Alkaline Water Shown to Fight Extreme Dehydration in Study

Alkaline Water Shown to Fight Extreme Dehydration in Study | Dehydration is killing firefighters

Heart attack due to dehydration is the number one cause of death among firefighters while fighting fires, according to Effect of Hydration on Whole Blood Viscosity in Firefighters.  Heart attack easily beats out smoke inhalation and burns, the number two and three causes respectively. Firefighters face a 12 to 136 times higher risk of dying from a heart attack while fighting a fire. The study, Effect of Hydration on Whole Blood Viscosity in Firefighters was done to determine if alkaline water with a pH of 9.5 – made with a water ionizer – was an effective means of fighting the extreme dehydration experienced by firefighters that leads to death by heart attack. The study’s findings were conclusive: Alkaline water is an effective means of fighting the extreme dehydration that threatens the lives of firefighters during fire suppression.

Professional athletes like Derek Lee, and many others, depend on and endorse alkaline water by Life Ionizers for extreme rehydration. Read Life Ionizers testimonials by professional athletes here.

Dehydration “One of the major health problems of the 21rst century”

According to Effect of Hydration on Whole Blood Viscosity in Firefighters:

It has been well-established that consumption of soft drinks, which have an osmolality of -700 mOsm/kg, and beer, which has an osmolality of -1000 mOsm/kg, causes dehydration in both young and old people.

The study also cites a greater risk of dehydration among the elderly because the “dysfunction of thirst sensors increases with age.” Dehydration is an epidemic health problem, a recent report in the journal Medical Daily reveals that according to U.S doctors who responded to a survey, 75% of Americans may suffer from chronic dehydration.

Alkaline water hydration put to the test – Extreme dehydration during firefighting

To test alkaline water’s ability to rehydrate, 15 healthy, nonsmoking firefighters were subjected to a mock fire drill. Live fire was used during the mock fire drill, which consisted of two 30 minute sessions of strenuous fire fighting activity while using a self-contained breathing apparatus. Prior to the test, each firefighter’s baseline hydration status was determined by measuring the Whole blood viscosity(WBV) – a measurement how fluid the blood is. The higher the viscosity, the less fluid there is in the blood. Elevated levels of WBV force the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body, which can trigger a heart attack.

After the mock fire drill was complete, doctors drew blood samples from the volunteers to asses their WBV. Not surprisingly, the volunteer firefighters were extremely dehydrated!

To rehydrate the firefighters, each volunteer received half of his or her body weight in ounces of alkaline water with a pH of 9.5. For example, if the firefighter weighed 200 pounds, they received 100 ounces of alkaline water.

The firefighters hydration status was measured immediately after the firefighting exercise, and 45 minutes after the exercise, during which time the firefighters consumed alkaline water. Blood viscosity measurements showed that consumption of alkaline water almost completely restored the hydration status of the firefighters to pre-fire drill status. The study authors concluded that alkaline water shows promise as an effective means of rehydration following intense dehydration.

Alkaline water for rehydration – the whole story

While Effect of Hydration on Whole Blood Viscosity in Firefighters provides more proof of alkaline water’s hydrating ability, the researchers didn’t evaluate the firefighter’s electrolyte levels in the study. Electrolytes are an important part of hydration, because the body needs adequate levels of electrolytes to maintain proper hydration levels.

A previous study, called: Drinks with alkaline negative oxidative reduction potential improve exercise performance in physically active men and women evaluated the effects of combining alkaline water with a powdered electrolyte drink mix and found that compared to plain water mixed with electrolytes, the alkaline water mixture increased blood serum bicarbonate levels and helps the body overcome the effects of lactic acid in the muscles.

For this reason, athletes and others interested in using alkaline water for rehydration should consider combining alkaline water and electrolytes for complete rehydration and to maximize recovery for physical exertion.

Need more information on alkaline water for extreme rehydration? Call us today at: 877-959-7977 for more information on how to use alkaline water for extreme rehydration.

References

Holsworth, R, , and et al. “Effect of Hydration on Whole Blood Viscosity in Firefighters.”

ebscohost. Alternative Therapies, n.d. Web. 27 Dec 2013. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d19a888b-bdf2-4a84-8138-fca11b03df01@sessionmgr4005&vid=2&hid=4112>.

Heil, P and Seifert, J. Influence of bottled water on rehydration following a dehydrating bout of

cycling exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition  Springerlink July 2009. http://www.springerlink.com/content/kn41764j65165u3x/fulltext.pdf

Ostolic, S.M. “Al. Drinks with alkaline negative oxidative reduction potential improve exercise

performance in physically active men and women: double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of efficacy and safety..” Serbian Journal of Sports Sciences. 5.3 (2011): 83-89. Print.