Alkaline bottled water has become the latest buzz in the health industry. Backed by minimum scientific claims but a number of consumer reviews that claim they had substantial health benefits provided from the beverage. While alkaline water might have a positive impact on acid reflux in the stomach and this impact is backed by scientific understanding there is very little that claims that it is any better than neutral water for average people. In fact, it is suggested that drinking too much alkaline water may cause adverse effects on your body. Alkaline diets incorporating the best alkaline water were considered to reduce the risk of cancer by many consumers of alkaline water, however, this turned out to not be the case at all. Scientists suggest that an alkaline diet may be more harmful than it will be beneficial. This is because it will eliminate the important nutrients that your body needs. This put an abrupt stop on the promotion of alkaline water and alkaline diets for commercial purposes. Here are some health Risks you might also want to be aware of if you are taking alkaline water in your diet:
Its impact on the stomach:
While alkaline water brands are thought to have reduced the acidic effect of the stomach but too much alkalinity may even damage the natural PH of the acidic stomach juices. These juices are meant for the chemical digestion of food components. If the acidity of the stomach is tampered with then it is very likely that you might experience heartburn. The stomach environment is meant to be maintained for health purposes. Too much alkalinity and too much acidity are likely to cause problems like GERD or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux disease. This is a condition when the contents of the stomach would pass back into the esophagus.
Metabolic Alkalosis:
This is a condition that is caused by a continuous increase in the element of serum bicarbonate. This condition occurs when there is a loss of H+ in the body or HCO3-. In the purest form, it may manifest as alkaline. The natural contents of your digestive tract can also be impaired with the continuous use of an alkaline beverage. This condition has multiple effects on the body including vomiting, muscle twitching, and tremors, tingling in the extremities or face, and confusion.
Skin Irritations:
All the cells in our body utilize the water you drink for metabolic conditions; however, skin cells are the cells are made of 57-87 percent of water. Any alkalinity in the water is likely to not just interrupt with metabolic processes but it also has an impact on skin cells and causes skin irritations along with gastrointestinal issues.
Does it really work?
Alkaline water has been associated with several health benefits including lowering blood sugar levels, high blood lipids, and blood pressure, prevent chronic diseases, slow down aging, make you more energetic, etc. However, there is still a lot of scientific research required to support these claims. The benefits that are scientifically researched and backed by science include:
- A study proved that drinking a more alkaline beverage accompanied by calcium content is likely to cause better bone re-absorption where old bone cells are broken down and new ones are formed.
- It helps reduce the acidity of the stomach and prevent acid reflux. This ultimately prevents diseases like GERD. The gastrointestinal content has to maintain PH if it becomes too acidic and alkaline water of 8.8 PH is good enough to neutralize the acidic effects
- It also may lower High blood sugar and blood lipids along with Blood pressure. This was proved in a study that was conducted in a Shanghai that followed alkaline consuming participants.
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