Alkaline water is said to neutralize and heal excess acidity in the body. We’ll tell you what alkaline water is and whether it’s really that healthy.
Water: acidic, neutral or basic?
Natural water is neutral or slightly acidic – it has a pH of around seven. This value can fluctuate slightly: it depends on the water temperature, dissolved minerals and gases in the water.
Rainwater is slightly acidic: it is distilled through the water cycle and absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.
Surface and spring water absorb minerals from the soil.
Some natural healing springs are slightly alkaline: On the way to the surface, the water absorbs a particularly large number of minerals.
Liquids with a low pH are acidic. A pH of eight or more means that they are alkaline or basic.
What is alkaline water?
Alkaline water is said to have a healing effect. It is said to balance the acid-base balance, have a rejuvenating and healing effect and neutralize free radicals.
In nature, alkaline water only occurs in individual springs. However, you can also make alkaline water yourself at home: If you add minerals such as calcium, magnesium or baking soda, the water becomes alkaline. An electrolysis device also produces alkaline water. Some manufacturers even sell alkaline water packaged in plastic bottles. But how healthy is this trend really?
Alkaline water against hyperacidity?
Alkaline water is said to be able to neutralize an overly acidic body. This is based on the assumption that an overly acidic body promotes various diseases – including cancer, neurodermatitis and others. A basic lifestyle should help by balancing the acid-base balance. Base water supposedly contributes to this.
However, there is no scientific evidence for this hyperacidity theory. A healthy body regulates its acid-base balance independently – it needs neither a special diet nor other aids such as alkaline water.
Water has a low buffering capacity anyway: it cannot maintain its own pH when encountering an acidic or alkaline environment. In the stomach, alkaline water is neutralized by gastric acid anyway.
Alkaline water for health
Alkaline water has no proven health benefits. Some scientists even suspect that drinking too much alkaline water is harmful: in large quantities, it can dilute stomach acid and thus impair digestion. But that has not been proven either.
You can drink normal tap water without hesitation. It’s clean and has the best ecological balance. Together with a natural, varied diet, your body is optimally supplied.
