It’s no secret that water is the most important element involved in healthy living, or living in general. All living things need water to survive and the medical field is constantly stressing the importance of staying hydrated.

However, there’s been discussion surrounding the healthiest type of water for decades. If you’ve been reading medical news, or you follow health-related blogs, you’re aware of the arguments surrounding the pH levels of drinking water.

During your exploration, you’ve probably heard about alkaline water, or you’ve seen it on shelves at your local grocery or convenience store. But what is it? How does it differ from any other type of drinking water?

You might be thinking that drinking alkaline water is just the latest health trend that’s being promoted by fitness influencers and people who constantly fall into the newest fads. Though you’re right that alkaline water has become more commonplace in recent years thanks to people who swear by its health benefits, there’s a little more to it than random claims.

Let us explain. In this article, we’ll discuss what alkaline water is, alkaline water benefits and risks, and how you can incorporate alkaline water into your life if you’d like.

What is Alkaline Water?

To explain what alkaline water is, we need to go over a quick science lesson on pH levels. A pH level refers to how acidic or basic a liquid is, and the level can fall anywhere between 0 to 14. “Regular” water that we drink and use in our homes will usually have a neutral pH, which is 7, right in the middle of the pH range. Lower numbers will be considered acidic while higher numbers are alkaline. This means that alkaline water is simply water with a pH level that’s higher than what’s considered neutral.

According to the EPA, tap water in the US should be between 6.5 and 8.5 on the pH scale, but most of the time, it’s far lower than that. Most tap water in the US measures at around 4.3 to 5.3 on the pH scale.

Benefits of Alkaline Water

While there isn’t a massive body of scientific studies that prove the various health claims associated with alkaline water, studies do show that alkaline water can be beneficial when it comes to certain health conditions.

For example, one study in 2012 suggests that drinking alkaline water can help reduce acid reflux, as it helps to deactivate pepsin, which is the key enzyme responsible for the production of excessive stomach acid. In addition to those digestive effects, alkaline water might also help reduce instances and severity levels of diarrhea.

Alkaline water may also improve blood circulation after strenuous exercise. The study that suggests this effect compared the blood viscosity of people who drank standard drinking water and people who drank water with high pH levels. Those who drank alkaline water had more than 6% reduced blood viscosity, which leads to better blood flow through the circulatory system. The individuals who consumed ordinary drinking water had only 3% reduced viscosity.

Consuming alkaline water may also reduce blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and triglycerides. As such, it stands to improve metabolic functioning by decreasing the production of free radicals in the body.

In some cases, using alkaline water for bathing has been shown to be beneficial in studies on mice. Mice that were bathed in alkaline water experienced a reduction in skin damage induced by UV radiation (sun exposure). However, alkaline water can also have a drying effect on the skin, so if you decide to use it for bathing, moisturizing is recommended.

In addition, alkaline water is suggested to produce the following health effects compared to the capabilities of neutral drinking water.

  • Improved cancer-fighting abilities
  • More successful weight loss
  • Graceful aging due to better antioxidant absorption
  • Immune support
  • Greater detoxification
  • Improved colon health
  • Better hydration and skin health

Risks of Alkaline Water

Scientists have largely considered alkaline water to be safe for human consumption, and there isn’t a lot of evidence that states otherwise. Of course, consuming too much acidic content can be concerning, so consuming too much alkaline content can be as well.

However, most of the time, there is very little threat associated with consuming alkaline water. Unless an individual suffers from kidney disease, he or she should experience no negative health effects with regular consumption.

Alkaline Water Filtration

People who want to reap the benefits of alkaline water at home seek out alkaline water filtration systems, which is a service that Intown Plumbing offers for Dallas-area residents. However, it’s worth noting that installing a water filtration system that makes your tap water alkaline can be a costly investment. Purchasing the filtration system, having it installed, and replacing the filters may not be the most ideal option for everyone, but it will provide you with alkaline water from your taps.

Purchasing jugs of alkaline drinking water is a more common solution most of the time, though alkaline drinking water can also be quite expensive compared to buying standard drinking water.

If you want to test alkaline water benefits for yourself, give it a try. For individuals with health conditions, it might be a good idea to discuss your ideas with your doctor for safe measures. Though alkaline water has been determined to be safe for most consumers, there’s no harm in double-checking with a medical practitioner who knows you and your health on a professional level.

Alkaline water is readily available in most stores, and you might like the effects you experience after drinking it. Having alkaline water conveniently available at home is most definitely possible as well.

If you’d like a tap filtration system that allows you to have alkaline water ready and waiting at your kitchen sink, give Intown Plumbing a call. We offer financing options if you decide that you’d like to have a filtration system installed in your home.