What You Need to Know About Alkaline Water

You may have noticed the buzz about alkaline water recently: It’s a staple of the alkaline diet, and promoted by celebs like Miranda Kerr for its supposed health perks. Among those perks is the belief that alkaline H2O—which, by definition, has a higher pH (and lower acidity) than what comes out of the tap—can help neutralize stomach acid and relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, aka heartburn. But does this claim really hold water? We spoke with some medical experts to find out.

First Things First: What is Alkaline Water?

All foods and beverages have a pH level. This stands for power of hydrogen, and it measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance. The pH scale ranges from 1 (the most acidic) to 14 (the most basic, or alkaline). Most tap and bottled water has a pH around 7, which is neutral, although it can vary slightly in either direction.

Excerpted from www.realsimple.com

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