Okay, so we need to talk about the rock in my water.
I’m weirdly super passionate about this product. This post isn’t sponsored, but I freaking love Kishu Charcoal
I keep a Kishu in my glass water bottle at all times, and I’m a yoga teacher—I cannot tell you the number of confused clients that have come up to me after I taught a class and asked what this odd “thing” is. I love it because then I get to tell them all about it. It’s why I don’t like using water bottles that aren’t clear.
Kishu is an activated charcoal water filter.
(A Kishu also happens to be an ADORABLE DOG but let’s not get distracted.)
You’ve probably heard of Brita filters (or use something similar), right? A Kishu charcoal filter is essentially the same thing, just without the plastic. Plastic is pretty much one of the most regrettable inventions ever; despite it being super practical for us humans, plastic destroys the environment and leaks chemicals. So the less of it, the better. And when you think about it, it’s kind of a pointless addition to water filters anyway.
Judith Bershof, the founder of Kishu Charcoal, thought about just that and wondered what was inside her own plastic filter that was doing all the filtering. She learned that it was activated charcoal, and that the Japanese have been using it for thousands of years (i.e. before plastic was around) to filter out their own water. So, she connected with a team of Japanese artisans. According to Kishu Charcoal’s website, this is how they create the sticks:
These artisans follow a centuries-old method: oak branches are sustainably harvested and then fired in handmade outdoor ovens; after many days of continuous, closely monitored carbonization to over 1000 degrees, the branches transform into a hard, glass-like material — activated charcoal.
Bye bye, Brita.
You might be wondering why you would even want a water filter. Filtering water really doesn’t have much to do with how the water tastes – although it does make it taste good, because it’s clean, so that’s a nice side effect.
Honestly, if you care about your health, filtered water is always preferable over tap water.
Tap water can have some nasty stuff in it.
First off, if you live in an area that has access to drinkable running water, you’re lucky – 1 in 10 humans do not even have access to safe water. But even though your water may be legally deemed safe to drink, it’s still possible for it to contain dangerous levels of toxins. The kind and amount will all depend on where you are, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but more than 60,000 chemicals are used within the United States, all of which can find their way into our drinking water supplies. And no one’s monitoring them.
In my opinion, we’re exposed to so many chemicals as it is, from the pollution in the air we breathe to the pesticides sprayed on our food that I figure it can only help to be safe rather than sorry, you know?
Kishu Charcoal filters out some of the most common toxins in water.
The charcoal sticks are 97% pure carbon, which absorbs or bonds with toxins, particularly metals, on a molecular level. Kishus have shown to be effective at reducing lead, mercury, copper, aluminum, uranium, molybdenum, and chloramines. These are all chemicals you want to avoid – I can go deeper into why in another post if you’re interested. Plus, the charcoal adds three good minerals into your water: calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Win, win!
Also, just to really drive home how cool Kishus are, check out this filtering magic I caught a while back when I was at Disneyland. The water that came out of the fountains there was straight NASTY. Like, murky white. But I wanted to see what would happen, so I put the Kishu in with it. Lo and behold, two Indiana Jones rounds later and the water was, like magic, totally clear.
BEFORE » AFTER
» Did I convince you yet? You can get Kishu charcoal on Amazon.
They even have a “pet-sized” stick that I keep in my dogs’ water bowl at all times! Dogs’ water quality actually has an impact on the health of their teeth, which are often neglected and can lead to organ damage. It’s important to change your pet’s water bowl daily and brush their teeth, and maybe use a Kishu.
I mean, my dogs are basically my kids. I want to keep them as healthy as possible.
» Song Vibes «
So what do you think? Wanna try out Kishu Charcoal? Do you use a water filter already? Let me know in the comments!
xo,
Amy
This post is not sponsored, but there are affiliate links throughout this post. I genuinely love these products and know you will, too. Thanks for supporting the blog!