You've heard it said time and again: don't drink the water in Mexico. But it's hot, and you're bound to get thirsty. So what will you drink? Don't worry: we've got the answers to these questions and any concerns you may have about drinking the water in Mexico.
Tap Water Safety
Your smart stay option in the city fringe. The new Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong is the smart choice for savvy business and leisure travelers, offering a relaxed affordable and hassle free stay every time. Located on the site of the former Joo Chiat police station in Singapore’s first heritage town and next to the I12 Katong mall at the East Coast-Joo Chiat road junction, Holiday Inn. Drop in ice bins are perfect for saving space in your kitchen or at your bar. Because they fit into a space in your counter or work table, they sit flush with your work surface and give you added storage space. Some bins are insulated with materials like rubber and foam to keep your ice frozen and cut down on condensation.
Many first-time travelers to Mexico and those who have never been at all have heard that they shouldn't drink the water. But not to worry: you won't have to drink beer or soft drinks during your whole trip, there's plenty of drinking water available everywhere in Mexico! You just need to avoid drinking tap water. Stick to bottled water to be sure the water you drink won't give you problems with your digestive system or a case of the dreaded 'Montezuma's revenge.'
Stick to Bottled Water
As a rule you should not drink tap water in Mexico. Generally, the water is purified at the source, but the distribution system may allow the water to be contaminated en route to the tap. Most Mexicans find the idea of drinking tap water somewhat repulsive: they buy water in five-gallon jugs called 'garrafones' which are delivered to their homes (and recycled). Do as Mexicans do, and stick to purified water. Some families may have water filters installed in their homes, but this is not the case for the majority of Mexican families.
Most hotels provide bottled water or large jugs of purified water for you to refill your bottle. Many resorts take this worry away from their guests by having their water purified on-site; if this is the case, there's usually a notice by the tap that the water is potable ('agua potable'). Some hotels may provide a bottle or two of water in your room and charge you for any other bottles you consume beyond that. Keep a lookout for a note to this effect, and if this is the case, you may be better off stopping at a corner store for water to avoid paying inflated prices for water at your resort or hotel.
Bottled water is readily available wherever you travel in Mexico and is generally very affordable. Order it in stores or restaurants by asking for 'agua pura,' or to specify that you want a bottle, you can ask for 'un bote de agua pura.' You'll find bottles of 500 ml, 1 liter, or 2 liters. There are various brands. Stick to local brands to be sure you won't be overcharged (imported water can be very expensive).
Ice Cube in Drinks
Ice is generally made from purified water; in hotels and restaurants that cater to tourists, you shouldn't encounter any issues with the ice or water. Purchasing drinks from market stands and food stalls may be riskier. Ice that is in the form of a cylinder with a hole in the center is purchased from a purified ice factory and you can feel safe consuming it.
Brushing Your Teeth
Residents in Mexico may brush their teeth with tap water but they'll rinse and spit, being careful to not swallow. As a tourist, you may be better off taking the precaution of using bottled water to brush your teeth, and do try to remember to keep your mouth shut when you shower.
You should also practice some safety measures when choosing foods and drinks in Mexico so that your digestive system doesn't act up during your trip.
When summer arrives, sometimes all you want to do is feel cool any way you can. One of these ways is to consume an ice-cold drink. But is it bad to put ice in your drinks?
If there are no more cans in the fridge or the freezer, then you may choose to put ice in your drink. Problem solved!
Did you know this isn’t a good idea? In this article, we tell you the reasons why you it could be bad to put ice in your drinks.
Dirty ice means a contaminated drink
There have been several studies to determine whether ice cubes, which are very popular in summer, are good for your health.
The results were chilling: in most fast food establishments and trendy cafés, the water used to make ice was filled with bacteria. Surprisingly, the amounts were similar to those found in the restrooms of the same establishments.
Are we comparing toilet water to the ice in drinks served at a chain of restaurants? Yes. And the worst of all is that toilets are cleaned more often than the ice machines.
The heads of these multinational chains have suggested that the possible discovery of this bacteria is due to human contamination.
That is, those who use the machines and the cubes are the same employees who also clean the restrooms. These employees are also in contact with the money and clean the floor, but don’t wash their hands.
Laboratory tests didn’t show any serious contamination in the beverages of these establishments. However, the truth is that the levels of bacteria were higher than what is considered “normal”.
Note that the problem is not the water that the ice is made with, which, in all the cases studied was drinkable. Instead, it’s the existence of bacteria in the machine or the hands of those who serve the drinks.
Perhaps bacteria entering the body through soft drinks isn’t a problem for a healthy person. However, it may be an issue for certain groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
You should be especially wary of ice during trips to countries or cities where the water may not be safe to drink.
Exotic destinations in Africa, Asia, and South America often lack proper sanitation. Hence, the water may possibly come from polluted rivers, lakes, streams, or reservoirs.
In this particular case, we recommend that you don’t consume ice cubes at all. It’s better to consume a warm drink than spend several days locked up in your hotel because you have diarrhea, stomach cramps, or vomiting. And this is the best -ase scenario.
Is it still bad to put ice in my drinks if I prepare the ice?
If a scientific study says that restaurants and cafeterias don’t have the best sanitation practices, we might not even be surprised. But what if we don’t eat at those places? Instead, we may put ice in our glass that comes from our own freezer.
Surely it wouldn’t be as big of a deal, right?
It’s almost the same as in a food establishment. When you put the water into the cube maker: did you wash your hands? And were your hands clean when you put the cubes in the glass? Believe it or not, the situation is quite similar.
And that’s not all. If you haven’t cleaned the ice dispenser in the refrigerator or the ice cube tray, it’s likely that mold has grown in them. This will then go straight into your drink and end up your body.
It’s important to make sure the ice cube trayis clean, just like your hands, before pouring the water into it. Wash your hands to avoid transferring any germs or bacteria when preparing ice cubes and before serving them.
If you meet all the hygiene requirements when preparing and placing ice cubes in your glass, there’s less of a chance of introducing microorganisms that are harmful to your health.
However, there’s still something else worth considering when it comes to rethinking your consumption of drinks that are too cold: irritation in the throat and vocal cords.
If the first thing you do is drink soda, juice, or a glass of cold water (whether from the fridge or with ice cubes) when you get home feeling very hot, you can later suffer from a sore throat or even dysphonia. Thus you might consider whether it’s bad to put ice in these drinks in your own situation.
You Might Also Be Interested in:
Cold drinks versus hot drinks: the winner?
Something really interesting about putting ice in your drink is that this involves the intake of cold liquids. These will end up in your stomach.
It has been confirmed that the consumption of water with ice or water that’s almost frozen during the meals produces indigestion. That’s why some East Asians consume warm green tea instead of cold juice or soda.
Also Read: 5 Homemade Remedies for Indigestion
The blood vessels contract when you consume cold liquids. It could make it bad to put ice in your drinks when you eat. This increases the production of mucus in the body and this stops proper hydration. This is another point against the use of ice cubes in your drinks.
Instead, by drinking warm liquids like tea, the intestines move better and digestion does its job faster.
Lastly, you must know that consuming something warm or hot when you eat helps your body better digest the fats you are ingesting. This prevents them from solidifying on the walls of the stomach.
We advise drinking tea when the menu includes foods with fats, such as oils, nuts, meat, egg yolk, or butter.