Some mineral waters are rich in magnesium. The "magnesium water" caption on the label is strictly regulated. For instance, the French regulations, aligned with European legislation, require a minimal magnesium content of 50 mg/Litre. Some magnesium waters' content is above 100 mg/L. This is a very interesting intake in terms of quantity.

1. How can we cover at least 25 % of my daily requirement of magnesium, without absorbing any calories?

You just have to choose a magnesium-rich mineral water. Indeed, if it contains around 110 mg of magnesium per litre, you can drink one litre of this water everyday to cover at least 25 % of your daily requirement of magnesium, which is established at 420 mg/day for men and 360 mg/day for women in France (1).

Based on consumption surveys in France (SU.VI.MAX (2)), it is estimated that 23 % of women and 18% of men consume less than 2/3 of their magnesium recommended dietary intake.  As a consequence, by choosing a magnesium-rich mineral water, it will contribute to meeting your daily needs.

2. Magnesium in mineral water is well-absorbed and used by the organism

For a healthy person, absorption of magnesium from natural mineral waters ranges from 47.5% to 59% (3). This rate can be compared to the rate of magnesium contained in food or even in some drugs (1, 3, 4).

Furthermore, it seems that magnesium in natural mineral water is better absorbed when  consumed with meals rather than between meals. During a double blind test on women, the percentage of magnesium absorbed in the intestinal mucosa was 45.7% when the natural mineral water was drunk between meals and 52.3% when drunk with a meal. (5)

To conclude, if you lack magnesium, pay attention to the water you choose and drink magnesium-rich water. Drink at least 1.5 litre/day of water, with and between meals. And remember to follow some other rules: eat enough fruits and vegetables, both  good magnesium sources.

References

1)       Martin A. In : « Apports Nutritionnels Conseillés pour la Population Française », p.1-605. Afssa, Cnrs, Cnerna, Ed Tec et Doc Lavoisier, 2001

2)       Galan P et al .Dietary magnesium intake in a french adult population. Magnesium Research 10 : 321-328

3)       Constant F, Hawili N. Les eaux embouteillées. Cahiers de nutrition et de diététique 2011 ; 46: 40-50.

4)       World Health Organization. Calcium and magnesium in drinking water. Public Health and significance 2009 ; 1-180

5)       Sabatier M et al. Meal effect on magnesium bioavailability from mineral water in healthy women. Am J Clin Nutr 2002 ; 75 :65-71

The city of Tel Aviv, in Israel, is once again going to hold the water technologies, renewable sources of energy and environmental control WATEC salon. WATEC will present the significant international success and future advances. Therefore, the 90 represented countries will be able to attend the few organised conferences, including challenges for Northern America and China. 

More information :

http://www.watec-israel.com/

The Vth Water Aqua Congress will be held in New Delhi, as usual since 2007. Organized by the NG

O Aqua Foundation, this Congress implements an exhibition village, in conjunction with various conferences. Among the different themes addressed: water & health, hydraulic infrastructure management, irrigation technologies and climatic change and its impact on water management.

In Peru, massive coca cultivation and illegal drug trade are swallowing up the Amazon rainforest. But in the north of the country, small cacao producers committed to a reforestation project prove that an alternative is possible.

In the San Martín region, northern Peru, deforestation reaches nearly 40%. Notably because of massive coca cultivation which makes this area a gold mine for cocaine dealers. But some little producers are choosing another path: agroforesty, combining reforestation and fair cacao cultivation.

For example, the Acopagro members. The Acopagro cooperative was launched in the late 1990’s with UN support. Back then, Peru was at war against coca. This was a drawn-out struggle since coca was 10 times more profitable than other crops.

Nowadays, Acopagro includes 1500 producers. Almost 1500 more have applied, looking for stable income that they hope will increase thanks to the reforestation program launched under the Pur Projet(*) impulsion. Founded in 2008, this action group, dedicated to the fight against global warming, plans to plant 2 million trees in the area within 3 years. Vittel, their biggest contributor, bought not less than 350 000 seedlings in 2010, and 150 000 only for the San Martin region, for 4 € each.

"We are proud to be the pioneers of reforestation" claims Chief of the little Santa Rosa village. But the motivation is also economical since they earn an average of 400 €/month besides the 0.40 € they receive for each seed planted. Thanks to these trees, farmers should double their cacao yield. This is the agroforestry principle: trees protect the crops from the sun during high heat periods, and hold water and minerals during torrential rain, increasing productivity.

And in ten or fifteen years, they’ll also be able to sell wood. Maria Del Pilar, agriculturist for Acopagro, pays regular visits to the planters to give them pieces of advice about trees. Moreover, an international certification company (SGS) will come every 5 years to count and measure the trees and evaluate the quantity of CO2 captured.

But the Acopagro cooperation wants to go further. Thanks to the French company Pur Projet, they just obtained –for 40 years– the management of 260 000 hectares of forest. "We wish to hire forest rangers, create a little ecotourism circuit, develop a botanical garden to promote our knowledge in medicinal species" explains specialist in biodiversity Neisser Bartra Ramirez. She hopes to combine the ecological and economical expansion in the region.

*For more information, visit www.purprojet.com (in French)