Today, you can find alkaline water, which is more expensive than ordinary water, in almost every store on the planet. Manufacturers promise that it tastes better and improves your health, unlike regular water. What is it, a publicity stunt, or is it actually a cure for many of our illnesses?
What is alkaline water?
Alkaline water is a lot less acidic than that stuff coming out of your tap or the regular bottled water and contains more alkaline compounds. The ratio of acid to alkali is determined on a pH scale that ranges from 0 to 14. If the pH is below 7 — it’s an acidic solution, above 7 — it’s alkaline, equal to 7 — pH neutral.
The natural acidity level of the human body is 7.4, which is relatively well-balanced in itself. Regular water has a pH of 7.
Natural Alkaline Water
How does water become alkaline? There are several ways. Mineral water from natural mineral sources contains magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and it is more soluble than water from other sources. The various bottled waters sold as “alkaline water” receive those healing properties naturally (when obtained from mineral sources) or by filtration, ionization, and mineral addition.
Alkaline Water Benefits
There is a lot of information on the usefulness of alkaline water. It is said to saturate the body with moisture and improve physical performance. Some claim that it can speed up your metabolism and help lose weight by reducing body fat while also reducing the risk of cancer, removing toxins from the body, preventing diabetes, treating psoriasis, and of course, keeping body’s pH in balance.
Usually, our kidneys do an excellent job of keeping the pH at the right level, while decreasing the body’s acidity, most commonly caused by ingesting the so-called acidic foods – coffee, alcohol, fried stuff, and dairy. Such food in large quantities causes your internal organs to work harder to maintain balance. And instead of alkaline nutrients doing other work in the body (antioxidant or moist saturation), they are used to balance the pH.
How To Make Alkaline Water
If you are unable to buy alkaline water at a pharmacy or specialty store, you can make it yourself. Just add 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon of salt to 240 ml of tap water. Slush that mixture into a bottle and shake it vigorously until the solids dissolve completely.
Another way to do it is by pouring two liters of filtered water into a jug, cutting the lemon into 6-8 parts, and putting them in the water without squeezing. You can also add a spoon of Himalayan salt to help saturate the water with minerals. Leave the concoction for 8-12 hours for the best result.
You can also buy a special solution containing concentrated alkaline minerals, which can be added to your regular water. Drink prepared alkaline water in small sips of 3 ml/kg of your body weight. For prevention, have a sip of this potion half an hour before eating, and for ulcers and high acidity – after eating.
