According to Dr. John Sorenson, a leading authority on mineral metabolism, "Minerals in drinking water are more easily and better absorbed than minerals from food." Therefore, mineral water is a highly beneficial, healthy kind of water that can get needed minerals delivered faster and more efficiently into your bloodstream and body than eating foods or taking mineral supplements can.

One of the most commonly found minerals in mineral water is magnesium. Magnesium helps with coping with stress and fortifies the immune system.

Another common water mineral is chloride, which is needed for healthy digestion.

Still another one is iron. Iron allows the cells of the blood to more efficiently absorb oxygen, making them healthier.

Sulfates commonly found in mineral water make for a stronger skeletal system, including the strengthening of the teeth.

Mineral water also contains naturally occurring salts (from which the chloride comes). Unlike the almost nutritionally useless pre-cooked table salt, natural salts can contain a great abundance of different vital minerals, most prominently potassium, manganese, silica, chromium, lithium, and copper. Natural sea salts in fact 92 known minerals that the human body uses.

Many times, people buy bottled water and they believe that they are buying mineral water. But this just isn't so. While there are of course bottled mineral waters that are sold, if the label does not specify that you're buying "mineral water" then you're just buying (or, supposed to be buying) great tasting, clean, but mineral-free spring water.

The giant bottled water industry has grown rapidly as negative reports about tap water and humans' ever increasing mobility have abounded. However, many bottled waters that are labeled "spring water" have been proven to be fakes: they are filtered tap waters. And some critics allege that the plastic bottle leaches toxins into the water (whereas many mineral waters come in glass bottles).

While authentic spring water may contain trace elements of minerals, mineral water by definition contains not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. Only these waters are permitted to be labeled "mineral water".

Bottled water, therefore, not a sufficient definition for mineral water. Bottled water may be spring water (or just called "spring water"), sparkling water (treated water that has carbon dioxide in it), carbonated water (this has had extra carbon dioxide added; carbon dioxide is known to be able to help with digestion); flavored waters; additives water (these waters may have had all sorts of minerals, vitamins, sugars, etc. added into them but there were no high naturally occurring mineral contents before that); or distilled water (water with the salt removed).