What is alkaline water made of?

There are two different kinds of alkaline water; ionized alkaline water and alkaline water. Both are made of alkaline mineral salts. The most common form is alkaline water, which is mostly found as hard water. It is made of alkaline mineral carbonates, – carbon compounds – mostly calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. The second kind; ionized alkaline water, is made of alkaline mineral hydroxides. Hydrogen compounds,  mostly calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. Both kinds of alkaline water are healthy to drink, but the mineral hydroxides in ionized alkaline water are easier for the body to absorb.

FDA – Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Ingredients

The calcium and magnesium carbonates and hydroxides that are found in both kinds of alkaline water are listed on the FDA’s List of Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS)  database as  Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) ingredients.  This means that the FDA considers both types safe for human consumption. Calcium and magnesium carbonates and hydroxides are both used in the manufacture of food, supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

Alkaline water made with carbonates

The most common form of alkaline water is hard water which is mostly composed of calcium carbonates and magnesium carbonates. Mineral Carbonates are minerals and oxygen chemically combined with carbon. Mineral hydroxides in ionized alkaline water absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The CO2 acidifies ionized alkaline water.

Ionized alkaline water made with hydroxides

Water ionizers make water more alkaline by splitting the carbon in mineral carbonates from the minerals in it. Calcium and magnesium are chemically unstable in water, so they immediately chemically combine with a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom – a hydroxyl ion –  taken from water molecules to form mineral hydroxides. These mineral hydroxides exist in water as a solution of mineral ions and hydroxyl ions

This is the reason why a water ionizer must produce two streams of water. The first is an alkaline water stream that contains the mineral hydroxides. The second is an acidic water stream that contains the carbonates.

The mineral hydroxides in ionized alkaline water are what make the pH of the alkaline water made by an ionizer higher than the pH of the tap water used to make it. CO2 in the air will make the mineral hydroxides in ionized alkaline water drop (within 24 hrs) if you leave it exposed to air. This is why ionized alkaline water should be stored in a sealed container.

Why ionized alkaline water is easier to absorb

Mineral hydroxides are smaller molecules than mineral carbonates. Smaller molecules move more easily by osmosis, which is one of the ways water penetrates cells in the body. This is why calcium hydroxide is used in the food industry to fortify beverages such as orange juice and infant formula with calcium. It is easier for the body to absorb than calcium carbonate, hence more bioavailable.

Is ionized alkaline water micro clustered?

No, the micro clustering theory of water has been widely debunked. Water molecules don’t stick together in liquid form. The only time water molecules cluster together is when water freezes. When water freezes, water molecules do gather in hexagonal clusters, which produce the ice crystals known as snowflakes.

Ionized alkaline water owes its hydrating properties to the mineral hydroxides in it. Calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide reduce the surface tension of water, and that makes it easier to absorb.

In conclusion

Ionized alkaline water and alkaline water are both widely misunderstood. Both types of alkaline water are healthy to drink, but ionized alkaline water is easier to absorb. For this reason, a water ionizer produces the superior form of alkaline water, ionized alkaline water.

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Has the FDA evaluated ionized alkaline water as a supplement?

Yes. A company called pH Sciences has registered a proprietary mineral water supplement with the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  The preceding information and/or products are for educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. Please consult your doctor before making any changes or before starting ANY exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using this information or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.