Trader Joe’s has plenty to offer customers, whether they are looking for diet-efficient groceries or just something new and fun to try! One of their offerings is their own brand of alkaline water. However, due to recent speculation about fluoride content, the question is, does Trader Joe’s alkaline water have fluoride?
Trader Joe’s Alkaline water has been tested on a fluoride meter according to Truth About Fluoride.com, and it does not contain any parts per million of fluoride. However, some of Trader Joe’s other water brands, such as their mountain spring water and plain mineral water, do sometimes contain fluoride.
In this article, we’ll cover an understanding of alkaline water and fluoride, observe Trader Joe’s specific alkaline water product, go over the possible presence of fluoride in Trader Joe’s alkaline water, and even cover consumer attitudes about fluoride as well as some Frequently Asked Questions and their answers. Let’s get right into this topic!
Understanding Alkaline Water and Fluoride
Alkaline water is water that contains alkaline minerals. It is not as acidic as drinking water that one might get elsewhere, and it has higher levels of pH.
In fact, the pH level is what alkaline refers to. If water has a high pH level, it would be considered “alkaline,” because it is the opposite of “acidic.”
Some believe that alkaline water can lessen or even entirely neutralize the acidity in one’s gut or throughout one’s body. Alkaline has many proposed health benefits that make it a popular word to classify any water products.
Fluoride, on the other hand, is a different kind of mineral. The body already has some fluoride, naturally found in bones and teeth.
Out in the world, fluoride is found in rocks, soil, water, plants, and even the very air we breathe. It is sometimes added to public water in a process known as “water fluoridation.”
Sometimes fluoride is found in mouth rinses, toothpaste, and supplements on purpose. It is also used to augment cleaning materials or pesticides.
Fluoride has it’s own levels of health benefits for humans, but in large doses it is worth noting that it can cause some bad side effects.
Trader Joe’s Alkaline Water Product
Trader Joe’s does sell its own brand of alkaline water. The product is sold in a plastic, 50.7 fluid ounce package with blue and teal water designs It is marketed to be optimal for refreshment and rehydration, and is sold at almost $1.50.
Trader Joe’s Alkaline water is created using a reverse osmosis process, which means pressure is applied to the water to purify it.
Trader Joe’s Alkaline water does have a high pH found at 9.5, which is achieved through ionization. The labeling proudly proclaims to customers that electrolytes are added to enhance the taste and the hydration, as well as the purification, of the product.
Presence of Fluoride in Trader Joe’s Alkaline Water
Trader Joe’s does not have any parts per million of fluoride in their water. Instead, the ingredients in Trader Joe’s popular Alkaline Water product are:
- Potassium Bicarbonate
- Potassium Carbonate
- Sulfate
- Magnesium
This means that there is no fluoride in Trader Joe’s alkaline water, but pH levels are high and electrolytes have been added.
Other alkaline water products do have some fluoride in them, including Essentia’s Bottled Ionized Alkaline Water, which is slightly more expensive at $1.78.
Health Effects and Concerns of Fluoride in Alkaline Water
As previously mentioned, there are both risks and benefits involved in the fluoride component found in water. Let’s take a look at the potential health benefits found in fluoride:
- Supports Enamel – Our teeth are formed with a protective enamel that weakens over time and because of natural wear and tear. Fluoride can help rebuild this enamel.
- Reverse Tooth Decay – Enough fluoride intake can help slow down the minerals your tooth’s decay causes it to lose, and it can even double back the early signs of rot.
- Stop Oral Bacteria – The harmful types of bacteria that can grow in the mouth definitely do not like the fluoride mineral. Consuming more of it can break down some of those bacteria.
There are some side-affects, as previously discussed, to taking in too much fluoride. If, for example, teeth are still in the process of forming under the gums, too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis.
This simply results in white spots on the surface of teeth, which does not do much harm, but can look odd.
Luckily, Trader Joe’s alkaline water does not contain any parts per million of fluoride. This means you won’t have to worry about health problems due to too much fluoride, but it also means you won’t reap any fluoride-related benefits from drinking Trader Joe’s Alkaline Water.
Consumer Attitudes Toward Fluoride in Alkaline Water
According to online reviews of products that are similar to Trader Joe’s alkaline water, but actually do contain fluoride, the response to fluoride found in water is actually positive.
Most customers are willing to pay a little extra, as is the case with Essentia’s Bottled Ionized Alkaline Water, if it means they have a chance of consuming more fluoride.
This is likely due to the high and proven health benefits of fluoride. Alkaline has many supposed benefits, including the possibility of lessening the acidity in the body mentioned above, but they really have not been proven effective. On the other hand, fluoride has proven health benefits.
Therefore, most consumers are happy to find that fluoride is in their water, whether alkaline is or not, so long as they are aware of the health benefits involved in each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our list of frequently asked questions below!
Does Trader Joe’s Water Have Fluoride?
Yes, some of Trader Joe’s water has fluoride, including their mountain spring and plain mineral brands.
What Are the Ingredients in Trader Joe’s Alkaline Water?
As previously mentioned, the only ingredients in Trader Joe’s alkaline water besides actual water is purified electrolytes.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, it is unfortunate but Trader Joe’s Alkaline water does not contain fluoride. This is because, although fluoride is a mineral present all over the world, it does have to be manually added to water. However, Trader Joe’s Alkaline water does have a high pH level and includes electrolytes.
Customers looking to benefit from fluoride can purchase water that has both alkaline and fluoride from Essentia Bottled Water.
Though alkaline’s health benefits are not strictly proven, fluoride’s are, and are worth the extra search and spending effort.