If you have ever taken the time to look at the different bottled water options in your local grocery store, you have likely seen products labeled as ‘alkaline.’ Many small-scale studies have been done on the benefits of drinking alkaline water, including improved hydration and bone health. However, many health professionals conclude that further scientific evidence is needed to fully support these claims.
Despite this, many still believe in the benefits of alkaline water and incorporating it into your daily water intake to maintain higher levels of hydration and bone density support.Â
What is Alkaline Water?
The alkalinity of water refers to its pH level, which is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 based on its alkaline or acidic nature. A liquid with a pH level of seven is considered neutral, while numbers closer to zero are more acidic, and levels higher than seven are more alkaline.
Water is made to have higher alkaline numbers in several ways, including electrolysis, where a device with an electric current is split between acidic and alkaline components. The latter is then saved for bottling. Additionally, adding minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium can further increase these pH levels.
Potential Benefits
Some people suggest that drinking alkaline water can present a number of health benefits, including neutralizing acid in the body, improving hydration, and boosting the immune system. However, many of these claims lack solid scientific evidence and require more extensive clinical studies to fully support their legitimacy.
With that said, there have been many smaller studies that present the possibility that drinking alkaline water does carry potential health benefits.
Hydration
In 2017, a minor study was conducted by the Biology of Sport on a group of 36 male soccer players, investigating the effects of different water types on their hydration levels and .post-exercise lactate use after strenuous and demanding exercise.Â
Lactate, or lactic acid, is the body’s byproduct during exercise. When it builds up, it can cause a burning sensation that is typically connected to strenuous physical activity. Researchers observed that alkaline water with no additional minerals was linked to better hydration levels and improved lactate levels. While these results provide some concrete evidence, further clinical trials are needed to support these findings fully.
Kidney Stones Assistance
According to some health professionals, alkaline water will be a hit or miss for kidney stones. Some evidence suggests that calcium-enriched alkaline water could lead to a higher alkaline pH balance in urine levels, theoretically preventing the development of specific kidney stones, mainly those caused by oxalates.
Calcium binds to oxalates, which are found naturally in plant-based foods, in the gut, preventing it from growing into something more serious.
Bone Health
In a small study conducted in 2009, the effects of calcium-rich acidic mineral water bicarbonate, and calcium-rich alkaline mineral water were observed on bone health in 30 female participants. The group members were randomly assigned water to consume, with those given alkaline water showing fewer markers of bone resorption, which is the destruction of bone tissues, compared to those in the acidic group.
In a more recent study conducted in 2021, those given alkaline water in a group of 100 postmenopausal women showered enhanced bone density markers, supporting the original observations and warranting further investigation into the connection between alkaline water and osteoporosis treatment.
Side Effects to Consider
Drinking alkaline water could present a few side effects, depending on the person and their existing health issues.
Altered Blood pH
Alkaline water has a higher pH level than standard tap water, meaning large amounts of consumption could alter the body’s natural pH balance, if only slightly. However, this balance is unlikely to occur with water alone, as the body is designed to maintain proper pH levels independently.
Should an imbalance occur, it is vital to explore all possible health-related issues that could be responsible.
Medication Absorption Issues
When consumed in large quantities, alkaline water may interfere with the body’s ability to absorb medication, as it can alter the pH levels of the stomach. If your stomach becomes too alkaline, it can speed up the absorption of acidic medications, causing it to enter the bloodstream too quickly.
Alternatively, alkaline medication could be absorbed too slowly, causing it to become inefficient and potentially being expelled from the body before taking action.
Digestive Problems
Drinking excessive amounts of alkaline water may lead to digestive issues like nausea, vomiting, and stomach pains, especially for those who are already prone to these types of health issues. However, it largely depends on the person in question, with many people experiencing no side effects relating to this.Â
Finding Your Own
Alkaline water can be bought in most major grocery stores, health food shops, and online stores. Additionally, water ionizers are sold in all large chain stores, allowing you to connect attachments to your home kitchen sink.
Alternatively, you can create your own alkaline water by adding pH drops or baking soda to regular tap or bottled water. If water is correctly filtered, ionized, or purchased from a reliable and quality source, no evidence suggests any health issues related to daily consumption.
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