The Mineral-Calculator

How many minerals are in your mineral water? It's time to compare.

Source: http://www.mineral-calculator.com/mineralwasser-faq-gerolsteiner-mineralienrechner/
The Mineral-Calculator
How many minerals are in your mineral water? It's time to compare.

Water-FAQ

 1. Why does Gerolsteiner Sparkling contain more minerals than Gerolsteiner Naturell?

Gerolsteiner takes its mineral water from various sources in the depths of the Volcanic Eifel. Gerolsteiner Naturell stems from another source that is less carbonated and less mineralized than those that provide Gerolsteiner Sparkling. It is the natural carbonic acid that allows the water to absorb the valuable minerals and trace elements from the rock. That is also the reason why most non-carbonated mineral waters are lower in minerals than mineral waters containing natural carbonic acid.   

 2. The values of my mineral water brand don't fully comply with the values on the bottle label. What could be the reason?

The values on the mineral calculator are rounded. If the label of a mineral water should for instance show a calcium content of 45.8 mg/l, we will round it up to a calcium content of 46 mg/l. Should there be a more major discrepancy in the values please contact our Consumer service. We will then recheck the values and correct them if necessary. Note to our U.S. Consumers: Mineral amounts declared on Gerolsteiner's U.S. product labels also differ slightly from the amounts presented due to rounding, which is required by FDA labeling regulations.

 3. What amount does the information in the mineral calculator apply to?

The information in the mineral calculator refers to the amount of minerals contained in one liter of mineral water. This amount is measured in mg per liter. Gerolsteiner Sparkling for instance contains 348 mg of Calcium per liter. (Gerolsteiner Sprudel contains 87 mg/8 FL OZ.)

 4. The water brand of my choice is not available for comparison.

We always aim to keep the mineral calculator current. Should you nevertheless not find your mineral water brand in the mineral calculator feel free to contact our Consumer service.

 5. Why is it important for mineral water to have a high mineral content?

Minerals are essential nutrients for all humans. They need to be ingested through food, since the human body is not capable of producing them on its own. Due to an unbalanced diet and industrially processed foods people however sometimes fail to ingest the recommended daily amount.  Drinking mineral water is a natural option to cover part of one's mineral requirements.  Since the minerals in mineral water are already in solute form they can be absorbed and utilized easily by the body.  By drinking a liter of Gerolsteiner mineral water you cover more than a third (Calcium) and more than a quarter (Magnesium) of the recommended daily amount of these important minerals. Gerolsteiner additionally contains Hydrogen Carbonate. It ensures a pleasantly neutral and natural flavor.

 6. Are tap water and purified water not just as good as mineral water? 

Tap water is subject to very strict controls, as is mineral water. And that is a good thing. Nevertheless tap water is fundamentally different from mineral water. Contrary to mineral water, tap water may for instance come from a variety of different water sources, such as ground water, surface water and spring water. It may also be treated in water treatment plants using certain chemicals.  This is not true for mineral water. Mineral water is a pure product of nature that stems from subterranean sources that are protected from pollution. It must be bottled at the source. It may not be subjected to any kind of chemical treatment. This is stipulated in the mineral and table water ordinance. Purified Water does not need to be of natural origin. It can be made from a variety of sources such as tap water, salt water, mineral water or a mixture of these. As purified water is not bound to a particular spring, it can be produced and bottled anywhere and offered in unbottled form, such as on tap. Unlike mineral water, it does not need any kind of official seal of approval. Of course it is up to each and everyone of us whether we drink tap water or mineral water. But there are several arguments in favor of mineral water.

 7. Do Gerolsteiner PET bottles contain plasticizers?

We can put your mind at ease in regards to plasticizers. There are no plasticizers in the bottles used by Gerolsteiner. We can state this with absolute certainty. Gerolsteiner stands by this in its safety declaration, which can be downloaded in the Customer service section. Our quality demands regarding our plastic bottles are extremely high. Plastic does not equal plastic. We don't use just any plastic for our bottles, but high grade PET. Based on our long years of experience with the material PET, and with the help of the most modern production methods, we have developed a PET bottle that has no detrimental effect on taste or smell and meets our high quality requirements. The material has many qualities: It is strong, provides excellent dimensional stability and its wear characteristics are good. Our demands in regards to the suppliers who provide the materials for bottle production are also extremely high: Gerolsteiner is one of the few companies that explicitly specifies what materials may be used by suppliers – and especially which ones may not be used. 

 8. How important are calcium and magnesium, minerals contained in Gerolsteiner mineral water? 

Minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium are important to the organism. Your body cannot produce these mineral nutrients on its own, which is why it is necessary to obtain them from our food and beverages. To get its provision of minerals, the human body is therefore reliant on a diet rich in minerals. Mineral water with a high mineral content, such as Gerolsteiner can make a valuable contribution to a healthy diet as a natural source of minerals. Calcium is quantitatively the most important mineral in the human body: 99 percent of calcium (approx. 1kg) is stored in the skeleton. For the most part, magnesium can also be found in your skeleton as well as in your muscles and between your cells. All of that makes calcium and magnesium important minerals, especially for highly active people and athletes.
Calcium requirements are age-dependent. The more intense the growth stage of the bone structure is, the higher the daily amount required. It is especially children that require calcium for the healthy development of their bones. The daily requirement of an adult is approximately 800 mg. Gerolsteiner Sparkling contains 348 mg/l. According to the FDA, the recommended daily amount for an adult is 1000 mg per day in the USA. Gerolsteiner contains 348 mg/l. That is 35% of the daily requirement. The daily requirement of magnesium for adults is 375 mg (FDA USA: 400 mg/day). In general men have slightly higher requirements than women since they tend to have more muscle and bone mass. Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water contains by nature 108 mg of magnesium per liter and can thus supply the body with this valuable mineral on a daily basis. That is one quarter of the daily magnesium requirement. Mineral Water contains mineral nutrients like magnesium and calcium in a dissolved form - this increases its bioavailability, enabling our bodies to absorb and use this vital nutrient more readily.

 9. The carbonic acid escapes very quickly from my Gerolsteiner Sparkling after I open the bottle. Is that normal?

As a rule the carbonic acid content of our products is consistent in every type of bottle and bottle size, and will not escape especially quickly under normal circumstances. The common hiss-effect when opening the bottle is the sound of the carbon dioxide escaping from the empty space in the bottle. Carbon dioxide starts gathering in this space again when the bottle is closed. The carbonic acid content in the liquid thus naturally decreases steadily. It is recommended to quickly close the bottle after drinking. The water thus maintains its fresh flavor.

 10. There is always some white residue in my glasses. Where does it come from? This is not the case with other beverages.

Gerolsteiner mineral water is rich in minerals and trace elements that are not usually visible since they are in soluble form in the water due to its carbonation. After pouring Gerolsteiner into a glass or some other open container and leaving it to stand over a longer period of time, the carbonic acid dwindles. The minerals become visible due to this loss of carbonation, or because of the evaporation of the mineral water – they separate. It is thus our recommendation to pour mineral water into the glass directly prior to consumption rather than letting it sit around for any longer period of time.  In general the quality of the water is not influenced by this residue, since it is absolutely natural and harmless. Health-wise the separation of the minerals is completely safe. 

 11. What differences exist between waters?

Natural mineral water: It stems from subterranean water resources that are protected from pollution. It is of natural purity and distinguishes itself by its natural content of minerals and trance elements. The level of mineralization of natural mineral water must remain consistent within certain parameters that allow for natural fluctuations. None of its fundamental elements may be changed. Mineral water must be bottled at the source. It is the only German foodstuff that requires official approval.  Table water: It need not be of natural origin and consists of an artificial mixture of tap water and other ingredients such as salt water or mineral water. Since table water is not bound to a certain source it may be produced and bottled anywhere. It may also be offered in “bulk”, that is through water dispenser systems. Contrary to mineral water it requires no official seal of approval.  Tap water: Contrary to mineral water, tap water is not a natural untreated product. In Germany it consists of 2/3 ground water and approximately 1/3 surface water (rivers, lakes, water reservoirs). In order to comply with hygiene standards and general quality specifications for drinking water, tap water first needs to be treated and purified. A number of processes and chemical agents are permitted for this purpose. Spring water: It is also obtained from underground water springs and is bottled directly at the spring. However, its mineral content does not need to be consistent, nor does it require an official seal of approval. Just like water from your tap, spring water must have no odor, an acceptable taste and low microbiological contamination. Natural health water: Contrary to mineral water, natural health water is subject to pharmaceutical law and requires official approval by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. It needs to prove that it has alleviating or healing properties due to its natural mineral composition. It all other aspects it is subject to the same criteria that mineral water is subject to.  Purified Water: Purified Water does not need to be of natural origin. It can be made from a variety of sources such as tap water, salt water, mineral water or a mixture of these. As purified water is not bound to a particular spring, it can be produced and bottled anywhere and offered in unbottled form, such as on tap. Unlike mineral water, it does not need any kind of official seal of approval.

 12. How does Gerolsteiner calculate my mineral RDI (Reference Daily Intakes)?

The percentage specifies how much of the daily recommended intake for that particular mineral is covered by drinking one liter (approximately four 8 fluid ounce glasses) of the water in question. This is how we calculate your mineral RDI.  In the mineral calculator there are two calculations of the percent of recommended daily values for each mineral. Our calculations are based on FDA (USA)-recognized RDI values as well as on the recommendations of the European Union and the DGE (German Society for Nutrition).