Regulation of Water Traffic

There are a wide range of waters offered to consumers from table and spring water to natural mineral water. In our country, there are standards, guidelines and regulations that determine how natural mineral water, spring water and table water are supplied and how they are treated, bottled and labeled.

Natural mineral water must meet many strictly regulated requirements. It must come from an underground water source protected from environmental contaminants and pollution. Only officially recognized and tested waters can bear the name of "natural mineral water". In order to maintain its approved purity, mineral water is bottled directly for consumer use at its source.

As the name suggests, mineral water not only provides hydration to the body, but also provides minerals, which are essential nutrients for the body. Our body cannot produce these necessary minerals and therefore we need to take them every day through food and drink. Natural mineral water should be in its original and pure state as it comes from the soil when it is filled into the bottle. It may not contain any chemicals, additional minerals or other types of water. The purity and originality of each mineral water is checked by regular inspections.

How to Bottle Water from the Rain?

For hundreds of years, natural rains penetrate the upper layers of the soil. From there, it infiltrates steadily and constantly through different subsoil and rock layers until it finally reaches the deepest point of its journey. Different layers of rock filter and purify water naturally. At the same time, it is enriched with minerals and carbonic acid. It is collected in natural underground aquifers (permeable layers carrying groundwater), which are permeable geological units that are protected from external influences, can store economically significant amounts of water and carry it fast enough.

In order to find natural mineral water, it is necessary to go very deep into the earth's crust. There are a limited number of resources worldwide. Kızılay mineral water comes from sources up to 250 meters deep.

How is Kızılay Mineral Water produced?

Mineral water is one of nature's rare wonders. Kızılay mineral water owes its special characteristics to the geological origins of the regions. In the Gerolstein synclinal, it comes into contact with dolomite, a limestone containing carbonic acid, calcium and magnesium of regional origin underground. It is a carbonic acid that allows water to dissolve and absorb precious minerals from the rock. For this reason, Kızılay Mineral Water is highly mineralized naturally, especially containing calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. The balanced nature of all minerals in the Kızılay is conveyed to consumers from the source by giving them a clean and refreshing natural taste that separates them in other mineral waters. Kızılay Mineral Water is bottled directly at its source to maintain its natural quality; that is, it is pure and authentic from its origin.

Quality Matters Above All

Kızılay mineral water is a natural miracle. It is necessary to examine the mineral structure of the Kızılay mineral water to see how special it is of a unique high quality, with natural balanced mineralization, especially calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, giving it a pleasant, refreshing and clean taste.

When the mineral water formed in the depths of the soil is bottled, it is delivered to those who will consume it as fresh and unspoiled as when it was collected from the underground depths, leaving everything unchanged in its natural state. In order to guarantee this, each production stage from the source to the filling of the bottles is monitored by qualified personnel and with the help of the latest technology. Chemical analysis and microbiological research are carried out as part of product control. Natural mineral waters are among the most strictly controlled foodstuffs according to the Turkish Food Legislation and the Regulation on Natural Mineral Waters. The authenticity of the Kızılay mineral water is under constant control both by chemical analysis and microbiological research and by the legal framework for foodstuffs.

Does it taste good?

Whether something is good for us depends on many different factors. First, the taste buds of the tongue classify foods according to their taste. Secondly, aromas taken by the nose play a very important role. Mineral waters also differ in taste according to the composition of their natural contents. They may be very delicate, but they can also be very specific. Mineral water containing less minerals may taste sour because carbonic acid dominates the taste. Each mineral has its own unique taste. For example, if the water contains too much sulfate, it usually has a slightly bitter taste. Sodium combined with chloride gives the mineral water a salty taste. Therefore, it is not only the amount of mineralization that is important, but also the nature and balance of the components.

How Do Minerals Work?

Minerals, like vitamins, are inorganic substances that should be part of a daily diet. Minerals serve many functions in the body's complex metabolic processes, including strengthening and protecting the skeleton and teeth, functioning of the nervous system, and maintaining the body's water balance. Minerals are also important components of hormones and enzymes. In short, minerals are vital for the proper functioning of the body and mind. Kızılay mineral water is distinguished by its natural calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate content.

Sodium (Na): Sodium plays an important role in maintaining the water and acid-base balance in our body. Sodium is not only key to stabilizing our acid-base balance, it is also an important component of our digestive waters. In addition, sodium is vital for the protection of nerve cells. The amount of sodium required to be taken daily is 375 mg.

Potassium (K): Potassium, together with sodium, plays an important role in the body's water and acid-base balance. Potassium regulates the balance of fluids in our body, stabilizes the acid-base balance and activates various enzymes. Potassium is especially important for the stimulation production and transmission of the heart. The amount of potassium required to be taken daily is 2,000-3,000 mg.

Calcium (Ca): Calcium is the most important mineral in bone matter and tooth enamel. 99% of calcium is stored in our skeleton. The remaining calcium helps stabilize and regulate our body's blood clotting, muscle contractions, and heart activity. The amount of calcium to be taken daily is 800 mg.

Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is largely found in our skeleton and muscles, as well as in other somatic cells. Magnesium is involved in numerous metabolic processes, especially protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The amount of magnesium required to be taken daily is 375 mg.

Bicarbonate (HCO₃): Hydrogen carbonate regulates the pH value of the blood and is important for muscle cells. Bicarbonate, also known as hydrogen carbonate, is responsible for maintaining the acid-base balance in our body, that is, the pH value. It is a base or alkaline, so it is an important “competitor” of acids. Bicarbonate works as an acid buffer. The body produces bicarbonate during metabolism, but it is generally not enough to regulate the acid-base balance that the body needs to function efficiently. Bicarbonate is a natural component of all mineral waters. Mineral waters obtained from regions rich in limestone typically have high bicarbonate content. Bicarbonate plays a vital role in the buffering of acids and ensures that mineral water has a pleasant clean and refreshing taste.

Importance of Minerals

Minerals are the basic daily nutrients that the body needs. However, the body itself cannot produce them. For this reason, calcium, magnesium and other minerals should be taken from food and beverages. Why are minerals so important, exactly? What is the daily requirement? And why can the body absorb and use minerals in mineral water so well?

Minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium are important for the organism. The body cannot produce these nutrients. Therefore, the human body is dependent on a diet rich in minerals to provide minerals. Mineral water with high mineral content such as Kızılay can make a valuable contribution to healthy nutrition as a natural mineral source.

Whether at work or after sports, or just occasionally, Kızılay mineral water is an excellent companion in daily life. It quenches thirst and also provides the body with valuable minerals and trace elements that the body cannot produce itself. Only 1 liter of Afyon Kızılay mineral water provides 7% of daily calcium needs and Erzincan Kızılay mineral water provides 5.9%. In terms of magnesium, 1 liter of Afyon Kızılay mineral water provides 3.7% of daily need and Erzincan Kızılay mineral water provides 83.2%.

The unique mineral balance in the Kızılay provides its bioavailability. The minerals are already dissolved, so the body can absorb them quickly. The ratio of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, also provides maximum use.

Simply put, bioavailability is how much of the food is absorbed and presented to the body from the actual amount of nutrient consumed at a certain time. Although all nutrients pass from the digestive system to the bloodstream and then to the cells after ingestion, bioavailability depends on various factors. The bioavailability of calcium in mineral water is 84% and the bioavailability of magnesium is 92%. As a comparison, it can be stated that the bioavailability of calcium in a banana is only 38% and the bioavailability of magnesium is only 29%.

Kızılay Mineral Waters and Sodium

All the food we eat and drink contains sodium. One bottle (200 cc) of Afyon Kızılay mineral water provides 6.5% of daily sodium intake and Erzincan Kızılay mineral water provides 1%. These values are very, very low, especially if we consider our meals and processed foods, including fruits and vegetables, milk and meat.