Alkaline water: what is it, what is it for and how to make it

Water is a vital ingredient for life. The phrase is not a cliché but a fact: between 60% and 70% of our body constitution is water. Some experts who have studied the subject say that we can stay alive for up to 40 days without eating, but only three to five days without drinking water. That’s how fundamental this element is.

You must know that there are different types of water. Although we see them the same (colorless and odorless), depending on their pH, some kinds of water will be considered acidic, others neutral, and others alkaline.

Alkaline waters are those of our interest, and we will discuss them in this article FastlyHeal. Read on to discover what alkaline water is and how to do it at home.

What is alkaline water?

A standard measure called pH was created to determine if a liquid substance is alkaline or acidic. This mathematical measure (a logarithm) establishes the quality of the elements present in the solution.

A substance is considered neutral when its pH equals 7, the center of this scale. If the pH is less than 7, the meaning is deemed to be acidic, and as it moves down the scale, the acidity increases. For example, lemon juice has a pH of 2 and vinegar of 3. They are highly acidic.

On the contrary, if the pH is greater than 7 , then the substance is considered alkaline or fundamental to the extent that it moves up the scale. Increases its alkalinity. For example, the pH of bicarbonate is between 8 and 9, and that of milk of magnesia which is between 10 and 11, is quite alkaline.

Additionally, alkaline water contains mineral elements that are also alkaline and a redox potential (oxidation-reduction potential) that is negative—the more negative this potential, the greater the ability of alkaline water to act as an antioxidant.

What is alkaline water for?

All of the above is fine from a scientific point of view, but you may be wondering: what is alkaline water for? We will explain the answer below.

First, you must remember that our body lives in a permanent oxidation state. The more acidic we keep our internal composition, the greater the oxidation. The more significant and faster the deterioration of our cells and the whole body, the acceleration of the aging process.

It is precisely these characteristics that we mentioned which give the following benefits to the alkaline water:

Bone health

The body’s acidity contributes to calcium reabsorption from the bones and makes us prone to developing osteoporosis.

Numerous studies have proven that people who drink alkaline water reduce calcium reabsorption and are not only less prone to osteoporosis but can reverse its effects.

Cancer prevention

Body acidity makes us candidates for the appearance of some types of cancer, such as bladder cancer.

Several studies have shown that drinking alkaline water, due to its potential to reduce our oxidation, helps us prevent cancer and favors the action of some drugs used as chemotherapy treatment.

Improved gastric reflux

The highly acidic pH of the stomach is necessary for the proper digestion of food and to prevent the proliferation of some bacteria. However, alkaline water plays a fundamental role in controlling reflux disease.

Drinking alkaline water of pH 8.8 helps us control the enzyme-linked to gastric reflux while allowing the action of gastric juices acceptably in the digestion process.

Blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia

Chinese researchers showed in 2016 that drinking alkaline water helps to reduce the viscosity of the blood, which contributes to some extent to controlling blood pressure.

In addition, it helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, thus reducing cardiovascular risk.

Hydration and detoxification

Several studies have proven that athletes who ingest alkaline water improve their hydration. This water supports the functioning of the liver and kidneys, thus contributing to eliminating toxins from the body by these organs.

How to make alkaline water at home

Do you want to know how to alkalize water? There are several ways to obtain alkaline water. Below, we explain different methods, from the simplest to the most sophisticated.

Two containers

Place the water you want to alkalize in a first container, which you will place at a certain height (at least 1 meter high). Empty the water from the first container by dropping it into the second.

The bubbling that occurs when this makes the water alkaline by at least 0.5.

Boil the water

Letting the water boil for 5 minutes allows its pH to rise from 7-7.2 to at least 8.4, and it does not lose this alkalinity when it is cooled down.

Add baking soda

This is the most traditional way to make homemade alkaline water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water. This raises the pH of the water to at least 7.9.

Buy an alkalizing filter.

There are water filters that, in addition to complying with the water filtering and purification process, make it alkaline. Its cost is slightly higher than ordinary filters, but the investment is worth it.

On the other hand, bottled alkaline water is already sold (various brands: Essentia, Flow, Gerolsteiner, etc.), some of them coming from alkaline springs, which you can buy.

Of course, drinking alkaline water to improve your health should be accompanied by eliminating acidic foods, such as fried foods. Finally, remember that carbonated water is acidic. Do not consume it.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Alkaline water: what it is, what it is for, and how to make it, we recommend entering our Well-being category.