Understanding the Benefits and Pitfalls of Different Types of Water

Understanding the Differences Between Acidic pH, Alkaline pH, Spring, Distilled, and Purified Water: Benefits, Dangers, and Recommendations for Human Consumption

Water is a vital element for sustaining life, playing crucial roles in bodily functions, hydration, and overall health. However, not all water is created equal. Variations in pH levels and purification processes can significantly impact water quality, affecting both its benefits and potential dangers. In the following content, this article  aims to elucidate the disparities between acidic pH, alkaline pH, spring, distilled, and purified water, exploring their respective advantages, drawbacks, and their suitability for human consumption.

First off, let’s talk about pH, The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of water, spanning from 0 to 14. It operates logarithmically, wherein each increment on the scale signifies a tenfold change. Water achieves neutrality at a pH of 7, while pH levels below 7 denote acidity and levels above 7 indicate alkalinity. When it comes to drinking water it’s best to drink a neutral pH to more alkaline. One should never drink water that is below a 6.5 pH level. Be sure to get your home’s water tested to see what pH levels its at, also visit our article on water and wellness to discover helpful filtration systems for your home.

Now, let’s take a look at the different water types and their benefits and dangers:

Acidic Water

Acidic pH water typically falls below a pH level of 7, indicating higher acidity.

Benefits:

• Some proponents claim that mildly acidic water may possess antioxidant properties and aid in digestion in small doses. For instance, taking a shot of 2.5 pH water can treat food poisoning. But be sure to consume good quantities of alkaline once it’s flushed out. Otherwise it is unwise to consume acidic water
• Hair: the slightly acidic nature of acidic water can effectively close hair cuticles, resulting in smoother and more manageable hair.
• Skincare: One of the primary advantages of acidic water lies in its ability to balance the pH of the skin's surface. By neutralizing alkalinity, it promotes the maintenance of a healthy skin barrier, essential for protecting against external irritants and pollutants. Additionally, acidic water's neutralizing properties may offer relief for various skin conditions by soothing irritation and inflammation.
• Beauty: acidic water serves as a natural toner, thanks to its rapid evaporation rate. When used as a rinse, it acts swiftly to refine pores and improve the overall appearance of the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Put 6.0pH water in a spray bottle for a nice skin spritzer
• Disinfectant: acidic water finds utility in household chores and hygiene practices. It excels at removing stubborn stains, owing to its ability to break down and dissolve grime effectively. Additionally, its natural disinfectant properties make it an ideal choice for sanitizing surfaces and promoting cleanliness in the home environment. Moreover, when added to laundry, acidic water can enhance the efficiency of detergents, leading to cleaner and fresher-smelling clothes.
• Hand sanitizer: Use 2.5 pH for hand sanitizing purposes
• Treat Burns/cuts/bug bites: Using 2.5 pH can address burns causing them to be safe and free from bacteria while also promoting faster healing. This treatment also removes the heat and stops the stinging.
  

Dangers:

• Disrupt you pH: Excessive consumption of acidic water may disrupt the body's pH balance, potentially leading to acidosis and other health issues.
• Acidic water might erode tooth enamel over time if consumed frequently. If you use it to brush your teeth, only do this practice every few weeks when you feel your mouth needs a deep cleaning. This point is also why it’s so important to get your water tested. Here are some options for test strips.
• Bone loss over time
• Acidic water often contains traces of heavy metals: which can pose health risks as our bodies continuously strive to detoxify from these substances, particularly in urban environments or with processed food diets.
• Damage to plumbing: Prolonged exposure to acidic water can lead to damage to plumbing systems, potentially compromising the longevity of the household infrastructure. Therefore, consistent use of acidic water may inadvertently jeopardize the structural integrity of the home.
  

• Due to its disinfectant properties, I have witnessed water experts use highly acidic water to brush their teeth. Using the kangen machine or other water ionizers, you can drop the water's acidity to 2.5 and use it as water on your toothbrush and a quick mouthwash. However, it’s important that you don’t swallow while also following up with rinsing your mouth with 9.5 pHalkaline water. This is a great method for treating gingivitis.

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Alkaline pH Water

Alkaline pH water has a pH level greater than 7, indicating higher alkalinity.

Benefits:

• Neutralizes Acids: Advocates suggest that alkaline water may help neutralize acidic compounds in the body, potentially offering benefits such as improved hydration and better acid-base balance.
• Antioxidant: Some studies suggest that alkaline water may possess antioxidant properties, potentially reducing oxidative stress.
• Often used for its anti-aging properties: Alkaline water was extensively tested for its capabilities to prolong one's life and slow the aging process. 
• In this same study it was observed to prolong fertility - See the full report here.
• Soaking your feet in 11.5 can help with inflammatory issues throughout the body

Dangers:

• Excessive consumption of highly alkaline water may disrupt the body's natural pH balance, leading to alkalosis, which can cause symptoms like nausea, muscle twitching, and confusion.
• Long-term consumption of highly alkaline water might interfere with the stomach's acid levels, impacting digestion. Which is why it’s important to also mix up your consumption with neutral 7 pH water such as mineral water.

An incredible testimonial from a water expert, Jilly Torrez, was actually able to heal her ovarian cancer with JUST WATER through “The Living Water Systems” more commonly known as Kangen. There have also been amazing reports of reversing graying hair using the Kangen machines, someone even shared a photo of their once gray haired dog now having black hair after a year of drinking 9.5 Kangen water. Of course, we have done extensive research on water Ionizers and you don’t need to break your bank on a Kangen machine. Check out the water filtration comparison article to find the best machines.  

Water Ionizer Machines are incredible inventions, more and more studies have been released to show the benefits of this hydrogen water. Here is a partial list of what Ionizer Machines have been treating by creating hydrogen water:

• Alexander disease
• Allergies
• Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
• Angina
• Asthma
• Atherosclerosis
• Athlete's foot
• Atopic dermatitis
• Autoimmune disorders
• Bed sores
• Bone Loss
• Cancer (various types)
• Cardio renal symptoms
• Cataracts
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Chemo's negative side effects
• Chromes disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Cirrhosis
• Collagen disease
• Colon diseases
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dehydration
• Diabetes mellitus
• Diabetic necrosis
• Frontotemporal lobar degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Gout
• Heart attacks
• Heart disease or coronary artery disease,
• HGC disorders
• High blood pressure
• Huntington's disease
• Hypersensitive disorders
• Hypertension Inflammatory disorders
• Ischemic brain injuries
• Kawasaki's disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lupus
• Malaise
• Metabolic syndrome
• Muscle fatigue of athletes

List credit: https://www.alkalinewaterplus.com/hydrogen-water-ionized-water-research/ - Follow this link for a long comprehensive list of over 100 research & clinical studies addressing each one.

Neutralizing acidity in the body is vital for your health. Cancer is unable to survive in an alkaline environment and thrives in an acidic one. That already sheds some light on the benefits of drinking alkaline water. Of course as mentioned in the quick referenced dangers above, you don’t want your body to be in an extreme alkaline state either. Throwing off the natural balance of your inner pH can hurt your kidneys and lungs, in turn the rest of the body, due to the decrease in carbon dioxide leading to alkalosis. Symptoms include:

• Nasua 
• Vomiting
• Hand Tremors
• Muscle twitching
• Confusion
• Lightheadedness 
• Numbness in the face and feet

Alkalosis is not generally stimulated from drinking alkaline water though. It tends to be triggered from instances such as high fevers, being in extremely high altitudes, having a lack of oxygen, liver disease, lung disease, or overdosing on aspirin. 

This is something that happens when your body turns into an extreme alkaline state, which in today's world is actually pretty uncommon due to how acidic our foods are. Check out our article on a balanced pH diet. You may find it beneficial to drink mineral water which is more of a neutral pH, if you still need minerals but are too alkaline. The best thing you can do first is to test your body's pH levels to get a gauge for where you are at. Here is a link to get some saliva test strips to check your pH. Ideally you want your body just above the neutral line and even a bit closer to the alkaline state. A happy healthy body thrives between 7.35 - 7.45 for proper homeostasis.

Spring Water

Spring water is sourced from natural springs, typically containing various minerals and nutrients. AVOID USING PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES EVEN SPRING WATER ONES. Check out our water and wellness article for more information.

Benefits:

• Usually Contains essential minerals: Spring water often contains essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which contribute to overall health and well-being.
• The minerals present in spring water may enhance the taste and provide additional nutritional benefits.
• Oftentimes spring water is safer than city water (as long as it’s not contaminated from human impact)
• Usually more alkaline (not all of them though, testing the pH never hurts)

Dangers:

• Contaminants from the surrounding environment or human activities can infiltrate spring water, potentially posing health risks
• Mineral content in spring water can vary significantly, leading to inconsistencies in taste and mineral intake.
• Spring water is one of the most common bottled waters which then becomes contaminated by the plastic bottles, also leading to more pollution in our environment.

Spring water is considered to be the healthiest water we can have, although our daily access to it tends to be minimal depending on where you live. They are surprisingly easy to find while hiking in the mountains or even seeps deep in the canyons, but city life can paint a different picture. https://findaspring.org/map/ is a fantastic source for finding springs anywhere in the world. It doesn’t show all of them, but it does have a vast library of spring opportunities to visit. If you visit springs coming up in the city, be sure to test it yourself for contaminants and pH.

Distilled Water

Distilled water undergoes a process of distillation, where impurities and minerals are removed through evaporation and condensation, a mimicry of the atmosphere's natural process.

Benefits:

• No contaminants: Distilled water is free from contaminants, minerals, and additives, making it suitable for various applications, including medical procedures, laboratory experiments, and household appliances like irons and humidifiers.
• Some individuals prefer distilled water for its purity and neutrality in taste.

Dangers:

• Continuous consumption of distilled water may lead to mineral deficiencies since it lacks essential minerals that are typically present in natural water sources.
• Some critics argue that prolonged consumption of distilled water may leach minerals from the body since it's so plain, is absorbs the minerals it comes into contact with and flushes out

• Distilled water stands out as one of the purest forms of water available and is often chosen during physical detoxification processes, as it effectively flushes minerals and impurities from the body. However, relying solely on distilled water for hydration is not advisable due to its lack of minerals, which are essential for breaking through cell barriers and preventing dehydration. To ensure proper hydration, it's important to supplement distilled water with salts and minerals. You can easily address this by incorporating mineralization packs or systems, which are discussed in detail in our Water and Wellness article.

Purified Water

Purified water undergoes filtration and purification processes to remove impurities, chemicals, and contaminants.

Benefits:

• Cleans water from harmful pollutants and microbes.

Dangers:

• The purification process may strip water of beneficial minerals, potentially affecting taste and nutritional value.
• Inadequate purification methods or equipment maintenance could result in the presence of residual contaminants or chemicals, compromising water quality and safety.
• Creates DPBs: Purification is a chemical cleaning, so although it removes chemicals it can often leave some of its own behind which you don’t want.
• Studies have been revealing a backlash in cleaning out microbes. Almost worse pollutants end up growing from the “purified water” 

I would never suggest you drink purified water unless you had to, it does happen to be the most accessible water to buy in cities. The intentions I'm sure were pure but in the end there are even more problems growing from this treatment such as the DPBs (Disinfectant byproducts). Also chemically treating our water is not a positive action for our living water health. It changes the molecular structure and makes it less vital when consuming. Visit the “Deeper magic of water” article  here for a further discussion on this topic.

While preferences for water type may vary based on individual needs and preferences, experts generally recommend consuming water with a neutral pH level (around 7) and balanced mineral content. It's essential to maintain hydration by drinking water regularly throughout the day, regardless of its source, to support overall health and well-being.

Understanding the differences between acidic pH, alkaline pH, spring, distilled, and purified water is crucial for making informed decisions about water consumption. Each type of water offers unique benefits and potential dangers, emphasizing the importance of selecting water sources that align with individual health needs and preferences. Ultimately, prioritizing hydration with clean, safe, and balanced water remains paramount for supporting optimal health and vitality.

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https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/acidic-water#side-effects-risks 

https://naturopress.com/blogs/alkaline-water/the-ph-of-drinking-water 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7054916/ 

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001183.htm#:~:text=The%20kidneys%20and%20lungs%20maintain,alkaline%2C%20a%20condition%20called%20alkalosis. 

https://www.alkalinewater.com/treat-cuts-burns-acidic-water-ionizers/#:~:text=Cold%20ionized%20acidic%20water%20helps%20to%20soothe%20the,another%20healing%20ointment%20to%20help%20treat%20the%20area.