First of all, let me explain that you can get alkaline water from a number of different sources because any water with a pH level of above 7 is technically an alkaline water. But whether a water is suitable to actually drink is another matter! So let’s consider the main types of alkaline drinking water known to most Americans: bottled alkaline water, alkaline tap water (water from lots of states in the country supply locals with alkaline tap water), alkaline water from a natural spring or glacial stream, and ionized alkaline water from a water ionizer machine.
It may surprise you to know that only one of these sources of alkaline water is completely safe to consume long-term on a daily basis.
The marketing for bottled alkaline water has kicked into overdrive in the health and beauty field in recent times, and it can be hard to know who to listen to with the sometimes contradictory information out there. But in general, one thing is the same with these products: they claim to give you the benefits of healthy alkaline water in a bottle.
There are two big problems with bottled alkaline water though, and these are the reasons why you would be justified in asking is alkaline water safe when it comes to drinking it out of a bottle. Firstly, bottled water goes through a process of distillation or reverse osmosis to remove impurities. This strips minerals from alkaline water to such a degree that what you end up with is actually acidic water. The second major problem is that because the water in these products is stored in a plastic bottled, some degree of chemicals from the plastic seep into the water. This problem is exacerbated when the type of plastic that makes the bottles is stored in hot areas exposed to the sun. The chemicals released can be carcinogenic. And you definitely wouldn’t want to be consuming too much of that.
So is alkaline water safe, when drinking it purely from a bottle? I couldn’t recommend it, no.
Alkaline tap water sounds like a great idea, though, doesn’t it? Well, not if you knew what was floating around in nearly all American tap water supplies. Because of the lax regulations that control what is allowed in our home water, all manner of pollutants and impurities can be found inside it. From chlorine, fluoride and metals to traces of pharmaceutical drugs, tap water that is unfiltered, even if it is alkaline (like it is in Southern California, Florida, New Mexico, and many others states that enjoy a high pH to their water) can be harmful to your health if consumed daily and over a long-term basis as it can lead to a toxic build-up of heavy metals or chemicals inside of your body. So is it safe? I don’t think so.
Ok, it may seem like I am coming down hard on alkaline water but I must rule out one more source of alkaline water. I wouldn’t recommend you drink natural alkaline spring water or glacial stream water without filtering it first. Obviously, any water that is drank untouched from nature could be contaminated and besides, drinking this natural stuff, even if it can be good for you, is impractical.
Fortunately, there is alkaline water safe for consumption on a regular basis over a long-term period: alkaline water from a water ionizer machine with alkaline water filters. Attached to your home tap, water from these machines is not polluted and acidic as it is filtered and ionized to an alkalinity. The ionization process means that the water that is produced is also packed full of antioxidants. And this property is why you should be looking to drink alkaline water in the first place. So, is alkaline waters safe? Sure it is, if you get it from the right place.
To your health,
Follow Water for Life USA on Facebook and like us to save 15%!
See our latest videos!
