Alkaline Water Debunked
Have you ever heard of alkaline water? You know, that magical and outrageously expensive water that neutralizes the acidity in your blood, that provides more hydration than regular water, that makes your hair grow longer and that even helps to prevent disease?! If you haven’t yet, consider yourself lucky! Alkaline water, as you might have guess, is for the most part, all talk and no show.
Let’s out the science from these bogus claims.
Alkaline water does not rebalance your system, your body does.
Alkaline water is water with a higher pH, while plain water normally sits around at a neutral pH. In order to allow our metabolism to function properly, our body has a very complex system of homeostasis that keeps our blood pH stable at all times.
For instance, when you eat an acidic food like a pickle, your body will neutralize the acid to make sure your blood pH remains constant. The same system applies when you eat alkaline foods, like egg whites. In fact, your lungs and your kidneys both have important roles in regulating your blood pH. Therefore, if your blood becomes too acidic, you may exhale more carbon dioxide (an acid), and your kidneys may reabsorb more bicarbonate (a base).
Be mindful of where you get information from.
It is important to keep in mind that there is still no empirical evidence supporting the health claims of alkaline water. That being said, it’s important to remember that any new, trendy and highly marketed products with lots of ridiculous health claims are most likely…pseudoscience!
Remember: it’s just BASIC chemistry.
Thinking of a thirst-quenching drink that helps your digestion, prevents constipation, helps flush out toxins from your body, allows nutrients to reach your cells, regulates your blood pressure, and much more?! You should definitely check it out! It’s called just plain water.
Finally, bear in mind that whenever a new product appears with outrageous health claims, just remember:
Be skeptical — Health claims are among the most popular marketing traps.
Do your own research — Are there any empirical studies supporting the claims?
Your body is amazing — If you are healthy and have no underlying conditions, trust that your body can work perfectly on its own.
What nutrition fad should I debunk next?
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