Many people ask why drink alkaline water?
The body can be in one or two states, alkaline or acidic. If your body is in an alkaline state, it will be in a better state to fight disease. Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or antioxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more antioxidizing it is.
If your body is in an acidic state, (low pH level) then the probability of getting diseases are more prevalent. The pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. For example, something with a pH of 1 would be very acidic and something with a pH of 13 would be very alkaline.
So keeping the above in mind you can see how important it is to have the food you eat stay at a high pH level and any food chemically processed or heated at high temperatures will drastically lower the pH and nutritional benefits of that food. So it’s not just the water that matters.
If you want to lose weight with the least amount of resistance by your body, then you need to start keeping your body at an alkaline level that will help you digest your food better, keep you from getting sick and allows your body to have a better performing digestive system.
It is believed that alkaline water can neutralize the acid in your body, help slow the aging process, regulate your body’s pH level, and prevent chronic diseases like cancer.
Does it really work?
According to the Mayo Clinic, regular water is best choice of water for most people. They state that there is no scientific evidence that fully verifies the claims made by supporters of alkaline water.
However, there are a few studies that suggest alkaline water might be helpful for certain conditions.
For example, a 2012 study found that drinking naturally carbonated artesian-well alkaline water with a pH of 8.8 may help deactivate pepsin, the main enzyme that causes acid reflux.
Another study suggested that drinking alkaline ionized water may have benefits for people with high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
A more recent study that included 100 people found a significant difference in whole blood viscosity after consuming high-pH water compared to regular water after a strenuous workout. Viscosity is the direct measurement of how efficiently blood flows through the vessels. This means for those that drank alkaline water with a high pH experienced blood flow more efficiently than those who drank standard purified drinking water. This can increase oxygen delivery throughout out the body.
Despite the lack of proven scientific research, proponents of alkaline water still believe in its proposed health benefits. These include:
- anti-aging properties (via liquid antioxidants that absorb more quickly into the human body)
- colon-cleansing properties
- immune system support
- hydration, skin health, and other detoxifying properties
- weight loss
- cancer resistance
Some examples of negative side effects of drinking too much alkaline water include the lowering of natural stomach acidity, which helps kill bacteria and expel other undesirable pathogens from entering your bloodstream.
Additionally, an overall excess of alkalinity in the body may cause gastrointestinal issues and skin irritations. Too much alkalinity may also agitate the body’s normal pH, leading to metabolic alkalosis, a condition that may produce the following symptoms:
- nausea
- vomiting
- hand tremors
- muscle twitching
- tingling in the extremities or face
- confusion
Natural or artificial?
Water that’s naturally alkaline occurs when water passes over rocks — like springs — and picks up minerals, which increase its alkaline level.
However, many people who drink alkaline water buy alkaline water that’s been through a chemical process called electrolysis.
This technique uses a product called an ionizer to raise the pH of regular water. Makers of ionizers say that electricity is used to separate molecules in the water that are more acidic or more alkaline. The acidic water is then funneled out.
Some scientists advise using reverse-osmosis to adequately purify water before connecting an alkaline ionizer, which can raise pH and add minerals.
If water is properly filtered to remove contaminants, ionized and re-mineralized, or purchased from a quality source, there’s no evidence to suggest a limitation on how much alkaline water can be consumed daily.
However, you should use caution with artificial alkaline water, which likely contains fewer good minerals than its high pH would have you believe and may contain contaminants. Also keep in mind, drinking too much alkaline water may leave you deficient in minerals.
© Copyright – Hector Sectzer
