What Is Alkaline Water?

All life depends on water, but not all water is equally fit for consumption. You’ve probably seen bottles of “alkaline water” on store shelves, with images of mountains and slogans about the fountain of youth. But what is it, exactly, and does it hold up? This article will delve into the science of alkaline water, sift through reality versus make-believe and help you understand if it may be a right fit for your wellness journey.

What Is Alkaline Water?

To understand alkaline water, let’s first talk about pH. pH is an abbreviation for “potential of hydrogen” and measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral. 

Anything less than 7 is acidic (think lemon juice or black coffee) and anything above 7 is alkaline, or basic (like baking soda).

Ordinary tap water is usually a neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water from the tap has a higher pH level than most normal drinking water, said Nneka Leiba, director of healthy living science at the Environmental Working Group. This higher pH level is thanks to minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium. 

Some alkaline waters come straight from springs or artesian wells where they naturally acquire these minerals. Other waters such as Aqua Life High PH are distilled and then have a proprietary mix of minerals and electrolytes added to give the water a steady, optimum high pH.

Is Alkaline Water Good for You?

Alkaline water is somewhat controversial. Many health experts say there is not enough evidence to support the numerous health claims that users and sellers make. The discrepancy of these findings may be due to the variation in alkaline water studies.

There are a couple of studies showing that alkaline water may be beneficial for health in certain ways:

• A 2020 study on mice determined that drinking alkaline water daily also led to improved DNA aging markers.
• And a small 2018 study conducted in Japan found that among 60 human participants, drinking alkaline electrolyzed water led to slightly improved stool.
• A 2021 study indicates it might be beneficial in increasing bone density for people who have had menopause and are experiencing osteoporosis.

Further larger studies on humans will be necessary to investigate these results.

Does Alkaline Water Have Side Effects?

Alkaline water is generally safe for most healthy adults in moderation, though where digestion is concerned, everyone’s tolerance may be a little different. But if taken in large amount, it can have mild side effects like stomach upset, nausea or muscle twitching on account of the imbalance of minerals in the body. 

If you have kidney issues or are on certain medications, a health care provider should be consulted before making alkaline water a regular part of your diet because the body may have difficulty processing excess minerals. When in doubt, follow your body and just make sure you’re incorporating alkaline water into a balanced hydration routine.

Alkaline water vs. regular water

Alkaline water is water that has a higher pH than normal drinking water. Some promoters of alkaline water believe it can neutralize the acid in your body, but this is a rogue’s lie with no scientific support.

Pure water as it naturally occurs has a neutral pH of around 7. Alkaline water usually has a pH of 8 or 9. But pH alone does not provide enough alkalinity to make water very alkaline.

For water to be alkaline, it has to have alkaline minerals and negative ORP. ORP is a measurement of water’s potential to be either an oxidizing or reducing agent. The lower (negative) its ORP level, the greater its anti-oxidising capacity.

Does Alkaline Water Improve Skin Health?

Many people believe that better hydration leads to better skin, and they are right. If alkaline water has the potential to make you more hydrated, then it follows that it could be better for your skin by making it appear healthier and more glowy. 

Dehydration can make skin look dry and dull, so any improvement in hydration levels can have a positive effect on your complexion. And while there is no conclusive scientific evidence that alkaline water in particular hydrates and benefits skin, getting enough H2O helps your complexion for sure.

Where can you get alkaline water?

You can find alkaline water in many grocery stores and specialty health food stores. It’s also online.

Several large chain stores also sell water ionizers.

You can make it at home, too. Even though lemon and lime juices are acidic, they contain minerals that, when eaten and metabolized, can produce alkaline byproducts. For example, when you squeeze a lemon or lime into a glass of water, that water becomes more alkaline as your body digests it. Another way to make water more alkaline is with pH drops or baking soda.

There doesn’t seem to be any sign of a limit when it comes to how much alkaline water you can drink every day if you do it the right way with filtered water free of pollutants, ionized and re-mineralized or purchased in stores.