Hydrogen Water vs Alkaline Water: Which is best?

There is much confusion around whether we should be drinking hydrogen water or alkaline water or hydrogen water vs alkaline water and if one is indeed better for you.

In this article, we'll explore what hydrogen water and alkaline water are, their benefits, creation methods and more, so you can make an informed decision about which is right for you.

What is Hydrogen Water?

Hydrogen water is ‘regular’ drinking water that has hydrogen gas added. This is typically done through electrolysis or bubbling pure hydrogen gas into the water, decomposing the molecules into molecular hydrogen gas.

There are currently two main methods to obtain hydrogen-rich water via electric flow through systems. Alkaline water ionisers and neutral pH hydrogen water generators.  Alkaline Water ionisers use a process of electrolysis to produce hydrogen gas and alkaline water. Many people have reported benefits from using alkaline water ionisers but it wasn’t until around 2010 that scientists understood the therapeutic property in alkaline ionised water was the hydrogen gas.  Once the hydrogen gas is created it is very quickly diminished in effectiveness and in order to push the pH higher, the alkaline water produced becomes very unpalatable.  This makes the alkaline water ionisers a very inconsistent and impractical home tool for creating hydrogen-rich water.

Neutral-pH hydrogen Water generators would seem to be able to produce a more consistent hydrogen concentration.  Whilst the technology used for producing hydrogen-rich water is relatively new, it is highly advanced.

Both bottled hydrogen water and specified tablets are available for purchase.  Creating hydrogen water using a water ioniser has many drawbacks  including the fast dissipation of the hydrogen from the water, diminishing the quality over time. Some ionisers will include a mineralisation process to reintroduce a selection of minerals, such as potassium, sodium sulphate, and magnesium sulphate.

While ordinary tap water will hold a degree of hydrogen, the added hydrogen in hydrogen-rich water is said to have a range of potential benefits, including reducing inflammatory responses, supporting cardiovascular function, improving cognitive ability, and more. Hydrogen water is even said to enhance endurance and physical performance, working towards mitigating the onset of fatigue.  Many of these health claims have been challenged by current medical opinion and further research is both required and underway in many laboratories to corroborate any medical claims.

What is Alkaline Water?

As the name suggests, alkaline water refers to water holding greater alkalinity in its makeup. This can be measured using the pH level – a scale between 0 and 14 stating the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. For example, a substance with a pH level of 0 is highly acidic, a pH level of 14 is highly alkaline, and 7 is neutral.

The human body naturally has a slightly alkaline pH level, needing a balance (or homeostasis) of approximately 7.35 to 7.45 to survive and flourish. Unfortunately, with our diets and environment growing more acidic, this natural balance is being disrupted, leading to issues like metabolic acidosis, which can cause various complications, such as vomiting, nausea and fatigue.

But the solution isn’t simply bombarding the body with more alkaline substances – some alkaline water products will sit at a 9.5, 10 or even 11 pH level, which, if overconsumed, can adversely tip the scale in the other direction. This can lead to metabolic alkalosis, and associated symptoms of light-headedness, confusion, numbness, nausea and vomiting.

The key is to remove the toxins and pollutants that can find their way into our drinking water and emulate the process of Mother Nature to re-introduce the natural minerals and alkaline properties that improve cellular hydration, vital to our long-term health and wellness.

For example, with the zazen Alkaline Water System, users pour their drinking water through a sophisticated, 10-stage filtration process designed to: 

• Filter mould, spores, organic matter, microplastics, rust & sediment
• Prevent bacteria, cysts, parasites and other dangerous micro-organisms from proliferating
• Reduce chlorine (99.98%), fluoride (90%), arsenic, Trihalomethanes (TMH), and other chemicals
• Trap heavy metals like aluminium, nickel and mercury

This is then followed by:

• Using far infrared technology to energise the water, neutralising acidic components and balancing the pH levels
• Infusing natural silica to aid in collagen production
• Utilising natural mineral stones to introduce essential trace minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium
• Bolstering magnetic energy to increase oxygen and produce a free-flowing hexagonal structure for better cellular hydration 

By following this process, your zazen alkaline water will be appropriately balanced and packed with the essential electrolyte minerals and elements our bodies need daily. Introducing this into your ongoing wellness routine opens you up to the various potential benefits of alkaline water, including:

• Promoting proper cellular hydration with a selection of electrolyte minerals
• Improving our bodies pH balance
• Flushing toxins & preventing diseases
• Enhancing focus, physical performance, and even sleep quality
• Assisting with pre-existing conditions, such as reflux disease and blood pressure.

What are the similarities between hydrogen water and alkaline water?

When reviewing alkaline water vs hydrogen water – namely, the similarities between the two – it helps first to recognise that both are modified forms of tap water. As discussed above, the creation of alkaline water and hydrogen water can both involve the use of electrolysis, with the electric current encouraging a chemical change, such as the free hydrogen gas molecules dissolving. The finer points are a little different, but both sources have received a form of treatment to improve their benefits within the body, whether that be acting as an anti-inflammatory property or to help neutralise excessive amounts of acid present. The creation of alkaline water using the zazen Alkaline Water System has not undergone electrolysis requiring an electrical current but has undertaken a 10-stage filtration process to create delicious tasting alkaline, mineralised water ideal for cellular hydration.

We would also be remiss to point out that, in addition to the range of potential benefits outlined, both hydrogen and alkaline water are cleaner sources of water that can help maintain adequate hydration.

Hydrogen water vs alkaline mineral water

Hydrogen in water and carefully created alkaline water have their own, distinct properties. For example, hydrogen water is mainly defined by its inclusion of hydrogen gas to perform its anti-inflammatory & antioxidant benefits, whereas alkaline mineral water is energised to hold a higher pH level and contain a range of electrolyte minerals needed for optimal cellular hydration.

Which is better?

To decide which option is best, hydrogen water vs alkaline mineral water, requires a deeper understanding of what you are trying to achieve and potentially improve in your health and hydration.  The cost of hydrogen capsules or purchase of bottled hydrogen water may be prohibitive, but if you are looking for greater cellular hydration and an improved mechanism for detoxing from heavy metals or other toxins or simply a better balance with your natural alkaline levels alkaline water could be the better choice.