All food sits somewhere on the pH scale of acidity and alkalinity. Water is somewhere in the middle, meaning it is neutral. Today, people seeking a healthy diet are increasingly aware of the high pH content of certain foods and drinks.
Alkaline food and drink are believed to counteract acidity in your body, with potential health benefits. Alkaline water is also believed to have beneficial qualities, but the cost of bottles will add up to be very expensive over time.
However, it is possible to make alkaline water yourself and potentially save a lot of money. In this article, we will explain how to make alkaline water at home, using four different methods.
Key Takeaways
- Make alkaline water at home using a water ionizer, ionized water filter/pitcher, pH drops, or baking soda.
- Alkaline water may have potential health benefits, but more research is needed to confirm these claims.
- Start with small amounts of alkaline water to allow your body to adjust and monitor for any discomfort or changes.
- Store homemade alkaline water in BPA-free containers and keep it in a cool environment, such as a refrigerator.
How to Make Alkaline Water in 4 Different Ways
Whatever the potential health benefits, spending $7 or $8 on a single bottle of alkaline water might be enough to make you think twice. This is especially true when there is still no consensus among researchers regarding its health benefits.
If you want to drink alkaline water without breaking the bank, making it at home is a sensible alternative. There are multiple DIY methods for doing so, with some options more budget-friendly than others:
Use a Water Ionizer
A water ionizer machine, such as the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe, is a top-of-the-line home appliance that uses electrolysis to separate water’s contents into its acid and alkaline components (1). The stream with a higher pH is what we describe as “alkaline water.”
The initial cost will be prohibitive for some potential buyers — these units start at around $500 and reach up into the thousands.
To use a water ionizer, you will need to:
- Set it up: This first step is relatively simple for most ionizers. The majority of appliances include a quick connect fitting that attaches the hose. Ensure your chosen product includes all the necessary pieces and has clear instructions to guide you through the process.
- External flow: Does your chosen water ionizer feature an external flow knob? If not, you should consider getting one. This is particularly important if you intend to travel with your machine and don’t want to deal with any hard-plumbing issues.
- Set the pH level: Most water ionizers allow you to set the pH level between approximately 8 and 10. For the first few days, set it to the low end to give your body time to adjust. If you experience few or no digestive issues, gradually increase the pH level.
- Drink Up: Once the water has passed through the ionizer, the resulting alkaline water will be safe to drink.
Remember
Use an Ionized Water Filter/Pitcher
An ionized water pitcher is a more budget-friendly option — you can find a good one for about $50. This makes them a great way of trying homemade alkaline water without spending too much money.
Most pitchers function similarly and contain a minimum of two filters. The first filter reduces the chlorine and toxins found in tap water. The second filter adds alkaline minerals.
Each filter has multiple stages, with water passing through as many as six stages per step. Don’t worry — this sounds complicated but the pitcher does all the work for you.
To use an ionized water pitcher:
- Read the instructions: Ionized water pitchers function similarly to other filter pitchers. Make sure your chosen pitcher has detailed instructions, including how long the filters are expected to last.
- Fill the reservoir: Fill your pitcher with water and the filters will take care of the rest.
- Drink slowly: Consume alkaline water in small quantities until your body adapts.
- Storage: Store your water in BPA-free containers inside a refrigerator.
Add pH Drops to Water
An even simpler method to create DIY alkaline water is using pH drops. Some say they are more effective than filters due to the more straightforward process.
pH drops are precisely that — an alkaline concentrate sold in small bottles (ideal for travel or the workplace). All you need to do is add it to water. Some drops contain fruit extracts for flavor; otherwise, they don’t taste of much.
Most drops are stated to raise the pH of the water to around 8 to 10, similar to a water ionizer.
The instructions should tell you how much to use. Generally, you should add a couple of pH drops per cup of water, then mix it and drink. There are no definitive guidelines on how much alkaline water you should drink, but start small and build to around 8 cups per day.
Be Aware Of Your Body
Use Baking Soda in Water
This method might sound a bit old-fashioned, but we have included it with good reason. Baking soda has a pH of around 8.3 — this places it in the same range achieved using the previous sources of alkaline water.
In addition to the pH level, baking soda has other health benefits, including its usefulness as a mouthwash (2).
To use baking soda:
- Mix with water: Add approximately 0.5 teaspoons of baking soda to a gallon of water.
- Dissolve: Shake the mixture vigorously until it has dissolved.
- Add flavor: If you don’t like the taste of alkaline water containing baking soda, consider adding a squeeze of lemon or a cucumber slice.
- Cool storage: Store the water in a refrigerator.
FAQs
Who Needs Alkaline Water?
Alkaline water is not preferable to regular water for most people. Nutrients may have been added to bottled water advertised as alkaline water controlled by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States to produce an alkaline pH.
Compared to regular tap water, the pH level of alkaline water is significantly higher. The argument is that it can reduce the amount of acid in your bloodstream.
Others believe drinking alkaline water can assist in the prevention of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. However, to verify these assertions, additional research is required.
There is also evidence from a few studies that drinking alkaline water may help prevent bone loss. But additional research is required to determine whether or not it has an impact on bone mineral density as a whole and whether or not the benefits persist over the long term.
Can You Drink Alkaline Water every day?
Since no evidence suggests alkaline water is bad for you, you can drink it daily. There’s no hard evidence to support the nutritional claims claimed by advocates of alkaline ionized water.
In addition, because it has a high pH level, drinking one gallon of it daily forces the body to exert more effort to maintain its pH level, which increases the amount of gastric juice and digestive enzymes produced.
Normal bottled water is preferable to alkaline water since there is little data to support the nutritional claims made for alkaline water, even though drinking alkaline water won’t harm your body significantly.
Is Alkaline Water Good for Kidneys?
In treating metabolic acidosis brought on by dialysis, renal failure, or urinary diversion, alkaline ionized water can be an effective and risk-free significant component of the management plan.
When you have a renal illness, it is harder for your kidneys to filter acid from your blood as effectively as they normally would. People with renal disease may find that maintaining a diet high in alkaline and low in acidic foods helps maintain a pH balance in their bodies.
Does Alkaline Water Help Lose Fat?
Insufficient evidence supports the claim that alkaline water helps lose fat. However, you will find internet articles that suggest it’s very good for weight loss.
Can You Drink Alkaline Water Before Bed?
One of the many beneficial claims that support the idea of drinking more alkaline water is fatigue decrease. Some claim a glass of alkaline water before bed will help improve sleep quality. Once again, the evidence is anecdotal.
How Long Can You Keep Alkaline Water?
Alkaline bottled water, like conventional bottled water, can be consumed without the risk of it going bad, and it should be able to retain its pH level for up to 24 months, provided it is stored in normal conditions with the cap tightly sealed.
Who Should Not Drink Alkaline Water?
People over 60 should avoid drinking alkaline water because it can disrupt nutrient absorption and is more likely to cause indigestion.
Because natural alkaline water contains natural minerals, consuming it is risk-free.
But exercise extreme caution when consuming artificially alkaline water. It most likely includes a lower concentration of beneficial minerals than its high pH would lead you to believe and may also include impurities. To fully understand the benefits of this, additional research is required.
