Three medical professionals weigh in on whether there are any gut-health benefits of drinking alkaline water.

3: The Future of Processed Foods

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But lets dial back for a moment.

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What is alkaline water, exactly?

On the flip side, water with a pH lower than seven is more acidic.

But is this really true: Can alkaline actually help balance your gut microbiome?

Photography of a apple juice in glasses and apples in a wicker basket on wooden table

function medicine consultant and founder and medical director of Flatiron Functional Medicine in Louisville, Colorado

And as it turns out, the answer isnt quite as straightforward as we had hoped.

Does science suggest that there benefits to consuming alkaline water for gut health?

But he wants to set the record straight based on what research has demonstrated.

red pigment in a wooden spoon

However, Dr. Bulsiewicz very much doubts that consuming alkaline water is at all necessary to maintain these levels.

Well, not quite.

Alas, when alkaline water was researched with humans, the results were quite different.

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At the end of the intervention, there was no difference.

As is often the case, the animal model studies did not translate to humans.

At the end of the intervention, there was no difference.

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

function medicine consultant and founder and medical director of Flatiron Functional Medicine in Louisville, Colorado

As is often the case, the animal model studies did not translate to humans.

So, when should you be drinking alkaline water, if at all?

The alkaline water in this setting would help to neutralize stomach acidity and therefore bring some relief.

A hand is stirring a sourdough starter in a glass jar, on a kitchen countertop. The light casts a warm glow, highlighting the ingredients inside the jar.

The main difference between alkaline and regular H2O?

(Alkaline water comes with a higher price tag than plain ol water.)

Shall we say cheers to drinkingmineral water?

Two cups with coffee and green tea on a beige background.

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