What Do You Need to Do for Healthy Hydration?

The supposed alkaline water benefits don't really exist, so you don't need bottled alkaline water or an alkaline water machine. You don't need "ionized water," although you certainly do need electrolytes, just not necessarily with your water. However, you can get all the supposed benefits of alkaline water by some simple changes to diet, drinking patterns, and lifestyle.

• If you want to keep your body "alkaline," eat more fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, and less meat. Your kidneys aren't going to let your body become acidic. However, they have more work to do the more meat and other protein foods you eat. That's because the body breaks down excess amino acids, about 30 percent of all the protein you eat, into glucose and urea. The kidneys have to alkalize urea before they excrete it. They won't let your body become acidic (unless you are extremely ill), but they will have less need for the calcium and, ironically, amino acids they need to neutralize if you simply eat less meat and fewer protein foods. No added alkalis are required.

READ Food Digestion: Improve your Digestive System

• Alkaline water can reduce the effects of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but at the expense of good digestion. The acid in your stomach neutralizes the alkali in alkaline water, but the alkali in alkaline water also neutralizes the acid in your stomach. You may feel better after your drink alkaline water if you have a problem with heartburn or GERD. However, that stomach acid has a purpose. Its job is digesting your food. If you neutralize stomach acid, your stomach doesn't do as good a job of releasing minerals and amino acids, some of which your body needs to maintain the right pH.
• While you don’t need “alkaline water,” water that happens to be alkaline may be exactly what your body needs. You don’t need water at a certain pH (as long as it is not so alkaline or too acidic that it damages your mouth, throat, and digestive tract). You do need electrolytes, but not necessarily the electrolytes you find in alkaline water. Spring waters that contain magnesium and other trace minerals may be especially helpful.

READ Alkaline Foods and Cancer

• Water that helps you look younger is best applied on you, not in you. Water is a great moisturizer. In fact, water is the best moisturizer for your skin. Its effects just don’t last very long. A splash of mineral water with your moisturizer before you put on makeup can bring out your skin’s natural tones all day long. And if you don’t use makeup, just use water to take away skin grayness and smooth out wrinkles.
• You never need to drink so much water that you slosh. If you live in a hot or arid climate, you may need three or four liters of water a day. You will also need more electrolytes. However, salt on your food and plant foods every day will provide the electrolytes your body needs.