By Larry Beres
I would assume that unless you are a water connoisseur or a chemist, you do not know the answer to this question. More likely, you don’t really care!
On the other hand, perhaps you are an athlete or avid fitness fan and you have heard about the potential benefits of alkaline water.
For those of you who are interested, there is a difference between alkaline and alkalinity.
There needs to be a short chemistry refresher.
Water is alkaline if its pH is above 7, which is considered neutral. It is considered acidic if its pH is below 7.
Water’s pH measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water.
Alkaline refers to a basic compound(more negatively charged hydroxyls-OH. Acidic refers to water with more hydrogen ions,{H}.
So, alkaline water means it possesses more hydroxyl ions than hydrogen ions. A perfectly neutral water would have an equal amount and have a pH of 7.
So what, you ask!
Using pH is a method of counting sides. How many hydrogen ions and how many hydroxyl ions. The farther away from neutral(7pH) the more acidic or basic the water and either extreme can cause problems.
Now let’s introduce the term alkalinity.
It’s different from alkaline.
Alkalinity refers to a solution’s ability to neutralize an acid. So, you can have water with high (alkaline)pH and low alkalinity or high alkalinity and low pH! Confused?
Let’s introduce another important term– buffer. A buffer is a substance that gives water the ability to resist changes in its pH.
So, in order to maintain its pH, water needs to have dissolved buffers. If done in nature, those buffers are minerals that have been dissolved in the water. Tap water is mostly mineral carbonates and bicarbonates such as calcium and magnesium carbonates.
These buffers can absorb excess acid to keep the pH steady. In nature, these compounds come from rock and soil that the water passes through to become part of the water.
Now let’s bring this discussion back down to everyday application. The best water for hydration is one containing these minerals.
Drinking water with “high alkalinity” can remineralize the body. Mineral hydrates like calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are recognized by the FDA for their contribution to human nutrition. That gives the water the ability to rehydrate the body and can be beneficial to health.
Mineral deficiencies are a common factor in critical illness with higher mortality and worse clinical outcomes.
So when you buy alkaline water, investigate what the actual mineral content (buffer) is in the water.
According to water experts, a mineral content greater than 160 mg/liter calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is considered high alkalinity.
Moderate alkalinity is 20 -160 mg CaCO3/L and low alkalinity is less than 20 mg CaCO3/L.
Remember it’s the mineral content not the pH that can provide the remineralization that is reduced by exercise or stress!
Chemistry lesson over!
I hope this has been helpful in selecting both refreshing and healthful water.
