Water is very beneficial for our health and there is no denying it. Proper usage of it keeps us hydrated, makes our skin glow and other numerous health benefits can be enjoyed with proper consumption of simply plain water. Another important factor of water is that it keeps the pH(potential of hydrogen) of our body balanced. pH is normally measured from 1-14 with 7 being the neutral point and anything below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline but there smart devices like water ionizer which keep the water health.
What is Alkaline Water?
How much alkaline your water is? It is determined by its pH level. If the pH is high, your water or liquid is more alkaline or basic and lower pH liquids are on the lower side of alkaline. The standard pH level of water is 7. Whereas alkaline water has a higher pH than 7, it is usually somewhere between 8 and 9.
Alkaline water may come from artesian or springs wells which are usually situated in the areas having an increased amount of dissolved minerals. However, there are ways by which you can produce alkaline water at home. Which we will see later in the article.
10 Best Alkaline Water Bottles
| Product Image | Product Name | Product Price |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Essentia Water, Ionized Alkaline Bottled Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 2. Qure Alkaline Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 3. AQUAhydrate Electrolyte Enhanced Alkaline Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 4. Evamor Natural Alkaline Artesian Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 5. LIFEWTR, Premium Purified Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 6. FIJI Natural Artesian Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 7. Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Alkaline Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 8. Evian Natural Spring Water Bottles
| Check price on amazon |
 | 9. Bai Antioxidant Water, Alkaline Water
| Check price on amazon |
 | 10. Aquahydrate Electrolyte Enhanced Water
| Check price on amazon |
Benefit and Risks of Alkaline Water
There is an ongoing debate on what are the potential benefits and risks that come with alkaline water. Here we have discussed both in detail.
Core Alkaline Water Health Benefits
Alkaline Water is Hydrating: This seems pretty obvious. Alkaline waters are supposed to hydrate the body and hydration is essentially key to everything. Filled with one will help smooth your digestive system, give you energy, and make your skin glow. However, there is a debate on these benefits as well.
Alkaline Water protects the body against Free Radicals: A trip back to the memory lane… remember those chemistry classes and discussion about free radicals.‘These are molecules or atoms with an unpaired electron. In non-science language, they are unstable and roaming around inside our looking for another electron to pair up with. They can do some damage to the DNA, potentially leading to small problems like wrinkles and serious problems like cancer. The best way to fight these is by nourishing up on antioxidants and alkaline water is known to have some good antioxidant effects on the body.
Alkaline Water is beneficial for people with Reflux Issue: If you experience indigestion problems or heartburn, you must have a very good idea of how painful and disturbing this can be. A recent study found that a power combo of the drinking alkaline water and the Mediterranean diet can help ease symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux (a form of reflux where stomach acid travels up the esophagus and down the back of your throat) as effectively as medication.
Alkaline Water helps in Healthy Digestion: Generally, if we drink a sufficient amount of water regularly it will aid in food move through the digestive system, but researchers have also found that alkaline water can be very effective at keeping things flowing in the digestive system.
The benefits can be summarized as below.
- Hydration.
- Easing digestion.
- Help in weight loss as it will boost your metabolism.
- Detoxing by flushing out acidic waste.
- Skin health improvement.
- Balancing blood pH.
- Preventing cancer, allegedly thanks to its ability to neutralize harmful free radicals.
Some of the Alkaline Water Risks
Some pretty talked-about risks of alkaline water are below.
Can Mess With Stomach Acid: We use alkaline water to create a good balance of the body, if we drink too much of this alkaline water, it could create hypochlorhydria (deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the stomach). And when this happens it will disturb your entire digestive system as it will not function properly and won’t properly digest food or kill harmful bacteria. So if you are only drinking alkaline water and something feels “not right,” you better consult a doctor.
Possible Irritation in Skin and Eyes: Generally, you will find a pH between 8 and 9 in most of the alkaline water. However, there is some having pH of 10 or above, and such cases may cause you some irritation in your skin and eyes.
Muscle Twitching: Metabolic alkalosis can be caused by drinking too much alkaline water. This means that your body’s pH has been thrown out of the strike, and can cause some serious side effects including muscle twitching, vomiting, and tingling.
Can You Drink Alkaline Water Every Day
For the daily intake of alkaline water, there is no final verdict over it and there is no recommended consumption of it. However, if you have decided to use alkaline water, start with a low intake and then slowly increase it. But whenever you feel something ‘off’ make sure to consult your physician.
How to Make Alkaline Water at Home
This probably the best and easiest wat to make alkaline water. All you need is
- 1 liter filtered water
- 1 lemon
- 1/8 sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
How to Make It?
Fill a pitcher with the water. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze one half in the water and make thin slices of the other half and add it to the water. In the end, add sea salt and mix it. Store it overnight and here you are with your alkaline water. Drink it and enjoy it.
How to Make Your Alkaline Water?
By now, you must be well aware of the pros and cons of alkaline water. It is now time to look at some ways to make alkaline water easily.
How to Make Alkaline Water With Baking Soda?
It is one of the most popular and common ways to alkalize your normal water as it will raise your water pH to 9. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 125 ml of water and you will get benefited from it in case of heartburn. If you are a healthy adult, you better try ⅛ tablespoon of baking soda in 235ml of filtered water. Shake the mixture to completely dissolve the baking soda in it and you are now ready with your alkaline drink.
How to Make Alkaline Water With Lemons?
This might sound absurd to many, but trust us, lemon juice is a major part of an alkaline diet. The lemon juice is known to be very acidic, and at the same time, it is also known to produce basic byproducts when it is metabolized. If you are interested to try this method, you should go with diluted lemon juice as it is safe and tasty to drink. The added effects are similar to when you add lemon slices into your water jar.
The making is pretty much similar to the above baking soda recipe, add ⅛ tablespoon of lemon juice in 235ml of clean water. You may want to juice the lemons beforehand and store the juice in the fridge for future use.
How to Make Alkaline Water With Cucumber?
Cucumber alkaline water has many proven health benefits including weight loss, hydration, lowering blood pressure, and other skin benefits. Here is how you can make a pitcher of this water at home.
You would require
- 2 thin sliced cucumber
- 8 cups of filtered water
- ½ teaspoon salt water
Mix up all the ingredients in the jar and cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator for 4 hours or place it overnight. Keep the water refrigerated and consume the water in a maximum of 3 days. You can make cucumber water tasty by adding oranges, sprigs of mint, basil leaves, ginger, melon, fresh raspberries, or pineapple.
How to Make Alkaline Water With Himalayan Salt?
Fill your pitcher with fresh filtered water and add thinly sliced lemon into it. Make sure that you do not squeeze the lemon. Now add some Himalayan pink salt into it and cover the juice. Let it sit for 8-12 hours or overnight at room temperature. Enjoy the drink and health benefits associated with it.
Making Alkaline Water With Apple Cider Vinegar?
Using apple cider vinegar is another way of making alkaline water. Take a cap-full of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and enjoy some benefits of fermented food.
How to Make Alkaline Water With Ionizer
The most efficient way to make alkaline water at home is to use a water ionizer. The machine works on the phenomenon of electrolysis as it will separate positive & negative electrodes in the water. There are two streams of water running in the machine: one is used for alkaline and the other one is used for acidic.
The ionizer has proved to be very effective in producing basic water and it does so without instigating any new matter into it. However, in some cases, the pH level can reach up to 12, which might be too high form some people and may cause skin and/or eyes irritation. In the long run, ionizing machines are more affordable than buying bottled water. The reduction in using plastic bottles is also an added environmental advantage of using an ionizer.
Final Verdict
In the end, hydration is the most important point against water consumption. How much your water is alkaline or acidic is merely one`s call. There are certain benefits (hydration, skin health improvement, easing digestion system, detoxing, balancing blood pH) and some potential risks (stomach acid issue, muscle twitching, and irritation in skin and/or eyes) associated with alkaline water usage. There is still no concrete evidence as if the health benefits of alkaline water will continue to take effect in the longer run, however, with diet regime in full throttle nowadays, people do prefer using alkaline water especially making them at their home and have reported some benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drink alkaline water every day?
There is no final verdict over it. You may start with a low consumption of alkaline water.
How can I make my body alkaline quickly?
Alkaline producing foods: Spinach | Barccoli | Carrots | Strawberries | cauliflower
Alkaline producing processed food & drinks: meat& eggs | sugar | chocolate | coffee | white flour | soft drinks
Is alkaline water good for kidneys?
Alkaline water is not harmful but if you have any chronic kidney disease or you are on some medication, alkaline water could have some negative effects. It is always good to consult your doctor.
What should be daily alkaline water consumption?
For optimal benefits, you may drink 8-12 glasses of alkaline water.
Is there any best time to drink alkaline water?
It is best to take alkaline water when you have an empty stomach like when you wake up in the morning or if you have fast for 8-10hours.
Can alkaline water make you gain weight?
No, there are no reported cases or evidence to support it.
Is pH 10 Water Safe?
It may cause your skin to dry and you may feel irritation.
Does drinking alkaline water help lose weight?
Yes, it can help in reducing some weight as it could boost your metabolism.
