Hi everyone,

🚰 These days, people are becoming more conscientious about the source and health of their water, especially as more stories are breaking about contaminated tap water.

It’s no wonder quality is now at the forefront of our minds.

Lately, more people have shifted from drinking pure tap water to alkaline water, which is said to be healthier than pure tap water—the market demand reflects these shifts.

• 💸 In 2023, the Alkaline Water Company had a record revenue of $62.88 million.

But what is alkaline water, and does science say it’s worth it for better health?

In this newsletter:

• What is alkaline?

• Why drink alkaline?

• Are there health benefits?

• Is it worth it?

• And more…

Let’s drink up some science.

Feel free to reach out at us at [email protected] with any comments or questions.

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DIET

What is alkaline water?

Alkaline water has a higher pH than pure water.

pH measures the acidity or base (alkalinity) of something; it is based on concentration of hydrogen ions.

The pH scale ranges from zero to 14.

• Seven is pure water. 

• Lower than seven is acidic (☕ coffee)

• Higher than seven is alkaline (baking soda)

More hydrogen ions means more acidity.

💎 Alkaline water usually hovers between a pH of 8 and 9. It is alkalinized by adding minerals (e.g., calcium and magnesium carbonate) and the water must act as an antioxidant.

Why does pH matter?

Acidic tap water (which has a pH of 6.5 or less) can leach heavy metals from pipes into drinking water, according to Dr. Robert Ashley, MD, a board-certified internal physician, in an interview with UCLA Health.

• Manganese, copper, and iron are the most common heavy metals, and they can be toxic in large amounts, he says. 

Consuming low-pH beverages can also affect the integrity of different parts of the body. For instance, acidic beverages can increase the risk of dental erosion.

pH can also affect taste. Acidic water tends to taste bitter, while alkaline water can taste “hard” because it has more calcium and minerals, according to an article in JNCO.

Are there health benefits to drinking alkaline water?

Possibly, but there’s lot of insubstantial evidence.

🔂 Anti-aging

Alkaline water may be anti-aging, as it cleanses the colon, rejuvenates skin, and lubricates muscles and joints, says nutritionist Alyse Levine, MS, RD, the founder of Nutritionbite LLC, in an interview with Shape magazine. 

But according to a medically-reviewed article in healthline, these are unbacked claims.

Companies also claim that it is anti-aging because it reduces oxidative stress, but it is hard to prove. Experts say be wary of these claims. 

🔥 Inflammation

There is clinical evidence that alkaline water is healthy for certain symptoms and conditions.

• A 2024 analysis suggests that drinking high-alkaline water can help treat gouty arthritis, in conjunction with conventional medication. 

• The duo reduced inflammation, a hallmark of aging, other disease markers, and improved joint motion far more than medication alone.

🫀 Heart disease and cancer

Alkaline water may be associated with lower incidence of heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, according to information in a 2016 paper in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.

But the anti-cancer argument is not a fruitful one, unfortunately. 

According to popular lore, a body that has an alkaline environment can prevent cancer from developing. 

• What’s the basis for this claim? Cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment, and cancer creates acidic environment, says Jorge J. Nieva, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center of Keck Medicine of USC, in an interview with Forbes. 

Unfortunately, experts have largely debunked this.

• “While we wish cancer prevention was that amazingly simple, science comes down on the side of ‘not very likely’,” according to Nieva.

🦴 Bone loss

In a 2021 study, alkaline water improved spinal bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (loss of bone density), a condition that significantly increases risk of bone fracture–and mortality–in older adults, authors write.

💦 Hydration

Alkaline water may be more hydrating than pure water, according to a few studies. For instance, alkaline water can improve hydration in healthy adults who complete difficult exercise, and it may be two-times more hydrating than regular water after exercise, according to an article by The Arthritis Foundation.

🧬 Longevity

Onto the good stuff… although there’s not a lot of it.

• In fact, I could only find one single study that suggests there are possible longevity benefits.

During the three-year study (2016), mice who drank alkaline water had a higher longevity than mice who drank tap water. These results are not necessarily transferable to people, and high-quality studies are needed.

 Is alkaline worth it for longevity?

The science seems to suggest no—or not yet, anyways.

Water pH does not really matter because everything you consume will eventually be neutralized in your intestines, with or without the help of alkaline water. 

“Your intestines are the great leveler and everything you eat ends up at the same pH, regardless of the pH it had while still on your plate or in your glass,” Neiva tells Forbes.

Famous water sommelier Martin Riese goes so far as to call alkaline water a “marketing ploy,” in an interview with Vogue. 

✨ A few studies offer a glimmer of hope that alkaline water has added benefits which could be anti-aging and life-extending, but the findings are slim, not compatible with humans, or based on anecdotal evidence. 

Ultimately, it is not harmful to drink alkaline water.

Feel free to continue to drink it if it’s what you like (although it may hurt your wallet a bit, as alkaline water is nearly twice as expensive as regular water).

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🔔 Catch up on the previous newsletter

Learn about the promising probiotic that’s ushering in a new era of health, pickleball’s link to longevity, and more.

We can’t wait to cover more trending topics in longevity in our next newsletter. Stay tuned.

-Erin

Longevity Media LLC

Be your own expert. Optimize your health. Look beyond conventional.

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provid