Water rip-off?

There's more to bottled water than H20. 'Aquaceuticals' are added-value waters which apparently do more than quench our thirst.

Contrex has been trumpeted as a slimming aid, Madonna is said to slurp 'living' Kabbalah Mountain Spring Water, which claims to have spiritual properties, and fans of Blue Water - which costs £11 a bottle - say it helps them sleep.

With the bottled mineral water market worth more than £1 billion a year and up to 250 brands to choose from, how can you tell which health claims to believe? Follow Good Health's guide and our 'glasses' rating, with a maximum of five.

Contrex

Price: 49p per litre Claim: 'Naturally rich in calcium and a source of magnesium.' Rating: 4/5

Despite the hype surrounding this brand of water, the claims on the pack are wishy washy. Contrex supplies 486mg of calcium per litre - the equivalent to two glasses of milk - so it could certainly help to build and maintain strong bones.

But this brand also claims to aid slimming. Some studies do suggest that women with intakes of more than 700mg of calcium a day lost more weight and kept it off more successfully than women with lower intakes. And calcium does play a complex role in how hormones affect the way in which the body releases fat from fat cells.

So a theoretical link between high intakes of this mineral and slimming is possible, but not proven.

Contrex also says it supplies the same amount of magnesium as a 70g bar of dark chocolate, which is cleverly exploiting the idea that women crave chocolate because their bodies need this mineral, and Contrex provides a calorie-free alternative.

Great for the body, but slimmers should not bulk buy!

Fiji Natural Mineral Water

Price: £1.25 per litre

Claim: None - but its unheralded benefit is that it supplies 85mg of silica per litre. Rating: 5/5

Sourced from the aquifers - the natural underground water sources - beneath the volcanic Pacific island of Fiji, this water boasts unusually high levels of the mineral silica, the dissolved form of silicon.

It is estimated that we have 5g to 10g of silicon naturally in our bodies, which is crucial for the production and maintenance of collagen and elastin, which keeps skin supple, stretchy and youthful.

Silica has also been linked to strong nail growth, and when used in a cream has been shown to cause dramatic hair re-growth in cancer patients.

Beer is the only other really good available source of silica. Studies in the UK and in America have consistently revealed how beer drinkers with good silica intakes have higher bone density - and thus stronger bones - than non-beer drinkers.

Fiji water is perfect for menopausal women who are worried about osteoporosis and dry skin.

Lakeland Willow Spring Water

Price: 65p per 500ml

Claim: 'The secret is its source contains Salicin naturally.' Rating: 3/5

The Lakeland spring in the Lake District where this spring water is sourced contains traces of salicin - the active ingredient also found in white willow bark, which is the chemical forerunner of aspirin.

Aspirin is recommended for helping to reduce the risk of blood clots, especially when flying, and is used to treat headaches.

White willow bark is used by herbalists to alleviate chronic pain, especially in the back and neck, and for menstrual cramps.

Maybe this explains this brand's link with Well Being, - the charity that researches health issues affecting women and babies - whose logo is carried on the label.

You'd be better off using it to help you swallow an aspirin than relying on it to cure a headache.

Aqua-Pura

Price: 45p per 500ml

Claim: 'Pura Mind, Pura Body, Mobile and Hydrating British Athletes.'

Rating: 2/5

Under the words 'Pura Performance' on the label, we are encouraged to drink this brand before, during and after exercise to keep our bodies hydrated, help us feel less tired and to maintain our best performance.

There is no question that drinking water at these times will have all of these effects, but tap water or any other mineral or spring water will achieve the same result.

There are no special minerals in Aqua-Pura - though its marketing, including its status as the official bottled water of the Great Britain Athletics Team, could make you think otherwise.

However, it does come in a convenient 500ml bottle with a spill-free drinking nozzle, so it's handy for the gym.

Maniva Still Natural Mineral Water

Price: 69p per 1.5 litres

Claim: '0.0002 per cent sodium.' Rating: 5/5

Sourced from the Italian Alps, Maniva's claim to fame is its particularly low sodium content, which it flags up on its label, stating it contains just '0.0002 per cent sodium'.

It's certainly a lower level than most other mineral waters, and is especially low compared to Badoit, with 0.2g per litre. The recommended upper intake for sodium is 2.5mg daily, although if you suffer from water retention then halving this to 1.25mg a day can help to release up to 1.5 litres of retained water and help relieve swollen ankles, as well as dropping 3lb on the scales.

Good for people on low salt diets and anyone trying to overcome bloating and water retention.

Danone Activ'

Price: 65p per 1.5 litres

Claim: 'Source of Calcium. 300mg of calcium per litre.'

Rating: 4/5

This bottled water has had calcium added, so one litre supplies as much of this bone-building mineral as half a pint of milk. This represents 37 per cent of the recommended daily allowance.

For people who avoid dairy products, it is a good source of calcium.

It could be a useful top-up source for teenage girls and young women who need to watch calcium intakes to ensure their bones reach maximum strength by the time they stop growing at 21.

Danone Activ' carries the National Osteoporosis 'Bone Friendly' logo, which means the charity feels it is a healthy, nutritionally sound way to improve intakes of this crucial mineral. However, this water is not a 'natural mineral' water.

Volvic

Price: 61p per 1.5 litres

Claim: 'Go.' Rating: 3/5

The catch-all claim of 'Go' on the front of the bottle is qualified on its label, which lets us know that it's the drink for us if we ever find ourselves running out of steam. Dehydration, the label rightly points out, leads to a decrease in performance.

It also mentions that running low on water compromises concentration levels. Research has found that mental agility declines significantly when the body is even mildly dehydrated.

This is especially a problem when driving - a link Volvic is keen to make, given the photo on the bottle of a girl at the wheel of a car glugging the product. It has been suggested there could be increased incidence of 'road rage' when the body's water levels drop.

This water also claims to fill you with 'volcanicity' - something you could probably do without if you're already all wound up by a traffic jam.

Volvic also supplies half the amount of the beautifying mineral silica compared to Fiji water. This aside, it is simply a straightforward, run-of-the-mill mineral water, and any water - including tap - would perform the same role.