Even if you are not an expert in chemistry you probably heard a lot about alkalinity. Alkaline water becomes more and more popular nowadays and there is a good reason behind this trend. It is beneficial especially for American population whose diet is usually high in acidic food and beverages. If one eats fast-food on a daily basis and on top of that adds soda to the meal, her body is definitely becoming more and more acidic. Depending on your organism, in a short term you might feel normal. However, in a long term your body will start signaling pH imbalances through diseases like arthritis, reflux, faster aging process or even cancer. Even if you don’t consume much fast-food you are still in a risk of acidosis – products such as pasta, rice, meat, bread, and dairy undeniably have some health benefits but they are also acidic. So if you don’t eat veggies on a daily basis you might want to consider supplementing your body with alkaline water. It is more convenient, easier and more effective way of balancing your pH level because ingredients from water are digested easier than those from food.

You can find lots of brands promoting alkaline water but is alkalinity everything that you should care about? There is one more factor which is even more essential than water’s pH and – can you guess what? That’s right – it’s the ORP of water, also known as oxidation reduction potential (redox). ORP is measured in millivolts and it tells you whether water is oxidized or reduced. Once water is oxidized, it lacks electrons what results in taking them from other molecules and destroying them. Sometimes it is desirable process because, for example, water in the pool needs to contain plenty of oxidants in order to kill bacteria. That’s why people add chlorine to the pools. It makes water more oxidized with positive ORP up to 600 mv. Tap water has ORP about 200 mv so it still contains more oxidants. Although oxidation sometimes is crucial in your body you definitely want more anti-oxidants to prevent cells damage. Anti-oxidants actually prevent cells in the body from destruction, slow down aging process and prevent cancer. Oxidation is an easy process which you can see in your everyday life. For example when an apple is cut open it turns brown quickly because of the oxidation process. Similarly, when metal corrodes it is also due to the oxidation process. We don’t want the same process to happen on our cells and that’s why it is recommended to consume a lot of anti-oxidants. Water with negative ORP can definitely provide you with those molecules which can be even better absorbed than those from food.

Reduced water with anti-oxidants has less hydrogen ions but the longer it is exposed to the contact with the air the more likely it is to gain those electrons and go back to its normal ORP. Bottled water, although it does have higher pH, definitely does not have the advantage of negative ORP because bottles sit on the shelves multiple days before they are purchased. So, is it really worth to spend those extra money on something that does not have all the benefits of high quality water plus is harmful for the environment? It’s up to you but whenever you make a decision just make sure to consider all the information that you have access to. Nowadays it is easy to get confused with plenty of misinformation on the internet but if you look at appropriate sources with scientific evidence you will be able to make better decisions based on your knowledge.

To sum up, alkaline water have benefits which are significant in regard to modern western diet but oxidation reduction potential is just as important, if not more. It is really difficult to have an access to organic fruits and vegetables and it is not very convenient nor efficient to purchase them daily. However, water is something that you ingest every day and makes up to 80% of your body. Minerals from water are more easily absorbed by your body than those from food and if you invest your money in the right products you can definitely increase your savings and improve your health at the same time. Undeniably water cannot be the only source of anti-oxidants but it is a perfect supplement to your everyday diet. You can add alkaline reduced water to various juices and supplements or you can just drink pure tasty water. There is multiple ways to use water creatively. It’s up to you which one you choose. Just remember to stay hydrated and get from your water as much benefits as possible!