Many Americans live with an autoimmune disorder that leads to stomach pain. Conditions like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis all cause issues in your gastrointestinal, or GI, tract—but they’re not the only contributing factors. Every time you drink water from your tap, you are ingesting pollutants that can worsen your existing GI distress.

New York City’s drinking water comes from a watershed composed of 19 different reservoirs and three lakes. According to the 2015 Drinking Water Supply and Quality Report, the water is essentially lead-free when it reaches the city; however, it can absorb lead from pipes and fixtures found in some buildings.

Lead can cause serious health problems when ingested, especially in infants, young children, and pregnant women. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you can reduce exposure by running the tap for up to two minutes before using it, so you do not consume or cook with any sitting water that has absorbed the lead.

Other potential tap water contaminants include Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which can cause illnesses that affect the GI tract. Symptoms of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis include abdominal cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. People with compromised immune systems and autoimmune disorders are especially vulnerable to serious complications from these infections. If you’re concerned about drinking water with contaminants in it, opt for bottled water instead—and recycle the bottles to help protect the environment.

Linchitz Medical Wellness of Westbury, NY, specializes in integrative & alternative cancer treatment in the Long Island area. The clinic sees patients from all five boroughs of New York City as well as the entire Tri-State area. They offer a variety of natural treatments to ease the symptoms of autoimmune disorders. Visit their website to learn more about the regenerative medicine they provide, and call (516) 759-4200 to make an appointment.