Filtered shower heads are the newest trend in personal wellness and holistic therapy. People are becoming more educated and concerned about the water they are bathing and how it greatly impacts their health. While there is the obvious benefit of cleaner water (duh, the filter), there are some hidden benefits that may not be as well known. We'll cover the top five benefits of using a shower head filter that will put you in-the-know!
1. You Will Get Sick Less Often
Now, this one shouldn’t be a huge surprise if you read our post on How to Clean Your Shower Head. We laid out all the dirty (and I do mean dirty) details of the microorganisms and bacteria that lurk within your shower water. Shower filters help prevent some of those germs from getting through and, in turn, prevent you from coming down with the sniffles.
If you haven’t read our article about How to Clean Your Shower Head, read more about it here.
2. You Will Have Healthier Skin & Hair
This one comes down to what’s in the water. Public water goes through a thorough sanitation and treatment process before it enters your bathroom plumbing. One way that our cities make sure the water is disinfected is by adding chlorine or chloramine to the water. While chlorine is highly effective at killing bacteria, it is toxic to humans.
Even trace amounts of chlorine can have a profound effect on the body. Chlorine not only kills the bad bacteria that we don’t want around, but the good bacteria too. When it washes over your skin it destroys the Vitamin E and other fatty acids that keep your skin soft and smooth. This can lead to dry skin, itchy skin, rashes, and even acne!
The same thing happens to your hair. The chlorine in the water that you use to lather your locks, strips the natural oils that keep your tresses looking healthy. This can leave your hair dry and frizzy.
A filtered shower head neutralizes the chemicals and leaves you squeaky clean with all the moisture your skin and hair desperately needs.
3. You Will Feel Better
Beyond the physical effects that chlorine has on the body, it also affects the mind. Studies have found that chlorine exposure can cause fatigue, mental depression, and a lowered autoimmune function. Switching out your shower head for a filtered version will help you feel more fit and alert!
Furthermore, small levels of chlorine have been found to irritate the throat and lungs. The hot water of the shower turns the chlorine into a gaseous steam that is more easily inhaled. Again, with the simple addition of a filtered shower head to remove the chlorine, you can reduce that discomfort.
4. You Will Lower Your Cancer Risk
You read that right! When chlorine comes in contact with organic matter, it combines with other compounds to form Trihalomethanes (THMs), otherwise known as chlorination byproducts. THMs trigger the body to produce free radicals which cause cell damage and are considered highly carcinogenic. Carcinogenic = cancer causing.
The Environmental Defense Fund stated, “Although concentrations of these carcinogens (THMs) are low, it is precisely these low levels that cancer scientists believe are responsible for the majority of human cancers in the United States”. A study in Hartford Connecticut found that women with breast cancer were 50-60% more likely to have high levels of chlorination byproducts in their breast tissue than women without. Another study at Brown University found the link between chlorine levels and bladder cancer.
Switching to a filtered shower head may save your life!
5. You Will Look Younger
Remember those free radicals? Turns out they play a role in the way you look too! Free radicals damage the cells in your tissue resulting in wrinkles, lines, and dehydration - showing similar effects to extensive sun exposure.
Keep aging skin at bay by using a filtered shower head.
More Than Meets the Eye
Most people think that filtered shower heads merely filter out the minerals and other impurities out of your water. And while that is true, it is only the tip of the iceberg! Filtered shower heads grasp the microbes, bacteria, and even harmful chemicals like chlorine.
Using a filtered shower head can be good for your health, skin, hair, and even your lifespan.
Want some more information on what to look for when shopping for Filtered Shower Heads? Check out our article on the Different Types of Shower Heads and scroll to the bottom.