Ayurveda on Alkaline Water: It’s an human tendency to follow any trend over social media just to fit in. Be it with fashion, makeup, food or even health practices. Today’s world doesn’t look into the pros and cons of a trend. They just follow what Instagram baddies are telling them. One such trend is of consuming “alkaline water”. It sounds so fancy and makes us believe that it would benefit our health for sure. Little do you know about it’s harsh effect. We shall be discussing this today about why Ayurveda doesn’t support the daily use of alkaline water.
What is alkaline water?
The “alkaline” in alkaline water refers to its pH level. A pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on an approximate scale of 0 to 14. For instance hydrochloric acid is acidic because it has pH of 3. While baking soda is alkaline because it has the pH of 9.
Alkaline water has a higher pH than plain drinking water. Some supporters of alkaline water believe that it can neutralize acid in your body, although there are no studies proving that.
Regular drinking water has a pH of 7, which is neutral. Alkaline water’s pH is usually between 8 and 9, but pH alone does not sufficiently create alkalinity in water. Alkaline water also has alkaline minerals and negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). The ORP of water is a measurement of its antioxidant or reducing ability. Thus, the higher the negative value of ORP (as in -100, -150 or 600) the more anti-oxidizing potential it.
Some believe that alkaline water can help prevent disease, like cancer and stroke. However, more studies have to be done to prove this. A few studies indicate that alkaline water can slow bone loss. It is uncertain if some of the calcium content in the water helps certain conclusions about bone strength and whether or not alkaline water is advantageous for bone strength long-term.
Alkaline water can be generated by water electrolysis that separates acidic and alkaline components of water. Natural water that flows through rocks also gathers minerals and becomes alkaline in nature. Similarly, electrolyzed water can also be generated from minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which are highly saturated with hydrogen. This particular kind of water is known as alkaline reduced water.
Ayurveda on Alkaline Water
Unlike modern science, Ayurveda not only focuses on the pH of water but also it’s temperature, dosha balance, and source and naturalness of the water. As Acharya Charaka said in Sutrasthana:
जीवनं तर्पणं हृद्यं ह्लादनं बुद्धिप्रभावकम्।
रुच्यं लागवकृत् शीतं तृष्णा दहप्रशमनम्॥
Water is life-giving, satisfying, heart-pleasing, refreshing, enhances intellect, improves taste, is light, cold, and quenches thirst and heat.
In Vimanasthana Adhyaya 1 (Anna Pan Vimanam), Charaka discusses the qualities of water and the effect of improperly processed or incompatible water on health. Water that is unsuitable in terms of place, time, or quality can disturb doshas, cause ama (toxins) formation, and even infertility in the long term.
Ayurveda on Syrups: Why does Ayurveda say no to syrups?
Why you shouldn’t consume it?
Keeping this in mind Ayurveda contraindicates the use of Alkaline water. The possible reasons for this are:
May Lead to Infertility
Alkaline water is madhura (sweet), sheeta (cool), and snigdha (unctuous) in nature. The excess intake can aggravate Kapha and depress Agni, leading to Mandagni. Mandagni causes ama (undigested food) formation, which clogs srotas (body channels), including shukra vaha srotas (reproductive channels), leading to infertility.
Charaka Samhita; Vimana Sthana
अनुपदेशे जलसेवनात् मन्दाग्निर्दोषवृद्धिकृत्।
स्रोतोरोधनशुक्रक्षयः स्यान्नारीपुंसोरप्यनुत्पतिः॥
By consuming water that is unsuitable for the region, season, or constitution, digestive fire is weakened, doshas are aggravated, bodily channels get blocked, and there is a depletion of reproductive tissues leading to infertility in both men and women.
May Diminish Agni (Digestive Fire)
Alkaline water is considered to be of Sheeta virya (cold potency). Regular intake of cool and heavy water can weaken Agni, leading to mandagni (weak digestion), ama (toxins), and disease.
May Aggravate Kapha and Vata Dosha
Due to it’s similar properties likes Sheeta (cold) and Snigdha (unctuous/slightly heavier), alkaline water can aggravate the Kapha Dosha. It can disturb Vata (especially in cold weather or individuals with Vata/Kapha prakriti), leading to symptoms like bloating, mucus formation, sluggishness, etc.
May Hamper Pitta Regulation
Pitta dosha is Ushna (hot) and Tikshna (sharp). Alkaline water being Sheeta can disturb this balance, especially in people with low Pitta or during cold seasons, leading to symptoms like sluggish metabolism, indigestion, and mental dullness.
Reduces Natural Electrolytic Balance
Ayurveda values natural water sources (jala) for their virya (potency) and vipaka (post-digestive effect). Altered water (like ionized alkaline water) may disturb Samyoga (natural bonding) and Prabhava (specific effect) of water.
Disadvantages of Alkaline water according to modern science
Disturbs body’s delicate balance: If you drink Alkaline water, a possibility with effects to the balance of your body’s own natural pH could occur. It will cause a condition called metabolic alkalosis (an acid-base imbalance).
Risk of minor symptoms: Often, alkaline water can cause mental fog, muscle spasms and nausea. While these can be mildly concerning, there is also a risk for severe health consequences such as coma or paralysis.
Impair nutrient uptake: Some research indicates this water can also impair the body’s uptake of certain important nutrients such as calcium, and 2 other active, and needed nutrients for healthy teeth bones.
Reactive to some medications: Medications, such as antacids, do not always have a recommendation from a physician to be taken with alkaline water because it can sometimes change the effect of the medication.
What Ayurveda Recommends Instead?
- Boiled and cooled water (Ushnodaka)
- Herbal-infused water (like Jeera, Saunf, Ajwain)
- Best alternative for alkaline water in Ayurveda is consuming betel leaves infused water
- Copper-vessel stored water (balances Tridosha)
- Seasonal water use (warm in winter, room-temp in summer)
- Water based on Prakriti and Agni
It is necessary to know about a product which you are willing to use for your body. Don’t just do things that you see on the internet, knowing if it really benefits your body or not is essential. What may be good for others might also hamper your health. These small steps take a major toll on our gealth before we even get to know the reason. Be ware and choose wisely!
