SAPHIA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is it important for pregnant women to drink more water during pregnancy? Why should I drink the equivalent of at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water daily?

Water is an important player in pregnancy.  The fluid acts on the body’s transportation system, and carries nutrients through the blood to the baby.  Good hydration also aids in flushing out the system and diluting urine with water prevents urinary tract infections, which are common during in pregnancy. 

The primary reason to drink water during pregnancy is to keep the body hydrated.  Dehydration in pregnant women can be very serious, even causing the onset of contractions early or prematurely. Lack of water in the third trimester can also cause premature labor.  Premature labor is often stopped just by giving the mother enough hydrating fluids like water to re-hydrate her body.

During pregnancy, hormones change the way women store water during pregnancy - the body begins to retain water, and drinking plenty of water can combat that.  A great deal of that water is used in the amniotic sac.  Amniotic fluid alone needs to replenish itself every hour by using roughly a cup of water stored in the body.  Replacing that water will insure the unborn baby is protected within the womb.

Since the blood volume increases to nearly double by the eighth month of pregnancy, it is necessary to drink even more water to compensate.   Thicker blood during pregnancy can lead to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

Additional benefits of drinking water during pregnancy include reduced nausea, less constipation, healthier skin, less acne, and the washing away of unnecessary sodium.

What is the difference between drinking Saphia Water, and drinking water from the tap?

The makers of Saphia Water believe our products are a safe and affordable alternative to tap water that helps women avoid mercury, lead, and chlorination byproducts that can be harmful to mother, unborn child or nursing infant.

Saphia Water is also lightly flavored. Research tells us that women will be more likely to stay well hydrated if they have access to water that is lightly flavored.

Are Saphia Water's ingredients safe for me to drink as a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mom, or hopeful mom?

Yes, the makers of Saphia Water have gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of the overall product line and the individual portions of each ingredient. The product formulation has been vetted with an experienced team of medical professionals, beverage chemists, and a consultant with long-time, in-depth knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration's health and safety regulations.

As with any dietary supplement, you may wish to consult with your physician before consumption to best ensure that you have no unique sensitivities or rare health predispositions that would preclude drinking Saphia Water.

Does Saphia Water contain any preservatives?

Yes, Saphia Lifestyle Beverages added potassium sorbate to the Saphia Water line to maximize the shelf life, ensure the stability of the product from bacteria, molds and yeast, and to best uphold the nutrient value of the product – all major priorities for Saphia Lifestyle Beverages in offering the most ideal product possible. Potassium sorbate, the potassium salt of sorbic acid, is an organic acid that is FDA-approved and safely used extensively as a food and beverage additive. We believe that in the case of Saphia Water, this one safe preservative is a good thing.

How is Saphia Water as a bottled water beverage different from tap water?

Purified water is the base of our Saphia Water products. Purified water can come from any source, including spring water, well water, sea water, or municipal water. This source water is then processed rigorously by reverse osmosis or deionization to produce a water that is indistinguishable from distilled water from any other source. Purified water contains no dissolved solids and all impurities have been filtered out to result in a pure form of water which varies from tap water. Our FDA-approved bottling facility then also uses ultraviolet light to further disinfect our source water.

According to the International Bottled Water Assocation, "Bottled water is produced and distributed as a packaged food product and made specifically for drinking. As a packaged food product, bottled water must adhere to FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) required of all FDA-regulated food products as well as specific GMPs unique to bottled water production and packaging. GMPs require that each container of bottled water is produced in a sanitary environment and packaged in sanitary, safety sealed containers that are approved by FDA for food contact. Bottled water is also subject to FDA food recall, misbranding and food adulteration provisions, which help ensure that consumers receive safe, high quality bottled water and protects consumers from substandard products.

Taste is another reason consumers choose bottled water. Chlorine is most often used to disinfect tap water and can leave an aftertaste. Some bottlers use ozonation, a form of supercharged oxygen and/or ultraviolet light as the final disinfecting agent, neither of which leaves an aftertaste.

Bottled water provides consumers with consistent safety, high quality, good taste and convenient portability.To help ensure that bottled water is safe and of the highest quality possible, all IBWA members use one or more of the following steps found in a multi-barrier approach: source protection and monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and disinfection."

What will happen if I don't refrigerate Saphia Water after I open a bottle?
Will it become harmful in any way if unfrigerated?

No, Saphia Water will not become harmful to you if unrefrigerated after opening. We suggest that the product be refrigerated after opening as that helps best preserve the nutrient value and freshness of the water beverage.

The product contains both calcium and magnesium which make it alkaline such that contact with air will not immediately dissipate the nutrient value. We also believe that Saphia Water tastes at its best when chilled.

What is the shelf life of Saphia Water? If I drink the beverage after shelf life expiration, can it be harmful?

The shelf life of Saphia Water is approximately 6 months. Though we do not recommend consumption of Saphia Water after 6 months for product for reasons having to do with taste and nutrient strength, it will not harm you if you do. Testing has shown that after 6 months, nutrient-enhanced water beverages tend to experience degradation of the vitamins and minerals, and the flavor may taste a bit flat.

How many bottles of Saphia Water would you recommend I drink daily?

The makers of Saphia Water recommend that moms drink four to five bottles daily to meet the equivalent of their obstetrician's or midwife's recommended intake. Our Medical Advisory Board, made up of a high-risk obstetrician, a pediatrician, a cardiologist, a neonatologist, a nutritionist, and a lactation consultant, as well as our consulting beverage chemist, believe without hesitation that Saphia Water is a safe product.

Since Saphia Water has most of the same vitamins and minerals that prenatal tablets have, should I stop taking those vitamins and just drink more Saphia Water?

Saphia Water should not replace your prenatal vitamins, but should be consumed as a hydrating supplement to doctor-recommended vitamins.

What does Saphia mean? Why is the company and its products branded with this name?

In Malay and Arabic, Saphia means wise. Saphia Water is "smart" water, a label widely accepted in the water beverage industry to represent water that is infused with dietary supplements. Saphia is also a female name that is feminine but strong – we felt the meaning and the sound were quite fitting for a product targeting the smart moms who would become our customers.

I'm hoping to get pregnant soon. Can drinking Saphia Water help prepare my body for pregnancy?

Physicians encourage women who are trying to conceive to increase their intake of water – to the same recommended amount as pregnant women and nursing moms.

Can Saphia Water help me with the never-ending nausea I'm feeling now that I'm pregnant?

Yes, drinking Saphia Water is an excellent way to safely supplement prenatal vitamins, can aid in preventing pregnancy-related dehydration and constipation, and help minimize the dehydrating effects of the severe nausea that many pregnant women experience.

I'm hoping to breastfeed my newborn, but I don't have much milk coming in. Can drinking Saphia Water help my body's milk production?

Yes, increased water consumption can contribute to enhanced production of breast milk in lactating women.

I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Is it okay for me to drink Saphia Water?

Our Medical Advisory Board has given a thumbs up to the minimal amount of natural sugar in our products that we've added for sweetness. They did this knowing that pregnant women with gestational diabetes must be very mindful of sugar intake.

Will Saphia Lifestyle Beverages add other hydrating beverage products to its line-up any time soon?

Yes, we'll be adding additional flavors to the Saphia Water line, and will soon expand our offerings to include some exciting new beverages to help combat pregnancy nausea. Stay tuned on our Web site for news and information about our new products coming soon!

Who are the members of the Medical Advisory Board of Saphia Lifestyle Beverages?

The members of the Saphia Medical Advisory Board are each board certified in their fields. They are neonatologist Angela M. Patterson, MD, FAAP; Cardiologist Herman C. Gist; MD; high-risk obstetrician (perinatologist) Jacquelyn Jai Pelham, MD; pediatrician Gabrielle Virgo, MD; lactation consultant Brenda N. White, RN, BSN, IBCLC, CLC; and nutritionist Adrienne Porter.

Have there been any health studies done by respected organizations on the health benefits associated with water consumption and pregnancy?

There have been a number of reputable studies done on the importance of water and pregnancy. We've included links to a few such studies here. Happy reading!

I'd like to buy Saphia Water offline in a retail store. Where can I find it for sale?

The makers of Saphia Water expect retail distribution to commence by August of 2006. Please stay tuned on our Web site for updates and listings of retail availability at a store near you.

Product Note * Saphia Water should not replace prenatal vitamins, and as with any dietary supplement, you may wish to consult your physician before consumption. Saphia Water is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.