How Alkaline Water Helps Stop Digestive Issues

themisfit
Published September 14, 2020

The very best thing a person can do to improve overall digestive health is to drink alkaline water. Why alkaline water? Because alkaline water counteracts the high acid levels often found in the digestive tract. The way it works is simple. Acid levels are measured on a pH scale. A pH scale runs from one to fourteen. Anything falling lower than a seven on the pH scale is considered acidic, for example, a cup of black coffee registers at about a five. Anything that falls above a seven is considered to be alkaline. Most premium alkaline water tends to register somewhere around a nine on the pH scale. If you choose bottled alkaline water over regular bottled water, the alkalinity will help to neutralize the acidity in the digestive tract by lowering the overall pH.

The reason it is so important to reduce acidity in the digestive system is that so many diseases are worsened or even caused by acid:

  • Acid Reflux Disease. Acid reflux disease is caused when the diaphragm allows acid to escape from the stomach. 
  • GERD. According to the Mayo Clinic,gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)  is when acid reflux is felt more than twice a week, or severely once a week. 
  • Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or ZES, is a digestive disease where so much excess acid is produced that it causes peptic ulcers in the stomach and intestine. 
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not caused directly by acid, but excess acid in the digestive tract will exacerbate the already uncomfortable symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, constipation and cramps.

Alkaline water helps to stop the symptoms of all of these diseases, and in some cases, it can outright cure them, just by eliminating the acidity.

Reducing acid isn’t the only reason choosing bottled alkaline water over generic bottled water or tap water is good for digestion. A prominent 2012 study suggests that drinking alkaline water can deactivate pepsin, a digestive enzyme, and this reduces acid reflux. 

Another way choosing a refillable alkaline water will ease digestive troubles is that the water helps to break down digesting food while neutralizing acids before they can cause problems. 

Alkaline water, for athletes, is just another part of a healthy regimen. This is because athletes know that alkaline water hydrates better than other water. The reason alkaline water hydrates better is because it’s chemical structure allows it to penetrate deeply into each individual cell. This clears out toxins from the cell while also delivering valuable nutrients. This is how alkaline water helps to streamline and improve the metabolism. 

Alkaline water helps the metabolism speed up, and this promotes weight loss. Being at a healthy weight is another way to help control digestive issues. Carrying excess weight seems to worsen any digestive issue, but this is especially true of acid reflux. Excess weight also promotes the likelihood of developing early adult onset diabetes, which can often even be controlled through weight management.

Alkaline water is a great digestive aid. It also serves to prevent and treat almost every digestive issue that commonly occurs. If you are seeking a healthy natural way to help improve digestive health, alkaline water is the best route to take!