The pH of the water you drink matters. Alkaline water has been compared to acidic water in clinical testing and alkaline water has been shown to have a beneficial effect on some health issues. Acidic water has been shown to have no effect on health, or in some cases it may have a negative effect on health.
Alkaline water better than acidic water for calcium nutrition
The World Health Organization recommends you get 10 – 20 % of your daily needs for essential minerals like calcium from drinking water. A study called: Alkaline mineral water lowers bone resorption even in calcium sufficiency compared the effect of alkaline water and acidic water on calcium retention in the body. Both waters had equal amounts of calcium added to them. The alkaline water was shown to reduce calcium loss, and lowered two important markers of bone loss. Acidic water was shown to have no effect on calcium loss, and did not reduce markers of bone loss.
Bottom line: Alkaline water is better than acidic water for calcium retention and bone health.
Alkaline water protects against the toxic effects of mercury
A study was performed in Sweden to determine the effects of water pH on mineral absorption. Researchers compared hair samples from women that lived in a town with alkaline water to women that lived in a town with acidic water.
The study showed that the women that drank alkaline water had higher levels of healthy minerals like calcium in their hair samples. The women that drank acidic water had higher levels of toxins like mercury in their hair. The researchers concluded: “alkaline water offers protection against the toxic effects of mercury”
Bottom line: The body absorbs healthy minerals like calcium from alkaline water. Acidic water is not a good source of healthy minerals.
Alkaline water better, safer, than acidic water
Minerals like calcium are 30% easier for the body to absorb from water than they are from food. If your water is alkaline, you get healthy minerals in it, if your water is acidic, you can absorb toxins like mercury from it. It’s probably OK to drink tap water because the EPA requires the pH of tap water to be at least 6.5. But beware of distilled water or water from Reverse Osmosis; both of these become acidic when exposed to air.
For healthy bones your water had better be alkaline. Drinking water is the best way to get essential minerals for good health. Research shows that you get benefits from the calcium in alkaline water – even if you get enough calcium in your diet! Acidic water has no effect on bone health. You can avoid drinking acidic water; simply avoid distilled or reverse osmosis water (or add minerals to it before drinking).
What else can alkaline water do for your health? Call our healthy water experts today at (888) 688-8889 and take control of your health now!
Has the FDA compared alkaline water to acid water?
No. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The preceding information and/or products are for educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. Please consult your doctor before making any changes or before starting ANY exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using this information or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.
References
Wynn E, Krieg, M.A, Aeschlimann, J.M, Burckhardt, P, Alkaline mineral water lowers bone resorption even in calcium sufficiency. Bone; January 2009 44 (120-124) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
Rosborg I, Nihlgård B, Gerhardsson L. Hair element concentrations in females in one acid and one alkaline area in southern Sweden. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Ambio. 2003 Nov;32(7):440-6.
