Alkaline 101: When Should I Drink Alkaline Water?



Are you confused about alkaline water and are asking, “When should I drink alkaline water?” Read this article to learn more about drink alkaline water.

Staying hydrated is crucial to staying alive, but what role does alkaline water play in keeping you healthy? The answer lies in understanding acidity and alkalinity, and how they affect your body. After all, an acidic diet and an alkaline body won’t mix.

Are you asking yourself “When should I drink alkaline water?” The answer is: whenever you’re thirsty! Of course, it’s always wise to exercise caution and moderation. A body that is too alkaline is just as dangerous as one that is too acidic. 

Let’s jump right in and explore these differences and their implications. 

What is Alkaline Water?

Before you can understand when to drink alkaline water, you must first become familiar with what alkaline water is and how it differs from other types of fresh or bottled waters. To do this, you need only take a moment to review the standard pH scale.

Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, and this is true of all Earth’s water supply. However, this is about where global similarities among water sources end. After all, only about 3% of this planet’s water freshwater.

And within that tiny percentage, an even smaller amount is safe to drink. Toxins, unpalatable minerals, and solid contaminants are commonly found in freshwater sources like rivers, lakes, and springs.

To make matters slightly more complicated, water pH also differs from source to source. This means that some water might be highly acidic or incredibly basic, and both extremes can be dangerous. That’s why it’s crucial to understand pH.

Understanding the pH Scale

A pH scale is a measurement tool that’s used to determine the alkalinity or acidity of a given water source. The most popular method of testing involves the use of litmus test strips. However, pH strips render a far more specific and accurate result.

After dipping one of the above testing strips into a water source, it will change color to indicate several results. Litmus strips will become either blue or red to show how basic or acidic the water is.

pH test strips can turn almost any color to show where the water falls on the pH scale. The lower the number, the more acidic the fluid. The higher the number, the more alkaline it is.

To help you understand acidity and alkalinity a little more quickly, let’s take a moment to think about liquids that are highly acidic and highly basic. Lemon juice is fantastically acidic, and it registers at about a 2 on the pH scale.

Alternatively, hand soaps and bleach products tend to be incredibly basic or alkaline. These substances can register between 9 and 12 on the pH scale. The most acidic fluids generate a reading of 1 or lower, while the most alkaline liquids can reach 14.

Unfortunately, most drinking water does not fall squarely in the middle of this scale. Instead, it tends to generate pH readings that are consistent with more acidic substances. Over time, this acidity can become a significant problem.

What is PRAL?

Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) is a measure of a particular food, diet, or beverage’s acidity. Understanding PRAL alkalinity can help you make the right choice in terms of alkaline water. However, it’s also essential to understand how alkalinity affects the body.

Human blood falls nearly in the middle of the pH scale. It is slightly more alkaline than acidic, typically registering at a 7.4 pH.

When you drink or consume lots of acidic substances (sugar, dairy, meats, grains, coffee), your body struggles to correct this imbalance and maintain proper blood pH levels.

Over time, this high level of acidity can result in digestive issues, kidney and liver disorders, and severe acidosis. Drinking alkaline water can help restore your body’s natural and ideal pH level, preventing many of these potential issues.

Should I Drink Alkaline Water?

Drinking alkaline water could be a fantastic way to help keep your body’s pH levels balanced and healthy. However, you could also supplement your diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables tend to be slightly within the alkaline range of the pH scale.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, lemons are one of the most alkaline substances you could choose to eat. Though their juice is fantastically acidic, the fruit and juice become alkaline after metabolization.

Watermelon and cucumber are also great options for body-wide alkalinity. Still, the average human body is up to 60% water, so drinking alkaline water remains one of the most efficient and effective ways to avoid pH problems. 

Alkaline Water Benefits

When the human body can remain at a healthy pH for an extended period, it can focus its cellular energy on other endeavors. In this way, alkaline water’s primary long-term benefit is overall improved health.

However, it’s often crucial to discuss the more immediate, short-term benefits of drinking alkaline water. For example, alkaline drinking water may be able to:

  • Reduce the severity of acid reflux symptoms
  • Lower an individual’s blood pressure
  • Help lower a person’s cholesterol
  • Lower the blood’s viscosity, helping it to flow more quickly
  • Keep you hydrated throughout the day

Because every human being is unique, the precise benefits of drinking alkaline water are bound to vary from person to person. However, it’s essential to note that staying hydrated is key to staying healthy, so drinking alkaline water is typically a smart idea.

When Should I Drink Alkaline Water?

You can begin drinking alkaline water at any time! You could drink alkaline water when you wake up in the morning, throughout the afternoon, and into the evening.

Alkaline water, especially those bottled by reputable companies, isn’t a high-risk substance. You may want to choose alkaline water that contains natural minerals from a natural water source.

While it’s vital to drink clean water, it’s also critical to avoid artificially mineralized waters whenever possible. Still, the average person can drink up to three liters of alkaline water per day without experiencing negative side-effects. 

Daily and regular alkaline water consumption primarily benefit individuals who consume a diet of highly acidic foods and beverages. Overconsumption of alkaline substances does have some notable drawbacks, so always exercise caution.

Stay Hydrated and Feel Better

When should I drink alkaline water? You could drink alkaline water every day if you wanted to help your body maintain a natural, healthy, and ideal pH.

You could also choose to incorporate a few more alkaline foods into your diet, especially if you consume a lot of sugars and grains. As always, it’s important to exercise moderation and practice integration when adopting a new health habit.

If you’re excited to stay hydrated and experience a more balanced body, slowly start incorporating alkaline water into your diet and day. And if you enjoyed this article, be sure to read our other health and lifestyle articles now!

The post Alkaline 101: When Should I Drink Alkaline Water? appeared first on NYK Daily.

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