Drinking alkaline water can provide you with many benefits, including the ability to sooth acid reflux – a condition caused by too much acidity in the stomach – as well as improving your energy and metabolism levels. But at what stage are you drinking too much alkaline water?
Are there any negative side effects of alkaline water?
As with everything in life, drinking alkaline water does have some negative side-effects. This could be partly due to introducing it too quickly into your diet, or your body reacting to the change in pH levels.
Essentially by drinking alkaline water, you are rebalancing the pH levels in your body. Rather than allowing the body to deal with this in its own time, you are enabling it to rebalance quicker – this is a particularly important consideration for pregnant mothers-to-be. The benefits of helping the body this way are numerous, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some negative side effects too.
Some of the negative side effects of drinking too much alkaline water can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hand tremors
- Muscle twitching
- Tingling in the extremities or face
How much is too much?
Some negative side effects of alkaline water can be influenced not by how much you drink but the pH balance of the water. Water with a pH higher than 11 is likely to cause irritation and lead to gastrointestinal problems as well.
The amount of water you can drink is likely to vary depending on the climate and the activities you are participating in. It is advisable to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and as many as 12, however if you’re introducing alkaline water into your diet, then it’s advisable to start slowly with perhaps just 3 or 4 glasses and then gradually increase the amount.
Be sure to monitor your intake of alkaline water carefully, as too much could lead to a condition called metabolic alkalosis.
What is metabolic alkalosis?
Simply put, metabolic alkalosis is an acid-based disorder where there is a high imbalance in the pH level of the body. This imbalance occurs in the blood where there is an increased level of bicarbonates.
Although this can be caused by excessively drinking alkaline water, there are a variety of other causes, including:
- Excess vomiting which causes a loss in electrolytes
- An overuse of diuretics
- Adrenal disease
- A large loss of potassium or sodium within a short amount of time – a cause that can be attributed to drinking too much alkaline water
- Antacids
- Laxatives
- Alcohol abuse
The negative side effects of alkaline water talked about previously are the earlier symptoms of alkalosis, however your condition may be more serious if you experience any of the following:
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- Confusion
- Stupor
- Coma
If you have any questions about alkalosis or if you are experiencing any of the symptoms, then it is advised that you see a doctor. They will then be able to diagnose and advise accordingly.
Sources:
http://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/alkaline-water-benefits-risks?isLazyLoad=false#benefits2
http://www.livestrong.com/article/370249-what-are-the-dangers-in-drinking-alkaline-water/
http://www.aquahealthproducts.com/frequently-asked-questions
https://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/metabolic-alkalosis/
http://www.healthline.com/health/alkalosis#types2
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