Have you been hearing about the importance of maintaining a balanced pH? Studies show that a healthy alkaline balance helps ward off illness and disease (which thrives in an acid environment).

Most of us need to increase our alkalinity. We can do this by reducing the poor diet (acid) foods: coffee, sodas, sweets, breads, dairy and meat, and eating more alkaline foods like leafy greens, vegetables and some fruits and grains. Exercising and reducing stress and environmental toxins are a big help too.

An effective and easy way (in addition to a diet change) to become more alkaline, is to use a Water Ionizer to make your own high alkaline water for drinking and cooking. Through my reading on this topic, I've distilled (no pun intended) some basic information here.

Water produced by a Water Ionizer has the same qualities and benefits as the water that flows through a fast-moving, fresh water stream, high in the mountains. It’s naturally pure and full of oxygen. It’s alkaline because of the minerals in the environment and the water is in smaller clusters so it’s very hydrating.

How does a Water Ionizer make this water?

The Water Ionizer hooks up to your kitchen faucet. (The machine sits on top of the counter or underneath, depending on the model). The water passes from your tap, then through a filtering device that removes impurities, pesticides and chlorine. This alone is very valuable. But it’s only the start.

Here’s where it gets more scientific and I don’t claim to fully understand it, but bear with me!

This purified water then goes into an ionization chamber. Here, the water passes over positive and negative electrodes. Alkaline minerals in the water are positively charged, so they are attracted to the negative electrode. Acid minerals are negatively charged so they are attracted to the positive electrode. The bottom line is, this ionization process electrically splits the water into alkaline water and acid water.

These two kinds of waters flow into separate chambers, and then out through separate nozzles. You drink and cook with the alkaline water. The acid water is great for other purposes: hair, skin, sanitizing, watering plants (never ingest it!).

The alkaline water produced by a Water Ionizer has many benefits:

Hydrates – the water is in very small clusters (microclusters), so it's absorbed more easily and quickly into the body cells and tissues. It is up to 5 times more hydrating than regular water.

Detoxifies – the highly alkaline, antioxidant water flushes out acid waste products from the body cells and tissues. This can help promote weight loss too by eliminating the acids that are bound to fat, then flushing them out of our system.

Alkalizes – the water is a rich source of minerals that are important to combat all the acid producing drink and food we consume, in addition to environmental toxins and stress.

Enhances food flavors – this clean and healthy water makes food and drinks taste better. Fruit and vegetable juices made with the water are less acidic tasting and rice and other grains are fluffier when cooked in this water.

Oxygenizes -- the water produced contains thousands of tiny bubbles. This abundance of oxygen increases energy, alertness and stamina.

Acts as an antioxidant – the ionized water can scavenge for and neutralize free-radicals that damage the body. It has a negative Oxidative Reduction Potential (ORP). This means it can reduce oxidation “rusting” and aging. It rejuvenates and “youths” the body.

If you decide to buy a Water Ionizer, Jupiter Science has been a leading manufacturer for 25 years. There are many models available with prices ranging from $595 to $2,645, available online from many web sites. The Jupiter Melody, at $1,395, seems to have all the bells and whistles I would need.

With all the health benefits, it seems well worth it to invest in a Water Ionizer if you have the funds. The cost-effectiveness over the long term, compared to buying bottled water, make it a good choice. Now, I just need to find room on my kitchen counter for one more appliance!