Science
and Health Series
Water
Ionizer and Alkalife
by
Sang Whang
In
tap water, there are alkaline minerals and acid minerals; alkaline minerals
are positively charged and acid minerals are negatively charged. A water
ionizer converts regular tap water into alkaline water and acid water
by electric separation means.
In the ionizer, there are two chambers with opposite polarity electrodes. Alkaline
minerals in the positive electrode chamber migrate into the chamber with negative
electrode; the positive electrode repels positive charges and the negative
electrode attracts positive charges. As these positively charged alkaline minerals
enter the negative electrode chamber, they combine with hydroxyl ions (OH-)
in H2O,
kicking out hydrogen ions (H+). These hydrogen ions then travel to the negative
electrode and give up their positive charge and become electrically neutral
hydrogen molecule (H2).
The opposite process takes place with acid minerals. Acid minerals migrate
into positive electrode chamber and combine with hydrogen ions (H+) in H2O,
kicking out hydroxyl ions (OH-). These hydroxyl ions then travel to the positive
electrode, lose negative charge and become water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). In the ionizer, oxygen gas is released from the acid water chamber and hydrogen
gas is released from the alkaline water chamber. Both chambers remain electrically
neutral.
Alkaline water created by a water ionizer is relatively acid free and, depending
upon the alkaline mineral content of the tap water and the setting of the ionizer,
the pH value of the alkaline water can range from 8.5 to 10.5. The main alkaline
minerals of tap water are calcium and a small amount of magnesium.
AlkaLife® is a trademark registered alkaline concentrate designed to turn ordinary
drinking water into strong alkaline water with a high pH value similar to that
of alkaline water made by a water ionizer. AlkaLife® does not eliminate acid
minerals in the original drinking water; it simply adds more alkaline mineral
hydroxides to increase the pH value of the water. However, as long as both
types of alkaline water have the same pH value, the number of hydroxyl ions
(OH-) in them is the same. These hydroxyl ions will be looking for the same
number of acid radical, hydrogen ions (H+), in the body to reduce the body's
acidity.
The patented ingredients in AlkaLife® are potassium hydroxide (KOH = K+ + OH-)
and a lesser amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH = Na+ + OH-) in the proper ratio
so as not to upset the ratio of potassium and sodium minerals in the human
body. As stated, the predominant alkaline minerals are potassium and sodium.
In the pecking order of ion exchange of the four alkaline minerals in water,
potassium is the strongest, next is sodium, then calcium, and the last is magnesium.
Stronger minerals can replace weaker minerals, but not the other way around.
For example, sulfur in food creates sulfuric acid. Since sulfuric acid is dangerous
to the human body, the body robs calcium from the skeleton and combines it
with the sulfuric acid to form sulfate, a weaker acid salt that doesn't dissolve
well. Calcium or magnesium cannot kick out calcium from sulfate, but potassium
or sodium can, thus releasing calcium back to the skeleton. Sulfuric acid combined
with potassium or sodium is more soluble for the kidneys to process and discharge.
Potassium and sodium are better than calcium or magnesium in reducing sulfate,
urate, phosphate, and other acidic salts. Webster defines uric acid as "a
white colorless crystalline substance found in urine, being one of the products
of nuclein metabolism. It is nearly insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether,
but soluble in solutions of alkaline salts." Here also, potassium will work better than calcium. Many people reported relief
from gout (which is caused by uric acid) after drinking alkaline water. My
observation indicates that those people who drink alkaline water made by adding
AlkaLife experienced faster relief from gout.
I personally add AlkaLife drops to the alkaline water made
by an ionizer to get the benefits of acid-free alkaline water and strong alkaline
minerals such as potassium and sodium.
Copyright
1999 by Sang Whang Enterprises, Inc
Used
with Permission
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