Bicarbs and Strong Alkaline Water

Another letter from Jenny this week is worth sharing:

Ian Hi!

The alternative magazine 'Inner Self' in Adelaide has been running a series of articles by Dr. Sang Whang on exploring the benefits of an alkaline body. In the latest he says....

'The recommended dosage is (5) 8-10 oz glasses of water with a PH of 10.0 per day, but you can drink more and it will not harm you. Any excess alkaline mineral intake will discharge in urine. In order to maximize the effectiveness of your alkaline water, drink it between meals and in fasting (before breakfast). When drinking on an empty stomach, it allows for a maximum production of bicarbonates in the body.'

The question I have is (1) What do you think about drinking it at 10 (which I gather is at maximum level 1) and (2) What are bicarbonates???
Jenny

Jenny, I drink my alkaline water from my system at the highest level. I have done so for years. There's a mistake people make in comparing alkaline ionized water to 'normal' alkaline water. The error lies in the idea that alkaline ionized water has high levels of minerals in it to cause alkalinity. In fact although it does have higher levels than its source water, most of the alkalinity comes from the ionizing process and the change in the molecular structure of the water to a negatively charged state.

So technically, alkaline ionized water is known as 'unbuffered' water, meaning it doesn't have a host of minerals in it that will continue to alkalize once the negative ions unite with their elrctrically opposite positive ions in the body, such as free radicals.

'Bicarbonates' are Bicarbonate of Soda. Remember your Mum making the pea greener? That was Bicarbonate of soda that she sprinkled in the water. 'Bicarb' is uses in many body processes but its essential for protection of the stomach lining from acids. It's also seen as an environmentally safe kitchen cleanser.

Wikipedia says:

Sodium bicarbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃. Because it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many other names including sodium hydrogencarbonate, sodium bicarb, baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarb soda or bicarbonate of soda. The word saleratus, from Latin sal æratus meaning "aerated salt", was widely used in the 19th century for both sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. The term has now fallen out of common usage.

It is soluble in water. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. The natural mineral form is known as nahcolite. It is also produced artificially.