What Is Alkaline Water and What Are the Benefits?

Alkaline water is less acidic than tap water that is normally how to make alkaline water available and some believe that it can provide health benefits. According to theory, alkaline water may alter the pH balance of your body and make it more acidic as well as less basic (alkaline). In this way, it is believed to perform everything from easing acid reflux and encouraging weight loss, to treating liver diseases and helping to prevent cancer.

This article examines the quality of alkaline water according to health claims, and whether there are any real benefits and dangers of drinking this popular product from the grocery store.

What Is Alkaline Water?

In the field of chemistry, pH refers to “potential of hydrogen.” The quantity of hydrogen ions present in the liquid will determine if the liquid is alkaline or acidic (also called basic).

The pH of the solutions are calculated on the scale from 0 to 14 which includes 7.0 is neutral, or the pH is balanced. Anything less than 7.0 is considered acidic and anything higher than 7.0 is deemed alkaline or basic.

The amount of hydrogen ions present in the solution is in how to make alkaline water inverse relation to the pH of a solution. This means that the greater the quantity of hydrogen ions and the lower the pH (making the solution more acidic). On the other hand the lower the amount of hydrogen ions higher the pH (making the solution more alkaline).

Alkaline water in grocery stores is pH ranging from 8.0 between 9.0. Contrary to regular bottle water has the pH range of 6.5 up to 7.5. 1 (By for reference human saliva is slightly acidic, with a pH approximately 6.3 and 6.7. )2

Although these minor differences might appear, they change water in a noticeable way. The alkalinity of water tends to produce an incredibly smooth, sweet flavor, with the appearance of a “slippery” or “velvety” feel on the tongue as in comparison to water that is distilled.

How Alkaline Water Is Made

Nature has water which is acidic. It is a case of spring water, where how to make alkaline water the passage by water over rocks cause it to shed hydrogen ions. This is due to the movement of hydrogen through specific mineral deposits causes the water to be electrically charged. In the process positive charged ions gets removed and the water becomes more alkaline.

Ionization is the same process used to produce alkaline water that is bottled. For commercial use, the water is pushed through an ionizer that uses powerful electromagnets that separate the hydrogen ions and a salt acid referred to as carbonate, which “holds” hydrogen in water. Through breaking the bond the hydrogen ions release and the water becomes more acidic. 3

Because of this process, alkaline water is sometimes referred to as “electrolyzed-reduced water. “3

In addition to purchasing bottled alkaline water, customers can also purchase home ionizing devices on the internet or at large box shops to create the alkaline water themselves.

Benefits of Alkaline Water

Certain alternative health professionals believe that alkaline waters can bring health benefits through changing the body’s alkalinity and minimizing the harm acids can cause to tissues and cells.

The overarching logic is sound, since stomach acid levels are high and blood may cause health problems, there’s no evidence to suggest that drinking alkaline water could alter the pH balance within the body. The only exception could be within the stomach however the effect may be short-lived.

This is due to the fact that the body’s pH is controlled by the kidneys that are responsible for the task of filtering out excess acids and alkaline from the body fluids. When alkaline or acid levels rise in the brain referred to as the The hippocampus  The kidneys will instruct the kidneys to take them out in a continuous effort to ensure homeostasis (equilibrium) within the (equilibrium) in the. 4

The claims that alkaline water may enhance longevity, boost the function of the liver, fight diabetes or cancer have not been proven. However there could be some advantages to drinking alkaline waters in light of the research currently conducted.

Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Based on an earlier study by researchers from the New York Medical College, alkaline water could have beneficial effects for those suffering from stomach reflux (GERD). 5

The researchers discovered that consuming the pH 8.8 alkaline water, it denatures (takes away) the digestion enzyme known as pepsin that is believed to relieve acid reflux symptoms. The researchers also discovered alkaline waters with 8.8 pH had great acid buffering characteristics.

Another study by New York Medical College published in 2017 revealed that a diet containing alkaline water and plants-based Mediterranean eating plan was just as effective at treating acid reflux like acids-reducing proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs, suggesting a different strategy for the treatment. 6

However, it’s unclear whether the diet, the water or both were the cause of the findings.

Weight Loss

Alkaline water is believed by some to aid in weight loss, however it’s not clear the method by which it will achieve this. Certain proponents have suggested it can do this by avoiding the effects of acidosis caused by fasting. The reason for this is the increase in blood acidity during periods that you do not eat. 7

Although it is widely known that metabolic acidosis can trigger weight gain, heart palpitations, among other signs but it’s not a typical occurrence nor the primary cause of weight growth or overweight. Instead, it is commonly seen in the context as a result of kidney diseases that are chronic (CKD). 8

Yet an investigation from 2022 in Malaysia revealed that the consumption of at the very least 1 Liter (roughly four cups) of alkaline drinking water every day for a minimum of two months resulted in marginal decreases in cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides and blood pressure as well as the waist size (but in no way mass) in 148 women who were postmenopausal as compared to women who drank just tap water.

Risks and Side Effects of Alkaline Water

Drinking water with a slight alkaline pH (pH 7.0 or 8.5) should be considered to be safe and shouldn’t cause any adverse effect. 10

But, drinking a lot of water that is highly alkaline (pH 9.0-10) could cause digestive problems and create the feeling of having an uneasy stomach. This is due to the fact that extremely alkaline water may reduce gastric acid levels in the stomach, which can lead to gastric bloating, vomiting or feeling full fast or for extended periods when you eat. 11

Some people have suggested that alkaline water could be the cause of kidney stones because it is high in alkalizing minerals like potassium, calcium and bicarbonate. However There is no evidence to suggest that it could pose danger.

How to Make Alkaline Water

The most cost-effective and easiest method to make alkaline water is by adding baking soda to the water from a tap. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has an acidity of around 9.0.

While adding baking soda in water increases its alkalinity, drinking excessive sodium bicarbonate can impact electrolyte levels and can have adverse health effects, such as hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in the blood), hypernatremia (high blood sodium) (high blood sodium) or the deterioration of chronic kidney (high blood sodium) or worsening chronic kidney. 13

Yehia HMAS, Said SM. Water treatment for drinking pH adjustment using a the natural physical fields. JBM. 2021;09(06):55-66. doi:10.4236/jbm.2021.96005

Alkalizing fruits and veggies can be added to tap water to increase the alkaline quality of water. One way to do that is adding small pieces of cucumber into a pitcher of water, then allow it to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

There are also factory-made filters as well as Ionizer machines that produce alkaline water. Before you purchase the most expensive equipment, you can purchase an cheap pH test for water at your local hardware retailer to test the pH of your tap water.

In parts of the U.S., well water can be abnormally acidic and may benefit from being alkalized. If your house doesn’t get water from an EPA-regulated public water supply, spending money to keep your water supply at healthy pH levels is probably a worthwhile investment.

Summary

Alkaline water is water with a pH value greater than 7.0. Most commercial brands of alkaline water have pH levels between 8.0 and 9.0. Although proponents suggest that drinking alkaline water may help certain health conditions, the evidence supporting the claims is generally weak.