What is all this buzz about alkaline water? Are you curious to know? Well, first you need to know about alkalinity. Water being alkaline means its pH is above 7 on the pH scale which is the opposite of acidic which is below 7. A pH scale is a measuring scale for the acidity or alkalinity of anything. It measures from 0 to 14, 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline.
And 7 is the neutral point. The pH of natural water is 7 which is completely neutral. Supporters of alkaline water say that our body produces a lot of acids due to our unhealthy diets. So, drinking alkaline water can help to balance it out and keep you healthier.
Some even claim that this can slow your aging process and fight diseases like cancer as well. All this has made alkaline water the talk of the town. So, if you too want to know how to make alkaline water at home, you can follow a few easy steps and enjoy it.
How To Make Alkaline Water?
Making alkaline water is the easiest thing to do. And if you can get so many benefits just following a few easy steps, then why not try it?
So, how to make alkaline water? Without further ado, let’s get started!
You need three ingredients only- a jar or 1 liter of water, one whole lemon, some baking soda, and a pinch of salt. And voila! You are good to go.
The process:
At first, you need to fill a jar with water. Make sure to use filtered water with no harsh chemicals such as chlorine.
Then you need to cut the lemon in half and squeeze the full lemon into the water. You can also add half the lemon to the water and thinly slice the other half to add to the water. Many say the skin of the lemon has added antioxidants. So, it is good for the skin. So, choose whichever you prefer.
Now add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to your water. Baking soda’s chemical name is sodium bicarbonate which is an alkaline substance. This is the main ingredient that will increase the pH of your water.
- Lastly, add a pinch of salt to the water for added flavor. You can use Himalayan pink salt if you like.
- Now, you are ready to sip into your alkaline water and enjoy.
Benefits of Alkaline Water
1. Helps in detoxification
If you have a basic idea about chemistry, then you must already know that alkali is the opposite of an acid. Due to the consumption of different junk food, our body produces a lot of acidic residues which are very toxic. Since alkali is the polar opposite of acid, it reacts with the acidic substances and helps to remove them out of our body with digestive waste.
2. Neutralizes the pH of our body
Acid and alkali react together and neutralize each other. This is what happens inside your body when you drink alkaline water as well. Our stomach produces acids such as HCL to help digestion. But sometimes acid-reflux creates too much acid in the stomach which causes chest burns. The alkaline water helps to neutralize the acid and gives a boost to our pH level.
3. Source of antioxidants
With all the pollution around us, we are always exposed to free radicals. The free radicals are very harmful to the health of our skin and hair. There is only one way to fight free radicals and that is through consuming more antioxidants. Since we are adding lemon to the water, which is a rich source of antioxidants, the alkaline water can satisfy the needs of our body. You can also add other fruits such as strawberry juice to the water to increase the number of antioxidants.
4. Helps to lose weight
A 2011 study showed that people who just added alkaline water to their diet lost 12 pounds in 2 months. It is because of the presence of the alkali and essential ions that help to increase the metabolism and lose weight.
5. Hydrates the water
Alkaline water is claimed to help increase the water retention of our body because it can get absorbed very easily. It gets absorbed easily into the body and keeps the body more hydrated.
Side Effects of Alkaline Water
There are not many side effects of having alkaline water. But having too much of it can cause metabolic alkalosis which is a physical condition caused due to increased alkalinity in the body. The result of metabolic alkalosis can cause muscle twitching, mild tremors, and cause nausea.
There is also a chance of getting overhydrated due to excessive consumption of alkaline water. Also, certain nutrients such as vitamin B12 require the acids of our stomach to get absorbed into the body. Also, the goal is to have a pH balance in our body. Too much alkali will disrupt the balance and hinder the physiological processes.
Conclusion
We hope that now you have a complete idea about how to make alkaline water for yourself. It is a great way to keep yourself hydrated and also add flavor to your water. If plain water is boring to you, then you can try it out. There are several health benefits of alkaline water and that has made it the talk of the town. There is so much buzz centering on this topic.
On one side, people are raving about its benefit, and on the other side of the panel, science enthusiasts are dusting it off saying it’s just a myth. If want to know then you can simply try it out yourself and see the results. There is no harm in trying because it is made of completely natural ingredients with very slim chances of causing a side effect.
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