Alkaline Water: The Latest Placebo

Bottled alkaline water is a trend that is popping up in health circles and grocery stores around the world. Designed to mimic the slightly alkaline pH levels found in natural spring water, various salts are added to filtered drinking water with the goal of helping you maintain a healthy blood alkaline level between around 7.4. The claims are so tremendous that it is not shocking why fanatics are hooked. Many sources indicate that slightly alkaline blood: 

• Improves Kidney Health

• Promotes healthy muscles

• Increases Immune System

• Fights inflammation

• Aids in cancer prevention Aids in arthritis (helps maintain collagen)

• Helps prevent osteoporosis 

Despite all of its hype, the reality of drinking alkaline water does not support the publicity. What’s worse is that going overboard on irregular consumption of alkalinized products can be harmful to your health. Here are some things you should know about alkalinity and bottled alkaline water before joining the trend. 

1. Water pH level will be nullified when it hits your stomach. The belly is filled with stomach acids that are designed to break down the food that you consume daily. The pH level in the bottled alkaline water is too weak to have any effect when it goes into your stomach.

2. Those pH level raising “electrolytes” are nothing more than salts found in most households. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda), Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom salt), and Potassium Bicarbonate (some antacids) are commonly used items to raise the pH level of bottled drinking water. 

3. Beware of dangerously high pH levels. Don’t go consume teaspoons of baking soda and Epsom salt to raise your blood alkalinity. The goal is to maintain a slightly alkaline blood pH. A pH level that is too high can have serious side effects including: 

   • Confusion (can progress to stupor or coma)

   • Hand tremors

   • Lightheadedness

   • Muscle twitching

   • Nausea, vomiting

   • Numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet

   • Prolonged muscle spasms (tetany)

NiftyPick Suggestion: Forget all of the marketing and save your coins. The best way to maintain healthy blood alkalinity is nothing you have not heard already. Most whole foods such as fruit and vegetables along with nuts and legumes encourage blood alkalinity. Consuming these foods causes your body to produce less stomach acid because they are easier to break down. Less acid in the stomach means less acidity in your blood. Processed foods, many fast food options, and a diet too high in meat tend to do just the opposite. Your body needs to produce more stomach acid and, as a consequence, you get an increase in the acid level in your blood. 

Still not convinced? If you insist on attempting to increase your blood alkalinity, think the opposite of adding alkaline water. Try adding lemon slices to your drinking water. The lower pH level of lemon water may actually trigger your body to produce less stomach acid, mimicking the effect of fruit and vegetables.