how bad is tap water?

According to Andrew Huberman, the picture regarding tap water and its contents can indeed be concerning. Research and conversations with experts suggest that tap water often contains compounds that are adverse for cellular biology. However, Andrew Huberman also assures that with simple and inexpensive steps, one can adjust tap water to make it safe and healthy to drink.

One specific issue brought to light is the presence of fluoride in tap water and its effect on the thyroid system. Even standard concentrations, such as 0.5 milligrams per liter, have been shown to disrupt thyroid function.

Andrew Huberman recommends that everyone ideally should filter their drinking water to remove compounds such as fluoride, and he points to a variety of home water filters that are effective and affordable.

For detailed information, you may refer to the specific episodes and discussions on the Huberman Lab podcast.

Andrew Huberman provides several recommendations for home water filters based on various budgets during the Huberman Lab podcast. Here are a few options he discussed:

1. Brita-type filters: These are carbon filters that are effective for filtering out most disinfection byproducts but are not sufficient for fluoride removal.

2. Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher with Affinity Filtration: This pitcher is capable of adequately removing fluoride, lead, BPAs, glyphosates, hormones, and some other harmful substances from most tap water.

3. Whole house water filters: These are more expensive and installed in a garage or laundry room. They can deliver purified water throughout the house but might cost $2,000 or more.

4. Berkey filter systems: These are countertop units that do not typically require plugging in and can remove contaminants at higher volumes, costing between $200 and $500.

5. Zero-cost method: If you have no budget for a filter, a zero-cost option is to let tap water sit in an open container, allowing some contaminants to evaporate and sediment to settle, then consume the water from the top two-thirds of the container.

For specific product recommendations and further discussion on water filters, please refer to the specific clips from the Huberman Lab podcast: