If you're considering a water ionizer for your home, it's worth understanding exactly how ionised water compares to naturally filtered alkaline water. A water ionizer uses electrical currents to split tap water molecules, producing ionized water with a high pH. The zazen Alkaline Water System takes a fundamentally different approach, emulating Mother Nature's water cycle to deliver mineral-rich, mildly alkaline water designed for peak cellular hydration. The differences between these two approaches come down to purpose, philosophy and results for your family.
We've outlined an easy comparison table for your reference.
Comparison Table: Water Ionizer vs zazen Alkaline Water System
zazen Alkaline Water System |
Water Ionizer |
|
|
What does a Water Ionizer do to your Water?
Water ionizers are normally attached to your kitchen tap to treat your regular tap water with an electrical current that ionizes water. The ionized water is alkaline water that contains large amounts of electrically charged hydroxyl ions as well as free electrons.
How do water ionizers work?
Water ionizers are usually about the same size as a toaster. They use electricity to redirect tap water through a plastic hose. Once inside the alkaline water ionizer unit, the water is filtered to remove common pollutants. Then this filtered water passes into a chamber equipped with platinum-coated titanium electrodes. Here is where the low voltage electrolysis takes place.
Electrolysis involves splitting water molecules into Cations (positively charged ions) that gather at the negative electrodes to create ionized water, and Anions (negatively charged ions) at the positive electrode to make oxidized water. Most ionized water filter units have a high pH reading (can be up to 11) with the option to dial up or down the pH level.
The ionized water comes out of the kitchen tap, and the oxidized water comes out a separate hose. The latter can be used for drinking, cooking or even as a sterilizing agent, helpful for washing hands, cleaning food or kitchen utensils, and treating minor wounds and eczema.
Water Ionizers - Do They Actually Work & Are They Worth It?
Water ionizers do work, in the sense that they split water molecules and provide you with ionized water. Yet, this in itself is not ideal. Not only is the process of ionizing water incredibly harsh on the water, many water ionizers also produce very high alkaline ionized water, sometimes far higher than is recommended by scientists.
They were used in hospitals over 30 years ago to help chronically ill patients increase body alkalinity by drinking extremely high alkaline water (9 – 11+ pH). Chronically ill patents have highly acidic bodies.
The sole purpose of water Ionizers was to create extremely high alkaline water – they were not designed to filter your water, such as with the removal of fluoride, or rebalance your water nor were they designed to give you balanced hydrating water. Simply they were designed for high alkaline water production. That said, such therapeutic use of a high alkaline water can be of benefit for certain people suffering very specific health conditions.
High Alkaline is NOT always better!
Some of the better water ionizers that do create more balanced, nutrient-rich water are very expensive. And as already mentioned, you’ll probably need a plumber and/or an electrician to set them up, creating further hassle, cost and time.
Water Ionizer Benefits and Drawbacks
There are a lot of questions surrounding whether an ionised water filter offers real benefits or is safe for daily use. A big deterrent is the fact that a water ionizer will often produce very high alkaline levels in ionized water, which can lead to body imbalances. This can even lead to alkalosis, a highly unpleasant condition that causes fatigue and vomiting among other symptoms. However, it would be very unusual for such a condition to be caused by drinking high alkaline water alone. Your body is excellent at creating balance and harmony and both your kidneys and your stomach will work harder to bring the body back to balance if there is a disharmony somewhere especially in the pH of the blood or the tissues.
Roughly half of the water pumped through the ionizer comes out as alkaline water. The other half comes out as acidic water. And while this can potentially be used to do the dishes or to wash your hands, the simple truth is that it can’t be drunk and is an unnecessary by-product.
Add in the highly expensive nature of purchasing and installing a water ionizer and it’s easy to see why so many alkaline water lovers choose an effective benchtop water filter like the zazen Alkaline Water System.
Too Alkaline can be just as bad as too Acidic
In a healthy person, the body is always looking to maintain homeostasis or balance. Our measuring stick for this is human blood, which sits at around 7.369 pH – only slightly alkaline. If a healthy person continuously drinks high alkaline water 9 – 11+ pH, this will cause an imbalance in the body and can result in an over-alkaline condition called alkalosis.
Did you know that for every 2 litres of water you create with a water ionizer, there is approximately 1 litre of waste (acidic water) created you cannot drink!
To avoid the harsh nature of ionised water from an ionizer, consider a system that filters and remineralises naturally. The zazen Alkaline Water System ionizes water safely and also removes up to 90% of fluoride. You can learn more about how the zazen system works and why natural filtration matters.
Is Ionized Water the Same as Alkaline Water from zazen?
For water to be used as a nutrient in your body and increase your wellbeing, energy and vitality, it must hydrate you at a cellular level. For that to happen it needs to be:
- Filtered (cleaned of toxins, bad bacteria and chemicals) – so you body is not the filter!
- Mineral and electrolyte rich – essential for optimum hydration.
- Mildly Alkaline – ideal for health, detox and longevity.
- Naturally energized – full of healthy electrolytes for vitality.
- In smaller water clusters for cellular hydration – the zazen Magnetic Tap restructures and magnetizes the water (just as spring water is exposed to the earth’s magnetic energy) to create a free flowing hexagonal structure and also breaks down the size of water clusters for faster, immediate cellular hydration.
As such, it is clear that ionized water is not the same as alkaline water from the zazen system. An ionized water filter does not remove pollutants like fluoride, and it doesn't offer the same benefits in terms of balanced, cellular-level hydration.
How the zazen Alkaline Water System works differently to a Water Ionizer
When water has the properties listed above, it can effectively get into your cells, bringing vital nutrients with it and flushing out acidic waste and toxins. This ensures the body is being hydrated on a cellular level (the purpose of the zazen Alkaline Water System), and this is why peak cellular hydration is critical to the prevention of and recovery from illness and disease.
Unlike a water ionizer or ionised water filter, the zazen Water System is designed for peak cellular hydration and emulates Mother Nature’s water cycle, creating great tasting Alkaline Mineral Water naturally. Children especially love to drink it!
zazen Water Philosophy: Emulating Mother Nature's Water Cycle
Underpinning zazen Water is a philosophy that drives and directs our product design. It comes from a holistic view surrounding health and wellbeing, and the understanding of the foundational role that water plays in any wellness strategy. This philosophy pushed us further in our research and education to find a water filter that would support optimum wellness. Where East meets West is where the zazen Alkaline Water System was born.
As it travels through the earth, filtering through natural sand, soil and mineral deposits, water in nature sheds toxins and picks up minerals and magnetic energy from Mother Earth and far infra-red energy from the sun. Its structure changes and adapts. By the time it bubbles from a spring and flows down a stream, water contains important properties that are essential for our hydration, essential for life!
At zazen Water, we don’t expose water to artificial currents (splitting the water) like a water ionizer. We do not put water under pressure like under-sink filters, and we don’t do half the job. In collaboration with leading water scientists from both the East and the West, and using state-of-the-art technologies, the zazen Alkaline Water System 10-Stage Advanced Filtration Process emulates Mother Nature's water cycle, providing you with mineral water in an ideal state to hydrate your body.
Cellular hydration is a core strategy for the prevention of and recovery from illness and disease. When you start drinking zazen Water and your body becomes hydrated at a cellular level, your cells release stored toxins which your body then works to remove as waste. The result is superior hydration and an opportunity to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Ionizers
Can you drink ionised water every day?
High-alkaline ionised water (pH 9 to 11+) was originally designed for short-term therapeutic use in hospital settings. For everyday drinking, most health professionals recommend mildly alkaline water in the range of pH 7.4 to 8.5. The zazen Alkaline Water System produces water within this range naturally, making it suitable for the whole family, including children. Always speak to a health professional if you have specific medical concerns.
Does a water ionizer remove fluoride?
Most water ionizers use electrolysis rather than a comprehensive filtration process. They are not designed to remove fluoride or other specific contaminants from your tap water. The zazen Alkaline Water System removes up to 90% of fluoride through its multi-stage filter cartridge, along with up to 99% of chlorine, heavy metals and other unwanted substances.
How does an ionized water filter compare on cost?
Water ionizers typically range from $599 to over $4,000, and many require professional plumbing and electrical installation. Ongoing costs include regular cleaning every 30 days and replacement of internal components. The zazen Alkaline Water System is priced between $565 and $745, requires no plumbing or electricity, and is maintained simply by replacing filter parts on schedule.
Is ionised water safe for children?
Very high pH water (above 9.0) is generally not recommended for children, as their developing bodies are more sensitive to pH imbalances. Mildly alkaline water in the 7.4 to 8.5 range is a more suitable choice. You can read more about hydration for growing kids in our learning centre.
Discover more about alkaline water and your family's wellbeing in our Education and Learning Centre and view the zazen Alkaline Water System below.
