Alkaline Water? No Thanks, Just a Glass from the Tap

Is alkaline water healthy? They say it cures headaches, helps prevent certain types of cancer, improves digestion, improves oxygen delivery, increases energy, and boosts metabolism.

But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Heard a pitch for drinking alkaline water? There’s a lot of big promises out there about the health benefits of alkaline water. The truth about alkaline water's benefits is that much of that information comes from published studies frequently funded by bottled water companies.

Save your money, and just drink more water. Most adults are chronically dehydrated from not drinking enough water, opting for sodas, energy drinks, and coffee instead. But you should aim to drink about 8 glasses of water per day for best health. More if you’re highly active, sweat a lot or live in a hot climate.

If you’re not drinking anywhere close to that, it’s not that hard to develop the habit. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. Drink a glass of water with every meal. And sip from a water bottle throughout the day. Make it a habit, set reminders on your phone if you have to.

Only weak evidence exists that suggests alkaline water is a better alternative to tap water, or traditional bottled water. Stronger evidence exists that actually suggests highly acidic alkaline water may impair growth, damage the heart, and in extreme cases cause skin burns.

Keep it simple. Drink water from the tap, or regular bottled water. Drink enough to stay hydrated, about 8 glasses a day. And consider water your go-to drink for every meal.

There’s plenty of healthy, tasty, and delicious food that pairs well with a glass of water on the Low-Carb menu like Sliced Beef Brisket, Spinach Mushroom Lasagna with Garlic Green Beans, Vegetable Stew, Eggplant Parmigiana, and many others.