Humans have long recognized the curative powers of water. Ancient Hindus would dip themselves in the Ganges to heal body and soul while Egyptians chose the waters of the Nile for its healing powers. Temples were often built near thermal springs, and in more recent history, Ponce de Leon went hunting for the Fountain of Youth in what is now Florida.
Today, we still recognize water’s healing powers, and experts recommend that we drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and healthy. Switching a few of those glasses from tap water to alkaline water might just be one of the healthier choices you can make.
What Is Alkaline Water?
Typically, water has a neutral pH level of around 7.0. Adding various gasses or chemicals to it can increase or decrease the pH and make it more acidic or alkaline. Acidic water has a pH below 7.0 while alkaline water has a pH between 8.5 – 9.5.
Alkaline water also has four distinct minerals that set it apart from ordinary tap water, including:
- Calcium, which is essential for bone health and heart, nerve, and muscle function
- Magnesium, which helps convert food to energy and is essential for numerous biochemical reactions
- Sodium, which regulates blood pressure
- Potassium, an essential electrolyte
Why Drink Alkaline Water
The benefits of alkaline water are many, including:
1. Bone health
Alkaline water just might help keep your bones healthier, possibly due both to its decreased acidity but also its higher calcium levels. In one study, women with osteoporosis received alkaline water along with Calcium D and Osteofos. The control group used Calcium D and Osteofos without alkaline water. Measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and three months after the intervention. Bone density increased in both groups but was significantly higher in the group using alkaline water.
2. Healthier blood pressure levels
Alkaline water can keep you hydrated, but it also might keep your heart happy, according to one group of scientists. According to their study, alkaline water helped rehydrate people faster after exercise, which decreased blood mean systolic and diastolic blood viscosity levels faster and allowed for healthier cardiac profiles.
3. Decreased acid reflux
Acid reflux and heartburn are common issues that affect many of us in midlife and beyond. Alkaline water might be an easy fix for this irksome issue. According to a study published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology, & Laryngology, the higher pH of alkaline water can kill pepsin, the enzyme that is largely to blame for acid reflux, a condition that occurs when stomach contents wash back up into the throat. Over long periods, acid reflux can trigger gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, and cause damage throughout the upper digestive tract.
4. Longevity
Can alkaline water help you live longer? One study indicates that it’s possible. Published in 2016, the study gave alkaline water to mice for three years. The mice that were given alkaline water had fewer signs of aging and were more likely to live longer than mice that did not have access to alkaline water.
In other words, the alkaline group had greater longevity.
5. Weight loss
The jury is still out on whether or not alkaline water is the magic bullet for weight loss. However, one study found that alkaline water does have an inhibitory effect on high-fat dietary-induced obesity. This means that it could be effective for those who are trying to lose weight.
Regardless, staying hydrated is essential for weight loss. Experts know that water can suppress your appetite, help remove toxins from your body, and burn fat. Why not give yourself the best chance of losing weight and keeping it off with alkaline water, which might just inhibit further weight gain, according to research?
Water is essential for good health, but not all waters are equal. Increasingly, research is showing that adding alkaline water to your daily hydration routine might just be one of the smartest moves you can make right now. Call Alkaline Water, LLC today to learn more about the benefits of alkaline water or order your own alkaline water system in South Florida!
