How Is Alkaline Water Good for You?

These days, consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to what types of water are available. But the latest craze in drinking water is what people refer to as alkaline water, which reportedly, has numerous health benefits. But what exactly is alkaline water, and how is alkaline water good for you?

How is alkaline water good for you?

First off, we need to talk about the main difference between alkaline water and regular water. Certain substances, such as water, can either be acidic or basic.

If water is acidic, it means that it has a low pH level, and if it is basic, it has a higher pH level. Pure water has a pH of about 7, so anything above 7 would be basic or alkaline, and anything lower would be acidic.

Alkaline water is water with a pH level of 8.5 or greater. Companies selling this type of water claim that it has various health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels, improving gut health, and boosting hydration.

Because of these claims, a lot of people concerned about their health have shifted to drinking this type of water instead of mineral or distilled water. But what does medical science have to say about drinking this kind of water?

It helps with hyperacidity

Studies conducted on people with GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disorder have found that drinking alkaline water might be helpful in treating GERD and hyperacidity. They discovered that the high pH level of the water deactivated pepsin, which is an enzyme responsible for digestion.

In people with GERD however, pepsin can damage the lining of the stomach and esophagus after it gets activated by stomach acids.

Because water with a high pH level can deactivate pepsin, drinking it can help mitigate and manage the side-effects of GERD. So for people suffering from hyperacidity or GERD, drinking this kind of water might be more beneficial compared to drinking regular water.

It’s much better than drinking acidic water

Generally speaking, drinking water with a higher pH level is much better than drinking acidic water. One reason behind this is that acidic water tends to leach off chemicals and metals from pipes and wells. This means that if your drinking water is acidic, it might contain harmful metals and chemicals.

Acidic water can also damage your teeth, as well as prevent calcium absorption in your bones.  If you’re suffering from hyperacidity or GERD, drinking acidic water might worsen symptoms.

So in this regard, drinking alkaline water is better than drinking acidic water.

Drinking water in general is good for you

Lastly, drinking water is generally a good thing. In fact, water already contains everything that we need when it comes to hydration. There’s no need for us to take any sports drinks or other drinks with reported health benefits.

With regard to alkaline water, there’s currently no evidence about its other health benefits. Some studies tried to look for a connection between alkaline water and cancer to see if there’s a connection. But the results of the study were inconclusive.

Some people claim that water with a high pH “balances” out your body. They add that it can also help lower the “acidity” of your blood. But these claims are not really based on any facts.

The reality is that our body is very efficient, and it constantly tries to maintain a pH level of 7.35 to 7.45, which is safe. Drinking either alkaline or even acidic water won’t magically change your body’s pH levels. In this regard, the claims about alkaline water are not true.

However, this does not mean that drinking it is bad for you.

In fact, if this type of water can encourage people to stay hydrated, then that’s a good thing. It’s a much healthier option compared to soft drinks or other sweetened beverages.

In general, alkaline water is safe, and doesn’t cause any significant health problems. This means that if you want to try and drink alkaline water instead of regular water, then feel free to do so!

Just remember that it’s not the “cure-all” that some people make it out to be.