Acid and Alkaline Water
Every week I seem to be bombarded with the benefits of alkaline diets and to avoid acidic foods but how does the pH level of your water affect our health?
The pH level of water indicates how acidic or alkaline your water is. The normal pH range of drinking water is between 6.0 and 8.5, with 7.0 usually taken as the neutral point. At a pH of 7.0, water is neither acid nor alkaline, and this is considered best for human consumption and household use. But why does the pH level of water fluctuate?
It is important to know that the pH level of water can change due to natural conditions, but also due to human-induced conditions and even water pollution. For example, the presence of natural minerals can determine the pH level of your drinking water, but so can heavy metal contaminants from corroding plumbing systems, or acid rain experienced in several world cities. Acid chemicals are particularly harmful, and their presence in water will lower your water’s pH level.
Health Issues caused by Acid and Alkaline Water
Acid water is harmful to your entire home – bringing you in contact with unfavourable metal contaminants and acid chemicals. Besides notable health concerns, water with a pH level below 7.0 is essentially considered corrosive. It will corrode your home’s plumbing systems and household appliances that rely on water supply. Health wise, acid water is detrimental to the digestive system, and can be the underlying cause of several health problems such as nausea, vomiting and other gastro-system ailments.
At the other end of the pH scale, alkaline water is not good either. Alkaline water can easily be detected by its soda-like taste. Alkaline water can upset food digestion – hence why you may hear that we should not drink alkaline water around meal times. Poor digestion, cardiac sensitivity, and mineral deficiencies are just some of the health concerns associated with alkaline water.
There have been plenty of studies recently as people enter the business of alkaline water. These studies show off hundreds of benefits of alkaline tablets and diets, and many of them show exactly where you can buy them. What I am trying to say is that slightly alkaline water may well be better for you, but there are certainly risks of going too far. The surest way to ensure a healthy pH is to get as close to neutral as possible and maybe slightly on the alkaline side (7-7.2).
pH tests are widely available at chemists and health shops or even pool shops and are generally very simple to use
How can a Water Filter correct the pH of your Drinking Water?
By making use of a water filter system in your home or kitchen, you can effectively eliminate your concerns about acid or alkaline water. A water filter system effectively removes foreign particles from the water – and that includes contaminants and chemicals which influences the acidity or alkalinity of the water. Purified water, as delivered by a good quality water filter, has a pH level of 7.0 and this is a sure guarantee against any health issues caused by undesirable pH levels. If you are thus concerned about the pH level of your drinking water, be sure to consider the option of a household water filter – for the health and safety of your family.
