Question from Mary Anne
I have an RO system that I’m thinking seriously about replacing, given what I’ve learned on this blog. The question is, with what? I recently looked at a Kangen filter system. It supposedly removes the bad stuff, leaves the minerals AND significantly ups the pH levels (for health). The problem is: it’s a dollar short of $4,000 (wince and wince again). Have you heard of this system? Are there other reputable pH systems out there for less? Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Debra’s Answer
Choosing a water filter is a fairly complex subject. I’ve been working on writing a special report on this, but in the meanwhile, there is an excellent chapter on choosing water filters in my book Home Safe Home. There are a few things about water not covered in that book and alkaline water is one of them.
There is a very good book called Reverse Aging which talks about the importance of keeping the body’s pH in a more alkaline range for good health and says drinking alkaline water is a more effective way to do that than eating an alkaline diet. After reading that book, I purchased an alkaline water machine and have been happily drinking alkaline water ever since.
I got my machine from Go Beyond Organic. We pour the water into the top of the machine, and it places an electric charge in the water that “splits” the water into equal parts of water with an alkaline pH and water with an acid pH. The Kangen website has an excellent explanation of the uses of acid and alkaline water.
The health benefits of drinking alkaline water are well documented and well known in Japan. After a couple of years of drinking alkaline water almost exclusively (almost a gallon a day when I am at home) I can honestly say that my body is healthier and stronger (I didn’t get that nasty flu that’s been going around this year) and I do look young (people usually think I’m around 35 and are astonished to find out I’ll be 53 in June). It didn’t, however, magically lower my blood sugar in two weeks, but over time, my blood sugar is getting lower and lower after removing almost all carbs from my diet didn’t work.
I do feel that alkaline water is “closer to natural water” than ordinary tap water or filtered water.
Now, about the Kangen water specifically. The website does not state (that I could find) how the toxic pollutants in the water are removed, but does say that the alkaline water is made with an ionic process. I can’t evaluate a product for which no information is given. The website is only selling you on the fantastic health benefits.
