Alkaline water is slightly less acidic than regular tap water, which some people believe offers health benefits.
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What Is Alkaline Water?
In chemistry, pH stands for “potential of hydrogen.”
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Anything under 7.0 is considered acidic, and anything over 7.0 is considered alkaline or basic.
The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution is inversely related to a solution’s pH.
Alkaline water found on grocery store shelves has a pH of roughly 8.0 to 9.0.
In contrast, regular bottled water will have a pH of around 6.5 to 7.5.
As small as these differences may seem, they do alter water in some noticeable way.
Too Acid or Too Alkaline?
Neither is fit for human consumption.
How Alkaline Water Is Made
There is water in nature that is alkaline.
The same principlecalled ionizationis used to make bottled alkaline water.
By breaking the bond, hydrogen ions are released, making the water more alkaline.
Because of this process, alkaline water is sometimes referred to as “electrolyzed-reduced water.”
The only exception may be in the stomach, but even that effect is short-lasting.
They also found that alkaline water with 8.8 pH levels had good acid-buffering qualities.
Even so, it is unclear if the diet, the water, or both contributed to the results.
Some proponents have suggested that it does so by evading the effects of fasting-induced acidosis.
This is the natural rise in blood acid during periods when you are not eating.
Rather, it is more often seen in the context ofchronic kidney disease (CKD).
More research is needed.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has a pH of about 9.0.
Alkalizing fruits and vegetables can also be added to tap water to make it more alkaline.
There are also factory-made filters and ionizer machines that make alkaline water.
What Is the pH of Tap Water?
In parts of the U.S., well water can be abnormally acidic and may benefit from being alkalized.
Summary
Alkaline water is water with a pH value greater than 7.0.
Most commercial brands of alkaline water have pH levels between 8.0 and 9.0.
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