The body’s delicate pH balance is constantly tested by what we eat and drink, and if your body’s pH balance is off, it can cause long-term health risks.
PH is a measure of acidity—the concentration of hydrogen ions in a fluid. And like any fluid, your body’s fluids can also harbor excessive amounts of hydrogen ions. If this happens, electron-stealing free radicals may emerge and cause damage to any cells they come in contact with.
One way to offset the impact of acids and free radicals is to run your tap water through a water ionizer. This converts regular drinking water into alkalized water, which is rich in pH-raising hydroxide ions.
What Does A Water Ionizer Do?
A water ionizer treats the water in two ways as it passes through. First, it filters the water for any impurities while retaining alkalizing minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium.
The second part is where the real science happens—specifically electrolysis. The water is run through a series of electrically charged plates that are also polarized. The plates are separated by a membrane that is only permeable to either positively charged atoms (positive ions) or negatively charged atoms (negative ions). During electrolysis, the presence of electricity separates water molecules into molecular hydrogen (H2) and hydroxyl ions (OH-). The hydroxyl ions increase the pH of the water, alkalizing it.
During water ionization, the water is separated into two streams using the ion-permeable membrane. One stream is alkalized, and the other is more acidic as a result. The alkaline water is available to drink while the acidic water is ejected.
Alkaline Water Promotes Better Hydration
Now that your water is alkalized, what conditions can it help with? First, it will help keep you better hydrated. During electrolysis, larger clusters of water molecules are separated into smaller clusters, allowing those water molecules to pass through cell membranes faster and provide hydrating benefits faster. For this reason, some people apply alkalized water to the skin to better hydrate it.
How Water Ionization Can Reduce The Risk Of Cancer
The primary benefit of alkalized water is its high antioxidant concentration. Alkalized water is rich in molecular hydrogen, one of the more powerful antioxidants.
Thousands and thousands of studies have demonstrated the benefits of antioxidants, primarily in their role as free radical fighters. Free radicals are chemically active atoms or molecules that are missing an electron. That means they’re hungry for another electron, and they’ll take one from other atoms they come across. This can have cascading, chain-reaction like effects in our bodies that lead to disease in many people.
One of those free-radical causing diseases is cancer. A lot of medical research shows that free radicals can produce damage at the genetic level. Damage to your DNA can lead to unchecked cell division and eventually tumor growth.
Alkalized water, though, delivers high levels of antioxidants with every drink. These antioxidants are willing electron donators, so they essentially neutralize the free radicals and prevent them from causing damage.
Water Ionizers Can Also Help Preserve Cardiovascular And Digestive Health
Medical research also shows that consumption of alkaline water can improve cholesterol levels and reduce triglyceride counts. There is also some evidence that alkaline water can reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDLs) in the blood, too.
In the cardiovascular system, free radical damage is frequently associated with atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the condition associated with plaque buildup inside the arteries. In severe cases, the buildup can grow to the point that it restricts blood flow through the artery, resulting in a heart attack. Also, part of the plaque deposit can break off and clog vessels downstream, also resulting in cardiac distress.
Alkaline water reduces the risk of atherosclerosis by neutralizing free radicals before they can cause damage to the inner artery walls. It also reduces the presence of cholesterol in the blood, which is a main component of artery plaque.
Alkaline water also delivers its antioxidant punch to organs in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This includes the colon, where elevated amounts of antioxidants can help suppress colon cancers and help efficiently transport toxins and waste from the body.
Fight Osteoporosis And Maintain Bone Density With Ionized Drinking Water
Alkaline water contains high levels of alkalizing minerals like calcium. And calcium, of course, is a fundamental mineral found in bone. At least one study has shown that the higher concentration of calcium in alkaline water can prevent bone resorption. While additional research is needed, reducing bone resorption could mitigate the risk of osteoporosis or slow its onset.
Better Water, Better Health, Better Life With Water Ionization Technology
Alkaline water contains high levels of alkalizing minerals like calcium. And calcium, of course, is a fundamental mineral found in bone. At least one study has shown that the higher concentration of calcium in alkaline water can prevent bone resorption. While additional research is needed, reducing bone resorption could mitigate the risk of osteoporosis or slow its onset.