The world is rapidly evolving and newer trends are taking on a more organic way of life. Among the new trends in the health and organic industry alkaline bottled water has been the latest trend. This new beverage is thought to have numerous health benefits, some say that it slows the aging process, others claim that it affects the PH level in the body and some claims go as far as to suggest that it plays a role in preventing chronic illnesses like cancer. This new form of alkaline bottled water was named after its PH and chemical nature as compared to average water. Alkaline water is thought to have a higher PH than water which is where the speculation that it neutralizes the toxic acids in our body originates. The PH of the alkaline water itself is not very much higher than neutral water which is why the alkaline minerals and negative ORP come into play. ORP refers to oxidation-reduction potential and it is theoretically the measurement of its anti-oxidizing nature. Here are a few Benefits and Risks of Alkaline water:
Benefits:
This controversial beverage might not have every Health professional on board with its health benefits however there are some substantial claims made by sellers and consumers in the market. Do keep in mind that there is very little research to prove that these health benefits are actually backed by science. If the beverage is giving you any kind of negative responses in your body consult your physician and quit the drink immediately. If all goes well, then here are a few things you can expect to benefit from this alkaline beverage:
Helps with Acid Reflux:
The most obvious benefit of this drink will be the positive impact it has on acid reflux. The stomach wall digests food chemically with the help of stomach juices which are slightly more acidic. Acid reflux is when these juices splash back into the food pipe. If this keeps happening for an elongated period of time then it has the potential to cause the GERD or Gastro esophageal Reflux disease. It is believed the best alkaline water with approximate alkalinity of 8.8 is said to reduce the acidity of stomach contents and it also tends to stop this particular enzyme that is involved in causing acid reflux.
Blood Pressure and Diabetes:
A study conducted in shanghai showed that if you continued to drink alkaline water for a period of 3-6 months then Blood Sugar level, high blood lipids, and blood pressure will all reduce to a certain extent. In 2016 health researchers also found that blood viscosity was affected by high P electrolyte water. This is something that would also reduce the Cardio-vascular strain caused by dehydration. The only deviation is that participants had a different measurement of blood viscosity when the experiment had started off which could have impacted the final results of the experiment. It is also not the most trustworthy because the study was conducted by an alkaline water brand.
Bone Health and Osteoporosis:
Bone reabsorption is the process by which the old bone cells are broken down and new ones are added. When less bone reabsorption and more mineral density are maintained then you will have proper bone strength. The authors of the “Bone found an effect” concluded that a calcium-rich beverage that was more alkaline than acidic would have a more positive impact on bone reabsorption. However, from a wider perspective, this was a very small impact on bone reabsorption and more scientific proofs are required.
Alkaline water has other claimed health benefits like reducing the impact of chronic diseases, helping you be more energetic, or slowing down the aging process. But all of these are subject to further scientific proof.
