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“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than Ignorance.”

Summer heat brings on Summer thirst.  Many are converting to drinking the miracle Alkaline Water to quench their thirst because it comes with a bonus of improving health.

The order of Alkaline Water claims to fame is the assumption when the body is in an acid state, it is more susceptible to various diseases.  We acquire this acid in our diets and some pathogens, which also produce additional acid leading to poor health.  However, by drinking alkaline water, balances excessive acid, resulting in restored health and vitality.

Proponents of Alkaline Water also claim the water will, prevent cancer, and improve bone health.  In addition, serves as an antioxidant, facilitate weight loss, detoxify and the list goes on and on it is the magical CURE ALL.    However, there is only one problem in all this excellent news; no evidence base studies exist to support any of these claims.  In all actuality, Alkaline water is, unfortunately, a “Gimmick” sponsored by salesmen, the media and pushed by Hollywood stars to entice profit sales.  Beware of the many marketing hypes realizing the fact that health fraud scams are everywhere, they promise everything, yet delivers nothing.  Let’s take a deep dive into the order of Alkaline Water.

It’s a matter of pH-acid/base balance.  Our bodies are designed to maintain a healthy balance of acidity and alkalinity, regulated by the lungs and kidneys. The human body maintains a blood pH level of 7.40 on a scale of 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acidic, and 14 is the most basic or alkaline.  When there is a problem with the lungs or kidneys, your pH will be off-balance, leading to medical conditions known as “acidosis” or “alkalosis.”   Once diagnosed with either one of these conditions, you cannot be treated with water but requires the attention of medical professionals and hospitalization.

The Cancer Claim:  a study on the association between dietary acid load, alkaline water, and cancer indicates the promotion of alkaline diet and alkaline water to the public for cancer prevention or treatment is not justified.  Researchers looked at more than 252 abstracts involving studies conducted on dietary and or alkaline water intake.  As a result, none of the studies could detect any outcome on the effects of alkaline water on cancer prevention or treatment.

The Bone Disease Claim:  a meta-analysis review in the Journal of Nutrition 2011, looked at 238 studies examining the association and effect of alkaline diets/water’s ability to avoid or counteract acid within the body regulating pH levels.  The reviews primary wanted to see if alkaline water influenced preventing and curing bone disease by alternating pH levels.  The study results indicate there is no evidence to support an association between dietary acid load and osteoporotic bone disease.  Also, there is no evidence that an alkaline diet is protective of bone health.

According to an article in Science-Based Medicine,  overall drinking alkaline water will not correct an acidic state.  The average pH of the American tap water is 6.0- 8.1; the pH in “alkaline” water is 8.5 to 9.5.  Drinking a couple of glasses of slightly alkaline water a day will do nothing except quench your summer thirst.  Always remember, once the absorption of water takes place in the body, the ionized alkaline will not retain its pH or ionic state, the water becomes or remains, just water.

SIDEBAR:  The use of Plastic Water Bottles threatens us like a double-edged sword which is cutting through and destroying our environment and marine ecosystems.  Plastic bottles cannot be broken down or decomposed.  As plastic waste lay in our land fields and oceans, it transforms into toxic microplastic.  Micro-plastics will be with us forever, resulting in harm to our wildlife and sea creatures and eventually to us as it moves up the food chain.  More to the point, Plastic water bottles when exposed to heat leaches both (PET) Polyethylene terephthalate and Bisphenol A (BPA) toxic chemicals into the water.  BPA is a known endocrine disruptor; beware even when the product states BPA free-the substitute is a similar harmful chemical.   Many of us can help solve this problem by not using single-use plastic bottles.

Rather you are quenching your summer thirst with water from the faucet, filtered, or bottled; water is water designed to hydrate the body.   However, unfortunately, take note, it is not a magic bullet or solution to cure chronic diseases. Choose your thirst quencher wisely and remember:

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than Ignorance.”