate the release of microplastics into the water. Opt for stainless steel or glass bottles and refill them with filtered water you trust.
• Re-mineralize your water. Filtered water can lose many of its natural minerals during purification, leaving it feeling flat or “empty.” You can restore balance by adding a pinch of unrefined sea salt, slices of cucumber, or a squeeze of lemon. These additions help provide essential trace minerals like magnesium, potassium, and chloride, which support hydration, nerve function, and muscle health.
• Eat your water. Include hydrating foods like cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce, citrus, and celery in your meals. These foods not only contribute to your daily fluid intake but also come with fiber, antioxidants, and natural minerals that support your cells and digestion.
• Don’t chug, sip smartly. Instead of flooding your body all at once, sip regularly through the day. This keeps your hydration levels stable and helps with digestion.
• Support detox through food. Include herbs and foods that help your liver filter out toxins: parsley, lemon zest, arugula, broccoli, and dandelion tea are all great options.
• Pay attention to your body’s signals. If you’re experiencing dry skin, tiredness, or brain fog, it might not be about how much you’re drinking but what you’re drinking.

➡️ Try this: Intermittent fasting for energy and hormone balance

Water, gut health, and inflammation: the missing link

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that influence everything from your mood to your immune system. But these microbes are sensitive to toxins.

When you drink water with chlorine or heavy metals:

• You may damage your gut lining, leading to “leaky gut“
• Good bacteria die off, while harmful ones thrive
• Your body struggles to absorb nutrients, even from healthy meals

All of this triggers inflammation. And inflammation is at the root of many chronic conditions—weight gain, joint pain, skin issues, and even anxiety.

To restore gut balance, combine clean, mineral-rich water with gut-healing foods like bone broth, sauerkraut, kefir, and ginger.

Take back control: your next step starts here

Clean water is one of the most overlooked tools for health. If you’ve been doing all the right things but still feel stuck, it’s time to look at what you’re drinking.

If you’re dealing with:

• Constant fatigue or brain fog
• Stubborn weight that won’t shift
• Digestive problems or inflammation
• Hormonal symptoms that don’t resolve

…your hydration habits might be at the root.

Join our next Masterclass:

Thyroid, Detox & Metabolism: Beat Fatigue & Weight Gain!
This expert-led masterclass, hosted in honor of World Thyroid Day (May 25th), will help you uncover how hidden toxins in water and food may be affecting your thyroid, metabolism, and energy levels.

You’ll learn:

• How toxins impact thyroid function and hormone balance
• How to recognize signs of overload and metabolic slowdown
• Practical nutrition and detox strategies to support your body naturally
• How to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors and improve your daily energy

This session is ideal if you’re struggling with symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, or inflammation or if you’re looking to protect your thyroid health proactively.

Registration is free for the Authentik Reset members and includes access to the live session, expert Q&A, and the event replay.

👉 Register here

Conclusion: small shifts, real results

You don’t need to change everything overnight. But starting with what you drink is one of the most powerful steps you can take.

In just a few weeks of cleaner hydration and anti-inflammatory diet, you can begin to:

• Lose weight with less resistance
• Feel more energetic and clear-headed
• Reduce inflammation throughout your body
• Balance your hormones more naturally

Your body knows how to heal. Sometimes, it just needs a cleaner source of support.

Start with your water. Let everything else flow from there.

Let’s continue learning & growing together!

• Explore our blog for naturopathic recipes and wellbeing advice.

• Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive health content straight to your inbox.

• Share your thoughts and comments on social media and tag us with #myauthentikspoon

About the author