Water is a crucial part of your nutrition and plays many vital roles in your body, such as lubricating joints, moistening the eyes, nose, and mouth, and regulating body temperature. It makes sense that water is important, considering over 50% of your body is water. However, while you may think that all water is equal, it is a bit more complex than that. One form of water is alkaline ionized water, which has many claimed health benefits. This article will explore ionized water, the different types of water, and their benefits.
Ionized water, also known as electrolyte-reduced water, contains mineral ions. This mineral has either chemically gained or lost an electron, making it an ion. Naturally, water is found in an ionized form. However, the water becomes deionized during distillation, losing its minerals.
There are two different types of ionized water, each having different effects on the body.
Acidic ionized water, also known as electrolyzed oxidative water (EOW), is an example of oxidation. It occurs when an acidic substance steals an electron from another substance.
Oxidation can damage or destroy a substance, including your body. While it harms your body, it can be beneficial as a cleaning agent and replace conventional toxic cleaners.
Ionized alkaline water is an example of reduction. When ingested, it can lend an electron to free radicals, stabilizing them and preventing them from damaging tissue. The potential damage can be reduced if the number of free radicals within the body is reduced. This can help prevent aging and complications arising during illness.
Water naturally ionizes when it passes over rocks. As it passes over the rocks, it picks up the minerals from the rocks, increasing their pH. An example of this type of water is spring water.
If you buy alkaline water, it has been made into alkaline water through electrolysis. Tap water has a mixture of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and bicarbonate mineral ions. The calcium, magnesium, and potassium ions have a positive charge, while bicarbonate has a negative charge. The formation of bicarbonate occurs when carbon dioxide from the air is absorbed into the water.
Electrolysis uses an electrical charge to separate the positive ions in the water from the negative ions. A magnet attracts the ions of an opposite charge and will only allow these ions to pass through a membrane. This process makes both acidic and alkaline water. In one chamber, there will be alkaline water; in the other, there will be acidic water.
Every substance—specifically the foods and fluids you consume—has a pH level, which refers to its amount of acid and base.
Anything below the pH of seven is acidic, and anything above seven is basic. Ionized water can have different pH balances, and with this difference, the use of the water can be different.
This water is not for drinking but is useful for hygiene purposes. Common uses of this water are:
A major benefit of this water is that it can reduce the use of harsh cleaning products that can be toxic to your body. It also helps save money on these cleaning products.
This water is at a pH that is safe to drink but has many other purposes such as food preparation and cooking. The pH of this water can draw out the flavor of the food, reducing the need to use spices and salt. This can help to enhance your health as well as help save money on cooking spices.
This water is also safe for water plants, and its pH can help encourage germination, seed development, and growth in some alkaline-loving plants.
This water is also safe for drinking and can be used for drinking as well as taking medication and preparing food for babies. This is the ordinary pH of water.
This water is not for drinking as it is more acidic and has astringent effects. This water has a range of uses, including:
This water is not for drinking and is primarily for cleaning purposes. It can be used for:
Illness, stress, and bodily processes cause your body to create free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage to your body. This damage can cause delays in healing and increase the risk of some medical conditions, such as cancer.
Ionized water acts as an antioxidant and can stabilize the free radicals within the body. This can help reduce damage to the body from free radicals and prevent medical conditions from occurring due to the free radical damage. This effect of ionized water reducing the effects of oxidation is known as the Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP).
Antioxidants are also found in foods. Some examples of foods rich in antioxidants are:
Because water does not need to be broken down by the body, and because water molecules are small, it is an easy source of antioxidants that will allow your body to receive a high quantity of antioxidants in a shorter time than eating food. Another advantage is that you can drink high quantities of this water without worrying about exceeding your energy requirements. While food is an important source of antioxidants, portion control is important.
Like other substances, your blood has a pH, and the pH for your body to function optimally is 7.35 to 7.45. However, pollution, illness, and stress can affect your body's ability to balance your pH.
It's more common for the body's pH to be more acidic than alkaline, with symptoms of a lower pH including:
Drinking alkaline ionized water can help to neutralize the low pH in your body and restore the body's pH to the optimal level. When the pH level is optimal, your body can deliver nutrients efficiently and remove waste products. This will help to improve energy and nutrient levels and reduce any symptoms.
Research suggests that if the pH of your body is too acidic, it can contribute to chronic medical conditions such as:
Alkaline ionized water, if used over time, can help restore your body's pH balance, prevent it from being too acidic, and thus reduce the risk of chronic illness. However, it is important to note that more scientific research is needed to support the relationship between chronic medical conditions and the pH level.
Molecules of water occur in clusters. The clusters from tap water contain around 15 to 20 molecules per cluster, whereas the clusters of alkaline ionized water contain around four to six molecules per cluster. While you may initially think larger clusters are better, smaller ones allow your body to absorb the water more easily. This results in the water being able to hydrate your body more efficiently. Hydration is important, as water is an important part of many crucial reactions in the body needed for optimal functioning. Water also helps to flush any toxins and waste products from your body.
Dehydration can have many serious effects beyond thirst. Without adequate water, the body cannot flush out toxins or waste products, bodily processes slow, and nutrients can't be efficiently transported to cells. Due to these effects, research suggests that chronic dehydration can increase the risk of medical conditions.
Free radicals can cause damage not only within your body but also to your skin. This can result in your skin aging and cause fine lines and wrinkles. Alkaline ionized water can help stabilize the free radicals and prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
It can also help flush toxins from your skin, prevent them from clogging your pores, and reduce acne. Dehydration skin can cause your skin to become rough and dull in appearance. But alkaline ionized water can help keep your skin hydrated, firm, and smooth.
Gut health is an important aspect of overall health. This organ plays an important role in breaking down and absorbing food. Your gut is lined with bacteria, both good and bad. Good bacteria can help aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and enhance your immune system. For your gut to work optimally, there should be more good bacteria than bad bacteria.
Due to stress, illness, and medications, the good bacteria in your gut can be reduced, and the bad bacteria can increase. Studies suggest that alkaline ionized water can stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in your body, helping to maintain an adequate balance between good and bad bacteria.
The magnesium and calcium minerals in alkaline ionized water can also help with digestion and act as a mild laxative.
A lower pH not only increases the risk of medical conditions, but it can also affect concentration and result in sleep disturbances.
These symptoms generally appear when the pH level has been lower than optimal for longer. Restoring the pH level and maintaining it within an optimal range can help reduce any changes in concentration and sleep problems that result from a low pH.
If you want to start drinking alkaline ionized water, it's best to do so slowly. If you have a home product that allows you to choose the pH of the water, start with a pH of eight or nine. Keep this pH for two weeks. After two weeks, set the pH to nine or nine and a half, and keep it at this level.
To help your body adjust to the change in pH, start with three to four glasses per day. Drink the rest of your water from regular tap or bottled water. For children and the elderly, it is better to start at a lower pH than eight or nine and increase it gradually. Increasing it gradually gives your body time to adjust to the change in the water.
You can buy alkaline water if you do not have a home water ionizer to adjust the pH. The one difference is that you cannot choose the pH of the water and increase it gradually. In this case, start with two glasses a day of alkaline water and drink the rest of your water needs from tap water. Gradually, you can increase the quantity you drink to six to eight glasses per day.
Drinking water throughout the day is important to keep your body adequately hydrated. If you struggle to reach your water intake, begin your day with a glass of alkaline ionized water. This helps your body prepare for the day and helps give you a routine to stay hydrated.
It is also important to drink during exercise. Alkaline ionized water can help hydrate you more efficiently than tap water and, therefore, can help to replace the fluids lost during exercise and prevent dehydration.
It's important to be consistent with drinking alkaline ionized water to see its health benefits. You may feel the effects immediately; however, it generally takes up to 28 days of drinking it every day to see health benefits within your body.
Alkaline water at the recommended pH is generally safe.
There are some side effects, but they are not common. Some of the side effects include constipation and diarrhea. These side effects can occur from a few days to a few weeks after you start to drink alkaline water and occur as your body adjusts to the difference in pH.
When you drink alkaline water, stick to the suggested recommended intake. Although rare, if alkaline water is consumed excessively, it can cause alkalosis. This is when the pH of your body is too high. Some side effects of alkalosis are:
This side effect is rare and will only occur when you drink a lot of alkaline water. This is why it is best to stick to water recommendations when drinking alkaline water.
Adrenal Fatigue (AF) is a condition that your body can experience as a result of chronic stress. Your body responds to stress through your adrenal glands and the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response system. In response to stress, your adrenal glands release stress hormones. These hormones help your body handle stress, and the NEM system supports your adrenal glands. However, your adrenal glands are designed to respond to short-term, not long-term, stress. In the case of long-term stress, your adrenal glands become depleted, and Adrenal Fatigue can occur.
Adrenal Fatigue can result in many symptoms within the body. These include changes in mental health, weight, sleep, and increased inflammation. The NEM system consists of six circuits composed of related organs and systems. The Inflammation circuit is made up of the immune system, digestive tract, and gut microbiome. These help to regulate inflammation within the body.
If there is an imbalance in this circuit, inflammation can increase. As a result of inflammation, inflammatory substances are released into the body, and this can result in a drop in pH.
The pH drop can become chronic, lead to additional symptoms, and increase the risk of developing additional medical conditions. Alkaline ionized water can help restore the pH balance and alleviate any symptoms from the lower pH level. It can also help enhance the good bacteria in the gut. Poor gut health can contribute to inflammation, but as this water enhances gut health, it can help prevent inflammation from occurring.
In Adrenal Fatigue, the body becomes very sensitive to foods and fluids, especially unfamiliar types. While ionized water can help restore normal pH and alleviate symptoms of a low pH, your body may not be familiar with this type of water and may react negatively. This could set you back in recuperating from Adrenal Fatigue.
Another important caution is the safety of the water. Some alkaline water products may not be tested for safety and quality, which increases the chances of the water containing harmful substances that can do more harm than good.
If you are interested in using alkaline ionized water and are experiencing Adrenal Fatigue, chat with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your nutrition and hydration plan. Your healthcare provider can help provide guidance and a plan to support your body during healing.
Water is a crucial part of your nutrition, and alkaline ionized water promises all the benefits of water, plus more. While more evidence is needed to support these benefits, anecdotally, many people find them helpful. Not only does this water help to restore your pH level, but it can also potentially help to reduce symptoms of a low pH, act as an antioxidant, and reduce the risk of chronic illness.
If you are interested in using alkaline ionized water and would like guidance to enhance your health, you can chat with our team at +1 (626) 571-1234 for a free initial call.
Mixing in a half a teaspoon of baking soda in a gallon of purified water is an easy way to increase the pH of your water, making it more alkaline and providing some of the benefits. However, buying alkaline ionized water or using a home water ionizer will guarantee a specific pH level and prevent any contaminations.
