Water is extremely crucial for all your vital functions, so you need to drink plenty of it throughout the day. Even though regular water works just fine, alkaline water is even better. A pH scale, which has values ranging from 0 to 14, is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Water normally has a pH value of 7, which is considered neutral. Any value less than 7 is considered acidic and any value above 7 is considered alkaline. Alkaline water is slightly more alkaline than tap water with a pH value of 7.4. Maintaining the pH of your body at 7.4 is key if you want to be disease-free and healthy. You can derive multiple health benefits from drinking alkaline water.
1. It Improves Your Immunity
Alkaline water gives a boost to your immune system as it contains plenty of antioxidants, which greatly reduce your chances of catching a cold or the flu. The water also converts free radicals into oxygen so that it can be used by your body for the production of energy.
2. It Helps You Lose Weight
Your body tends to accumulate toxins when it suffers from excessive acidity. It can cause you to gain weight as these toxins get stored in fat cells. Since it gets very difficult for your body to excrete the excess acids, your body holds on to as much fat as possible in order to accommodate them. Alkaline water reduces the acidity of your body, allowing you to lose weight more easily.
3. It Improves Your Complexion
One of the main reasons your skin looks old is because of the damaging effects of free radicals. The antioxidants present in alkaline water counteract the effects of the free radicals and slow down the aging process. Your skin will appear younger as a result. The hydrating effects of water leave your skin feeling nourished and refreshed.
4. It Lowers Your Risk Of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become porous and weak over time. If your diet is too acidic, it results in the depletion of bone minerals, leading to osteoporosis. It has to be prevented or treated during the early stages, or it may result in the easy breakage of bones. Drinking alkaline water is a great way to prevent osteoporosis because of its ability to counteract acidity.
5. It Promotes Digestion
You may fall victim to acidity when you stuff yourself with spicy, oily, and fatty foods and alcohol, or if you overeat. The acid in your stomach often backs up into your food pipe, causing heartburn. Frequent heartburn may also damage the walls of the food pipe and lead to cancer. Alkaline water reduces the effect of acidic foods, thereby, improving digestion and reducing your risk of cancer.
6. It Boosts Your Energy Levels
Your energy levels plummet when you are dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water hydrates your tissues and organs and boosts your energy levels. Alkaline water is much better than regular tap water when it comes to improving your energy levels as it assists in the better delivery of nutrients throughout your body.
How To Make Your Own Alkaline Water?
Making your own alkaline water is quite easy. Here’s how you can do it at home.
Things Required:
- 8 ounces of filtered or distilled water
- A pH testing kit
- Baking soda
How To:
- Test the pH of water with a pH strip and compare the color on a pH color chart.
- Make a note of the pH value of the water.
- Add 1/8 tablespoon of baking soda to 8 ounces of filtered water and mix it well.
- Test the pH of the water again.
- A value of 7.5 to 8 should be ideal.
- Add more water if the value is too high.
Note of caution: Baking soda is high in sodium so you should not consume it if you are following a low-sodium diet.
Putting a little effort on your part and making your water alkaline before you drink it will have great benefits on your health. You can also buy alkaline water from online stores if you don’t have the time to make it on your own.
