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Alkaline Water
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ALKALINE WATER?
It’s no secret that drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day is good for your health. As studies suggest, staying hydrated can improve your productivity, mood, memory, energy level, and clarity. But what if we told you that there’s something you can drink that will not only hydrate you faster and longer than regular drinking water, but also improve your blood, bone, and organ health – would you believe us? Well, you better...because it’s true with alkaline water!
Chance are you’ve probably heard the term alkaline water being used by bottled water companies like SmartWater®, Essentia®, and Flow®, and you may have even bought yourself a bottle because of the health benefits associated with the buzzword – but do you know what alkaline water is and what the benefits are from drinking it?
The idea that alkaline water is able to bring about optimal health seems to be based on the belief that acidic properties in the body and blood are the cause of ill health and disease and need to be neutralized. It is believed a more alkaline body will lead to better health.
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Alkaline water has been known to:
ENHANCE HYDRATION
A 2017 study published in Biology of Sport found that drinking alkaline water shows a positive effect on hydration status after anaerobic exercise resulting in increased energy.
IMPROVE BONE HEALTH
Some research has been done on the effects of alkaline intake on bones. A study published in the scientific journal Bone found a positive effect on bone resorption with people who consumed alkaline water rich in bicarbonate. Bone resorption is the process where old bone cells are broken down and replaced by new ones. Less bone resorption and more mineral density result in better bone strength. The authors of the study concluded that “a bicarbonate- and calcium-rich alkaline mineral water decreased bone resorption more than a calcium-rich acidic mineral water.”
SOOTHE ACID REFLUX
A study published in Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology found that drinking alkaline water at pH 8.8 can help soothe acid reflux because the higher pH level kills pepsin, an enzyme involved in breaking down food proteins and a main cause for acid reflux. Acid reflux is when the contents of the stomach, which are acidic, splash back up the food pipe. Acid reflux that keeps happening for a long time can cause damage and a disease known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, BLOOD SUGAR, AND CHOLESTEROL
In 2016, scientists in Shanghai found that three to six months after drinking alkaline water, people with high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes), and high blood lipids (cholesterol) had lower measures in each of these factors. Researchers found that a high-pH electrolyte water reduced blood viscosity, the thickness and stickiness of your blood, in 100 adults after exercising. This may help reduce cardiovascular strain due to dehydration.
INCREASE LONGEVITY
A study published in 2016 looked at the effect of consuming alkaline water on 150 mice over a period of three years. Results suggested that those who drank alkaline water had signs of greater longevity, in other words, they aged less and were more likely to live longer. Histological examination of mice kidneys, intestines, hearts, livers, and brains was performed in order to verify the risk of diseases correlated to drinking alkaline water. No significant damage, but aging changes, emerged; organs of alkaline watered animals resulted to be relatively superimposable to controls, shedding a further light on the benefits of alkaline water consumption in humans.