Water Softener

[jwswaco]

I am researching any adverse reactions to using a water softener while on Coumadin. The units I have checked into (Culligan / EcoWater) can use either sodium chloride or potassium chloride. Which one would be the best (if any)?

 

[Nancy]

If you have a history of congestive heart failure, any sodium is bad, including that with water softeners. But most people only use it for the hot water. If you are taking Potassium supplements, then the potassium might be a problem, because your potassium would have to be highly controlled. If you have any renal problems, both might be bad. So I would ask your doctor about which would be best for your particular siruation.

 

[azpam]

I agree with Nancy! water softners feel good to the skin and use less soap than regular but i wouldn't drink it. usually bring down the PH in the water closer or to an acid PH which is not good! alkaline is a better PH. beware of adding additional "hidden" sodium or potassium to heart or renal patients. Nancy is right on this one! my opinion

 

[hensylee]

I never thought of this. I use one of those pitchers with a filter. Maybe I better check it out. Try to be very careful with salt - and maybe all this time, have been adding without realizing. Thanks for bringing this up.

 

[epstns]

Something to check. . .

Something to check. . .

Hi gang!

I'm going to have to disagree (to a point) with the caution against water softeners. I used to work for one of the larger manufacturers of the devices, and we were constantly asked that question. The internal info was that since the salt in the softener is only used to wash and replenish the softener resin, then the resin bed is thoroughly rinsed before returning it to service, the amount of sodium introduced to the water is nearly immeasurable. This does, however, assume that the softener is properly adjusted and works correctly to fully rinse the salt out of the resin. I use a softener even on Chicago city water, and wouldn't give it up for the world!

Hensylee, as far as your pitcher filter goes, not to worry. The only active agent in the pitcher or faucet-mounted filters is activated charcoal. In the trade, these filters are called "taste and odor filters" as they do just that -- remove unpleasant tastes and odors from tap water. They do not chemically alter the water.

If you want additional technical info about water and water softeners/filters, do a web search for the Water Quality Association. This is a non-commercial trade association headquartered in suburban Chicago that has all the research.

Hope all this helps. See Ya!

 

[hensylee]

Thanks, Steve - was waiting for information from somebody. I live in an area where rust is rampant - have to use rust removers all the time. My water is from a well. A pitcher seemed to be a good answer and it does make the water nice and clear and tasteful. Thanks

 

[Ross]

I know when I got my Greensand filter and softener, I was told that the sodium content would be less then a slice of bread if any.

My water is so full of sulfer that I could and should start mining the junk and selling it. It's horrible.

 

[hensylee]

Ross, mid-Fl has lots of sulphur. we had a filter system to filter it out - rotten egg smell - ugh. Would turn gold jewelry a funny brownish color. There is a roadside faucet outside of Orlando where people actually go with their jugs to get that stuff. For the minerals and sulphur. Nasty, to me.

 

[Nancy]

Check out the sodium content of a slice of bread. The bread we get in the market is 9 percent per slice and I've seen it higher, even 12 percent! That's a lot. For people on a sodium restricted diet, 2 slices, if you have toast for breakfast, then a sandwich for lunch, you have already used 36 % of a normal person's sodium intake per day. That is significant for a lot of heart patient's diets.
A couple of glasses of milk (which contain a lot of sodium, 5 percent per 8 ounce glass), and you've just about done it for your grand total of low sodium per day. If you are adding hidden sodium in water, then you're going to be over the top.

Of course, not everyone is on a sodium restricted diet.

It's all been a real eye opener for me. Joe was eating a lot of hidden sodium. He loves milk. Now he can't drink as much milk. I've had to make home baked bread w/o salt in it.

So read all your labels, if you're restricted. It could make the difference between edema or not.

 

[Guest]

How about 1 piece of fried chicken having the whole day's allowance?