Literatus: The ‘mis-science’ of Ionized Alkaline Water

IT “is another fad without science to support it,” wrote New York physician Kent Sepkowitz in a Slate (online magazine) article published March 2013.

Now, let us discuss the “science” behind it.

Alkalinized water, also known as the “Ionized Alkaline Water” (IAW) or “Electrolyzed Reduced Water,” is produced near a cathode when electricity passes through it to electrolyze or ionize the water. The water is broken into its ion components H2 and O. H2 is positively charged and therefore attracts negatively charged ions such as free radicals. O is a negatively charged ion, the essential definition of a free radical.

This is accomplished by passing water through an electrical device—essentially a machine or an appliance.Turn on the switch and the electricity that activates the electrodes hits the water molecules and breaks the molecules down into the component ions.

The marketing pitch is the positively charged H2 will be seeking all negatively charged free radicals inside the body and neutralizing them, consequently avoiding the development of free-radical-associated cancer. Alkaline water then reduces the acidity of the intestinal tract, which is normally acidic, thus preventing the possibility of stomach and intestinal cancer. Website www.livestrong.com asserts that the best pH is 8.4 or higher.

Here are the problems with this “science.”

First, the marketers forgot to account for the negatively charged O ions that resulted from the ionization process. These ions are free radicals, the same free radicals that the alkaline water purportedly intends to neutralize. It is a “Catch-22” situation.

Second, the normal pH (acidity) of the stomach, for instance, is 2.0 (range: 1.5 to 3.5) and that of the body fluids, 7.4. This is nature’s way of naturally inhibiting or killing pathogens in the stomach and of digesting proteins, or of maintaining safe equilibrium inside the body. The entry in the website claimed that alkaline water has a pH range of 7 to 10. However, unless alkaline water is transfused intravenously, drinking it regularly decreases stomach acidity to pH 6.75. This level of acidity is incapable of digesting protein or inhibiting bacterial growth in the stomach.

Third, IAW contains platinum nanoparticles, which is used as coating of the titanium electrodes. Platinum toxicity results to neurotoxicity manifested as loss of vibration sense, paresthesia (prickling sensation due to damage of peripheral nerves), and ataxia (absence of deliberate coordination of muscle movements).

It is a dangerous fad. Dangerous, because few knew the dangers exist.

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