Consuming alkaline water is all the hype right now. Many people rave about its after-effects. But do you really know what it is? What is the benefit of consuming alkaline water for your health? Most importantly –is it worth the hype?
The difference between alkaline water and plain water is that it has a higher pH level. The pH in plain water is around 7, while alkaline water has pH of more than 8+. Consuming alkaline water is believed by several experts to have many health benefits for our bodies, because it contains many important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
In addition water with higher pH level usually contains negative ORP. Oxidation-reduction potential is the ability of water to act as an antioxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more antioxidants that the water had.
Natural alkaline water can be obtained from springs that directly pass through the rocks and absorb its minerals. But nowadays there are many private label alkaline water companies that offer artificial lye in packaged form. Here are a couple of benefits of alkaline water for your health.
Maintain Body Hydration
According to the Journal which was published in 2016 by International Society of Sports Nutrition, blood viscosity levels in people who drink alkaline water tend to decrease by 6.3% compared to people who drink plain water. It means their blood consistency is more fluid than others who only consume plain water. Blood with sufficient water will be easier to flow and circulate throughout the body. Thus, drinking alkaline water can help improve blood flow and maintain body hydration.
The volume of urine in those who drank alkaline water also tended to be less, indicating better hydration.
Neutralizes The Excess of Acid in The Body
If you often have headaches, nausea, or vomiting due to dehydration, then alkaline water could also help to neutralize excess acid in your body. A study of urine samples from participants who consume alkaline water versus plain water show that participants who drank alkaline water had more balanced acid-base levels in their urine.
Control Blood Pressure
A researcher from Shanghai revealed that alkaline water has a great benefit for people who have diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Alkaline water is widely used in the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia (conditions of imbalance of fat in the blood).
The scientist found that after three to six months consuming alkaline water, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol had lower measures in each of these factors.
Maintain Bone Density
Alkaline water has a high calcium level. The calcium inside the alkaline water has a positive effect on bone density. It could also help to prevent osteoporosis in older women who went through postmenopausal. Not only that, but the high level of calcium will also help to maintain the condition of heart, muscle, and nerve function.
Reduce Acid reflux
Long term acid reflux could cause a gastroesophageal reflux disease, or more known as GERD. A study published in Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology found that drinking alkaline water daily might be beneficial to treat reflux disease. The high pH level in alkaline water could kill the pepsin, the main cause of acid reflux. Alkaline water also appeared to reduce the acidity of the stomach contents.
There are many other claims about the benefits of consuming alkaline water. Some said that it will help maintain the immune system, slow down the aging process, and prevent cancer. But this claim is not supported by proven scientific research, and a more thorough examination needs to be done. When claims like these are made, we have to approach them with skepticism to understand how trustworthy the source is.
However, it is also proven that there are other benefits that we can get from consuming alkaline water. While alkaline water is not a magic liquid that could help solve our health issues –it is also worth noting that it has many benefits for our body. It is safe to consume alkaline water daily, but you can’t replace your daily liquid intake only with alkaline water.
So what do you think, is alkaline water worth the hype?