As a Sports Dietitian, I often get asked what the best water is to drink to stay hydrated; alkaline water is always a topic of interest.
So, what is alkaline water, is it good for me, and why is it so popular?
Alkaline water is water with added minerals to raise the pH making the water more basic. Regular drinking water has a neutral pH of around 7, whereas alkaline water is typically 7.4 to 9.5.
Because of this, the media promotes alkaline water as miracle water as it claims to neutralize our body which can aid with weight loss and fighting disease.
Learn how much water you should be drinking daily here →
But is it actually true?
No, which makes it cap.
Our body are designed to maintain a stable blood pH of around 7.35- 7.45 with the help of our kidneys and lungs. This system is tightly regulated because if our blood pH drops too low or too high it could lead to coma, organ failure and even death! Additionally, our stomach pH is very acidic at 1.5-3.5 which means when you eat and drink anything it gets neutralized by our stomach acid. Therefore, what we eat and/or drink doesn’t really affect our blood pH levels.
While there have been a few research studies completed, the data lacks strong evidence and more research is needed to support the claims the media has portrayed.
Would I recommend it?
Nope!
Here is why.
Since it doesn’t have any added value compared to normal drinking water it’s not something I would personally recommend. However, if you enjoy the taste of it and willing to spend the extra money then you do you boo and go for it.
Learn how much water you should be drinking daily here →
References
Tanaka Y, Saihara Y, Izumotani K, Nakamura H. Daily ingestion of alkaline electrolyzed water containing hydrogen influences human health, including gastrointestinal symptoms. Med Gas Res. 2019 Jan 9;8(4):160-166. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.248267. PMID: 30713669; PMCID: PMC6352572.
Logozzi M, Mizzoni D, Di Raimo R, Andreotti M, Macchia D, Spada M, Fais S. In vivo antiaging effects of alkaline water supplementation. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2020 Dec;35(1):657-664. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1733547. PMID: 32106720; PMCID: PMC7054916.
