No doubt you’ve seen it. On the shelves of your health food store, in the fridges at your gym, or pasted all over your instagram feed. It’s the latest thing. Alkaline Water. And as soon as you start to see it, you can’t stop.
The believed benefits of alkaline water are shouted from the rooftops. From curing diseases to reversing the aging process, there doesn’t seem to be anything that alkaline water can’t help you with.
And though we do agree that this is a fantastic product, we think this explainer will help you get to grips with what the alkaline water benefits are all about. What is it really? And why should you drink it? And what are the great alkaline water products out there to try? Here are some of the ins and outs.
What Is Alkaline Water?
Ok so that seems like a very good question to kick things off. What even is this stuff? Well it’s simple really. It’s water that has an alkaline PH. The PH scale is a scale that measures the acidity (or alkalinity) of water. The scale runs from 1-14. 1 being a very strong acid, 14 being a very strong alkaline and 7 being neutral, right in the middle.
Alkaline waters exist between 8 and 9 on the PH scale, making it more alkaline than tap water which usually comes in at a neutral 7 on the PH scale.
How Is It made?
There are a few ways to make alkaline water. You can add minerals such as magnesium, potassium or calcium, all of which will give water an alkaline PH measurement. It can also occur naturally. Water that passes over rocks that contain these minerals will naturally accrue an alkaline PH.
So when you start thinking that alkaline water is just a twenty-first century fad, know that for as long as water has been flowing over rocks on planet earth, there has been alkaline water! In fact it has long been an important way in which humans have gathered and consumed minerals. Our modern day water systems value neutralization and sterilization (for good reasons) but when we rely exclusively on this kind of water we miss out on all the mineral benefits that have long been a part of human water consumption.
Alkaline water can also be created through a process called electrolysis. Here, electricity is used to separate the molecules in water that create an acidic PH from those that create an alkaline PH. The acidic molecules are then filtered out, leaving you with alkaline water.
Why Drink Alkaline Water?
It must be said that the health studies into alkaline water benefits are still in their infancy. But the list of reasons why you might drink alkaline water is long nonetheless.
There are suggestions that ingesting alkaline water might help with acid reflux. And this claim makes a lot of sense. Afterall, you are taking in a substance that is thought to neutralize the acidity it comes into contact with. So if acid reflux is a problem for you (which it is for a huge number of Americans) why not give alkaline water a go and see if it works for you? Alkaline water benefits may help ease that heartburn!
There are also a whole host of other health claims and theories. From reducing your cholesterol to supporting bone health. So why not give it a go and see how it works for you?
Perhaps best of all, though, is just good old fashioned hydration. Mixing up your water routine and trying new products and tastes helps maintain your positive relationship to water, keeping things exciting and experimental so you stay hydrated.
Some Alkaline Waters to Try
Flow Water - Original Alkaline Spring Water
Made with 100% natural alkaline spring water, this is a great alkaline water to start with. Full of essential minerals and electrolytes, this is a perfect alkaline water for optimal hydration. Flow Water’s Original Alkaline Spring Water also comes in a super convenient bottle for on-the-go drinking.
Use it to replenish after a workout, keep it in your bag for that hot day, or crack it open at the end of a long day for optimal hydration.
Flow Water - Watermelon + Lime
This is all the same Flow Water goodness, but with a watermelon and lime kick. Try Flow Water Watermelon and Lime for a tropical twist. A great treat for an evening drink that will give you a chance to fill your hydration moment with a little color.
Flow Water - Strawberry + Rose
This strawberry and rose Flow Water is a real treat. It has NO sugar, juices, calories or artificial sweeteners. And with a PH of 8.1, it is an alkaline water dream. Just great taste and great hydration.
Flow Water - Cucumber + Mint
Made using organic essence of cucumber and mint, this Flow Water Cucumber and Mint is perfect for a warm evening. Crack open that bottle and pour it over ice for an ultra refreshing hydration moment. A water with a little class.
Qure Alkaline Water - Original Alkaline Water
This alkaline water is a big hitter. With a PH of 10, Qure Alkaline Water’s Original Alkaline Water is an alkaline blast. This purified water is infused with naturally occurring magnesium, potassium and calcium to deliver all those minerals your body loves so much.
It also comes in a great looking long bottle that will slip well into the side pocket of your bag. A great on-the-go product.
Essentia - Water 9.5 pH - Ionized Alkaline Water
This ionized alkaline water will help power you through that long day. This Essentia Ionized Alkaline Water goes for a smooth taste and ionized hydration. A three step ionization process leads to a 99% purified water.
First the water is microfiltered. Next up the water is infused with electrolytes. And finally the bitter and acidic ions are removed.
Coming in a recyclable bottle, this Ionized Alkaline Water from Essentia is a win-win: good for your body, good for you planet. So why on earth not give it a go?
Quench Your Thirst with Alkaline Water!
So there you have it. The ins and outs of alkaline water. For a long time we have relied on neutral water to provide our hydration. And little did we know that the beautiful taste of alkaline water is there for our enjoyment.
The mass control and production of water sources over the twentieth century have been fantastic and unprecedented events in human history. Most of us in North America have access to uncontaminated water at the twist of a faucet.
But the neutralizing of our water has also led to a disconnection from the mineral rich joys of alkaline water, which has long been a part of human health.
Luckily for us there are some brilliant new products around to help bring us back to the fundamentals of what it is to drink water: a pleasurable, hydrating and mineral rich experience.
So why not do some experimenting with alkaline water and discover some of the alkaline water benefits that are out there for the taking.