Health Benefits of Alkaline Water

With increasing stress on healthy eating, alkaline water is emerging as the latest trend. Alkaline water is believed to be better than anything you could get from the tap. Water in itself is imperative to the body but this burgeoning popularity of alkaline water shows that the type of water is equally important to our well-being.

What is Alkaline Water?

Water stands at a pH of 7, the balance between acidic and alkaline. Anything below 7 is considered acidic and anything above is considered alkaline. While the exact pH value of tap water differs according to the area, there is general consensus that tap water in the USA falls between a range of 4.3 and 5.3, decidedly acidic.

Due to this, many people blame plain water as a perpetrator of problems like osteoporosis and cancer as too much acid in the bloodstream and cells is considered unhealthy. Alkaline water, therefore, reduces the incidence of acid in the bloodstream, making it a more wholesome alternative.

Alkaline water is ionized, i.e. its pH value has been increased. This type of water stands at a pH value of 8 or 9 while water, in its purity, stands at 7. As a result, even if the water we consume does not lean towards the acidic end of the scale, a higher pH value is more conducive to the health of the human body. 

Our body naturally secretes fluids that are acidic in nature. Alkaline water helps to balance this, even if you are not already consuming foods that are alkaline in nature. A healthy body requires the consumption of foods that are 30% acidic and 70% alkaline to maintain a neutral pH level. 

Health Benefits of Alkaline Water

Alkaline water has remained a controversial topic but recently, its health benefits have started surfacing with greater stress on health and wellness.

1. It Helps Control Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is when the muscle at the lower end of the esophagus relaxes untimely, causing acid to back up in the esophagus. This stomach acid causes discomfort, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, burning sensations, and chest pain. Recurring acid reflux can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Studies show that alkaline water with a pH of 8.8 can act as an adjunct to the treatment of acid reflux. It helps to denature pepsin, the primary digestive enzyme by diffusing the acidity in the stomach and gastro-intestinal tract in order to maintain a neutral pH value. 

2. It has Ultra Hydrating Properties

Alkaline water is proven to have more powerful hydrating properties in comparison to normal water. Therefore, it is deemed suitable for people who work out regularly and require a higher amount of water.  Alkaline water has smaller molecules as compared to regular water, which makes its absorption in the cells faster. This helps in re-hydrating the body more quickly.

Aquaporins present in body cells help regulate the movement of water between cells. In the presence of acids, they appeared to be close, hampering the movement of water between cells. Since alkaline water has an opposite charge, the excess electrons could flow freely and faster.

This is one of the reasons alkaline water has earned the title as the go-to drink for professional athletes like NBA player LeBron James to receive proper hydration.

3. It Promotes Bone Health

Alkaline water contains more mineral density in comparison to normal water. It helps lower bone resorption as compared to acidic mineral water, which makes it the ideal choice to promote bone health and metabolism. It has a higher incident of minerals like magnesium and calcium, due to which it is able to lower the risk of osteoporosis.

4. It Helps Boost the Immune System

An acidic environment renders the body more susceptible to the production of cancerous cells, lowering the body’s immunity. Experts claim that drinking alkaline water regularly improves the circulatory system. The basic nature of alkaline water neutralizes the acidic content of the bloodstream. The various functions of alkaline water work in tandem to boost the body’s immune system to fight pathogens and infections.

The health benefits of alkaline water have made it the ideal choice for health conscious people. You could find alkaline water in any of our vending machines, we carry the brand Essentia which is great .