There are many benefits of alkaline water you may have never heard of. Perhaps you haven’t even heard of alkaline water before. And now you are probably wondering: What is alkaline water? How can it help you stay healthy? Well, let’s find out.
Alkaline water is water that has a higher pH than average water. It is alkaline on the pH scale rather than acidic. Water that is infused with alkaline foods can also be considered alkaline water.
Alkaline Water: Why drink it?
Now, why bother to drink alkaline water? Well, one main reason is that it gives you some of the same benefits as an alkaline diet. It will make your overall body pH more alkaline, which is a healthier state for your body.
The best way to go about this is to give alkaline water a try to see how your body responds. Drinking alkaline water won’t hurt you (as long as you don’t do it excessively). This means that you can experiment with it for a few days or weeks and see how it works for you. Your body should start feeling refreshed and energized. Here are some easy alkaline water recipes you can start with if you want to make your own. You can start small, maybe one glass a day, and you might see some of these benefits of alkaline water:
Benefits of Alkaline Water
1) Balances pH
This is the most obvious benefit of alkaline water. It balances the pH of your body the same way alkaline foods can. This is thought by health experts to have benefits like reduced risk of heart disease and an increase in body energy levels.
2) Fights Free Radicals
“Free radicals” are partly what is responsible for aging, and you can reduce their effects by eating and drinking foods that are rich in antioxidants. Certain kinds of alkaline water—like mineral water that is alkaline—can contain antioxidants. These antioxidants help reduce signs of aging, as well as help prevent diseases and cancer.
Furthermore, you can also add antioxidants to your diet through other means. For example, green tea is a time-honored traditional beverage loaded with antioxidants plus many other benefits. Some vegetables contain antioxidants as well.
3) Helps to Hydrate You
Alkaline water may be absorbed better by the body than acidic water. Plus, alkaline water might taste better to you, so it may simply encourage you to drink more on that level.
4) Detoxifying
Another one of the benefits of alkaline water lies in its ability to detoxify and cleanse the body. According to Dr. Sebi, mucous buildup is the cause of many disease states. Alkaline water helps eliminate mucous build up on the colon walls. This, in turn, allows the body to better absorb the essential nutrients.
5) Weight Control
As you probably know, the body stores acid waste in fat. If you ingest highly acidic foods, it is likely that your body will produce more fatty tissue to protect vital organs. Drinking alkaline water reduces your body’s need for fatty tissues by reducing the amount of acid it would need to neutralize. In addition, having an overall alkaline body pH creates a healthy environment for your body to function optimally.
When Drinking Alkaline Water, Don’t Overdo It
If you decide to start taking in alkaline water, just remember not to overdo it. According to industry experts, drinking too much of it could cause some side effects such as skin irritation or gastrointestinal issues. They also add that drinking regular water is fine too because it is just as good when it comes to keeping your electrolytes in balance.
What’s the ideal body pH?
If you are striving to get your body more alkaline, an ideal body pH should be in the slightly alkaline range of around pH 6.5 to 7.5. You can easily check your body pH and track your progress to attaining optimal alkalinity using pH test strips. You can use these strips to test your urine or saliva every day and get an idea of your overall average body pH.
If you’re concerned about any health issue and you want to address it with alkaline water, be sure to talk to your doctor first as well. Some people claim that alkaline water helps with certain ailments—like obesity, for example—but there may be many other contributing factors that alkaline water would be unable to address. To clarify, think of alkaline water as more of a supplement than a cure for root issues.
Conclusion
As we have shared, there are many reasons to drink alkaline water. The benefits to your body are significant and your body will thank you. Try it yourself to see if it works for you!
Elena Daisley is a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist (MT, ASCP certified) with over 10 years of experience in the medical field. She holds bachelor’s degrees in both Biology and Laboratory Science from the University of Central Florida. Elena enjoys helping others on their journey to healthier living.
