If your local drinking water is unsafe, or if you have concerns about well or rural water, buying bottled water can be a great way to stay healthy while keeping hydrated. What should you do if you have specific sodium limits? Are there bottled water brands that are uniquely low in sodium?
Ice Mountain, Evian Spring Water, and Poland Spring water all contain less than 10 mg of sodium per liter and would be suitable for those who are on a low-sodium diet. However, this may not be reflected in labeling, and one should also consider buying and eating habits and overall diet when seeking to reduce sodium intake.
Keep reading to learn more about low-sodium bottled water options, how to find the safest bottled water brand for you, and how to best shop for bottled water.
Check out my article on the 9 types of bottled water.
Is Bottled Water Low in Sodium?
You may be on a low-sodium diet due to high blood pressure concerns, as part of a weight-loss plan, or because of intolerance towards sodium. You’re hunting for the safest bottled water for you to enjoy, as your local drinking water is either unsafe or contains high levels of sodium. So how can you determine which bottled water brands are lowest in sodium?
Understanding which bottled water brands contain the least amount of sodium can be tricky. When you read bottled water’s nutrition information, most of them declare that the bottle of water contains 0.0 mg of sodium. This is because quantities of certain minerals that fall below certain amounts don’t need to be legally included on a food label in the United States.
Realistically, a liter of bottled water can contain anywhere from 4 to 10 mg of sodium, but this won’t generally be reflected in sodium amounts on your 16 oz bottled water’s labeling. So how can you know which brands contain the smallest quantities of sodium overall?
Which Bottled Water Brand is the Lowest in Sodium?
The following chart can help you break down which brands of bottled water are lowest in sodium per liter and per average 16 oz bottle.
| Brand | Sodium Concentration (mg/liter) | Sodium Concentration (mg/16 oz bottle) |
| Ice Mountain Spring Water | 5.8 mg/liter | 2.7 mg |
| Evian Spring Water | 7.0 mg/liter | 3.3 mg |
| Poland Spring Water | 9.1 mg/liter | 4.3 mg |
| Nestle Pure Life | 9.5 – 10 mg/liter | 4.5 – 5.0 mg |
As you can see, all of these brands contain more than 1.0 mg of sodium per bottle on average, yet this is not usually reflected in the labeling. Being an aware consumer means realizing that not all minerals are transparently labeled and that steps should still be taken to ensure your packaged food and water are safe.
Ice Mountain, with 5.8 mg of sodium per liter on average, is the lowest sodium bottled water widely available. It’s also affordable, widely available, and a great choice for those seeking to drink safe, clean water while watching their sodium intake.
While it’s good to know which brands contain the least amount of salt, how does this mineral mind its way into bottled water, anyway? Isn’t bottled water supposed to be pure and clean?
Watch this video to learn more about drinking water.
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Brands of Bottled Water Low in Potassium
15 Best BPA-Free Water Bottle Brands for a Healthy Lifestyle
14 Bottled Water Brands That Use Reverse Osmosis
Why Does Bottled Water Contain Sodium?
Sodium can occur naturally in spring water, as minerals are gathered from rocks and the earth and find their way into natural water sources. Sodium is also used in the commercial water filtration process, and trace amounts of sodium can find their way into bottled water this way.
Other companies use small amounts of sodium in bottled water to give it a more natural, mineral-rich flavor. This can make water taste great, but it can be problematic if you’re trying to watch sodium intake and can’t safely consume local water.
If your drinking water contains fewer than 150 mg of sodium per liter, you likely won’t notice a salty taste, but even small quantities of sodium can be problematic for those on low-sodium diets. Happily, there are other ways to help limit sodium intake, and many of them are simple and can even save you money.
Are There Other Ways to Help Reduce Sodium Intake?
If you’re on a low-sodium diet, there are multiple ways to lower the amount of salt you’re consuming. While nutrition labels can be slightly confusing for bottled water, they’re more helpful when relaying information about solid food.
Avoid fast food at all costs, as this category of dining tends to be very heavy on salt. Find low-sodium options of your favorite food brands, cook more food at home to control sodium quantities, and use spices to help make meals more interesting without piling on salt. A little allspice, garlic, and onion for flavoring can do wonders for a bland meal without hurting your health.
Cooking your food with low-sodium water can also help keep blood pressure down, and Ice Mountain is safe to cook with as well. Boil, steam, and poach your food in Ice Mountain or other low-sodium bottled water options for a healthy meal that doesn’t require using local tap or well water.
Conclusion
Ice Mountain, Poland Spring, and Evian Spring Water are bottled water options that contain less than 10 mg of sodium per liter. These options are ideal if your local drinking water is unsafe or contains too much salt. While most bottled water claims that it is sodium-free on the nutrition information label, bottled water typically contains trace amounts of sodium.
Ice Mountain, with 5.8 mg of sodium per liter or 2.7 mg per 16 oz bottle, is the closest to being sodium-free and is the best option for those with high blood pressure or those looking to avoid salt.
Other ways to help limit sodium intake include avoiding fast food, cooking more meals at home, and finding low-sodium versions of your favorite food items in the store. Spices and other ingredients like garlic and onion can help add flavor while keeping food safe for the sodium-sensitive.
