Backwaters

Was traveling with a colleague and he was planning a trip to Kerala… When I told him that it has amazing backwaters… and then I got puzzled when he questioned… what backwaters exactly mean.

According to Wiki Answers… Backwaters is any river or flowing water turned back from its regular path due to an obstruction – either man-made( dams ) or natural ( a forest, a land piece)

For example, the Kerala back waters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.

Packaged drinking water

Was having lunch with a couple of friends last weekend at a restaurant when the waiter asked if we wanted to be served mineral water or normal bottled water. Always knew that although we keep referring to bottled water as mineral water, there is a difference between the two. And so, wanted to find it what exactly it is.

As it turns out, packaged drinking water could be of multiple types depending on its source and composition and mineral water happens to be one of the types.

According to this report, water is classified as “bottled water” or “drinking water” if it meets all applicable central and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption. Bottled water cannot contain sweeteners or chemical additives (other than flavors, extracts or essences) and must be calorie-free and sugar-free. Beverages containing more than the one-percent-by-weight flavor limit are classified as soft drinks, not bottled water.

Also, for a particular brand to be certified as bottled water it requires approval on 4 levels namely the Central, the state, the trade association, and individual company levels.

As this website suggests, the various types of bottled water could be spring water, well water, sparkling water, purified water, artesian water and 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).

Drinking water during Lunch/Dinner?

I hear different comments from people… saying we should drink a lot of water, some say we should not… Want to figure out what exactly is the case.

Searched for this online and find different opinions again. What I found in general was that, people suggest you dont drink a lot of water because it hampers digestion by diluting the digestive juices.

Now, some other reports say… that digestive juices don’t mix much with water and its perfectly ok for you to have water during meals unless your stomach is having trouble producing enough acids and digestive juices.

BTW everydayfrance says that french prefer not having water during meals and Americans have a lot of water/fluids with meals.