Medicine
Food
Water
Music
Doctors
Tweet
Alkaline Water Ionizers: A 20 Year Perspective
By Heartspring.net
We've been following water ionizer research for over 20 years, having owned one of the first water ionizers imported to the United States called the PurePort II. Also a Panasonic model we had in 1999 was quitely removed from retail sales by the U.S. importer, due to concerns of contaminated internal parts, outsourced to an unknown manufacturer in China. However, we remained intrigued by the few research papers we had access to, as well as, directly observing the effects of drinking ionized water for ourselves. Eventually, more ionized water research became available to help describe the health effects of drinking ionized water.
Here's a list of reasons that have factored in our re-evaluation of water ionizers:
1. The Magnesium Effect
According to Department of Biochemistry, at the Wonju College of Medicine:
"Alkaline reduced water not only has high pH and low ORP, but also contains some magnesium ions. Recently, magnesium was shown to be effective for the prevention of various diseases. We cannot exclude the possibility that the magnesium in alkaline reduced water might have contributed to the anticancer effect." - Anti Cancer Effects of Alkaline Reduced Water
Ionized water depends on alkaline minerals, such as magnesium that is present in water, to produce high levels of pH. The health effects of mineral drinking water are well established among peer reviewed research.
2.Metal Nanoparticles, Inert Hydrogen
"According to the mechanism underlying how'electrolyzed reduced water' (ionized water) effectively scavenges intracellular H2O2 remains to be clarified in more detail. Ionized water contains a high concentration of hydrogen molecules, however, hydrogen molecules are chemically inert at room temperature. In an attempt to overcome this challenging problem, Shirahata et al. proposed an active hydrogen hypothesis of reduced water in which active hydrogen with a high reducing potential was produced in ionized water by electrolysis and played a key role in scavenging ROS. Active hydrogen can be produced from hydrogen molecule by catalysis action of noble metal nanoparticles like platinum nanoparticles.Transition metal nanoparticles such as Pd, Pt, Ni, and Cu are produced during the process of electrolysis. Platinum nanoparticles have also been demonstrated to adsorb active hydrogen. Synthetic platinum nanoparticles were shown to scavenge superoxide radicals. There is a possibility that platinum nanoparticles derived from platinum-coated titanium electrode used here during electrolysis and metal nanoparticles of 1—10 nm size can stably exist in solution for a long time. Taken together, here we propose a new hypothesis of reduced water containing metal nanoparticles and hydrogen molecule as follows: (1) Electrolysis produces active hydrogen on the cathodic platinum electrode and hypersaturated hydrogen molecule in ionized water. (2) Metal ions in the solution are reduced to metal nanoparticles on the electrode or in hydrogen-rich ionized water. (3) Transition metal nanoparticles with low ionic tendencies adsorbed or absorbed active hydrogen can exist stably in ionized water but other metal nanoparticles with high ionic tendencies such as Na and K disappear in ionized water soon. (4) Hydrogen molecule is constantly converted to active hydrogen, which can scavenge ROS, by the catalysis of metal nanoparticles. Some kinds of metal nanoparticles like platinum nanoparticles can also directly scavenge ROS without hydrogen molecule." - Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, January 2008, Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
(Note:) The Electrolysis of Colliodal Silver
Production of colloidal silver is created byusing electrolysis, similar to the production of ionized water. Two silver plates are immersed in water. One plate is positively charged while the second plate is negatively charged. The electrified silver is liberated into a solution, similar to the platinum nanoparticles produced during the electrolysis of ionized water.
3. Stomach Acid and Deep Breathing Produce an Alkaline Tide Effect
Known as the "alkaline tide
" phenomenon, high pH of alkaline drinking water is quickly neutralized by stomach acid. "When alkaline fluids are ingested, the stomach's parietal cells are capable of secreting high concentrations of hydrochloric acid. As a result, large amounts of bicarbonate is generated by carbonic anhydrase, and must be removed from the cells to prevent alkalinization. The influx of bicarbonate into the blood after acid secretion can be detected and is known as the "alkaline tide." The health effects of acidosis and alkalosis are well documented. Merck also explains, the importance of acid and alkaline balance.
Stress has been shown to produce shallow breathing, resulting in acidosis. Oxygenating the body with proper breathing provides an alkaline effect, shuttling carbonic acids and CO2 from tissues through respiration.
4. Heart Damage - Potassium: To Much of a Good Thing?
Ionized water may produce high levels of potassium, depending on the mineral levels of the source water. Infants and the elderly can be adversely effected by ingesting excessive potassium, contained in ionized water, thus producing a potentially fatal condition called Hyperkalemia.
5. Ionizers Produce EMF Radiation
We've tested many Ionizers with a Trimetric Gauss meter showinga reading of 20-80 milligauss. Considering that the user is exposed to radiationwith every glass of water produced through-out the day. Even when an ionizer is not in use, and plugged in, it produces a constant background radiation of about 10-20 milligauss. Some may find this background radiation unacceptable, especially when working in the kitchen for extended periods of time. Although the topic of EMF exposure is controversial, some studies show how EMF radiation induce oxidative stresses on living cells. Source: EMF Health Effects Research
Why Buy a Water Ionizer?
The value of traditional water filter systems,can be enhanced by the addition of self-ionizing minerals such as magnesium chloride, and other trace minerals, found in full-spectrum sea salts, offering a cost effective alternative to alkaline water produced by a water ionizer. Some doctors are talking about the health effects of adding small amounts of baking soda to raise the pH of drinking water, thereby raising the body's pH as well.
Many areas in the US already have high alkaline pH water. This map shows hard alkaline water areas in red. Hard water will produce cement build-up on a water ionizer's internal electrode plates and delivery spout, thereby voiding the ionizer warrant.
Those who live in hard water areas can simply filter their well water with activated carbon and KDF. See related: What to Look For In A Counter Top Water Filter System.
The Question?: Spend over a $1200 for a water ionizer? Or, spend $100 on a simple carbon-KDF water filter, and then add self-ionizing alkaline minerals?
The Answer: Adding a known amount of alkaline minerals to filtered water is better than guessing at the unknown mineral content of water treated by an ionizer.
Why Has Our Self-Healing System Degenerated?
Dr. Apsely, offers an answer, "Because of lack of minerals in the soil, lack of minerals in our foods, and lack of minerals in our body cells. Tissue regeneration effects include the use of alkaline foods, breathing, stress reduction and drinking alkaline water. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has been shown to stimulate our body's natural alkaline tide to increase the alkaline pH of our blood, particularly when our body responds to exercise.
Baking Soda and Exercise
Dr. Pendergast and fellow researchers at University of Buffalo's, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, state, "One may also consider increasing bicarbonate intake for exercise that relies on anaerobic glycolysis, whereas there appears to be little support for antioxidant supplementation. Insuring minimal levels of substrate will prevent exercise intolerance." PMID:21079991
If You Insist On Buying a Water Ionizer?
Water ionizers we've tried, range in price from $1195 to $2795 and up. However even a low cost water ionzer, will produce alkaline ionized water at a pH 9 level or higher. Higher pH ranges depend on these three factors:
1. Slower water flow.
2. Exposing water to higher amounts of electricity (wattage).
3. Surface area of electrolysis plates (cm2, square centimeters).
The combination of these three conditions will provide a stronger ionizing effect.
Our experience suggests that it's better to drink a moderately high pH 9 level, over a longer period of time, verses drinking a super high pH10+ for less time. Research has shown positive health effects of alkaline water measuring pH 8, -200mv, ORP. suggeting that mild values over longer periods of time may provide health effects.
To target a specific pH, the Melody JP104 and Venus JP101 are lower cost ionizers that include a manual flow control lever on the front of the unit for adjusting the source water to a specific, and repeatable pH.
