After detox water, alkaline water is the latest trend that has the fitness world in a tizzy. Cyberspace is packed with a score of articles and discussions regarding alkaline water and its effects on physical health.
If you want the benefits of a water ionizer but don’t want to buy one, give this homemade alkaline water a try.
For the chemistry phobics out there, alkaline water is simply water or H2O that has been ionized, meaning that the water’s pH level has been increased. There are ways to do this at home without spending a hefty sum on bottled alkaline water or water-ionizing units.
Those with a fetish for fitness will already know that water in itself, when consumed in good amounts, is an important supplement for an active body.
Alkaline water is a great way to ensure that your body gets its daily requirements of minerals. It is also said to help the body purge heavy metals, increases blood circulation and balances excess acidity in the body.
While anyone can benefit from alkaline water, those who lead an active and rigorous lifestyle, such as people who regularly play sports, athletes and bodybuilders, stand to gain the most from it. Rigorous activities lead to lactic acid build-up in the muscles. This, along with dehydration and electrolyte imbalances (including potassium, sodium and magnesium), can lead to cramps, fatigue and low energy levels.
Tap water is treated with elements that usually end up increasing its acidity. While water normally has a neutral pH level of 7, tap water may fall between a 5.5 and 7 pH level. Alkaline water has a pH level between 8 and 9.
Contents
Ways to correctly make alkaline water at home
Method 1: Using Baking Soda
Things you’ll need:
- Filtered water – 1 cup
- Baking soda – 1 teaspoon
- pH strip
Step 1. Add baking soda to the water and stir well
Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of filtered tap water. Stir well to completely dissolve the baking soda into the water.
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is the easiest and cheapest way to make your own alkaline water at home.
Step 2. Test the pH of the water
Before you drink it, test the pH of your water with a pH strip. You can get pH strips from your pharmacist. Match the color acquired by the pH strip with the pH color chart that came with your strip. If the pH level of your water is between 8 and 9, your alkaline water is fit to be consumed.
Method 2: Using Pink Himalayan Salt
Things you’ll need:
- Filtered water – 3 cups
- Pink Himalayan salt – ½ tablespoon
- Lemon – 1
- pH strip
Step 1. Slice up the lemon
Cut up a lemon into 6 or 7 thin slices. Using slices help the minerals in the lemon to easily diffuse into the water.
While lemons are acidic themselves, they have an alkalizing effect on the body. That’s because they are low in sugar but high in alkaline minerals that help to neutralise excess acid.
You can also use lemon slices to make your own detox water.
Step 2. Add lemon slices and pink Himalayan salt to the water
Add the lemon slices and ½ tablespoon of pink Himalayan salt to 3 cups of filtered tap water in a glass jug. The Himalayan salt contains trace amounts of beneficial minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium, which gives it a lower sodium content than table salt.
Step 3. Mix well and let it sit overnight
Mix the contents of the jug well. Let the water sit undisturbed overnight. This will give the water enough time to leech the minerals out of the lemon slices. The water becomes alkaline overnight.
Step 4. Test the pH level of the water
Using a pH strip, test the pH level of the water before you consume it. Ideally, the pH level of the water should be between 8 and 9. Check the color acquired by the pH strip against the pH color chart that came with it.
Additional tips for making alkaline water
- Check the pH of the water before you start and add alkalizing agents accordingly, as you don’t want to exceed a pH level of 9.
- You can also use alkaline drops or tablets to make your drinking water alkaline. With alkaline drops and tablets, less is more. So, always be frugal while using them.
- Do not consume alkaline water exclusively. Rather, include it in your diet along with your regular choice of drinking water.
- Those who are following a low-sodium diet for health purposes or certain medical conditions should definitely steer clear of adding baking soda or Himalayan salt to water.
Summary of How to Correctly Make Alkaline Water
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