Dr. Mark Sircus, Ac., OMD, DM (P)Director International Medical Veritas Association
Doctor of Oriental and Pastoral Medicine / Dr Sircus' Website
Doctor of Oriental and Pastoral Medicine / Dr Sircus' Website
Alkaline Without Alkalinity
Medicine, Sodium Bicarbonate
It is critical to see that alkalinity does not depend strictly on pH. pH measures the degree of alkalinity but not its quantity.
A glass of water at pH 9 can have low, medium or high ALKALINITY - and everything in between, depending on what's dissolved in it. It is what is in one’s water that makes all the difference. Bottom line—you can have high pH water (highly alkaline) and have just about no alkalinity to speak of - meaning the water hardly buffers the body’s acid condition at all. It’s not high pH alkaline water we need, it’s water with high levels of ALKALINITY.
There was something I found in our drinking water that made me sit up and take notice about this crucial subject. I tested our water and to my dismay, it was slightly acid but putting only a pinch of sodium bicarbonate into a half gallon moved it to an alkaline pH. It seems that nearly everyone, public and professional alike, is confused over the terms “alkaline” and “alkalinity.”
To put it simply, it is not enough to drink high pH alkaline water – in fact pH is not a big factor at all when one is trying to alkalize the body (just “think” lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and fresh green juices – all of which have an acid pH but are still great for alkalizing!). The key to addressing excessive metabolic acids and building alkalizing reserves in our body fluids and tissues is the amount of alkalinity (alkaline mineral compounds) that is consumed.
Water expert Robert Slovak wrote, “Baking soda is still beloved! It delivers the goods - real alkalinity - while most popular alkaline pH drops from well-known “health experts” are a hoax at $35-$40 for pennies worth of caustic chemical in 2oz of water. Just note that for some people baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) may supply too much sodium so they can substitute potassium bicarbonate or mix the two.”
For those concerned about acidity in distilled or RO water Slovak tells us that it’s more misinformation, “The truth is, when atmospheric CO2 reaches equilibrium in distilled or RO water (forming weak carbonic acid) the pH goes slightly lower (say pH 6.5) but there is virtually no acid-buffering capacity! As soon as the distilled or RO water hits your saliva or stomach-acid, its pH is rapidly readjusted and it takes on a different pH and buffering capacity. To say that distilled water and RO water are highly acidic is simply wrong – a marketing gimmick to favor alkaline water! The weak carbonic acid that forms simply cannot acidify the body. Furthermore, just a little baking soda dust on the end of your finger can completely neutralize a glass of distilled or RO water.”
“The pH of water, by itself, has no "teeth" unless it has buffering capacity. I can easily give you drinking water with a pH less than 7 that can neutralize more acid than water with a pH of 10! That’s how un-intuitive this subject is and why people are confused. High pH ionized water, without accompanying alkalinity (bicarbonates, carbonates and hydroxides), does little but waste money.” continued Slovak.
Even when the pH of water is very high, the lack of sufficient alkalinity (alkalizing minerals) makes it impossible to neutralize acid in the stomach to initiate the production of bicarbonate in the bloodstream (the Alkaline Tide effect). An alkaline ionizer barely adds any alkalinity to the water (but raises the pH) so the only real acid neutralizing capacity is from the alkalinity already in your tap water! It is a waste of money to alkalize the body using alkaline ionized water – not when baking soda is so available and inexpensive.
Alkalinity is the water’s capacity to resist changes in pH that would make the water more acidic. This capacity is commonly known as “buffering capacity.” For example, if you add the same weak acid solution to two vials of water – both with a pH of 7, but one with no buffering power (e.g. zero alkalinity) and the other with buffering power (e.g. an alkalinity of 450 mg/l) – the pH of the zero alkalinity water will immediately drop while the pH of the buffered water will barely change at all.
The alkalinity of natural water is determined by the composition of soil and bedrock through which it passes. The main sources for natural alkalinity are rocks, which contain carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide compounds. Borates, silicates, and phosphates also may contribute to alkalinity. Limestone is rich in carbonates, so waters flowing through limestone regions or bedrock-containing carbonates generally have high alkalinity – hence good buffering capacity. Conversely, surface water (e.g., streams, ponds, lakes) and underground zones rich in granites and some conglomerates and sandstones may have low alkalinity and therefore poor buffering capacity.
People using alkaline ionizers in low mineral areas (many city supplies using surface water or river sources) are especially misled because the water from their alkaline ionizers can still be set to a high pH. But, there is too little alkalinity present to make a health difference. They would be much better off with 1/2 tsp. of baking soda added to the water. All users of water ionizers should consider adding sodium bicarbonate to their water if they are looking for stronger alkalizing effects.
"Cancerous tissues are acidic, whereas healthy tissues are alkaline, Water splits into H+ and OH- ions, if there is an excess of H+, it is acidic; if there is an excess of OH- ions, then it is alkaline."
Dr. Otto Heinrich Warburg / 1931 Nobel Prize Winner for discovering - The Real Cause of Cancer
pH is related to the hydrogen ions in water and stands for “potential of hydrogen.” Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of water to neutralize acids. It measures the presence of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide ions that are naturally present in water. At normal drinking water pH levels, bicarbonate, and carbonate are the main contributors to alkalinity. As we can see in the graph below. the higher the CO2 the more alkaline the water at a given pH.
Medicine, Sodium Bicarbonate
It is critical to see that alkalinity does not depend strictly on pH. pH measures the degree of alkalinity but not its quantity.
A glass of water at pH 9 can have low, medium or high ALKALINITY - and everything in between, depending on what's dissolved in it. It is what is in one’s water that makes all the difference. Bottom line—you can have high pH water (highly alkaline) and have just about no alkalinity to speak of - meaning the water hardly buffers the body’s acid condition at all. It’s not high pH alkaline water we need, it’s water with high levels of ALKALINITY.
There was something I found in our drinking water that made me sit up and take notice about this crucial subject. I tested our water and to my dismay, it was slightly acid but putting only a pinch of sodium bicarbonate into a half gallon moved it to an alkaline pH. It seems that nearly everyone, public and professional alike, is confused over the terms “alkaline” and “alkalinity.”
To put it simply, it is not enough to drink high pH alkaline water – in fact pH is not a big factor at all when one is trying to alkalize the body (just “think” lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and fresh green juices – all of which have an acid pH but are still great for alkalizing!). The key to addressing excessive metabolic acids and building alkalizing reserves in our body fluids and tissues is the amount of alkalinity (alkaline mineral compounds) that is consumed.
Water expert Robert Slovak wrote, “Baking soda is still beloved! It delivers the goods - real alkalinity - while most popular alkaline pH drops from well-known “health experts” are a hoax at $35-$40 for pennies worth of caustic chemical in 2oz of water. Just note that for some people baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) may supply too much sodium so they can substitute potassium bicarbonate or mix the two.”
For those concerned about acidity in distilled or RO water Slovak tells us that it’s more misinformation, “The truth is, when atmospheric CO2 reaches equilibrium in distilled or RO water (forming weak carbonic acid) the pH goes slightly lower (say pH 6.5) but there is virtually no acid-buffering capacity! As soon as the distilled or RO water hits your saliva or stomach-acid, its pH is rapidly readjusted and it takes on a different pH and buffering capacity. To say that distilled water and RO water are highly acidic is simply wrong – a marketing gimmick to favor alkaline water! The weak carbonic acid that forms simply cannot acidify the body. Furthermore, just a little baking soda dust on the end of your finger can completely neutralize a glass of distilled or RO water.”
“The pH of water, by itself, has no "teeth" unless it has buffering capacity. I can easily give you drinking water with a pH less than 7 that can neutralize more acid than water with a pH of 10! That’s how un-intuitive this subject is and why people are confused. High pH ionized water, without accompanying alkalinity (bicarbonates, carbonates and hydroxides), does little but waste money.” continued Slovak.
Even when the pH of water is very high, the lack of sufficient alkalinity (alkalizing minerals) makes it impossible to neutralize acid in the stomach to initiate the production of bicarbonate in the bloodstream (the Alkaline Tide effect). An alkaline ionizer barely adds any alkalinity to the water (but raises the pH) so the only real acid neutralizing capacity is from the alkalinity already in your tap water! It is a waste of money to alkalize the body using alkaline ionized water – not when baking soda is so available and inexpensive.
Alkalinity is the water’s capacity to resist changes in pH that would make the water more acidic. This capacity is commonly known as “buffering capacity.” For example, if you add the same weak acid solution to two vials of water – both with a pH of 7, but one with no buffering power (e.g. zero alkalinity) and the other with buffering power (e.g. an alkalinity of 450 mg/l) – the pH of the zero alkalinity water will immediately drop while the pH of the buffered water will barely change at all.
The alkalinity of natural water is determined by the composition of soil and bedrock through which it passes. The main sources for natural alkalinity are rocks, which contain carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide compounds. Borates, silicates, and phosphates also may contribute to alkalinity. Limestone is rich in carbonates, so waters flowing through limestone regions or bedrock-containing carbonates generally have high alkalinity – hence good buffering capacity. Conversely, surface water (e.g., streams, ponds, lakes) and underground zones rich in granites and some conglomerates and sandstones may have low alkalinity and therefore poor buffering capacity.
People using alkaline ionizers in low mineral areas (many city supplies using surface water or river sources) are especially misled because the water from their alkaline ionizers can still be set to a high pH. But, there is too little alkalinity present to make a health difference. They would be much better off with 1/2 tsp. of baking soda added to the water. All users of water ionizers should consider adding sodium bicarbonate to their water if they are looking for stronger alkalizing effects.
"Cancerous tissues are acidic, whereas healthy tissues are alkaline, Water splits into H+ and OH- ions, if there is an excess of H+, it is acidic; if there is an excess of OH- ions, then it is alkaline."
Dr. Otto Heinrich Warburg / 1931 Nobel Prize Winner for discovering - The Real Cause of Cancer
pH is related to the hydrogen ions in water and stands for “potential of hydrogen.” Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of water to neutralize acids. It measures the presence of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide ions that are naturally present in water. At normal drinking water pH levels, bicarbonate, and carbonate are the main contributors to alkalinity. As we can see in the graph below. the higher the CO2 the more alkaline the water at a given pH.
In the chemistry of natural waters, there are several types of alkalinity that are encountered. Each of these is a measure of how much acid (H+) is required to lower the pH to a specific level. The reason that aquarists measure alkalinity is that in normal seawater, most alkalinity consists of bicarbonate and carbonate. Consequently, alkalinity is an indication of whether or not adequate bicarbonate is present in the water. Sodium bicarbonate is the main alkaline buffer in our blood. Alkaline buffers supplied from outside the body, like drinking bicarbonate water, results in a net gain of alkalinity in our body.
The main chemical species that contribute to alkalinity in seawater are bicarbonate and carbonate. The table below (from “Chemical Oceanography” by Frank Millero; 1996) shows the contribution to alkalinity from the major contributors in seawater at pH 8.
Chemical SpeciesRelative Contribution To Alkalinity
HCO3– (bicarbonate) / 89.8
CO3– (carbonate) / 6.7
B(OH)4–(borate) / 2.9
SiO(OH)3–(silicate) / 0.2
MgOH+ (magnesium monohydroxylate) / 0.1
OH–(hydroxide) / 0.1
HPO4–and PO4—(phosphate) / 0.1
Carbon dioxide has a specific solubility in water as carbonic acid (H2CO3). At any given pH there is an exact mathematical relationship between H2CO3 and both bicarbonate and carbonate. For example, at a pH of about 9.3 in freshwater (about 8.4 in seawater) the carbonate concentration is 100 times that of the carbonic acid. At higher pH this multiplier rises, and there is consequently more bicarbonate and carbonate present.
The main chemical species that contribute to alkalinity in seawater are bicarbonate and carbonate. The table below (from “Chemical Oceanography” by Frank Millero; 1996) shows the contribution to alkalinity from the major contributors in seawater at pH 8.
Chemical SpeciesRelative Contribution To Alkalinity
HCO3– (bicarbonate) / 89.8
CO3– (carbonate) / 6.7
B(OH)4–(borate) / 2.9
SiO(OH)3–(silicate) / 0.2
MgOH+ (magnesium monohydroxylate) / 0.1
OH–(hydroxide) / 0.1
HPO4–and PO4—(phosphate) / 0.1
Carbon dioxide has a specific solubility in water as carbonic acid (H2CO3). At any given pH there is an exact mathematical relationship between H2CO3 and both bicarbonate and carbonate. For example, at a pH of about 9.3 in freshwater (about 8.4 in seawater) the carbonate concentration is 100 times that of the carbonic acid. At higher pH this multiplier rises, and there is consequently more bicarbonate and carbonate present.
The theoretical relationship between carbonate alkalinity and pH for seawater (blue) and freshwater (red) equilibrated with the atmosphere (350 ppm carbon dioxide).
Bicarbonate water is the healthiest water to drink. It is critical to see that alkalinity does not depend strictly on pH. pH measures the degree of alkalinity but not its quantity. It is like the relationship between temperature and heat.
The ultimate water treatment system is water treated with magnesium bicarbonate. One can take distilled water and Reverse Osmosis water and bring that water to perfection by adding magnesium bicarbonate (which also restructures the water) or in a less costly formula, sodium bicarbonate with sprays of a high grade magnesium oil added to the water. Turning water into medicine is what my book Water Based Medicine is all about.
Bicarbonate water is the healthiest water to drink. It is critical to see that alkalinity does not depend strictly on pH. pH measures the degree of alkalinity but not its quantity. It is like the relationship between temperature and heat.
The ultimate water treatment system is water treated with magnesium bicarbonate. One can take distilled water and Reverse Osmosis water and bring that water to perfection by adding magnesium bicarbonate (which also restructures the water) or in a less costly formula, sodium bicarbonate with sprays of a high grade magnesium oil added to the water. Turning water into medicine is what my book Water Based Medicine is all about.
More by Dr. Sircus Consultations Books Cancer Compendium
Popular This Month #1 Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms and Diagnosis
#2 Magnesium Warnings and Contraindications
#3 Healing the Kidneys with Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
_______________________________________________________________________________
You can contact Dr. Sircus at [email protected]
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Dr. Sircus - IMVA
Sítio Santuário S/N
Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Goiás
73770-000 · Brazil
Popular This Month #1 Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms and Diagnosis
#2 Magnesium Warnings and Contraindications
#3 Healing the Kidneys with Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
_______________________________________________________________________________
You can contact Dr. Sircus at [email protected]
Update subscription preferences
Dr. Sircus - IMVA
Sítio Santuário S/N
Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Goiás
73770-000 · Brazil
_______________________________________________________________________________
8 Detox Water Recipes to Flush Your Liver
Drinking water all by itself is a way to help flush the body of toxins on a daily basis, but with a few simple ingredients you can transform water into detox water and get even more benefit from it. This is something you can do each day, or as part of a more broad detoxing strategy. Each one of the ingredients listed here will provide slightly different benefits, so be sure to choose it according to the particular goal you have.
Apple Cinnamon Detox Water (as seen on Dr. Oz)
This is also referred to as the Zero Calorie detox water because it contains nearly zero calories. There are calories from the apple, but they’re pretty negligible. You’re probably used to seeing the zero on a bottle of water when it comes all the categories on the Nutrition Information label, like calories, fat, and sodium, and this would clock in pretty close. The cinnamon it contains is going to help stimulate your internal organs to cleanse themselves, while the apple is providing you with its all natural source of vitamins and minerals. Way better than just drinking regular water and a helpful boost to any detox program.
Cucumber Lemon Mint Detox Water (aka Sassy Water)
Cucumbers are one of the most hydrating vegetables because they’re mostly made up of water. Many detox programs include cucumbers on them for this very reason, and adding them to your water pulls out their minerals so you’re getting an added benefit. Mix in the lemon juice and you’re getting the cleansing effect of citric acid and helping to clear out the digestive system. The mint makes things taste fresh and crisp, and goes nicely with the lemon and cucumber while providing additional nutrients and benefits.
Jillian Michaels Detox Water
You are probably familiar with Jillian Michaels if you’ve ever seen an episode of The Biggest Loser. She also promotes her own line of workout programs and diet books. Here she’s endorsed a particular detox water recipe that uses cranberry juice, lemon juice, and dandelion tea all mixed together with a lot of water. The end result is that it’s also supposed to also help you lose weight. This can really be said for anything that has a detoxifying effect, since getting back to our more natural and clean state will have the byproduct of weight loss if we’ve moved toward a heavier state.
Strawberry Detox Water
Strawberries are a great way to add a familiar and preferred flavor to most anything, and in this case it can make your water taste better while also providing antioxidants and added vitamins and minerals to your body. This particular recipe includes watermelon and rosemary as well. This makes it a great detox recipe to use in the summer when it’s easier to build up a sweat, and it’s only natural to have the taste of strawberries and watermelon. It will help to make your detoxing efforts more enjoyable and seem like less of a chore.
Simple Detox Water
The simple, the better right? Let’s keep things simple and go with this quick way to make your water more healthy for you. This would be used as part of a plan to detox the body a little bit each day. It’s recommending that you take the juice from half a lemon and squeeze it into the water you drink when first waking up. This is a time when you’re most dehydrated and making sure that you get rehydrated on the double is vital. The lemon juice helps to get your digestive system going and prepares it for its daily duties to come.
Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Water
Apple cider vinegar is a handy detoxing aid and it’s good to keep a bottle of it in the cupboard. You can instantly improve the quality of a glass of water by adding a bit of ACV to it, but in this case they’re showing you how to make a detoxifying drink from it. They’re also including lemons, cucumbers, and mint, a popular combination you’ve seen elsewhere on our list, but the use of apple cider vinegar gives it additional properties and benefits that you won’t want to miss, and that will only amplify the detoxing process.
Lemon and Cayenne Pepper Detox (Master Cleanse)
The most important part of the Master Cleanse is where you stop eating regular foods and rely only on a concoction made of organic lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. This is supposed to spur the body into detox mode, with the lack of food helping to give the digestive system a break and make sure that you’re entirely cleared out. We’ve gone into detail about what you need to do in order tocomplete the Master Cleanse, so if you do decide on it be sure to check our guide for the best chance of success.
Weight Loss Detox Water (Fat Flush Water)
This is a great detox water for weight loss, and is specifically geared at getting certain fruits into your body that you otherwise might not eat. They’re using grapefruit here, one of the quintessential weight loss foods that seems to always get brought up when asked which foods help to lose the most weight. Grapefruit also is a fantastic detoxing food, which is often overlooked. They use tangerines for more citrus and sweetness, and cucumbers for added minerals.
Drinking water all by itself is a way to help flush the body of toxins on a daily basis, but with a few simple ingredients you can transform water into detox water and get even more benefit from it. This is something you can do each day, or as part of a more broad detoxing strategy. Each one of the ingredients listed here will provide slightly different benefits, so be sure to choose it according to the particular goal you have.
Apple Cinnamon Detox Water (as seen on Dr. Oz)
This is also referred to as the Zero Calorie detox water because it contains nearly zero calories. There are calories from the apple, but they’re pretty negligible. You’re probably used to seeing the zero on a bottle of water when it comes all the categories on the Nutrition Information label, like calories, fat, and sodium, and this would clock in pretty close. The cinnamon it contains is going to help stimulate your internal organs to cleanse themselves, while the apple is providing you with its all natural source of vitamins and minerals. Way better than just drinking regular water and a helpful boost to any detox program.
Cucumber Lemon Mint Detox Water (aka Sassy Water)
Cucumbers are one of the most hydrating vegetables because they’re mostly made up of water. Many detox programs include cucumbers on them for this very reason, and adding them to your water pulls out their minerals so you’re getting an added benefit. Mix in the lemon juice and you’re getting the cleansing effect of citric acid and helping to clear out the digestive system. The mint makes things taste fresh and crisp, and goes nicely with the lemon and cucumber while providing additional nutrients and benefits.
Jillian Michaels Detox Water
You are probably familiar with Jillian Michaels if you’ve ever seen an episode of The Biggest Loser. She also promotes her own line of workout programs and diet books. Here she’s endorsed a particular detox water recipe that uses cranberry juice, lemon juice, and dandelion tea all mixed together with a lot of water. The end result is that it’s also supposed to also help you lose weight. This can really be said for anything that has a detoxifying effect, since getting back to our more natural and clean state will have the byproduct of weight loss if we’ve moved toward a heavier state.
Strawberry Detox Water
Strawberries are a great way to add a familiar and preferred flavor to most anything, and in this case it can make your water taste better while also providing antioxidants and added vitamins and minerals to your body. This particular recipe includes watermelon and rosemary as well. This makes it a great detox recipe to use in the summer when it’s easier to build up a sweat, and it’s only natural to have the taste of strawberries and watermelon. It will help to make your detoxing efforts more enjoyable and seem like less of a chore.
Simple Detox Water
The simple, the better right? Let’s keep things simple and go with this quick way to make your water more healthy for you. This would be used as part of a plan to detox the body a little bit each day. It’s recommending that you take the juice from half a lemon and squeeze it into the water you drink when first waking up. This is a time when you’re most dehydrated and making sure that you get rehydrated on the double is vital. The lemon juice helps to get your digestive system going and prepares it for its daily duties to come.
Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Water
Apple cider vinegar is a handy detoxing aid and it’s good to keep a bottle of it in the cupboard. You can instantly improve the quality of a glass of water by adding a bit of ACV to it, but in this case they’re showing you how to make a detoxifying drink from it. They’re also including lemons, cucumbers, and mint, a popular combination you’ve seen elsewhere on our list, but the use of apple cider vinegar gives it additional properties and benefits that you won’t want to miss, and that will only amplify the detoxing process.
Lemon and Cayenne Pepper Detox (Master Cleanse)
The most important part of the Master Cleanse is where you stop eating regular foods and rely only on a concoction made of organic lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. This is supposed to spur the body into detox mode, with the lack of food helping to give the digestive system a break and make sure that you’re entirely cleared out. We’ve gone into detail about what you need to do in order tocomplete the Master Cleanse, so if you do decide on it be sure to check our guide for the best chance of success.
Weight Loss Detox Water (Fat Flush Water)
This is a great detox water for weight loss, and is specifically geared at getting certain fruits into your body that you otherwise might not eat. They’re using grapefruit here, one of the quintessential weight loss foods that seems to always get brought up when asked which foods help to lose the most weight. Grapefruit also is a fantastic detoxing food, which is often overlooked. They use tangerines for more citrus and sweetness, and cucumbers for added minerals.