General Penta water questions
* What makes Penta water so special?
* What are the health benefits of drinking Penta water?
* Who is Penta water for?
* What’s your water source?
* How do you get Penta water so clean?
* Can I have Penta water shipped to my home?
* Why does Penta water cost so much?
* What’s the best way to store Penta water?
* Is Penta water kosher?
* What sizes does Penta water come in?
* Does Penta come in larger sizes, such as a five-gallon jug?
* Why don’t you put a sports cap on your bottles?
* How safe is the plastic used for Penta water bottles?
* Will you be making a Penta home filtration system in the future?
* Where did the name “Penta” come from?
* What does “SUPER PRO” mean on your bottle’s label?
* What is the shelf life of Penta?
* If I freeze or boil Penta, will it change the quality of the water?
* Why do you add USP Medicinal Grade Oxygen to Penta? Does the oxygen help me?
* Is Penta really patented?
* Is Penta really a new composition of matter?
* Can I heat or cool Penta water to make coffee, tea or another type of drink?
* Where can I get more information about Penta water?
“Unique” Penta water questions
* I feel as if I’m addicted to Penta water and can’t drink anything else. Are there any support groups available?
* How can Penta be any different? I thought water was just water.
* Why is the label purple?
* Since I’ve been drinking Penta water, I have to urinate more frequently. Why?
* Can I give Penta water to my pets?
* I heard drinking a pure water like Penta will wash minerals from my body. Is that true?
Hydration questions
* How much water should I drink daily?
* Why is drinking water so important?
* Can I hydrate with something else besides water?
* How do I know when I’m dehydrated?
* Who’s at the greatest risk for dehydration?
* Are electrolytes important for hydration?
Having other things in water questions
* Isn’t it important to have minerals in water?
* Aren’t there benefits to drinking water with electrolytes?
* Can water be a good source for calcium?
* What’s wrong with having fluoride in water?
* Isn’t it good to have carbohydrates or vitamins in my water?
Health-related questions
* Isn’t it healthier to drink an alkaline water?
* What role does water play in weight loss?
* Is there any advantage to taking my supplements with Penta water?
General bottled water questions
* What’s the difference between the various kinds of bottled water, such as spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and others?
* Why is bottled water so popular?
* Is bottled water regulated?
General Penta water questions
What makes Penta water so special?
Penta ultra-purified premium drinking water is the cleanest-known bottled drinking water on the market. In fact, it�s hundreds of times cleaner than many of the spring or mineral waters that come from �protected sources.� Penta�s 11-hour, 13-step purification process removes impurities and creates a water that is clean, crisp, and provides optimal hydration Once you experience Penta, you�ll find it difficult to drink any other water.
What are the health benefits of drinking Penta water?
First, it�s important to know that the cleaner the water, the healthier the water. Clean water allows your body to function more efficiently. An independent, third-party lab has verified that of all the bottled waters tested, Penta is the cleanest�averaging 0.5 parts per million of total dissolved solids.
Second, we have several recent studies conducted in the United Kingdom (which are being prepared for publication) that show Penta water:
• increases athletic performance 2-7%
• leaves the stomach 6 milliliters faster per minute than other tested bottled water
• hydrates 16.7 times faster than other tested bottled water
• causes more rapid nerve firing and power output from muscles
Who is Penta water for?
Penta water is for the true hydrophile. It’s a premium product for any health conscious person who wants only the very best water for their body. Some people think Penta is only for athletes. Not so. Athletes simply need to be very careful regarding what they put in their body so that they can perform their best. Sounds like a good idea for everybody, doesn’t it?
What’s your water source?
We start with Carlsbad city water. Most of the water for Southern California comes from the Colorado River, which comes from the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. So, I guess you could say, Penta originally comes from the mountains. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter what we start with, only with what we have in the end. And in the end, Penta is the purest bottled water available today. In fact, it’s thousands of times cleaner than any spring or mineral water.
How do you get Penta water so clean?
Our rigorous 11-hour, 13-step purification process (9 stages of filtration, 3 stages of bacteria removal, and our patented Penta Process) is why Penta measures only about 0.5 parts per million (ppm) of total dissolved solids (TDS)—making it the cleanest known bottled drinking water on the market. At the end of this process we add 60-70 ppm of USP medicinal grade oxygen, which preserves the clean, crisp taste of Penta’s ultra-purified water.
Can I have Penta water shipped to my home?
Because Penta water is sold nationwide in some 3,500 health food stores (Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and others) and nearly 2,600 grocery stores (including Ralph�s and Vons in Southern Calif., Safeway in Northern Calif., Albertson�s in Texas, Kroger in the Midwest), it�s likely available at a store near you. This will save you the added expense of shipping. You can find a retailer near you via a zip code or city search on our Web site.
If you�re unable to locate a retailer within reasonable driving distance, or if you simply insist upon the convenience of home delivery, please contact our Customer Service department at 1-760-438-6686, x114.
Why does Penta water cost so much?
Why do the world�s five-star restaurants and resorts, luxurious homes and cars, and finest clothes demand the highest price tags? Generally, you get what you pay for. With Penta, you�re not only getting the cleanest-known bottled water, but one that will allow your body to function at its optimal level.
What’s the best way to store Penta water?
You may refrigerate or store Penta water at room temperature. You should not leave Penta water or any bottled water exposed to direct sunlight. UV rays from the sun can interact with the plastic in the bottle and can cause or leave a “plastic-like” taste.
Is Penta water kosher?
Yes. Not only is Penta water kosher, but it’s kosher for Passover. Read the news release.
What sizes does Penta water come in?
Penta water is available in 0.5-liter (16.9-oz.) and 1.0-liter (33.8-oz.) bottles. The 0.5 liter can be purchased in a 12- or 24-case pack, and the 1.0 liter in a 12-case pack.
Does Penta come in larger sizes, such as a five-gallon jug?
No. One reason is that the plastic used in making most five-gallon plastic water bottles is (PC #7 Polycarbonate), which contains Bisphenol-A. Because quality is so crucial to the Penta water product, the largest size bottles we will most likely produce would be a 1.5 liter.
Why don’t you put a sports cap on your bottles?
At the end of our 11-hour, 13-step purification process we add 60-70 ppm of USP Medicinal Grade Oxygen. A sports cap isn’t as effective at holding the oxygen in the bottle as our current caps. But you can certainly install your own sports cap after purchasing Penta.
How safe is the plastic used for Penta water bottles?
As safe as they come. We use a very high quality PET 1 plastic, one of the best available. In fact, if you squeeze an empty bottle of Penta compared to an empty bottle of most other brands you will find that there is a noticeable difference. Health is what Penta is all about, which is one of the reasons we choose to use a very high quality plastic. For a more detailed discussion about the topic we encourage you to visit http://grassrootsinfo.org/plastics.html.
Will you be making a Penta home filtration system in the future?
Probably not. The specialized equipment necessary for our 11-hour, 13-step purification process are cost prohibitive to the general public and would not easily fit in most homes. It also takes trained experts in water quality to operate and maintain this equipment.
Where did the name “Penta” come from?
The name “Penta” comes from the word pentamer, the theoretical most basic cluster of H2O molecules needed to form liquid water.
What does “SUPER PRO” mean on your bottle’s label?
In our early days we offered three different types of Penta with varying levels of infused USP Medicinal Grade Oxygen. Penta Super Pro had the most oxygen, and as you could imagine, all customers wanted the product with the most oxygen. So in the end we discontinued the Penta and Penta Pro products. Now that we add 60-70 ppm USP Medicinal Grade Oxygen to all our bottles, “Super Pro” will soon be dropped from our bottle’s label.
Curious about the benefits of using oxygen? Click here.
What is the shelf life of Penta?
Everything is better when it is fresh, so we recommend drinking it within a couple of weeks of buying it. But as a June 2002 issue of Consumer Reports states, as long as bottled water is stored properly, it should be good indefinitely.
You can read the Consumer Reports magazine article here.
If I freeze or boil Penta, will it change the quality of the water?
No.
Why do you add USP Medicinal Grade Oxygen to Penta? Does the oxygen help me?
After Penta water has completed this 13-step purification process, 60-70 ppm of USP medicinal grade oxygen is added to each bottle before it’s capped. This preserves the clean, crisp taste of Penta’s ultra-purified water and also makes the bottles firm to facilitate shipping. FYI: We do not get oxygen from water (fish do).
Is Penta really patented?
Yes. On Feb. 18, 2003 the U.S. Patent and Trademark office granted a patent to Penta Water Company, Inc., makers of Penta bottled water. The patent (no. 6,521,248) not only covers one of the processes the water undergoes, but also a new composition of matter.
Is Penta really a new composition of matter?
Yes. Penta displays characteristics unique from other water, including a higher boiling point, higher surface tension, and a lower viscosity.
Can I heat or cool Penta water to make coffee, tea or another type of drink?
Yes. The quality of Penta water does not change when the water is cooled or warmed. We do recommend that Penta water be consumed at room temperature for maximum benefit. Penta water makes excellent coffees and teas. Our word of wisdom to you: Choose a juice (preferably made with Penta water) before you drink a coffee or tea.
Where can I get more information about Penta water?
We suggest you first read through all the information on our Web site. If you still have questions, please e-mail questions@pentawater.com or call our Customer Relations Specialist at 1-760-438-6686, x103.
“Unique” Penta water questions
I feel as if I’m “addicted” to Penta water and can’t drink anything else. Are there any support groups available?
Once you become accustomed to what really clean water tastes like, it becomes difficult to drink another water that’s not as clean. We hear this from our customers all the time. As far as support groups, we encourage you to find other Penta drinkers near you and get together with them on a weekly basis to discuss how each of you are finding ways of dealing with this “addiction” to Penta water.
How can Penta be any different? I thought water was just water.
That’s what many people say… until they try Penta water. We suggest you do the same. Ideally, drink it for a week and see what you think. After you’ve experienced Penta’s super-clean, crisp, smooth taste for a while, you’ll likely find it difficult to return to the water you were previously drinking. If you absolutely refuse to try Penta, e-mail ithinkwateriswater@pentawater.com and tell us why.
Why is the label purple?
Purple is the color of royalty. We believe that when you drink Penta, you’re treating your body like royalty.
Since I’ve been drinking Penta water, I have to urinate more frequently. Why?
There are probably two reasons for this. First, because Penta tastes so crisp and clean, it makes it easy to drink, which of course means you’ll likely drink more of it. Second, Penta gets into your system faster. Two of our recent studies support this. One showed Penta water leaves the stomach six milliliters per minute faster than other water, and another shows it hydrates 16.7 times faster than other water.
Can I give Penta water to my pets?
Yes! Some veterinarians recommend Penta water to pet owners. In fact, we recommend you give your pet a taste test. Put Penta water in one bowl and tap water or another bottled water in the other bowl, then see which one your pet will drink. If your dog doesn’t choose the bowl with Penta, then it’s time to sit down with your pet and have a heart-to-heart discussion on the importance of hydrating with quality water.
I heard drinking a pure water like Penta will wash minerals from my body. Is that true?
No, We know of no research that supports such a statement. Indeed there are numerous studies indicating that through proper hydration, our bodies retain essential minerals which are part of a proper diet.
Hydration questions
How much water should I drink daily?
As a baseline, you should try to drink at least half your body weight in ounces a day. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should try to drink 90 oz. of water. You should increase consumption during periods of increased physical activity or other physical stress.
Because the amount of water you need depends on your size, activity level, age and other factors such as diet and stress level, the eight 8-oz. glasses a day is not a good guideline for everyone. For example, a 120-pound female living in a temperature-controlled environment does not require as much water as a 250-pound male doing vigorous physical activity.
Remember to drink before you get thirsty. If you wait until you're thirsty, you're already slightly dehydrated.
Why is drinking water so important?
Our bodies are approximately 65% water. By properly hydrating with good, clean, quality water, you allow your body to function more efficiently. Some of the benefits of proper hydration may include:
* Healthy skin and hair
* Healthy joints (Research indicates that eight to 10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers.)
* Stronger immune system
* Faster recovery from surgery
* Faster recovery from physical activity
* Reduced hypertension
* Reduced cholesterol
* Reduce risk of various types of cancers (According to the Bottled Water Web, drinking five glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, breast cancer by 79 percent, and bladder cancer by 50 percent.)
Can I hydrate with something else besides water?
There are certainly some hydration benefits being derived from many foods and drinks— especially from those high in water content such as fruits, soups, and juice drinks.
But keep in mind that beverages containing alcohol and caffeine will decrease their hydrating ability. Studies show that caffeine and alcohol require water for digestion, thereby decreasing any hydrating benefits of the beverage.
Despite what your non-water diet may be, we still recommend you strive to drink half your body weight in ounces daily. For the most effective hydration, there is no replacement for high-quality, clean, pure water.
How do I know when I’m dehydrated?
Dehydration causes many common health complaints. Research indicates that approximately half of Americans are dehydrated. Here are some of the signs that may indicate you’re dehydrated:
* Fatigue and weakness (Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.)
* Headaches
* Mental fogginess (A mere 2 percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.)
* Decreased visual ability
* Rheumatoid joint pain (arthritis)
* Rough, dry skin
* Dry mucous membranes in nose, mouth, or throat
* Nosebleeds (especially in dry interior air during winter)
* Dark, concentrated, strong-smelling urine in small quantities
* Irritability
* Anxiety
* Muscle fatigue
* Irrational behavior
* Constipation
* Nausea
* Intestinal cramps
* Weak, irregular pulse
* Low blood pressure
* Shallow, rapid breathing
* Chronic illnesses
Here are a few other potential consequences of dehydration:
* Even if you’re only suffering mild dehydration, your metabolism will slow down as much as 3 percent.
* Increased chance for asthmatic individuals to suffer an attack.
* The decreased blood volume can lead to an increased chance for a heart attack.
* May compromise liver function as it causes the liver to be overloaded with toxins.
If you only drink water when you are thirsty, you probably aren't drinking enough. That’s because our thirst mechanisms aren't usually a good indicator of when we need water. When you become thirsty, chances are you’re already dehydrated.
Who’s at the greatest risk for dehydration?
Well, we’re all at risk for dehydration if we don’t drink enough water, but children and seniors seem to be at the highest risk. Many kids don’t drink water. Instead, kids drink lots of sugar drinks (juice with high fructose corn syrup added) and sodas. Newsday reports that more than 186,000 children are hospitalized for dehydration in the U.S. every year.
Seniors very often don't drink any water. They prefer tea or other drinks. These beverages are solutes, containing materials or other dissolved solids. Water containing a large amount of dissolved solids does not have as high a driving force to exchange cellular fluids, which is an impediment to hydration. Diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol may have a net dehydrating effect by altering the body’s fluid balance mechanism to discharge fluids. The phosphates in sodas also rob the body of oxygen. With seniors, the risk of dehydration can be more acute.
Women are at greater risk for dehydration than men because they have less muscle mass and lower body water content than men.
Are electrolytes important for hydration?
No. Hydration is by its very name is the replacement of water lost from the blood plasma volume and/or the cells. That is accomplished with water. Electrolyte replacement is not hydration; by its very name it is replacement of electrolytes. Both are important, and timing of the intake of both is also very important. During a short race electrolyte replacement and carbohydrate replacement would only slow you down. During a long, four-hour or high-endurance exercise you may require some electrolyte replacement.
So the answer is both water and electrolytes are necessary, but for best results in performance plain water is best after a short to mid race, followed by electrolyte replacement—if required. But electrolyte and carbohydrate replacement are important midway through an Iron man competition, as well as after.
The more “stuff” you put in water, the slower it’s absorbed into the cells, and the slower it’s emptied from your stomach. A Gatorade study supports this. That’s why the sports drink manufacturers made a sports drink that has a much lower dose of carbohydrates and electrolytes. They know the regular sports drink would slow you down in a short race.
For quick hydration, nothing beats clean, pure water like Penta.
Having other things in water questions
Isn’t it important to have minerals in water?
No. Pure water provides your body the most effective hydration. If you eat a proper diet, you can get all the minerals you need from food. If necessary, you certainly enhance your mineral needs with quality supplements.
Many mistakenly believe drinking spring or mineral water provides a good source for minerals. According to the American Medical Journal, “The minerals which the human body needs that are in the water are insignificant to those in food… and anyone simply eating a varied diet, not even a balanced diet, could hardly suffer a mineral deficiency.”
The main reason minerals in water are insignificant is because they are in an inorganic state, whereas minerals in food are in an organic (or bio-available) state.
“The only minerals that the body can utilize are the organic minerals,” said Dr. Charles Mayo of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. “All other types of minerals are foreign substances to the body and must be eliminated.”
That’s why we say the only thing that belongs in your water is water. Not surprisingly, we’re hearing about more and more spring bottled water drinkers switching to Penta’s ultra-premium purified water, once they discover the cleaner taste and higher purity.
Aren’t there benefits to drinking water with electrolytes?
For the vast majority of instances, there are no benefits to drinking water with electrolytes. The important thing to remember regarding electrolytes is keeping them in balance. Essentially, only during extreme cases will you need to be concerned about your electrolytes getting out of balance, such as during a grueling Ironman competition. The average person engaging in physical activity typically never has to be concerned with electrolyte replacement. Hydrating with clean, pure water like Penta is all that’s needed.
For additional discussion on electrolytes, see the question above, Are electrolytes important for hydration?
Can water be a good source for calcium?
No. Water is an extremely poor source for calcium. Get your calcium—and the rest of your minerals—from food. Spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, and collard greens are excellent sources of calcium. Dairy foods are also an excellent calcium source.
Penta water’s focus is effective hydration. The cleaner the water, the better the hydration. Anything added to water will slow down the hydration process.
What’s wrong with having fluoride in water?
There are definitely two sides to this debate, and first and foremost we urge you to be an informed consumer and research this issue.
Again, we are most concerned with effective hydration. The cleaner the water, the better the hydration. Anything added to water will slow down the hydration process.
That being said, we believe fluoride is best used topically (such as with toothpaste), and not ingested. It’s interesting to note that fluoride toothpaste product usage instructions stress not to swallow the product.
Isn’t it good to have carbohydrates or vitamins in my water?
No. Carbohydrates in a drink can be beneficial during a high-endurance event, but otherwise having carbohydrates or vitamins in water only slow down the hydration process, as a Gatorade study indicated. Your body can benefit more by receiving carbohydrates and nutrition from food, as well as obtaining nutrients from high-quality vitamin supplements.
Health-related questions
What role does water play in weight loss?
Pure water is a crucial component to any weight loss plan. It has zero carbs, zero fat, and zero calories, and it certainly isn’t going to make you put on any unwanted weight. Plus, drinking water can help appease hunger pangs that are actually being caused by thirst.
Is there any advantage to taking my supplements with Penta water?
Yes, by taking your supplements with Penta water you enable your body to maximize the health benefits from proper hydration and nutritional supplements.
General bottled water questions
What’s the difference between the various kinds of bottled water, such as spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and others?
In one word, purity. The source of the water and how the water is—or isn’t—cleaned are the main determining factors in a water’s total dissolved solids level (i.e., purity level) and its taste.
The FDA has established a bottled water Standard of Identity to define the several different types of bottled water based on specific characteristics of the product. Bottled water products meeting the Standard of Identity may be labeled as bottled water or drinking water, or one or more of the following terms:
Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water - Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.
Mineral Water – Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product. A bacterium that causes severe diarrhea in developing countries can survive in bottled mineral and spring water, according to a published study.
Purified Water – Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes while meeting the definition of purified water in the United States. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include “distilled water” if it is produced by distillation, “deionized water” if it is produced by deionization or “reverse osmosis water” if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively, “__________ drinking water” can be used with the blank being filled in with one of the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g., “purified drinking water” or “distilled drinking water”). This is the category that Penta falls under (although Penta has created its own sub-category within this category: “ultra-purified water”).
Sparkling Bottled Water – Water that after treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had as it emerged from the source. Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as “sparkling drinking water,” “sparkling mineral water,” “sparkling spring water,” etc.
Spring Water – Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth. A bacterium that causes severe diarrhea in developing countries can survive in bottled spring water, as well as mineral water, according to a recently published study.
Well Water - Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water aquifer.
Why is bottled water so popular?
Consumers reportedly choose bottled water for its taste and purity. (That being the case, then we expect everyone to be drinking Penta water once they find out it’s the world’s cleanest, best-tasting bottled water.)
Bottled water is now the second most consumed beverage in the United States because it ensures consistent safety, quality and good taste from the water source to finished product. It also offers convenience due to its portability.
Is bottled water regulated?
Yes. The bottled water industry is regulated on three levels: federal, state, and trade association. In addition, products imported from the European Union must meet all U.S. regulations, and standards established by the European Union. FDA regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated, tested, and of the highest quality.
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has been a long-standing proponent of additional federal regulations for bottled water and is active at all levels of local, state and federal government assisting in the development of such regulations.
Federal Regulations
The FDA regulates bottled water as a food product. Bottled water companies must adhere to the FDA's Quality Standards, Standards of Identity (labeling regulations) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
Quality Standards ensure the safety of all bottled water products from production to packaging to consumption.
The FDA's labeling rules for bottled water establish standards of identity and standardized definitions for terms found on bottled water labels, such as artesian, drinking, mineral, purified, sparkling, and spring.
Bottled water is subject to GMPs, including those applicable to foods generally, and GMPs specific to water processing and bottling. General foods GMPs govern such areas as plant and ground maintenance, sanitary maintenance of buildings and fixtures, and sanitary facilities, including water supply, plumbing and sewage disposal. Bottled water GMPs provide detailed regulations governing plant construction and design, sanitary facilities, and operations, equipment design and construction, production and process controls specific to production and processing of bottled drinking water.
State Regulations
In addition to FDA's extensive regulatory requirements, the bottled water industry is subject to state regulatory requirements as well. A significant responsibility of the state is inspecting, sampling, analyzing and approving sources of water. Under the federal GMPs, only approved sources of water can be used to supply a bottling plant.
Another area in which some states have important responsibilities that complement federal regulation is the certification of testing laboratories. As with any food establishment, the state performs unannounced plant inspections, and some states perform annual inspections.
IBWA Standards
In addition to the state and federal regulations for bottled water, IBWA bottler member are subject to another level of oversight. As a condition of membership, bottlers must submit to an annual, unannounced plant inspection administered by an independent, internationally recognized third-party inspection organization. This inspection audits quality and testing records; reviews all areas of plant operation from sources through finished product; and checks compliance with FDA Quality Standards, GMPs, and any state regulations. IBWA has established a quality assurance program, called the Model Code, which are a strict set of standards. This code establishes tougher requirements than federal and state authorities.