Alkaline water is a highly controversial topic nowadays. Some experts say that it is beneficial for one’s health whereas others believe that tap water is good enough to stay healthy and hydrated. With lots of information and various opinions from online experts sometimes it is easy to get lost and be confused. The question is who is right when it comes to alkaline water and its benefits? As usual the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes. It is always good to have your own point of view and make appropriate choices based on your knowledge rather than marketing tricks so take a couple minutes and read the article below to explore some interesting facts about alkaline water.

First of all, what is acidity and what it means for water to have high pH? Acidity is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 where liquids with pH (potential hydrogen) around 1 are very acidic whereas liquids which are around 13 are very alkaline. Regular tap water has a pH usually around 7 whereas alkaline water’s pH ranges between 8 to 9.5. What is interesting higher alkalinity is not always better. For example, in stomach the acidity is between 1.5 and 3.5 which is completely good and beneficial for people because this acidic environment kills all the bacteria which could be harmful and dangerous. On the other hand, the pH level in blood should be around 7.4 so it is crucial to make sure that our diet consists of food and liquids which help maintain the appropriate level of alkalinity. Even .05 change in blood pH can have profound effects on organs and overall functioning of various systems in human body such as digestive and immune system. Human beings consist approximately of 80% of water so it is essential to maintain appropriate pH level and stay hydrated at all times using the best quality water.

Now since we talked about basic concepts about alkalinity and how important it is for human body we can analyze some facts about alkaline water. Alkaline water is believed to slow the aging process, regulate body pH level, prevent chronic diseases like cancer, support immune and digestive system, and help with weight loss. Let’s dig deeper into each of those benefits to see if the claims are actually true.

Alkaline water slows aging process because it contains antioxidants which are in liquid form and can be more easily absorbed by body. Anti-aging feature has a lot to do with detoxification process. Aging takes place when cells in human body die or become adopted to acidic malignant environment and turn into cancer cells. Ingesting alkaline water is the easiest way to detoxify cells from its metabolic waste because liquid is absorbed better than food.

Regulation of body pH sounds very simple and self-explanatory but it is crucial especially with modern western diet. Standard American diet contributes to chronic low-grade acidosis what results in problems with hormonal and metabolic problems. Acidosis also causes diarrhea, osteoporosis, anxiety, arthritis, impaired immune function, and decrease in cells ability to produce energy. Study in 2001 showed that even three to six months of drinking alkaline water decreases cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure.

Preventing chronic disease and supporting immune and digestive system is all about detoxification process. As I mentioned earlier, minerals from water are easily absorbed by human body and they significantly contribute to better health of each cell. It prevents development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, cancer, or problems with digestive and immune system.

When it comes to weight loss, one study in Japan found that drinking alkaline water on an empty stomach increases metabolic rate what results in more calories burned and weight loss. This also means that you can absorb nutrients from food more efficiently and get rid of toxic substances from the colon, kidneys, and liver.

Alkaline water is recommended for athletes and people who are active as well. Due to its high antioxidant values and fast absorption rate, alkaline water can quickly reach cells, remove waste products of cell metabolism and deliver oxygen to other cells or tissues which are under higher metabolic stress. Alkaline water positively affects blood viscosity (thickness and stickiness of blood). The lower viscosity the better because it allows for more efficient transport of oxygen and other nutrients in blood. This is especially significant for athletes since working muscles require more oxygen in a short period of time.

The only uncertainty with alkaline water is that most of the research is not officially approved yet what gives a reason for some scientists to doubt the benefits of alkaline water. Nonetheless, there is plenty of data which supports numerous advantages of drinking alkaline water. There is no side effects of consuming water with pH up to 9.5 so if you are still unsure whether you should switch to alkaline water or not, you can always experiment a little bit on yourself and see how it goes. I am sure you will not regret it!