So what’s the deal with Alkaline water? Is it the new fountain of youth?

You may have heard various health claims, with some claiming Alkaline water is today’s fountain of youth. Some claim it can slow the aging process, regulate your body’s pH level, and prevent chronic diseases like cancer. But what exactly is alkaline water, and why all the hype?

The “alkaline” refers to pH level – a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. Something with a pH of 1 would be very acidic and something with a pH of 13 would be very alkaline.

Because Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water (with a neutral pH of 7), some believe it can neutralize the acid in your body. However, it’s not only the pH level that adds alkalinity. Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation reduction potential (ORP) – the ability of water to act as a pro- or antioxidant.

Alkaline water has many health benefits. Here are some reasons why you should drink it for a healthy body:

• Rich in antioxidants: which helps the body fight against illness and viruses.
• Super-hydrating: with alkaline water your body will be better hydrated than with conventional water.
• Rich in minerals: there is a strong presence of calcium, magnesium, and potassium which are essential minerals for supporting our bones, teeth, and hair.
• Rich in oxygen: this water increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in our blood.
• Detoxifying: Alkalized water purifies our body. Drink it for a  detoxification cure.
• Cleansing: Alkaline water has the ability to cleanse our bodies.
• Energizing: Alkaline water is energizing water, its constitution reinvigorates our bodies.
• Maintain weight control: Alkaline water reduces the amount of fatty tissue our bodies need, resulting in loss of fat
• Pesticide Cleanse: Alkaline water has the ability to reduce the amount of accumulated pesticides in our body from the foods we eat.
• Rebalance: Alkaline water corrects the acidity of the body, restoring the pH balance of your body.

How can I make my own Alkaline water?

1. Use an ionizer. A water ionizer works by using electrolysis to separate the acidic and alkaline components of the water. It’s pricey, but super convenient.
2. Use an ionized water filter. A cheaper solution is an ionized water filter, which works similarly to other filtered systems. The filters contain a pouch of essential minerals, which increases the pH levels of the water.
3. Add pH drops. One of the easiest ways to make your own alkaline water is to add pH drops to normal water – the drops are made of purified water and alkaline minerals.
4. Add baking soda. Just another one of the 1,001 uses of baking soda!

Although alkaline drinking water is considered safe, it may produce negative side effects, so speak to your doctor before drinking alkaline water. Some potential side effects include the lowering of natural stomach acidity, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Other possible side effects include skin irritations, metabolic alkalosis, and a decrease in free calcium in the body.