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1. How much of the calcium in Alps₂O is natural, and how much is added?
2. How much of the calcium and magnesium can my body absorb from Alps₂O?
3. I heard that some types of calcium are less good than others. What type of calcium is the one in Alps₂O?
4. Is Alps₂O organic?
5. Milk also contains lot of minerals. How does Alps₂O compare to milk?
6. Mineral supplements also contain lot of minerals. How does Alps₂O compare to mineral supplements?
7. Some vegetables also contain lot of minerals. How does Alps₂O compare to these vegetables?
8. Is it possible to get an overdose of Alps₂O?
9. Can I use Alps₂O to prepare tea?
10. How much Alps₂O should I drink per day?
11. If I drink less than one liter of Alps₂O per day, it it still effective?
12. What are the side effects of Alps₂O?
13. Is it possible to get an overdose of Alps₂O?
14. Are there any conditions, where you do not recommend to drink Alps₂O?
 

1. How much of the calcium in Alps₂O is natural, and how much is added?
All is natural. Alps₂O is bottled exactly as it comes out of its source. We do not add anything. The water is not brewed or anything like that. Alps₂O is perfectly natural.
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2. How much of the calcium can my body absorb from Alps₂O?
See below.
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3. I heard that some types of calcium are less good than others. What type of calcium is the one in Alps₂O -- calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, calcium gluconate, etc. -- and is it a good one?
Calcium can only be absorbed by the body in the form of calcium ions (calcium atoms that lack one electron: Ca^-). Unfortunately, calcium in solid foods (like bread or in mineral supplement pills) is only present as part of a molecule (compounds consisting of more than one atom). These molecules contain one calcium atom along with other atoms. There are various molecules containing calcium, the most known are calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or calcium gluconate. Solid foods not only contain calcium as part of molecules, but solid foods contain a large number such and other molecules. Solid foods constitute large clots, such as a rice corn or a broccoli. When you eat solid foods containing calcium, your digestive system first tries to break down these clots into individual molecules. Then, molecules have to be broken down further, in order to get the calcium ion.

Unfortunately, the length of time between the moment you eat food and the moment it leaves your stomach is very short. The digestive system is in a rush to break down all solid food clots into molecules and the molecules into ions. Still, the time is too short for most molecules. This is the reason why most calcium in solid foods can never be absorbed by the digestive system. However, some molecules are easier to break down than others. For example, calcium gluconate can be broken down faster than calcium carbonate. Therefore, you are more likely to absorb the calcium fro calcium gluconate than from calcium carbonate.

Fortunately, all minerals contained in Alsp₂O are in the form of ions already. There are no molecules in Alps₂O -- no calcium carbonate, no calcium gluconate, no calcium phosphate. Just pure ions. This is because, Alps₂O is not solid, but liquid. In liquids (also in milk for example), calcium and magnesium are always present as ions. This means, the body can start absorbing the calcium and magnesium straight from the moment it enters the digestive system. No time is lost splitting up food clots and molecules. Therefore, your body can absorb more calcium from Alps₂O than from any molecule -- be it calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, calcium phosphate or any other compound.
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4. Is Alps₂O organic?
No. European and US legislation does not permit natural mineral waters to be described as organic. This is because the term "organic" can only be applied to foods which are affected by farming activity (f.e. direct cultivation). The legislation on organic foods regulate which cultivation methods and processes are permitted or forbidden to produce organic food. The notion of cultivation and processing is not applicable to natural mineral waters. Separate laws regulating natural mineral waters rule out any unnatural interference with natural mineral waters prior to bottling, meaning that farming standards must not have an influence on the characteristics of the water.

Therefore, there is no such thing as "organic water". What exists, however, are waters "drawn from organically certified land". This means that the land above the aquifer is cultivated using methods permitted by the legislation on organic foods. However, this does not affect the characteristics of the water. The law on natural mineral waters would disqualify any water from being a natural mineral water, if farming practices would show an effect on its characteristics.

Alps₂O comes from the heart of the Swiss Alps. A massive, 417 metres thick layer of rocks protects the aquifer. Hardly anything can be as untouched and as natural as Alps₂O.
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5. Milk also contains lot of minerals. How does Alps₂O compare to milk?
For many people, milk is not a suitable source of calcium for one of the following reasons:
- milk contains saturated fats, which negatively affect cholesterol levels, heart health and body weight
- milk contains lactose, to which many people are allergic
- milk contains sugar and other carbohydrates, which can negatively affect body weight

In addition, Alps₂O has been shown to be a more effective source of calcium than milk because:
+ unlike milk, Alps₂O does not contain proteins, which inhibit the absorption of calcium by the body
+ compared to milk, Alps₂O contains two and a half times more magnesium for every gram of calcium that it contains. This is important, because magnesium is essential for the absorption of calcium.

It must be noted that milk also contains vitamins, which are generally considered to be useful for most people. However, if you follow general dietary guidelines and include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, you are likely to get enough vitamins from fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a better source of vitamins than milk, because (although they contain carbs), they are free from fats.
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6. Mineral supplements also contain lot of minerals. How does Alps₂O compare to mineral supplements?
In Alps₂O, calcium is present in a dissolved form (as Ca++ ions). This is the only form of calcium that the body can absorb. In mineral supplement pills, calcium is present in a solid form. The body can only absorb the calcium from a pill, once the pill has been dissolved in the stomach. Unfortunately, this process takes time and there is the likelihood that the pill exits the digestive system before the body can fully dissolve and absorb it (see also above!).

In addition, mineral supplement pills are synthetic products and carry the risk of contamination. In 2003, British tennis champion Greg Rusedki was charged with doping after having eaten mineral pills that were contaminated with a banned substance.
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7. Some vegetables also contain lot of minerals. How does Alps₂O compare to these vegetables?
It is even harder for the body to absorb the calcium from vegetables than it is from mineral supplement pills. This is because vegetable fibre does not dissolve in the digestive system and, therefore, cannot release all of its calcium content. While one kilogram of spinach contains as much calcium as one litre of Alps₂O, only a small fraction of the calcium in the spinach is actually absorbable.
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8. Is it possible to get an overdose of Alps₂O?
No, that is not possible.
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9. Can I use Alps₂O to prepare tea?
Yes. The mineral composition of Alps₂O does not change if boiled.
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10. How much Alps₂O should I drink per day?
You should drink enough to quench your thirst. In order to make a significant contribution to your bone health, we recommend you to drink at least one bottle per day. This gives you 50% of the Daily Value (DV) in calcium.
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11. If I drink less than one liter of Alps₂O per day, it it still effective?
Yes. It is also effective if you drink less than one liter, but then you have to find other sources of minerals to provide your body with the amount of calcium that you need each day.
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12. What are the side effects of Alps₂O?
Alps₂O is a natural mineral water and has no side effects.
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13. Is it possible to get an overdose of Alps₂O?
No, that is not possible. Alps₂O is a natural mineral water, it is pure water with natural minerals.
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14. Are there any conditions, where you do not recommend to drink Alps₂O?
No. You can always drink Alps₂O.
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