Is reverse osmosis water alkaline?
No. Reverse osmosis water is nearly pure water with a PH of 7. Reverse osmosis is a filtration method that removes more than 99% of all the contaminants in water.
The result is nearly pure water, which has neutral pH of 7. But if it’s exposed to air, RO water drops down to an acidic pH range of 5 – 5.5. Why? Pure water is very hungry. it actually grabs CO2 right out of the air! Within about an hour, a glass of pure RO water can drop from a pH of 7 down to a pH of 5.5 or lower and become acidic water. Alkaline water has a pH of greater than 7, so reverse osmosis water is not alkaline water. To alkalize it, you have to add calcium and other minerals to it.
Increasing levels of carbon in the air are causing oceans, lakes, rivers and streams to become more acidic. When water absorbs CO2 from the air, it makes a solution of carbonic acid. Here’s the chemical reaction: H20 + CO2 = H2CO3. The more pure the source of water is, the more CO2 it can absorb, and the more acidic it will get. Reverse osmosis and distillation both produce nearly pure water, so both forms of water will readily turn acidic when exposed to air.
What makes alkaline water alkaline?
To raise the pH of reverse osmosis water and make it alkaline you have to add something to it. Water in nature is never pure, it always has stuff in it, mostly mineral salts. Those substances are what causes the pH of water to be higher or lower than 7. Tap water gets it’s pH mostly from calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate. These mineral salts are what causes the hard water deposits that clog your appliances. They also usually raise the pH of water, which is why nearly all tap water is slightly alkaline. Water that is acidic usually has a low mineral salt content.
The hydroxyl ions in alkaline water are what makes it better for your health than plain water. They act as antioxidants, helping to protect tissues and DNA from oxidative damage. The minerals in the water contribute alkalinity, which helps the body neutralize acids. Alkaline water is also easier to absorb than plain water, so it hydrates better.
Why alkaline water？
The two most common minerals found in alkaline water are responsible for much of alkaline water’s health benefits. The body uses calcium and magnesium in every metabolic process, so if you are deficient in either of these essential nutrients, your health will suffer! The CDC estimates that 4 out of 5 Americans are mineral deficient, and as a result they suffer from:
- Weight Gain
- Weak bones
- Kidney Stones
- High Blood Sugar
- Heart Trouble
Those are the most common long term health consequences of mineral deficiency. There are many more health problems that mineral deficiency plays a role in.
How alkaline water help？
The mineral content in alkaline water is easy for the body to absorb, and their alkalinity helps improve your pH balance. Studies on alkaline water’s health benefits show that alkaline water improves your body’s uptake of calcium. Many health experts now recognize that milk is an acid-former in the body, so it may do more harm than good. Alkaline water is considered to be as good of a source of dietary calcium as milk.
The magnesium in alkaline water can also play a huge part in your health. One of the largest review studies ever done on heart health concludes: “The More alkaline the water, the greater the protective effect on the arteries.”
ProTip: To get the most benefit from alkaline water, get some sun! (Or another source of vitamin D) You need Vitamin D to absorb calcium and magnesium. (Yes! Your body makes Vitamin D when you get sun)
