Juan Carlos Novo, water consumption specialist: "Chlorine saves lives, but it destroys our gut flora."

Drinking tap water isn't deadly, but there are other options. This is what Juan Carlos Novo, water quality expert and founder of Alkanatur, tells us in the podcast Hace Sentido (It Makes Sense). He invites us to take a fresh look at the water we drink every day, whether it's tap, bottled, or filtered.

“Chlorine is a necessary evil,” he repeats repeatedly. And he has his reasons: it has saved millions of lives by preventing diseases like cholera and gastroenteritis. The problem comes later: its harmful effect on the intestinal microbiota, which he compares to that of an antibiotic.

“Every cell in our body lives in water, inside and out,” the Galician recalls. It was in Japan that he understood that the type of water you consume directly influences your health and longevity.

“ Lime water is not the enemy,” says Novo, who believes that demonizing calcium and magnesium is a mistake . “Then we look for them in supplements.” For him, systematically eliminating all minerals is a misguided strategy that does more harm than good.

During the interview, Novo conducts a live test with popular brands. Using pH reagents, he demonstrates that many of them are more acidic than we think. Water treated with specific filters reaches alkaline levels considered ideal for the body.

"We live oxidized and dehydrated," he says. His advice is clear: one liter of water for every 25 kilos of body weight. And he emphasizes that it's not enough to simply drink, but rather to choose a quality of water that preserves minerals and eliminates contaminants without upsetting the body's balance.

"We shouldn't be afraid, but rather informed." Novo warns against marketing that instills fear in order to sell products, preferring to focus on education. Water in Spain is drinkable , but it can be easily improved with accessible methods without side effects.

For those who want to start taking care of themselves, Novo sums it up with a simple message: don't wait for your health to deteriorate. Investing in quality water is one of the most direct ways to prevent disease and feel better every day.