Alkaline Water: Is It Really Good?

The article was written by MSc Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

Alkaline water has a higher pH than regular drinking water. Because of this, some advocates of alkaline water believe that it can neutralize acids in your body. Regular drinking water usually has a neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water usually has a pH of 8 or 9. However, the pH alone is not sufficient to impart significant alkalinity to the water.

The “alkalinity” in alkaline water refers to its pH level. The pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and a negative redox capacity (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or antioxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more antioxidant this value is.

Although alkaline drinking water is considered safe, it can produce negative side effects.
Excess alkalinity in the body can cause gastrointestinal problems and skin irritation. Too much alkalinity can also provoke the normal pH of the body, leading to metabolic alkalosis, a condition that can produce the following symptoms:
Nausea Vomiting Hand tremors Muscle twitching Tingling in the quads extremities or face Confusion Alkalosis can also cause a decrease in free calcium in the body, which can affect bone health. However, the most common cause of hypocalcemia is not from drinking alkaline water, but from an underactive parathyroid gland.

Naturally alkaline water is formed when water passes through rocks - like springs - and picks up minerals, increasing its alkalinity level.
However, many people who drink alkaline water buy alkaline water that has gone through a chemical process called electrolysis. This technique uses a product called an ionizer to raise the pH of ordinary water. The ion makers say that electricity is used to separate the molecules in the more acidic or more alkaline water, the acidic water is then released.
Is alkaline water safe?
Drinking naturally alkaline water is generally considered safe, as it contains natural minerals. Care should be taken with artificially alkaline water as it may contain less minerals better than the high pH you think and may contain contaminants. Besides, drinking too much alkaline water can make you mineral deficient.
Where to buy this kind of water?
Alkaline water can be purchased at many health food or grocery stores. Water ionizers are also sold in many large chain stores. You can also make your own at home. Although lemons and lime juice are acidic, they contain minerals that can create alkaline by-products after being digested and metabolized. Adding a squeeze of lemon or lime to a glass of water can make your water more alkaline as your body digests it. Adding a pH reducer or baking soda is another way to make water more alkaline. If water is properly filtered to remove contaminants, ionized and re-mineralized, or purchased from a quality source, there is no evidence that there is a limit to the amount of alkaline water that can be consumed daily. .

References:
Koufman JA, et al. (2012). Potential benefits of pH 8.8 alkaline drinking water as an adjunct in the treatment of reflux disease. DOI: 10.1177/000348941212100702 Kozisek F. (n.d.) Health risks from drinking demineralised water. who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientschap12.pdf Wang Y-L. (2012). Preliminary observation on changes of blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids after using alkaline ionized drinking water. en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-SHYI200112005.htm Weidman J, et al. (2016). Effect of electrolyzed high-pH alkaline water on blood viscosity in healthy adults. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-016-0153-8 Wynn E, et al. (2009). Alkaline mineral water lowers bone resorption even in calcium sufficiency. DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2008.09.007 Zeratsky K. (2018). Is alkaline water better for you than plain water? mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/alkaline-water/faq-20058029