Alkaline water has become increasingly trendy in recent years. However, is Alkaline water good to drink?
This water has a higher pH level than regular tap water. Because of this, its proponents advocate a whole host of health benefits. But there are question marks over how effective it is.
This guide will break down alkaline water and separate the reality from the myths. We’ll also look at some of the most popular alkaline brands to find the one you like best.
Let’s get started!
What is Alkaline Water Good For?
Fans of alkaline water point to the higher pH level being better than regular water.
The latter has a pH level of six, while alkaline water’s pH is seven or even eight. In theory, this counteracts acidity in the bloodstream. However, there is uncertainty about its effectiveness.
Other reported benefits include improved oxygen flow and a reduction in high blood pressure and cholesterol. Some people believe that it can prevent cancer and help with auto-immune conditions.
Allegedly, alkaline water has anti-aging properties, aids weight loss, and even has colon-cleansing properties. However, many of these claims have no basis in proven science at this point.
Is Alkaline Water Healthier?
According to the Mayo Clinic, most people will benefit from drinking regular tap water than alkaline water.
However, they acknowledge that some studies indicate that it may help slow bone loss. They also point out that there is little credible evidence to support most alkaline water claims.
Despite these claims, alkaline water continues to grow in popularity. This popularity can be seen in the vast number of brands available today.
Can Alkaline Water be Harmful?
Alkaline water is unlikely to cause harm unless you have kidney problems.
However, there is a risk that drinking it in large quantities can alter your body’s pH balance. For example, your stomach naturally produces specific acids to break down food. These acids also protect against certain microbes that may cause illness.
The water itself may not be directly harmful, but it may expose you to unwanted bacteria. It’s also worth remembering that just because it’s not wrong doesn’t mean it does any additional good either.
Is Alkaline Water the Same as Distilled Water?
Alkaline water and distilled water are not the same things. The former has a pH level greater than regular water. In contrast, the latter is water in its purest form without impurities.
Let’s look at the processes that produce these two different forms of H20.
Alkaline Water
There are two ways to produce alkaline water.
Natural alkaline water occurs when running water collects minerals. As it passes over rocks, it gathers these and becomes alkaline.
Most bottled alkaline water today is produced by electrolysis. Electrolysis uses an ionizer to filter out the water’s acidic content. Meanwhile, the electrolysis may add minerals such as sodium and calcium to change the pH level.
Many producers will add different substances to produce drinks with purported health benefits. We’ll look at these in detail later.
Distilled Water
This water occurs through the process of distillation.
In short, water is evaporated, turning it into vapor. After collecting the steam, it condenses back into liquid form. This process removes all of the impurities from the water. As a result, distilled water has a bland taste.
While it doesn’t contain any harmful microbes, it can leach minerals from your body. However, this won’t be an issue if you enjoy a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
What is An Alkaline Water Ionizer?
An ionizer is an appliance that uses electrolysis to separate the acidic elements from water. It will divide water into two chambers. One will contain acidic water, while the other will hold alkaline water.
Water runs across an Ion-Permeable Membrane inside the ionizer to prevent neutral atoms and molecules from passing through. As water is tepid, it produces two streams into separate compartments.
It’s easy to find these products online.
Can You Make Alkaline Water?
Yes, you can make alkaline water at home. As we previously discussed, you can use an Alkaline Water Ionizer.
Using an Ionizer would be the easiest and fastest way to make alkaline water at home. However, the Alkaline Water Ionizer is more of an investment upfront.
You can also make alkaline water without costly equipment. You can add some household ingredients to your water to increase the alkalinity.
Make Alkaline Water with Lemon
Simply adding lemons or limes to the water will create more acidity. However, when digested, the minerals will create alkaline byproducts as it’s metabolized.
It’s hard to know precisely how much acidic citrus is needed to get the correct alkalinity.
Make Alkaline Water – Baking Soda – Ph Drops
Another simple way you can make alkaline water with baking soda or even ph drops added to your purified tap water.
Using baking soda to make alkaline water is also hard to determine when the ph is at the desired alkalinity. I would recommend using ph test strips to determine how much baking soda or ph drops to add each time per glass of tap water.
How Much Alkaline Water to Drink Daily?
Contrary to popular belief, there aren’t any confirmed health benefits from drinking alkaline water.
Many people consume it in place of normal water. According to the Institute of Medicine, men should drink 3.7 liters of water, while women should consume a minimum of 2.7 liters per day.
This more detailed article can find out more about how much water a man should drink per day.
If you’re exercising or enduring hot conditions, you will need to drink even more. Find out more about what to drink when working out.
However, you may want first to drink a lower amount of alkaline water before building it up. This way, there’s less chance of affecting your body’s pH balance.
Top 5 Brands of Alkaline Water
Let’s look at some of the most popular brands of alkaline water. Check them out now!
LIFEWTR Premium Purified Water
This alkaline water has a pH level of 6.8 to 7.4.
According to LIFEWTR, they create their product through reverse osmosis. Then they add electrolytes back to the water to create a clean and fresh taste. It’s a popular product because of the flavor.
A pack of 6 one-liter bottles costs $7.48 on Amazon.
Essentia Bottled Water
Essentia is another familiar brand of alkaline water.
Like LIFEWTR, they add electrolytes to enhance the flavor and benefits. Essentia also claims that their water is 99% pure because they use micro-filtration and osmosis. This process results in a high pH of 9.5 or greater.
Its fans on Amazon claim that it helped them with heartburn and other issues. A 12-pack of one-liter bottles costs $22.56.
Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
Waiakea alkaline water is produced in Hawaii naturally.
It’s sustainable because they use 100% recycled bottles. Meanwhile, Waiakea donates clean water to Africa for every bottle you buy. This act of generosity makes it one of the most ethical products you can buy.
This alkaline water contains naturally-occurring electrolytes and minerals that give it a good taste. It has a pH range of 7.6 to 8.2.
Natural alkaline water is highly sought-after. As a result, it’s more expensive. A pack of 24 bottles of 500ml will set you back $38 on Amazon.
FIJI Natural Artesian Water
We couldn’t create this list without including FIJI. It’s probably the most well-known brand in the world of alkaline waters.
FIJI claims that its water has twice the number of electrolytes as standard water. They also point to a pH of 7.7. That naturally occurs as it filters through volcanic rock and has a smooth taste.
A 12-pack of 1.5-liter bottles costs $31 on Amazon.
Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Alkaline Water
The Land of Ice and Fire is famous for its volcanoes and glaciers.
Icelandic Glacial alkaline water points to this because their product is one of the best on the market. It comes from the Olfus Spring and has naturally low mineral levels. Meanwhile, it has a natural pH level of 8.4.
Another benefit of this brand is that it’s available in different flavors. Lots of people find water bland. But Icelandic Glacial offers elderflower, lemon, and lime, as well as classic sparkling water. You’re sure to find a flavor you like!
Furthermore, it’s very ethical because the product and the manufacturing plant carry carbon-neutral certificates. A box of 24 x 500ml bottles costs $35.99 on Amazon.
So, Is Alkaline Water Good to Drink or not?
Choosing to drink Alkaline Water is a personal preference. Hopefully, this article has enlightened you on the pros and cons of drinking alkaline water.
I believe, just like with most things in moderation, that drinking Alkaline Water should be fine. You should check with your doctor to be sure drinking alkaline water is suitable for you.
Learn more about what to drink when you work out or how much water a man should drink per day.
I will love to know if you find that alkaline water is good to drink.