Are There Alkaline Water Risks?
To understand if there are alkaline water risks, it is important to understand the chemical balance of natural water. Desirable water has a pH value of between 6.5 and 7 on a scale of 1 to 14, with 1 being the most acid and 14 the most alkaline. Falling in the middle range is natural tap water, in most locations. There are a few variations, for example, with higher altitudes, where mountain spring and glacier water tends to be more alkaline at about 8 pH.
Makers of water ionizers and water purification filters advertise that their products remove a variety of tap water contaminants. Their studies indicate any alkaline water risks would only occur at pH levels above 10. Those waters are good for cleaning, not drinking. In fact, they claim that alkaline water is healthy, promoting better physical health in man, plants, and animals because it carries more oxygen molecules, thus helping to reduce free radicals which cause harm. Highly acid water is the risky water because it allows less oxygen into the body which aids growth of bacteria and germs, etc. In Japan, studies have shown that highly acid water used on crops not only avoids the use of dangerous chemicals, but also kills plant pests such as mold. Acid water in the ground helps plants suck nutrients from the soil. This runs counter to common thought that acid rain is bad, apparently is it only bad for human and animal/fish life, but good for plant life. Acid water with a pH level of between 6 and 4 should be used not for drinking, but for beauty, pet coat care, some food cooking and freezing, and cleaning. Heavily acid water, with pH levels below 2.7, is good not for drinking but for disinfecting, hygiene and preventing food poisoning.
When separated by electrolysis, normal tap water becomes acid water and alkaline water. Spraying plants with alkaline water promotes healthy plant growth. Drinking alkaline water is said to be healthy, allowing better sleep, and assisting the body in fighting toxins with its antioxidant properties. Antioxidant because the alkaline water has more oxygen, and the higher oxygen aids the body in its fight against free radicals that cause disease, aging, and so on, according to publications from water purifier companies. But, in view of the above cautions regarding alkaline water risks where the pH level is above 10, some attention needs to be paid to drinking water pH levels.
Like many situations in life, moderation seems to be the rule with drinking water. There is evidence that persons living at higher altitudes live longer, for reasons including the higher alkaline quality of their mountain water. Air, food, different stresses on the body may be less at higher elevations. Beyond moving to the mountains, it would seem proper to keep an eye on drinking water pH levels and strive to filter tap water towards the alkaline side. It also appears that alkaline trends are less dangerous to humans than acid trends in water quality.
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