Alkaline 'ionized water' has no health benefits
Alkaline water with a pH level above 7 is sold under the name 'alkaline ionized water.' Sellers of alkaline ionized water tout its effectiveness in helping the gastrointestinal system function, but several experts have concluded that there is no scientific evidence showing the benefits of alkaline ionized water.
Is alkaline water better? - Harvard Health
What is alkaline water, and does it have any benefits? | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/health/food-diet/what-is-alkaline-water-and-does-it-have-any-benefits
Below are the results of a Google search for the words 'effects of alkaline ionized water.' There are a lot of hits for pages claiming to 'help the stomach and intestines function' and 'relieve diarrhea and stomach upset.'
However, Howard E. Lewine , chief medical editor of Harvard Medical School's health information service ' Harvard Health Publishing ,' said, 'There is no evidence to support choosing alkaline ionized water,' and asserted that there is no difference in health between safe tap water or bottled drinking water and alkaline ionized water. Salome Kruger, a nutrition researcher at Northwestern University, also stated, 'There is no significant difference between alkaline ionized water and regular water.'
To begin with, alkaline ionized water is alkaline water with a pH of 8 to 9, and can be collected in the natural environment or artificially produced by electrolysis. You might think, 'If I drink alkaline ionized water with a pH of 8 to 9, I can make the water in my body alkaline and get some kind of effect,' but human stomach acid is highly acidic with a pH of 1.5 to 3.5, and alkaline ionized water is neutralized when it reaches the stomach.
Drinking a large amount of alkaline ionized water may raise the pH of stomach acid, but the change is temporary and stomach acid quickly returns to its original pH. Also, even if blood pH rises as a result of drinking a large amount of alkaline ionized water, the kidneys will return blood pH to normal. Due to these bodily effects, the phenomenon of 'drinking alkaline ionized water to alkalize the body' does not occur.
Some studies related to alkaline ionized water suggest that it has some effect. For example, a study of 300 women found that women who regularly drank alkaline ionized water had lower BMI, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels than women who drank regular water. However, the women who drank alkaline ionized water in this study also had characteristics such as high income, good nutrition, and active exercise. For this reason, Kruger points out that 'lifestyle factors such as income and nutritional status have a greater impact on chronic diseases than alkaline ionized water,' suggesting that other factors, rather than alkaline ionized water, may be affecting BMI and other factors.
Also, if you are taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that suppress the secretion of stomach acid, alkaline ionized water with a high pH may not be neutralized in the stomach, causing the pH of your blood to become too high. Also, some alkaline ionized water contains sodium bicarbonate, which may cause sodium overload in some cases. For this reason, Kruger points out that 'there are some risks associated with drinking alkaline ionized water.'
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