Alkaline Water: A Critical Review (2024)

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Alkaline Water: A Critical Review? ›

The Final Word on Alkaline Water

There are possible disadvantages from drinking alkaline water with pH levels above 9. The water will likely have a bitter taste. And for people who regularly take stomach acid production blockers called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to maintain a higher stomach pH, drinking strong alkaline water could be dangerous.

Maybe you saw an ad or came across some clever marketing messaging claiming alkaline water can increase your energy, hydrate you better than regular water, prevent digestive issues and disease — or even slow down aging. “Science does not support these claims,” says registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD.

Drinking alkaline, oxygenated or ionized water does not change the blood pH level. The FDA warns all companies engaged in the business of supplying drinking waters in containers with specific claims, such as “alkaline water” or “oxygenated water” to secure LTO from FDA and apply for a CPR.

"While alkaline water products have a higher pH than regular water, they have a negligible alkali content, which suggests that they can't raise urine pH enough to affect the development of kidney and other urinary stones," says UCI Health urologist Dr. Roshan M. Patel, the paper's senior author.

Drinking too much alkaline water may very well disrupt your stomach acid, which could lead to an upset stomach and indigestion.

Spring water is considered the healthiest water to drink because it contains essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. As the name implies, the water comes from a spring or an underground source. It is the purest form of water since it is natural and organic without any treatment.

Five children and three adults sued Real Water, alleging that their alkaline water contained a toxic chemical known as hydrazine that ultimately led to liver damage for all plaintiffs.

Who Should Not Drink Alkaline Water? You should think twice about drinking alkaline water if you use medications called proton pump inhibitors (such as esomeprazole and omeprazole) to treat heartburn caused by acid reflux. These drugs work by altering the pH level of your stomach.

When the PH of water becomes greater than 8.5, water taste can become more bitter. This elevated pH can also lead to calcium and magnesium carbonate building up in your pipes. While this higher pH doesn't pose any health risks, it can cause skin to become dry, itchy and irritated.

Is alkaline water bad for high blood pressure? ›

According to a study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, scientists in Shanghai found that three to six months after drinking alkaline water, people with high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes), and high blood lipids (cholesterol) had lower measures in each of these ...

Alkaline water may also help enhance your ability to flush out toxins by reducing the acidic waste load present within your kidneys and digestive system to restore a healthy balance. The right quality and quantity of water is foundational for the prevention of and recovery from disease and illness.

According to a study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, scientists in Shanghai found that three to six months after drinking alkaline water, people with high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes), and high blood lipids (cholesterol) had lower measures in each of these ...

Does Alkaline Water Flush Your System? Yes, with its higher pH level compared to regular tap water, alkaline water does help detox and help in flushing out toxins from the body.