The Elemental Guide to Water

The Plain Truth About Fancy Water

Is there any benefit to drinking alkaline water, electrolyte-infused water, or ionized water?

This story is part of The Elemental Guide to Water, a five-part special report on the health benefits of water, the science behind seltzer, the truth about fancy H2O, the safety of tap water, and how much water you really need to drink.

Everyone has a favorite water these days.

There’s alkaline water like Bai Antioxidant Water, which claims to have a pH balance of 7.5 to help neutralize the acid in your body and ensure you don’t “throw your body out of its delicate balance.”

Hydrogen water like HFactor infuses hydrogen molecules into plain drinking water, with the promise of “easing muscle soreness and reducing lactic acid buildup.”

Coca-Cola’s Smartwater purports that its brewing process first removes all impurities from the water, then “re-mineralizes” it with electrolytes like potassium and magnesium.

Flow and Blk market their water products as non-GMO, implying that all the other water you’ve been drinking throughout your life has been riddled with genetically modified agents.