Valuable Resources Main Page   Health Information   Health Products
Personal Growth   Spiritual Growth and Consciousness

Why Drink Ionized Alkaline Water?

There is a great deal of misinformation and partial information about water, and I hope to clear up at least some of it with this article.

Most web pages about water and ionizers are extremely technical, while others describe the importance of ionized alkaline water almost as if it is a religious belief. Some companies hugely over-price their units (See BEWARE! Don't overpay for your ionizer - near the end of the article).

There are also websites that tell you never to drink alkalized water, which is amazing when you consider the overwhelming proof of health benefits (see testimonials. In spite of the conflicting material about water, if you decide, as I did, that you want an ionizer, click the link at the end of this page; it will bring you to the unit I use and recommend. (NOTE: I will give you the link to the company website, but don't buy your ionizer on the website; contact me for a special discount.)

What "is" ionization? In simple layman's terms the process of ionization "splits" water. The minerals in the water, primarily calcium, magnesium and potassium, allow the water to be "split" by an electric current, so that you have alkaline (approximately 70%) and acid water (approximately 30%). Alkaline water is "electron-rich," meaning it contains negatively charged ions, and these ions engage in vital chemical reactions in the body.

Distilled and reverse osmosis water cannot be ionized and alkalinized. Yes, this is very pure water, but it can't "do" what our body needs to do with the water we drink.

About water purity -- Here are some facts. Chlorine and other chemicals in our municipal water supplies kill the microorganisms in the water. They do not remove toxic waste from chemical, pesticide, drug and other residues that are in the water. Filters do that.

Manufacturers of distillers and reverse osmosis filters tell you that their water is pure, which it is. They also tell you ionized alkaline water is not. They are not correct.

The filters on ionizers filter out the chlorine and toxic residues. In some areas, where the water has specific toxic residues, additional pre-filters can be added to your ionizer.

Distilled water is dead water with no minerals, whatsoever. Therefore, you cannot use ionizers with distilled water. Reverse Osmosis water has most of the minerals removed. You can use ionizers with reverse osmosis water, IF you first add minerals to the water. (I had a reverse osmosis filter and took it out, as I didn't want to have to add the minerals.)

When water is ionized, the molecules are separated into alkaline and acid water. You drink the alkaline water, and the acid water has several important uses, which I will describe.

Why Ionized Alkaline Water Is So Healthy

Water makes up somewhere between 60-80% of our body (depending on body mass, and which expert you read). We know water is extremely important for our survival. Without enough water to hydrate us we can die from dehydration. Most people don't know some of the other essential functions that water (the "right kind" of water) is supposed to carry out in the cells of our body. Read on...

The human body is basically a chemical and electrical "machine." All chemical reactions in the cells of your body require a transfer of negative ions (called "electrons"). The alkaline water that results from the ionization process provides the essential negative ions that are needed by every cell in our body. (This is explained below**). Meanwhile here are other benefits of drinking alkaline water.

Better hydration -- Ionized alkaline water hydrates your body better. That means it makes the water "wetter." Water molecules come in clusters, and ionization produces smaller ("micro") clusters. These smaller clusters give water excellent hydrating properties, high solubility and good permeability, thus making the water more "usable" in your body.

Better detoxification -- Ionized micro-clustered water detoxifies your body because it is better able to penetrate the cells of your body and push out toxins.

Alkaline water assists in absorption of minerals. If the body is not absorbing minerals it will rob them from the body's mineral reserves, especially calcium from the bones.

Provides an alkaline environment in your body -- We are told to eat alkaline foods to provide an alkaline environment, but since our body is 60-80% water, doesn't it make sense that we can more easily create an alkaline environment by drinking alkaline water.

So, why is an alkaline environment so important? Bacteria, microbes (germs) and cancer cells cannot live in an alkaline environment. By providing alkalinity through the water we drink, we alkalinize our body, thereby creating an inhospitable environment for bacteria, microbes and cancer cells. Drinking alkaline water is the "cornerstone" of a program to balance microorganisms in your body, and reduce the colonies of unfriendly ones.

If the above were the ONLY reasons for drinking alkaline water, it would be enough. But there is much more.

Alkaline water conserves "energy" in the body. Blood must be carefully buffered to keep it in a range of pH 7.35 - 7.45. The body keeps the blood stable by using alkaline buffers to neutralize acidic liquids (such as colas which have a pH as low as 2.5) and other acidic products and byproducts (ALL metabolic processes in the body produce acid waste which our blood must neutralize). As the body receives these acidic substances, the alkaline buffers are used up. Drinking alkaline water helps reduce the burden on our body to provide alkaline buffers which are needed for the body's natural detoxification process, and which are in limited supply.

What about using alkaline substances to alkalinize the water? While it is possible to alkalinize water by adding sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or other substances, this does not produce ions. Ions are produced by "ionizing" the water.

**Alkaline water produced by a water ionizer has a negative "oxidation reduction potential" (ORP), while tap water and bottled water have a positive ORP. If you alkalinize the water with a substance, it still has a positive ORP. A high negative ORP acts as an antioxidant, and donates its negative ions (electrons) to neutralize free radicals.

About free radicals -- Free radicals are oxidizing agents. They are unstable molecules that are missing an electron and are among the most damaging molecules in the body. Free radicals MUST get their missing electrons from "somewhere," and will steal them from healthy cells, if necessary, thus causing a dangerous free radical chain reaction in the body that can result in serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. Our excessive consumption of acidic foods and our stressful lifestyles create bodies that are highly acidic. In addition, every cellular reaction in every one of our trillions of cells creates acid waste. Negative ions are necessary to neutralize the acid.

Why is an acidic environment "bad" for our body? Many chronic diseases, including cancer, result from excess acidity in the body. An acidic environment in our body also promotes the growth of unfriendly (disease-causing) microorganisms. While the human body is host to both damaging and health-enhancing microorganisms, most people have a severe imbalance of friendly and unfriendly microbes. If you are interested in learning more about this little known major health challenge, send me an email and I'll send you the link so you can download my Health Report #2.

Drinking alkaline water promotes the growth of friendly microbes (called probiotics or friendly flora) in our intestines. These friendly flora are very important for keeping unfriendly bacteria in check and are sometimes called our "secondary" immune system.

When to drink alkaline water - Most of the water you drink should be alkaline, except at mealtime and up to 1/2 hr. after eating. Drink filtered water during these times (ionizers have a setting for filtered water). Drink your last alkaline water 1/2 hour before eating. When you eat, hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your stomach has a very acid pH of 2 or less, and you don’t want to raise the pH with alkaline water. Actually, you should avoid drinking water with meals altogether, because you dilute enzymes necessary for digestion. Use alkaline water for cooking, and don't forget your furry friends. Give your pets alkaline water (8.5 pH)

Uses and benefits of acid water: Though you never drink acid water, it has many uses. While an acid environment on the "inside" of your body encourages the rapid growth of unfriendly microorganisms, acid on the "outside" destroys them. Use it to brush your teeth -- yes, your teeth, even though we think of teeth as being on the "inside" - because acid water kills germs on contact. Use for cleaning kitchen countertops for the same reason. Wash fruits, vegetables, meats and fish with acid water to kill bacteria. Use to water your plants as acidic water promotes plant growth and health; if you put cut flowers into a vase with acid water it more than doubles the life of the flowers. Your skin and hair have an acid pH, so use acid water for its beautifying effects. Also use on pimples, rashes, bruises, etc.

BEWARE! Don't overpay for your ionizer!

Unfortunately, there is a huge water ionizer "scam" out there. People are paying up to $3,000 for alkaline water ionizers -- and they are throwing their money away.

I spoke at length to the Director of Sales and Marketing one of the largest importers, wholesalers and retailers of water ionizers in North America. (My ionizer and my family's ionizers come from this company and we are very pleased with them.) He explained that parts for water ionizers are made by the same companies. Some companies use fancy marketing and make outrageous claims, so they can charge more. But it is a waste of money! There are specific "things" that water ionizers do - micro-cluster the water (make the molecules much smaller), filter the water, separate the water into alkaline and acid, add ions and oxygen to the alkaline water. ALL units do the above.

Click here for testimonials from very satisfied users of the alkaline water ionizers that I recommend.

Click here to see photos and read about the ionizers on the company website.

NOTE: As I mentioned previously, do not purchase your ionizer from the site, as I give you a discount from the already low price. To purchase other products on their site, please use THIS link.

Valuable Resources Main Page   Health Information   Health Products
Personal Growth   Spiritual Growth and Consciousness