Is Ionized Water Actually Good For You?
Ionized water is water with a pH balance greater than 7, which is higher than the pH of regular drinking water. Also known as alkaline water, ionized water is made with alkaline minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium and normally has a pH level of around 8 or 9 (via Insider). While some advocates of ionized water have claimed that it can neutralize the acid in your bloodstream since it has a higher pH value, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that ionized water contains any more health benefits than regular water.
"Typically our body does its own neutralizing and management of normal drinking water and the pH of seven," Kate Patton, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic's Center for Human Nutrition, told Insider. "Some claim that alkaline water can detox your body, but your kidneys and liver are really responsible for that naturally as well ... you really don't need special water."
Side effects of ionized water
Drinking ionized water won't provide you with any added health benefits, but it may potentially cause some negative side effects (via Healthline). While ionized water is generally considered safe, drinking it in excess may disrupt your body's pH balance, which can impact your health. For instance, ionized water can actually lower your stomach's natural acidity, which can make it more difficult for your stomach to help kill off harmful bacteria and prevent pathogens from entering your bloodstream.
Drinking ionized water can also lead to metabolic alkalosis, a condition that occurs when your body loses too much acid or gains too much alkaline, or base. This can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, tremors, muscle twitching, and tingling in the face, hands, and feet. Metabolic alkalosis may also lower your calcium levels, which can negatively affect your bone health by causing a condition known as hypocalcemia. However, this is very rare. The most common cause of hypocalcemia is an underactive parathyroid gland.