We are all continuously looking for something that would improve our lives and take better care of our health. Proper hydration and clean, bacteria- and germ-free water has always been the main goal for almost every person out there. That is why the demand for the so-called alkaline water has never been higher than in the past few years.
It is incredible to see how much money the ‘water’ companies are making annually by selling something every human has an inherent right to, for free. But, we pay for water, and we pay even more for alkaline water.
Now, what is the deal with alkaline water? If you’re here, chances are you’re interested in the alkaline water because of the claims that it is generally healthier; it supposedly has better pH levels and is rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
It also supposedly provides better hydration and has a better detox effect on your body compared to tap water. Well, we are aware that these claims are truly a stretch when it comes to truth and actual facts. But, people still go crazy for alkaline water and simply want the best for themselves.
We do have to point out that some alkaline water brands take advantage of these claims, present them as completely true a scientifically checked, when in reality, you’re being sold regular, tap water. Therefore, if you’re looking to hop onto the trend of alkaline water and get yourself the best, you first need to learn to avoid the worst.
So, without further ado, let’s talk about the worst alkaline water brands on the market you cannot trust and explore the best alternatives.
3 Alkaline Water Brands To Avoid
Kangen Water
Kangen Water is alkaline water produced by Enagic alkaline ionizers and water filtration machines. Kangen Water has been used in Japan for more than 40 years as a healthy alternative to tap water under the claims that it helps the body restore its original, alkaline state.
However, some studies conducted in recent years have shown that alkaline water made by these machines is actually far more harmful than tap water. For example, alkaline water has been directly associated with issues like kidney failure, nausea, and fever.
Moreover, Kangen Water is believed to be a pyramid scheme company due to its highly deceptive marketing campaigns and techniques.
Did we also mention how incredibly overpriced Kangen Water is? The insane pricetag is, they believe, justified by the quality of the water, when in fact, the quality of the water is poorer than that of tap water. Overall, there are more than one valid reasons you should avoid Kangen Water, and we strongly recommend you stay away from pyramid scheme brands like this one.
Real Water
Maybe you’ve heard of this scandal, but if you didn’t, here’s what happened. On June 1, 2021, the FDA released a report stating that Real Water Inc. has failed to meet preventive controls to control food hazards. But, what lead to this investigation, you may ask. Well, on May 20, 2021, there were 5 cases reported regarding acute non-viral hepatitis illness linked to the use of the Real Water alkaline water. Other reported health issues linked to this alkaline water were liver failure, nausea, fever, vomiting, and fatigue.
Overall, there were 16 of these cases, including the death of one woman in her 60s. These cases lead the FDA to conduct an investigation and found that Real Water is doing nothing to prevent food hazards. So, the company has agreed to cease operations until they can comply with the FDA requirements, and is now facing several lawsuits.
However, Real Water alkaline water is still available for purchase on some Internet websites. We strongly recommend you stay away from this brand, so to avoid potential health issues which, as you can see, can turn serious pretty easily.
AquaHydrate
If you’re reading about alkaline water online, chances are you’ve come across the AquaHydrate alkaline water brand. Now, this brand isn’t officially investigated by the FDA, so there is no official scam or pyramid scheme thing going on. However, there is an ongoing rumor and assumption that AquaHydrate simply uses tap water and sells it as alkaline water.
How do these rumors come to be? Well, people have tested the pH levels of AquaHydrate and the results have shown pH levels of 6 and 7. Now, the brands claim their water has a pH level of 9 and higher.
If this wasn’t enough, many customers started pointing out the fact that this water tastes terrible. It has a salty taste that no water should have; salt in the water makes you simply more thirsty; it never hydrates nor does it quench your thirst.
Other Questionable Alkaline Water Brands
- Phenomenal Alkaline Water – there is nothing inherently wrong with this brand and its product. The company does, however, sell an alkaline water concentrate and is reported to have inconsistent water taste. Some customers have claimed that this water did nothing for them; for example, the water didn’t affect their pH levels, or have they noticed any health improvements and better hydration.
- Alkazone – this brand seems to not be sitting well with the customers. The most frequent complaints in regards to this brand include terrible, metallic taste and digestive issues, like upset stomach and bowel movement issues. There is also the issue with the price of the water; customers believe Alkazone water is overpriced and not worth the hype at all.
- Proud Source Alkaline Water – when it comes to this brand, there is nothing inherently wrong; there are no scam accusations or issues with the FDA. However, we believe that this alkaline water is simply too expensive. For example, a 16oz Proud Source Spring Water costs $46.99, which is simply too much. Some customers even point out the irony of buying alkaline water that comes from aluminum bottles wrapped in plastic.
So, Which Best Alkaline Water Brands Are Worth Checking Out?
Well, to be perfectly honest, we’re not sure whether to even recommend any alkaline water brands, for several reasons. For example;
- There are so many questionable claims regarding alkaline water without any scientific or clinical evidence to back the claims up
- Alkaline water is basically bottled water sold as this healthier, better version of regular water
- Alkaline water, regardless of the brand, is simply too expensive for any regular consumer
Now, to be more specific, we’re going to elaborate on the aforementioned issues and provide you with actual scientific research that supports what we just mentioned.
Now, alkaline water is believed to be a better, healthier choice for you. There are claims that alkaline water provides better hydration, for example. However, there is no proof this is actually true; in fact, any type of water is excellent for hydration so long you drink the recommended daily amounts.
We do have to mention that one small study of 16 athletes proved that alkaline water improved hydration in those 16 participants, but that is basically the only study that has come close to supporting these claims.
Alkaline water is also believed to be detox water. Now, the term detox is pretty tricky, because it basically claims that a product is doing a better job at detoxicating your body than your own organs do. For example, your kidneys, liver, sweat glands, and intestines do an excellent detox job, every day, for free. So, alkaline water is basically completely obscure.
There are also numerous false, even egregious claims online that alkaline water helps improve cancer treatment or that it reduces the incidence of osteoporosis. There is no clinical evidence or proof that either of these claims is true.
And finally, we have to explain the issue with alkaline water being too expensive. Well, alkaline water is bottled water, there is no doubt. So, as such, it costs 240 to 10,000 times more than tap water, which is an incredibly high cost of something that should be affordable and accessible to every single person equally.
We believe that alkaline water is simply a waste of your hard-earned money. It won’t help you improve your health or cure cancer. Sure, water intake is incredibly important for proper bodily functions and health, but you don’t need alkaline water for that. Tap water (if it’s clean in your region), is more than enough to meet your hydration needs, so long you take in the recommended amounts of water daily.
Now, if you’d still want to buy alkaline water, and you’re looking for a trustworthy brand, we can recommend you the following two;
Icelandic Glacial
Icelandic Glacial is a company that provides naturally occurring alkaline water, originating from the very legendary Ölfus Spring in Iceland. The company takes great pride in running a completely sustainable operation fueled entirely by geothermal and hydroelectric power.
Icelandic Glacial is the greenest and cleanest company in the world with the highest laboratory standards. The Glacial alkaline water has naturally high pH levels, so nothing is ever added or taken away from the water.
The company offers still, sparkling, or flavored alkaline water and the products are relatively affordable, compared to other alkaline waters on the market. For example, a pack of 24, 16.0 Fl. Oz. Icelandic Glacial water will cost you $29, which is a pretty good deal. The price becomes even more affordable when you buy the 50.7 Fl. Oz bottles.
Icelandic Glacial is overall an exceptional and impressive company, and its products are of the highest possible quality. Even if you’re not looking for alkaline water, we genuinely recommend you check this brand out and support its cause.
Essentia
Essentia is the only company on the market that sells true ionized alkaline water. The company is committed to providing premium alkaline water available in recyclable, BPA-free plastic bottles.
Now, what makes Essentia better than other alkaline water brands on the market? Well, Essentia water is 99.9% pure thanks to microfiltration and reverse osmosis. The water is also infused with electrolytes and the bitter-tasting acidic ions are removed. All of this makes Essentia high-quality alkaline water with pH levels of 9.5 and higher.
Essentia water is also relatively affordable, compared to other alkaline water brands. For example, you can get a pack of 12, 1.25 L Essentia alkaline water bottles for $33. However, this price is still incredibly high for bottled water.
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