One thing that has changed my life since moving to LA three years ago is changing my water system to purely alkaline water (Thank you, SoCal Water!). My entire life I’ve been a terrible water drinker. We know that we should drink at least 8 cups daily, more if we work out. You’ve probably heard that you should have water 30 minutes before you eat to promote weight loss. Skip room temperature water (you can burn more calories by drinking cold water). Is it just me or does the simplest thing you can do for your health feel so complicated? It’s enough to make your head spin!
You may have heard various health claims about alkaline water. Some say it can help slow the aging process, regulate your body’s pH level, and prevent chronic diseases like cancer. But what exactly is alkaline water, and why all the hype?
The “alkaline” in alkaline water refers to its pH level. The pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. For example, something with a pH of 1 would be very acidic and something with a pH of 13 would be very alkaline. Normal drinking water typically has a neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water typically has a pH of 8 or 9. Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation reduction potential (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or anti-oxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more anti-oxidizing it is.
As someone who takes her health and nutrition seriously - I choose the best possible quality foods like sustainable fish and organic produce; why wouldn’t I do the same with water? So when I moved I did, and here's what I’ve noticed:
Healthier Looking Skin
My skin is on the drier side and I cook and wash my hands lot – so they tend to get really dry. Even during the summertime when it’s hot I rely on heavy moisturizers on my face and body. My hands and cuticles are far less dry than usual. After two weeks of strictly alkaline I was using hand lotion about once a day and I rarely use it now.
And, not only has my skin become way more hydrated, my complexion has become clearer (and glow-ier). I swear this stuff is like the fountain of youth. I have less fine lines around my eyes, I rarely have any issues with rosacea anymore and I tend to break out along my chin once a month without fail but nowadays it’s really minimal.
Better Digestion
I have far less digestive symptoms: very little bloating; no acid…nothing.
Quicker Recovery Time
There isn’t scientific proof to support the health claims around alkaline water and faster recovery time post-workout – but that doesn’t mean those claims have been disproved. I know, first-hand, that more research is needed to fully understand what happens, physiologically, when we drink alkaline water but I will tell you that for the past three years, I’ve never recovered faster, post-workout.