Is Alkaline Water Good for You?By Alderin Ordell, MA

http://www.waterforlifeusa.com

When 70% of our body mass is composed of

water, it is easy to appreciate how H2O is

essential not just for life, but also a basic

requirement for maintaining optimal health.

Every bodily function relies on water –

digestion, absorption of nutrients, circulation,

lubrication, and elimination of waste. When

there is a lack of water, these systems break

down.

So it is no surprise that the type of water we put

inside our bodies can have a dramatic effect on

our health. Some health experts suggest

drinking alkaline water is best, but is alkaline

water good for you? And what effect does

drinking alkaline water have on our body?

Drinking Enough WaterWhy is alkaline water good for you is an important question, but before we find out the answer it is extremely

important that we drink enough water, period. General guidelines dictate that we should each drink 1/2

ounce daily for every pound of our total body weight. However, recent studies have shown that these

should be used as guidelines only, as optimal intake can vary quite significantly from person to person. But

whatever the perfect volume of water to drink each day, we cannot include things like coffee, alcohol, or

soft drinks, as these types of drinks will actually dehydrate the body.

Why is Alkaline Water Good for You and pH BalanceOnce you are getting enough water inside of you each day, the next step – to truly take your health to new

heights – is to ensure the type of water that you are actually drinking is the best water for your body. Which

leads to the discovery of why is alkaline water good for you.

Drinks like coffee and soda are a big no-no as even

though they are composed of 99% water, they are

acidic. Whether a liquid is alkaline or acidic is

determined by its pH, which stands for “potential

hydrogen.” The pH scale ranges from 0 (highly acidic)

to 14 (highly alkaline). 7 is neutral and for optimal

health and well-being, your body should be around 7.2

to 7.5, to achieve what is called a balanced body pH

level.

As we know, when 2/3s of our body mass is water, putting acidic or alkaline water in our bodies is going to

have a dramatic effect on this balance. We do have systems to help maintain this acid/alkaline equity. Our

kidneys dispose of acid through urine, and our lungs breathe out an increasing amounts of carbon dioxide

when there is too much acidity in the body. However, the modern diet means it is far too easy to consume

an overly acidic diet on a daily basis. But drinking alkaline water produced from a water ionizer can guard

against these dangers. Push it too far and let your body become too acidic and you run the risk of suffering

from acidosis.

The Dangers of AcidosisAcidosis is caused when the acid/alkaline balance of the body has become overly acidic. This condition has

been recognized as a contributing factor in many health conditions including gastritis, gout, heartburn, sore

muscles, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, skin diseases, obesity, and even more serious conditions such as

heart disease and cancer. Disease thrives in an acidic environment, so the more acidic your body the more

susceptible you are to disease. Symptoms of acidosis include constipation, lack of energy, digestive

problems, gout, joint pain, persistent skin rashes, allergies, high blood pressure, reduced immune

functions, and weight gain.

So why is alkaline water good for you? Because, in short, it protects against acidosis and the numerous

conditions associated with an acidic diet. The benefits of alkaline water from a water ionizer, called “ionized

water”, are better still. These machines will give you the alkaline water your body desires, but also water

that is perfectly filtered and packed full of beneficial minerals and antioxidants. This combination of

attributes will ensure that you have the best type of alkaline water to ensure a balanced pH and good long-

term health.

To your health,