Can Alkaline Water Relieve Heartburn?
You may or may not be aware of the recent alkaline water craze. It’s a pillar of the alkaline diet, which has been endorsed by many celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston & Kirsten Dunst for its health benefits. One of those proposed health benefits is that belief alkaline water can effectively neutralize stomach acid and help relieve symptoms of heartburn also know as gastroesophageal reflux. But can drinking alkaline water really help relieve heartburn?
Before We Begin: What’s Alkaline Water?
Put simply, alkaline water is drinking water that’s less acidic than your run of the mill tap water. Pure water is neutral with a pH ranking of 7.0, neither an acid nor a base. It is the reference point for acids and bases. Although the pH of pure water is 7 (neutral), most drinking water and natural water exhibits a variation in pH range because it contains dissolved minerals, gasses and municipal additives such as chlorine and flouride. Water with a pH less than 7 is considered acidic; whereas water with a pH higher than 7 is considered basic, or alkaline. Advocates of alkaline water believe that it can offset the acid in your bloodstream and help you metabolize nutrients more effectively, leading to better health and performance.
Heartburn & Alkaline Water…
But does alkaline water really help relieve heartburn symptoms? There is a lot of debate surrounding this topic on the internet as well as in the medical community. While there is no concrete answer as of current, there have been independent studies that indicate drinking alkaline water can mitigate heartburn. For instance, refluxmd.com did a small study that included individuals that suffer from heartburn and take medication to help reduce symptoms. The study had these individuals drink alkaline water for a 12 day span while tracking their heartburn / acid reflux symptoms & medication use. According to RefluxMD’s article, they concluded “The participant’s give substantial credit for their reduced symptoms and lower medication use to their use of alkaline water. 87% reported that alkaline water reduced their symptoms, and 56% reported a reduction of at least 40% of their symptoms”.
But Why Does Alkaline Water Seem To Help With Heartburn?
Heartburn is results from stomach acid flowing backward into the esophagus, and drinking an alkaline water may neutralize that acidic fluid. The problem can arise when the body becomes acidic, whether this occur naturally or due to dietary intake. Maintaining good health begins with the correct acid -base homeostasis in your body. pH level of your bodily fluids affects every cell in your body. Because alkaline water has a higher pH, it can act to neutralize acidity and promote a better pH balance. Furthermore, National Center for Biotechnology Information did a study in 2012 that backs up these “heartburn claims” According to their study, they concluded “Unlike conventional drinking water, pH 8.8 alkaline water instantly denatures pepsin, rendering it permanently inactive. In addition, it has good acid-buffering capacity. Thus, the consumption of alkaline water may have therapeutic benefits for patients with reflux disease”. We’ve also included a testimonial from one of our loyal alkaline water customers below. As always, its best you try drinking alkaline water and formulate your own personal opinion!
