So why WATER? The most interesting thread in all the countries she visited was the prevalence and critical need for purified clean drinking water.

Water is often viewed as the source of life itself; it is the symbol of purification and forgiveness.

“Access to safe water is a fundamental human need and, therefore, a basic human right. Contaminated water jeopardizes both the physical and social health of all people.  It is an affront to human dignity. Yet even today, clean water is a luxury that remains out of the reach of many.”  Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Bluefern Beverages was therefore created out of a passion to provide a healthier, good quality and affordable solution to service the growing needs of our families and communities.

About Our Water

Maintaining the highest quality of our water is critical, therefore our water is tested regularly by independent laboratories in accordance with the World Health Organization, European, Netherlands and South African Water Standards.  Our sourced water goes through an extensive, rigorous purification process namely:

1. Glass Media Filtration – This offers a continuous and sustainable solution for the removal of metals and metalloids, such as ferric, manganese and arsenic. When used for surface water treatment it will remove most of the solids from water and is normally used to treat municipal water prior to use in Hospitals, and food industries to minimize the risk from Pseudomonas (Bacterium found in soil and water)
2. Antiscalant Treatment – Antiscalant is a pre-treatment water additive for reverse osmosis system that is highly effective in preventing the membranes from scaling. This improves the operation of Reverse Osmosis and filtration systems.
3. Reverse Osmosis – Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a water treatment process that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. During this process, the contaminants are filtered out and flushed away, leaving clean, delicious drinking water. Reverse osmosis systems can remove common pollutants from water including nitrates, leadpesticides, sulphates, fluoride, bacteria, pharmaceuticals, arsenic and much more.
4. Activated Carbon Filtration – Activated Carbon is a method of water filtration that uses a piece of activated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities, utilizing chemical adsorption. The carbon filter helps to pull and trap chemicals and impureness in water.
5. Ozone Water Treatment – Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in earth’s atmosphere and is one of nature’s most powerful oxidizers. In the upper atmosphere, ozone filters the sun’s ultraviolet light and protects earth from harmful radiation, but here on the surface, ozone plays a role in ensuring clean drinking water through ozone water treatment. The ozone generator is widely used in air and water disinfection & sterilisation and begins with the creation of ozone. Then, ozone is injected into water, and immediately starts oxidizing and eliminating contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, and metals. Ozone oxidizes organic material in the membranes of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Ozone is a powerful oxidant and bactericide.
6. Coconut Shell Based Carbon Filtration – Coconut shells are a renewable resource made of high-grade carbon and are ideal for filtration due to their high percentage of micro-pores on their surface, nearly 50 percent more than coal, making it the most promising option for removing a wide variety of particles and pollutants together with improving the waters taste and odour.
7. Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment – UV is a safe, chemical-free powerful filtration process to treat water with germicidal ultraviolet light. The UV wavelength scrambles the DNA of living organisms in the water and is effective in destroying 99.99% of harmful microorganisms including E. coli, Giardia, Viruses, Typhoid Fever, Dysentery, Cholera, Cysts, Meningitis, Coliform, etc.

About Our Alkaline Water

Chances are you’ve probably heard the term alkaline water being used by a number of bottled water companies and you may have even bought yourself a bottle because of the health benefits associated with the buzzword – but do you know what alkaline water is and what the benefits are from drinking it? Don’t worry, let us explain.

What is Alkaline Water?

To put it simply, alkaline water is water that has a higher potential hydrogen than regular drinking water. The pH level is measured by the amount of hydrogen ions that exists in each solution. High concentrations of hydrogen ions yield a low pH (acidic substances), whereas low levels of hydrogen ions result in a high pH (basic substances).¹

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Anything below 7 (ranging from 0 to 6.9) is acidic, and anything above 7 (ranging from 7.1 to 14) is basic. The blood in your veins is slightly basic (pH = 7.4), whereas certain soaps (pH = 12) and industrial bleach (pH = 13) are highly basic. On the other hand, coffee is slightly acidic (pH = 5) and tomato juice (pH = 4) and concentrated lemon juice (pH = 2) are highly acidic.²

The term alkaline gets used interchangeably with basic but they’re not exactly the same.³ Alkaline compounds (alkali) are substances, like salts, metals, and minerals, that, when added to water, make it more basic.⁴ Water always contains some amount of dissolved solids including minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, but alkaline water tends to have a higher amount of total dissolved solids, which increases its pH level. Regular drinking water is typically neutral with a pH level of 7 and alkaline water is slightly basic with a pH level of about 8 or 9.

What Are the Benefits of Alkaline Water?

The idea that alkaline water is medicinal, curative, and able to bring about optimal health seems to be based on the belief that acidic properties in the body and blood are the cause of ill health and disease and need to be neutralized. Therefore, a more alkaline body will lead to better health.

Alkaline water contains four major minerals that contribute to its remarkable health benefits:

1. Calcium: Important for bone health, as well as heart, muscle, and nerve function⁵
2. Magnesium: Helps turn food into energy and is necessary for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body⁶
3. Sodium: Regulates blood pressure and volume, and supports nerve/muscle function⁷
4. Potassium: A type of electrolyte that is essential for muscle function and promotes healthy digestion⁸

There are many claims when it comes to the benefits of drinking alkaline water, including immune system support, weight loss, and cancer resistance. Although these claims are notable, they lack proven scientific research. However, there are several incredible health benefits to drinking alkaline water that have been scientifically proven.

Improve Bone Health

Some research has been done on the effects of alkaline intake on bones. A study published in the scientific journal Bone found a positive effect on bone resorption with people who consumed alkaline water rich in bicarbonate.⁹ Bone resorption is the process where old bone cells are broken down and replaced by new ones.¹⁰ Less bone resorption and more mineral density result in better bone strength. The authors of the study concluded that “a bicarbonate- and calcium-rich alkali mineral water decreased bone resorption more than a calcium-rich acidic mineral water.”

Soothe Acid Reflux

A study published in Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology found that drinking alkaline water at pH 8.8 can help soothe acid reflux because the higher pH level kills pepsin, an enzyme involved in breaking down food proteins and a main cause for acid reflux.¹¹ Acid reflux is when the contents of the stomach, which are acidic, splash back up the food pipe.¹² Acid reflux that keeps happening for a long time can cause damage and a disease known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.¹³

Reduce High Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, and Cholesterol

In 2016, scientists in Shanghai found that three to six months after drinking alkaline water, people with high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes), and high blood lipids (cholesterol) had lower measures in each of these factors.¹⁴ Researchers found that a high-pH electrolyte water reduced blood viscosity, the thickness and stickiness of your blood, in 100 adults after exercising. This may help reduce cardiovascular strain due to dehydration.¹⁵

Enhance Hydration

A 2017 study published in Biology of Sport found that drinking alkaline water shows a positive effect on hydration status after anaerobic exercise with a significant decrease of specific urine gravity.¹⁶ Intake of alkaline water also shows a positive effect on urine pH during the anaerobic test protocol, and much more efficient lactate utilization after the high-intensity interval exercise.¹⁷ In addition to enhanced hydration, efficient lactate utilization results in increased energy, as lactate serves as an energy source in skeletal muscles.¹⁸

In contrast, subjects who consumed regular drinking water showed no changes over the same period of time. These results indicate that the habitual consumption of alkaline water may be a valuable nutritional vector influencing both acid-base balance and hydration status, as well as energy levels in active healthy adults.¹⁹

Increase Longevity

A study published in 2016 looked at the effect of consuming alkaline water on 150 mice over a period of three years. Results suggested that those who drank alkaline water had signs of greater longevity, in other words, they aged less and were more likely to live longer. Histological examination of mice kidneys, intestines, hearts, livers, and brains was performed in order to verify the risk of diseases correlated to drinking alkaline water. No significant damage, but aging changes, emerged; organs of alkaline watered animals resulted to be relatively superimposable to controls, shedding a further light on the benefits of alkaline water consumption in humans.²⁰

So, what are you waiting for?  Get our Bluefern products for your workplace or home today!