Alkaline water that isn’t ionized doesn’t offer too many health advantages except for one. Here it is in a nutshell:
One of the most cited clinical studies on high-pH water was published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology (Johnston & Koufman, 2012).
The Finding: Unlike standard tap or bottled water, alkaline water with a pH of 8.8 instantly and permanently denatures pepsin—the human digestive enzyme responsible for tissue damage in laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD).
Significance: Pepsin requires an acidic environment to function; when refluxed into the throat or esophagus, it binds to local tissues and causes chronic inflammation. High-pH water acts as an acid buffer and neutralizes pepsin on contact, offering a non-pharmacological adjunct therapy for reflux sufferers.
Conclusion: If you are a person who suffers from GERD or LPR, drinking alkaline water buffers pepsin and can provide some relief for you.
There have been other studies about alkaline water, which is beneficial to those who are deficient in those minerals. But most people are getting plenty of alkaline minerals in their diet so another source won’t provide health benefits.
Over the past two decades, research has shifted away from focusing on alkaline water toward examining the cellular signaling and antioxidant health effects of the dissolved hydrogen in alkaline ionized water. Here is some of the most compelling research:
The landmark paper that ignited modern research into electrolyzed water was published in Nature Medicine (Ohta et al., 2007).
The researchers demonstrated that dissolved molecular hydrogen acts as a selective antioxidant. Unlike conventional antioxidants (like Vitamin C or E) that indiscriminately neutralize all reactive oxygen species, dissolved molecular hydrogen selectively neutralizes only the most damaging, toxic free radicals—specifically the hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite—without interfering with essential physiological signaling.
This discovery redefined how scientists view the therapeutic potential of electrolyzed water and shifted the focus to water ionizers that create dissolved molecular hydrogen.
Metabolic Syndrome & Oxidative Stress
A series of human clinical trials have evaluated hydrogen-rich water (HRW) produced by water ionizers for metabolic health:
Lipid Profiles & Glucose Tolerance: A clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition followed patients with metabolic syndrome who drank hydrogen-rich water daily. The study noted a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD)—an essential antioxidant enzyme—along with a reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, “bad”) cholesterol and improved markers of glucose metabolism.
Reduction in Inflammatory Markers
Further studies have shown that dissolved molecular hydrogen water activates the Nrf2 pathway, a cellular mechanism that triggers the body’s natural defense system to produce antioxidants and reduce inflammation.
Bottom line: Drinking ionized water increases the enzymes that scavenge for free radicals. Thus, it has an amazing antioxidant/detoxifying effect on your body! Plus, it lowers bad cholesterol and helps you get more energy from the food you eat.
Are you an athlete or know someone who is? This next section may be very exciting news. Research in sports medicine has evaluated electrolyzed alkaline/hydrogen water for athletic recovery and discovered some amazing results.
Blood Viscosity: A double-blind trial in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested athletes following strenuous exercise. Those who consumed high-pH electrolyzed water showed a significantly greater reduction in high-shear blood viscosity compared to those who drank standard purified water, facilitating better blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues post-workout.
Lactic Acid Build-up: Studies involving cyclists and runners drinking hydrogen-rich water showed reduced blood lactate levels and lower rates of muscle fatigue following high-intensity interval training.
Bottom line: These studies, plus many others, have concluded that ionized water helps with energy, performance, and recovery! Even if you’re not an athlete, this is great news for anyone who exercises.
