Alkaline water
By fiongeline
@fiongeline (6)
Singapore
June 29, 2007 1:47pm CST
Has anyone tried alkaline water? How did drinking alkaline water improve your health? What benefit does drinking alkaline water has?
3 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
29 Jun 07
I have never heard of anyone drinking alkaline water but if it is really alkaline then it may be dangerous. The food you eat contains many harmful microbes that are killed by the acids in your stomach. To much alkaline would neutralise the acid and may allow infection into the body
all the best urban
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@fiongeline (6)
• Singapore
5 Jul 07
Hi... thanks for your information. Jus to check with ya what is hard water area? Anyway i read that our human body needs to be PH7.3-7.4, do you think it is necessary? Thanks
@urbandekay (18278)
•
5 Jul 07
Hard water is water that has a high mineral content (water with a low mineral content is known as soft water). This content usually consists of high levels of metal ions, mainly calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the form of carbonates, but may include several other metals as well as bicarbonates and sulphates. It is not generally dangerous. The simplest way to determine if water is hard or soft is the lather/froth test. If the water is very soft, soap will tend to lather up easily when agitated, whereas with hard water it will not. Toothpaste will also not froth well in hard water. More exact methods of 'hardness' detection use a wet titration method to determine hardness.
Total water 'hardness' (including both Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions) is reported as ppm w/v (or mg/L) of CaCO3. Water hardness usually measures the total concentration of Ca and Mg, the two most prevalent divalent metal ions, although in some geographical locations iron, aluminium, and manganese may also be present at elevated levels. Calcium usually enters the water from either CaCO3, as limestone or chalk or from mineral deposits of CaSO4. The predominant source of magnesium is dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2.
he World Health Organization says, "There does not appear to be any convincing evidence that water hardness causes adverse health effects in humans."[6]
Some studies have shown a weak inverse relationship between water hardness and cardiovascular disease in men, up to a level of 170 mg calcium carbonate per liter of water. The World Health Organization has reviewed the evidence and concluded the data were inadequate to allow for a recommendation for a level of hardness.[6]
In a review by František Kožíšek, M.D., Ph.D. National Institute of Public Health, Czech Republic gives a good overview of the topic, and unlike the WHO, sets some recommendations for the maximum and minimum levels of calcium (40-80 mg/L) and magnesium (20-30 mg/L) in drinking water, and a total hardness expressed as the sum of the calcium and magnesium concentrations of 2-4 mmol/L.[7]
Other studies have shown weak correlations between cardiovascular health and water hardness.[8][9][10]
Very soft water can corrode the metal pipes in which it is carried and as a result the water may contain elevated levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc [6].
Information from the British Drinking Water Inspectorate shows that drinking water in England is generally considered to be 'very hard', with most areas of England, particularly the East, exhibiting above 200 mg/L as calcium carbonate equivalent. Wales, Devon, Cornwall and parts of North-West England are softer water areas, and range from 0 to 200 mg/L[citation needed]. In the brewing industry in England and Wales, water is often deliberately hardened with gypsum in the process of Burtonisation.
Water that is of pH 7 is neutral with respect to alkalinity or acidity the range you give 7.3 - 7.4 is only very slightly alkaline. I find it unlikely that the body would require such a narrow range of alkalinity; usually our bodies are tolerant of a broad range of conditions.
Hard water is often more alkaline than the figure you suggest
all the best urban
@fiongeline (6)
• Singapore
10 Jul 07
Thank you Urban. How did you come to know so much abt all these? May i know what is your profession? U sounded like a very scientific person. :-)
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@myounghee (161)
• Philippines
2 Jul 07
uhmm..ive tried it but that has no effect but i always feel normal.
@fiongeline (6)
• Singapore
5 Jul 07
oh ok. how long have u been trying it? do u feel slight changes to your body? Would like to know what makes u wanna drink it?
@cianoy (513)
• Philippines
12 Dec 09
I'm an avid drinker of alkaline water. I think the problem with my health before is that I didn't drink enough so I was constantly dehydrated. Thus, it didn't matter what water I was drinking. Now though, I think I've raised my water consumption enough. I will get back to you once I've had my doctor's check-up. My problem is gout and high uric acid. I will see if that has improved.
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