What is alkaline water?
Alkaline water is plain water that has minerals added to raise the PH level above that of regular or tap water. It contains minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium that are beneficial to our body’s health.
PH is a number that measures the level of alkalinity, neutrality, and acidity in substances like water.
The PH level is on a scale of 0-14. Water can be high or low in PH.
Water with a PH level below 7 is acidic, at level 7, neutral, and above 7 is alkaline water.
It has a PH level of 8 or above. It has a PH level higher than tap water. The tap water is neutral and has a PH level of 7.
Rainwater PH level is below neutral, which means acidity because of the presence of carbon dioxide in the air.
Alkaline water has a pH greater than 7.0.
According to EPA guidelines, tap water should have a PH level of between 6.5 and 8.5. In most countries, tap water PH levels tend to fall under the required guidelines.
Alkaline facts
Water is a combination of oxygen and hydrogen.
Most proponents claim alkaline water has increased hydrogen or has many active hydrogens that provide better hydration than tap or regular water.
The added minerals increase the PH level, making your body less acidic, and that’s what is touted as the benefit of alkaline water.
According to registered dietitian and CNN contributor Lisa Drayer, if something is alkaline, it helps neutralize the acid in your bloodstream. This theory is used by many promoters to claim alkaline water helps reduce acid in the bloodstream.
Also, Robert O. Young spun a popular book called “PH Miracle” that claims the alkaline diet can cure all manner of diseases.
All these tips are used by the promoter to show that they help with health benefits.
Is it safe?
Alkaline water does not pose any health problems unless you have diseases like kidney failure.
Water with a high PH level causes an upset stomach, itchy skin, or dryness.
Also, drinking too much of it may have a negative effect on your health.
Does it really work as people claim?
There is no medical expert or scientific support that water with a high PH can be used to treat any health condition or completely change the PH balance of the body.
According to many health experts, our body is equipped with kidneys, lungs, digestive system, and liver, which help handle both acidic and alkaline conditions in our body.
Whether you consume anything alkaline or acidic, your body system will neutralize it before it gets into your bloodstream.
Most health experts claim this is just a trend where people think water with high mineral content will help them have better health.
How does alkaline water taste
It tastes different from tap water or regular water. It can also alter the taste of anything you use in it, like coffee.
Some say it tastes bitter, weird, or good, but this depends on your palate.
Where do we get alkaline water?
You can get alkaline water in the following ways:
- Buying in the stores
- Make it at home using various natural methods, such as adding baking soda or lemon to your tap water.
- You can buy an alkaline water filter pitcher to make your tap water alkaline.
- You can use a PH drop to increase the PH level.
- You can use appliances like a water ionizer machine, a countertop alkaline water filter, and an alkaline water filter bottle to raise the PH level of regular water.
When to drink alkaline water?
Since there are people who swear by alkaline water and changing them is hard, here are the best ways to take it to get those health benefits promoters claim.
You can have it the first thing when you wake up in the morning on an empty stomach. Drinking water in the morning is the most recommended method to kick-start your day.
Exercise is the best time to take this drink. When you are exercising, your body is losing a lot of fluid, and the best way to replace it is by drinking alkaline water.
Sipping your water throughout the day. Sipping water throughout the day helps you achieve daily intake goals and keep you dehydrated all day.
You can take this drink throughout the day but remember not to drink it 30 minutes before meals and wait up to 2 hours after meals.
When not drinking alkaline water,
Do not take this drink two hours before and after taking your meal; you should wait up to two hours before taking it. The reason for waiting up to 2 hours after a meal is that our stomach needs to be acidic to digest food.
In the same case as when taking your medication, you should not take this water 30 minutes before the medication, and you should wait two hours after taking the medication. When taking medicine, use pure, filtered water at a PH level of 7.0.
How much alkaline water can I drink a day?
An expert says it is beneficial to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but remember that alkaline water has detoxifying benefits for your body. If you are a beginner, remember that your body is not used to this drink. You should start with 2-3 glasses and listen to your body before you start increasing gradually.
Is drinking too much alkaline water bad for you?
If you drink too much alkaline water, you may experience headaches, nausea, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal issues, and irritation. When you experience this side effect, it is best to reduce your intake to a few glasses a day.
Who should not take alkaline water?
Beginners should start with 2-3 glasses of water at a PH level of 8.5. Babies who are under 3 years of age should not drink this water. Children between 4 and 12 years of age should drink 1-2 glasses of water at a PH level of 8.5.
How to drink alkaline water.
Start out with 1-2 glasses at a PH level of 8.5 for the first week. Listen to your body. If there are no side effects, move to a PH level of 9.0 in week two. Continue listening to your body. If it agrees with you, increase to a PH level of 9.5 in week three. You should remain at a PH level of 9.5 because a very high PH may cause negative side effects such as headaches or nausea.
Should you drink alkaline water every day?
There is no problem with taking alkaline water every day, but remember to maintain the PH level of 9.5. If you are starting out, start with 1-2 glasses until your body is used to it.
What is the best pH water to drink?
The best PH water to drink is between 8.0 and 9.0; above that, the water is too high. High PH can lead to negative side effects. Also, water above a PH level of 9.0 has a bitter taste.
