In recent years, quite a few celebrities have revealed that they've stopped drinking tap water and bottled water and started drinking alkaline water instead. From superstar athletes like LeBron James and Tom Brady to entertainers like Mark Wahlberg and Rick Ross, there hasn't been any shortage of celebs singing the praises of alkaline water.
This has led to a spike in the number of everyday Americans who drink alkaline water. It has also led to a spike in the number of studies being done on alkaline water to try to answer the question, "Is alkaline water good for you?"
If you're interested in incorporating alkaline water into your tap water life, it should be simple enough. If you have a reverse osmosis drinking water system installed in your home, during the RO system install, an alkaline filter can be put in place, creating access to alkaline water straight from your tap.
Let’s just make sure you know all about the supposed benefits of alkaline water first. Learn more about them below.
What is alkaline water? To understand you’ll need to know about pH levels.
The pH level of something refers to its acidic or alkaline levels. The pH level ranges from 0 to 14 with closer to 0 being very acidic and closer to 14 being alkaline.
Alkaline water is called "alkaline" because it has a higher pH than plain water. It typically has a pH level of 8 or 9.
The specific pH level of alkaline water will be based on which alkaline minerals are found in it. Some of the alkaline minerals that are most commonly found in alkaline water are calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
If you were to put a glass of tap water, a glass of bottled water, and a glass of alkaline water next to each other, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them. This may lead you to believe that an RO system and alkaline filter might not be worth it.
But there is a big difference between the pH levels of tap water, bottled water, and alkaline water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandates that tap water must have a pH level that falls somewhere between 6.5 and 8.5 with some tap water coming in at a neutral pH of 7. Most bottled water, meanwhile, falls into this same range, though some brands will have pH levels that dip below a pH of 5.5.
Alkaline water, on the other hand, will usually have a high pH compared to tap water and bottled water at 8 or 9. It also has the alkaline minerals in it and negative oxidation-reduction potential, or ORP, which gives alkaline water the ability to take on the role of either a prooxidant or an antioxidant.
You may also notice a slight difference in the way that alkaline water tastes compared to other types of water. It's known to be slightly more bitter than regular water, though you will get used to the taste once you're drinking it on a regular basis. You also might not mind the taste at all, is it after all, just based on personal preference.
Now that you know what alkaline water is, let's answer the question, "Is alkaline water good for you?" It'll help you decide whether you should go through the RO system installation process and have an alkaline filter installed.
To start, we should mention that there is still a lot of research being done on alkaline water and its impact on the human body. There has been some speculation about how alkaline water might be able to neutralize the acid that exists in your bloodstream and even ward off potentially fatal conditions like cancer and heart disease. As of right now, there isn't enough evidence to suggest that alkaline water can provide you with these specific benefits.
One of these studies found that alkaline water might be an effective treatment for acid reflux. Here is information on a few other studies that have been done:
A 2016 study discovered drinking alkaline water while working out improves blood viscosity and increases energy
A 2018 study found drinking alkaline water might help reduce the symptoms associated with liver disease
A 2021 study suggested drinking alkaline water might improve the bone health of post-menopausal women
Your body is already designed to lower your acidity levels when necessary. The hope is alkaline water may aid your body in neutralizing acidity more effectively, but more research needs to be completed before evidence-based statements can be made.
The health benefits of alkaline water might still be up for debate. But the good news for those who would like to put it to the test is that there haven't appeared to be any negative side effects that will come along with drinking it. None of the studies that have been done on alkaline water have suggested it could do any harm to those who drink it.
If you have any major health complications, like heart disease or kidney disease, we of course recommend discussing alkaline water with your doctor to make sure it won't cause any further complications.
Doctors and researchers also aren't shooting down the idea of people giving alkaline water a try. They are, though, advising them to consider where they're getting their alkaline water from.
Lots of different water brands have started to sell bottled alkaline water. But unfortunately, you might not be able to get to the bottom of where this water is sourced. And even if you are, it might not be coming from the most reliable sources of alkaline water.
For this reason, many doctors and researchers suggest that people consider installing reverse osmosis drinking water systems in their homes, with an alkaline filter, to create their own alkaline water. An RO system can be utilized to purify water before an alkaline filter increases its pH level and adds the right minerals to the mix.
So far, this seems like the best way for those interested in drinking alkaline water to get easy access to it. It's also a more affordable way to drink alkaline water compared to buying it bottled.
After hearing about all the potential health benefits of alkaline water, you probably want to start drinking it regularly. You should consider going through the RO system install process and having an alkaline filter included. Or if you already have an RO system installed, you can simply have an alkaline filter added to it.
You can rely on a company like Parker & Sons to put an RO system with an alkaline filter in your home. If you've already gone through the process of installing an RO system, Parker & Sons can also install just an alkaline filter for you.
If you'd like to install an RO system with an alkaline filter in your house Parker & Sons is here to help! Get in touch with us today to learn more.
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