Oxygenating the body —
Alkaline water helps the body absorb more oxygen, but it does this by supplying hydrogen! Keep in mind that alkaline water has a higher than neutral pH, and the ‘H’ in pH stands for hydrogen! The body maintains the blood in a pH range of 7.35 – 7.45. Blood in the arteries (from the lungs) will have a higher pH than blood in the veins (from the cells). Under ideal circumstances, (blood pH of 7.45) a single molecule of hemoglobin can carry 4 molecules of oxygen. If the blood pH is lower, the hemoglobin can’t carry as much oxygen. How hemoglobin loses the ability to carry oxygen when cells exhale, an acid called 2,3-DPG breaks oxygen molecules away from hemoglobin, and binds to the heme (oxygen receptors) in hemoglobin.
The lungs later break the 2,3 DPG acid away from the hemoglobin and replace it with oxygen. If the hemoglobin pH balance is too low, the hemoglobin will be unable to release the 2,3-DPG acid in the lungs, sand it will be unable to absorb oxygen. Alkaline water supplies the necessary alkalinity for the body to maintain blood pH at the top of its healthy range. The lungs can then work at maximum capacity to release wastes, and absorb oxygen.
