Periodically, there's a story about mountain villages where people live longer and remain healthier than the rest of the world. Often these people are in remote mountain locations. Part of the reason for their good health, of course, is the lack of pollutants and a more natural diet. However, some scientists believe there's more to it than that. Some believe the excellent health comes from the water. People drinking water that passes over volcanic material or water falls over specific igneous rocks drink naturally ionized alkaline water.
How Could Alkaline Water Help?
There are few tests done to find if alkaline water benefits humans. Japan is the first to begin testing. However, the logic seems simple. For years, scientists say that eating specific foods help alkalize your system and help you maintain a healthier body. Alkaline water provides much of the same effect.
While water has a neutral pH, the foods we eat tend to be more acidic-producing foods. These acids created by the foods have the potential to enter the blood system and lymphatic system. The blood goes to all organs and creates havoc when too acidic. For instance, the acidic blood can cause damage to the kidneys or liver.
There is evidence that a consistently acidic state is the cause of many diseases. Acid in the bodily fluids can cause leaching of calcium from the bones and other minerals from your system. If you've ever put a bone in vinegar, you'll recognize that. After a day, the bone becomes rubbery because of the loss of the calcium. After all, don't you clean calcium out of coffee makers by running through vinegar? In a coffee maker, that's a good thing, but when it occurs in the body, it's not.
Alkaline water, along with alkaline vegetables, can help reduce the acidity in your body. Less acidity means you'll probably be healthier. I use the term probably because there still isn't comprehensive proof that this is true. The basis for the hypothesis is logic. There are no long term studies performed on humans to prove whether it helps or not.
Alkaline Water Benefits Include Rapid Hydration
The structure of the water changes when it's alkaline. It clumps in smaller groups. Because the molecular clusters are smaller, they can also pass through your body quicker and help clear it of toxins. Of course, any type of plain water is good for you and from most reports, alkaline water tastes better, so you tend to drink more of it. The increased hydration makes you healthier by making your body run more efficiently.
It's an Antioxidant
Oxygen is necessary for survival but it can also damage cells on the molecular level if it acts as a free radical. Water that's alkalized contains hydroxyl ions. Hydroxyl ions are powerful free radical fighters because they give up one of their electrons, so the free radical doesn't steal it from the cell membrane. A cell membrane is a semi-permeable membrane. When a free radical steals the electron from the membrane, it changes the chemical composition and the membrane becomes hard and impenetrable. This means no food goes in and no waste goes out. Eventually, the cell dies or it damages the DNA. If there's enough cell death or damage, you develop illness or signs of aging.
