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!

Alkaline Water Testimonial

Why Drink Alkaline Water vs. Tap or Bottled Water?

Ever wondered why people are choosing to drink alkaline water over tap and bottled water? Most people don’t take the time to understand what they are putting into their bodies. The truth of the matter is many states have subpar tap water and you should be cautious about drinking it. Even some bottled drinking water can have contaminates such as bacteria. For instance, in June of 2015, there was a scare involving E. coli bacteria at the spring source of Pennsylvania Niagara Bottling plants. Municipalities send out an annual report to their citizens detailing what’s in the city or town’s water. However, the majority of people don’t even take the time read exactly what they put into their bodies on a daily basis.

The Truth About Tap Water Contaminants

Most people know they are drinking water with chemicals and contaminants, yet they choose to continue to drink their city’s tap water. Almost everyone knows there is chlorine in tap water, but surprisingly enough no one seems to care because they think it’s a small amount. Which is true to some degree, however, they don’t think about the cumulative effects of drinking several glasses of water daily over the course of years. Are you willing to pay the price for the long term health risks associated with drinking dirty water? And we’re just talking about Chlorine as an example in this paragraph, which is not the only harmful chemical in your tap water. A perfect example of this is Pensacola, Florida. According to this AOL article, “Of the 101 chemicals tested for over five years, 45 were discovered. Of them, 21 were discovered in unhealthy amounts. The worst of these were radium-228 and -228, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, alpha particles, benzine and lead”.

Below is a list of the top 10 US cities with the worst drinking water, according to the Environmental Research Organization (Not in any specific order):

• Pensacola, Florida
• North Las Vegas, Nevada
• Omaha, Nebraska
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Houston, Texas
• Reno, Nevada
• Riverside County, California
• San Diego, California
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Riverside, California

So Why Drink Alkaline Water Over Tap Water

Tap water is commonly understood to be be lower on the pH scale which tends to be more acidic. Whereas, alkaline water is know to be higher on the pH scale at an 8 or a 9 which is less acidic. According to MedicalDaily.com, “Knowing a water’s pH is importance when it comes to maintaining proper body, cell and tissue pH in the body”. Alkaline water helps with intracellular hydration and can protect against Free Radicals, which are damaging to cells in your body.  Everyday, more and more people are taking the time to understand the importance of pH balance with regard to their physical health. Nutritionist and doctors alike are starting to agree that the body should be more alkaline than acidic. Choosing to drink alkaline water can be your first line of defense when trying to mitigate acidity in the body. Our next suggestion would be to check out what health benefits the Alkaline Diet has to offer. 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. Widespread acidic build-ups can overwhelm your internal fluids and potentially lead to health complications. down the road.

Cauliflower & Coconut Tart | Alkaline Diet Recipe

This cauliflower & coconut tart recipe is to die for!  It’s rich and tasty and a great option for those on an Alkaline Cleanse / Alkaline Diet. If you love cauliflower and coconut, you are in for a real treat with this recipe. It’s sure to be a hit at any dinner table and is also a great recipe for guest dinner parties or gatherings. If executed properly, the crust will have a bread-like texture, so one slice can be super filling. If you don’t have or like coconut cream, you can use any dairy-free milk alternative instead. Below is a step by step recipe for baking this decadent alkaline cleanse recipe. Give it a try! We know you’ll love this cauliflower & coconut tart!

Cauliflower & Coconut Tart | Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup (160 ml) coconut cream
• 1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt
• 1/2 cup chopped (30 g) kale
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 zucchini, sliced into ribbons

For The Pastry:

• 3 cups (300 g) cauliflower, broken into florets
• 3/4 cup (75 g) ground almonds
• 3 healthy gratings of nutmeg
• finely grant zest of 1/2 lemon
• a pinch of Himalayan pink salt
• 1 egg

Baking Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 325 °F/170°C gas mark 3 & line a 9 inch pan with parchment paper.
• First make the pastry. Put the cauliflower florets in a food processor or blender & blend until they look a bit like grains of rice. You can also chop them by hand as finely as possible.
• Transfer the blended/chopped cauliflower to a bowl and add the nutmeg, ground almonds, lemon zest, salt & the egg.
• Mix the ingredients well until a dough forms.
• Press the mixture into the prepared tart pan, also pressing up the sides then bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• During that time, massage the kale with the lemon juice until you see it wilt. The set it aside.
• To make the filling, beat together the eggs, coconut cream and salt until smooth & evenly mixed.
• Once the pastry is out of the preheated oven, arrange a layer kale in the bottom.
• Cover up the zucchini ribbons, then pour the egg & coconut mixture on top.
• Finally, return it to the oven for another 20 minutes or so until it’s cooked through.

Cauliflower & Coconut Tart Alkaline Diet Recipe and photo courtesy of “Alkaline Cleanse – 100 Recipes To Cleanse And Nourish” cook book, written by Natasha Corrett.

No-Grain Kale Bread | Alkaline Diet Cleanse Recipe

This No-Grain Kale Bread alkaline diet cleanse recipe will get you in touch with your inner baker! This bread recipe is rich and tasty and a wonderful option for those on an Alkaline Diet or Alkaline Cleanse. If you love kale and are looking for a bread recipe with a no-grain alternative, we’ve got you covered! This No-Grain Kale Bread is easy to make using the recipe below. This kale bread tastes amazing straight from the oven. But it can also be sliced and frozen, so that you can enjoy a toasted piece right from the freezer.  Below is a step by step recipe for baking this yummy alkaline cleanse recipe that makes 1 loaf. Give this No-Grain Kale Bread a try…. we bet you’ll love it!

No-Grain Kale Bread | Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp of melted coconut oil, plus 1 tsp for wilting & extra greasing
• 1/2 cups (350 ml) water
• 1 tbsp brown rice syrup
• 1 1/2 cups (100 g) kale, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup (45 g) sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup (85 g) flaxseed
• 3/4 cup (125 g) almonds, toasted & roughly chopped
• 1 cup (100 g) quinoa flakes
• 2 tbsp (25 g) chia seeds
• 3 tbsp psyllium husk powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (70 g) pumpkin seeds
• 14 tbsp coconut flour

Baking Directions:

• Place the coconut oil in a cup with the water and the brown rice syrup.
• Sauté the kale in a saucepan/frying pan over medium heat with 1 teaspoon of the coconut oil for 2-3 minutes until softened.
• Transfer the kale to a mixing bowl. Then add the rest of the ingredients & mix well.
• Pour the cup of coconut oil & brown rice syrup into the bowl and mix to form a thick dough.
• Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (1 kg) loaf pan with melted coconut butter oil and pack the dough into the pan. Set aside for 1-2 hours to let settle.
• Preheat the oven to 325 °F/170°C gas mark 3.
• Bake the loaf for about 50 minutes.
• Remove loaf from the pan and return it to the oven for another 15-20 minutes until it’s golden brown all over.
• Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

No-Grain Kale Bread recipe and photo courtesy of “Alkaline Cleanse – 100 Recipes To Cleanse And Nourish” cook book, written by Natasha Corrett.

What are free radicals?  Why do they cause damage to your body? And how do antioxidants help protect the human body against damaging free radicals? In this article we will answer these questions in order to help you understand why antioxidant rich food and liquids can be beneficial to your health.

What Are Free Radicals?

According to Rice.edu, free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons. They can form when oxygen interacts with certain molecules within your body. Once free radicals form, they are highly reactive and can start unhealthy chain reactions and damage your body. For instance, they can cause damage when they react with important cellular components such as cell membranes or your DNA. If this occurs, cells can potentially loose important functionality or die completely. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. However, it’s also beneficial to intake additional antioxidants in case your your body isn’t producing enough or to ensure free radicals do not form.

How Free Radicals Form

Bonds don’t typically split in a way that leaves a molecule with an odd, unpaired electron. However, when weak molecular bonds split, free radicals can form. They are extremely unstable and can react very quickly with other compounds, in order to capture an electron to gain stability. Generally speaking, free radicals attack the nearest “stable” molecule, effectively stealing its electron. When that molecule loses its electron, it turns into a free radical itself, starting an unhealthy chain reaction. Once this chain reaction starts, it can disrupt and adversely affect or kill a living cell. Typically, our bodies can handle free radicals, however, if antioxidants are unavailable, damage can occur. It’s also important to note that free radical damage has a cumulative affect accruing with age.

How Antioxidants Can Mitigate Free Radical Damage

Antioxidants play an important role in guarding against the free radical formation in the body. Some believe, antioxidants can even slow the aging process and even preventing heart disease or strokes. However, tests and preliminary data are still inconclusive. Nonetheless, we do know antioxidants fight free radical formations and subsequent chain reactions. That’s why its important to understand how your diet can influence molecular bonds an/or chemical reactions within the body. Essentially, increasing you intake of antioxidant rich foods or liquids can effectively mitigate free radical damage. Because antioxidants are understood to be stable in nature, they may act as “floaters”, helping to prevent cellular and tissue damage.

Antioxidant Rich Foods & Liquids

The vitamins C & E, are generally thought to guard against destructive free radicals. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals by giving up one of their electrons, effectively stopping the electron stealing chain reaction discussed earlier in this article. We suggest eating 4-8 servings of vegetables and/or fruits per day. Drinking liquids such as alkaline water are also supposed to supply antioxidants due to the increased pH levels. Alkaline water has the ability to give up electrons, therefore may be a good option to compliment your new antioxidant rich diet.

Asian Noodle Soup | Alkaline Cleanse Recipe

As you can see this Asian Noodle Soup looks absolutely scrumptious. This soup is also great option for those on an Alkaline Diet or Alkaline Cleanse. If you love Asian dishes, this soup will not disappoint. The mouthwatering recipe gives off a wonderful aroma, and also has cleansing properties. A hint of cinnamon coupled with star anise provides delectable base flavors in addition it’s antiviral qualities. Below is a step by step recipe for making this yummy alkaline cleanse recipe that serves 2 people. I’m sure you will enjoy this soup just as much as we did!

Asian Noodle Soup | Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 white onion, finley chopped
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 2 x 1 in. (2.5 cm) slices (5 cm) piece of ginger slices
• 3/4 in. (3 g) cinnamon sitck
• 1 star anise
• 1 tbsp coriander seeds
• 6 tbsp cold water
• 1 tbsp tamari
• 1/2 cup (10 g) Chinese celery, roughly chopped
• 1 heaping tbsp (3 g) sweet Thai basil
• 3 cups 9720 ml) boiling water
• 1 tbsp bouillon powder
• 3/4 cup (50 g) snow peas
• 1 1/2 cups (100 g) bok choy
• 3/4 cup (60 g) shiitake mushrooms, slides
• 1/3 cup (5 g) fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup (50 g) rice noodles
• juice of 1 line
• 1/3 cup (50 g) tempeh, cut into strips, to garnish
• 6 thin slices of red chili pepper, sliced at an angle (optional)

Cooking Directions:

• Heat the coconut oil in a frying or sauce pan and add the onion, garlic, ginger, star anise, cinnamon & coriander seeds. Sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes.
• Add the cold water (not the measured boiling water) and the tamari, & simmer for another minute. Stir in the Chinese celery & sweet basil.
• Add the boiling water to the pan along with the bouillon, stir & leave until the liquid has reached boiling point again.
• Meanwhile, chop the snow peas on the diagonal & slice the root off the bok choy so that the leaves are released. Add to the pan along with the shiitake mushroom and half of the chopped cilantro. After 1 minute, add the rice noodles & cook for another 3-4 minutes until they are done.
• Finish off the soup by squeezing the lime juice over the top and stir through w/ the tempeh, the remaining cilantro & the slices of chili.

Asian Noodle Soup recipe and photo courtesy of “Alkaline Cleanse – 100 Recipes To Cleanse And Nourish” cook book, written by Natasha Corrett.

Roasted Cauliflower Saffron Quinoa Chifu Salad | Alkaline Cleanse Recipe

As you can see this Roasted Cauliflower Saffron Quinoa Chifu Salad looks absolutely delicious. This dish also happens to be a great meal for those on an Alkaline Cleanse or Alkaline Diet. The Saffron is not required, however, it gives the quinoa a wonderful aroma as well as a beautiful orange hue. Below is a step by step recipe for making this yummy alkaline cleanse dish that serves 2 people. I’m sure you will enjoy this dish just as much as we did! Its out of this world!

Cauliflower Saffron Quinoa Salad Ingredients:

• 2 cups (200g) cauliflower, broken into florets
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
• 1 1/4 long stalks (80g) celery, torn & sliced lengthways
• 1 cup (150g) quinoa
• Pinch of saffron strands
• 2 pieces of lemon zest cut w/ potato peeler
• 10 oz (280g) chifu (cut into 4 steaks)
• 1 1/2 tbsp (5g) dill chopped
• 3 tbsp (10g) flat leaf parsley, chopped

Marinade Ingredients:

• 8 tbsp apple cider
• 4 tbsp sesame oil
• 4 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Cooking Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 325 ℉ /170 ℃ / gas mark 3
• Put cauliflower into a baking dish w/ the sunflower oil & salt and roast for 10 minutes
• Next add your celery to the mix and roast for 15 minutes more, until the cauliflower starts to brown
• Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the package and add the saffron & lemon zest to the water
• Combine all the marinade ingredients in a pan, add the chifu steaks to marinate, and set aside. When the quinoa & vegetables are ready, set them aside
• Take the steaks out of the marinade and heat up the liquid starts to sizzle slightly & then reduce
• Either warm the chifu steaks in the hot marinade or cook them on a hot grill pan to get nice charred lines across them
• To serve, pile up the quinoa in 2 bowls, add the chopped dill & parsley, then drizzle w/ half the marinade. Then arrange the cauliflower & celery on top, followed by the chifu, then drizzle with the rest of the marinade

Roasted Cauliflower Saffron Quinoa Chifu Salad recipe and photo courtesy of “Alkaline Cleanse – 100 Recipes To Cleanse And Nourish” cook book, written by Natasha Corrett.

Does Drinking Alkaline Water Have Any Health Benefits?

Alkaline water benefits people in a variety of different ways. Advocates of drinking alkaline water believe it regulates pH levels in their body. Essentially, alkaline rich food including alkaline water help them manage the acid-base balance of their bodily fluids. It’s argued that regulating acidity and pH of your bodily fluids, which includes your blood stream, and can treat or even warn off disease. We are not claiming alkaline water cures disease. But mitigating acidity in the body does have some beneficial affects that are still being studied. Below are some of the known benefits of drinking alkaline water.

Some Alkaline Water Benefits:

Neutralizing Acidity

An unhealthy diet, stress and a lack of exercise can all contribute to an improper pH balance. Eating fried foods, red meat & carbs only add to this issue. Because alkaline water is “supposed” to have a higher pH than water, its believed to help regulate he body’s acidity… similar to eating alkaline rich foods. Drinking alkaline water may be able to help mitigate some of the acidity associated our diets.

Rehydration

Alkaline drinking water contains important alkaline minerals such as magnesium and calcium which can be extremely re-hydrating and leave you feeling more energized. This is a result of filtering via electrolysis. The process of making alkaline water using electrolysis filtration and ionization removes contaminants, leaving only the desired vital minerals.

Antioxidants & Oxygenation

Alkaline water with a higher pH functions as an antioxidant. Mineral-rich, high-alkaline antioxidant water can neutralize damaging free radicals because alkaline rich water has the potential to give up electrons. This acts as a neutralizing agent, effectively blocking free-radical damage. Ionized alkaline drinking water seeks out these harmful free radicals converting them into oxygen which your body can use.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes are critical to every function in the body. They play key roles in keeping water balanced both inside and outside of cells so muscles and organs continue to work properly. When electrolyte levels are off, muscles can become weak (or contract too severely). Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can adversely impact health and exercise performance. Drinking electrolyte mineral-infused water is a much healthier way to give the body what it needs.

About Alka-Pure Alkaline Water 

Alka-Pure’s alkaline water and concentrated Go-Paks deliver five essential minerals in pre-chelated form for efficient absorption and use by the body.

Click Here or the images below to learn more about Alka-Pure’s alkaline water and concentrated alkaline Go-Paks.