When it comes to athletic performance, that one little edge can mean the difference between a gold and a silver medal. This is why both coaches and athletes are always on the lookout for a legitimate way to give them that advantage.
Lately, alkaline water has been making a buzz in the sports world. More and more people are trying it and some swear by the effects of alkaline water consumption.
The question now is, do alkaline water and athletic performance have an actual correlation with each other?
What is Alkaline Water?
Alkaline refers to the measurement of pH which is on a scale of 0 to 14. A pH level of 1 is very acidic, on the other hand, 13 means it is very alkaline.
Regular water usually has a pH level of around 7 while alkaline water has 8 to 9 levels. At the same time, this type of water has minerals that are alkaline.
Another important factor is the negative oxidation-reduction potential which basically means the ability to act as an antioxidant.
Alkaline Water Benefits
Based on this, alkaline water and athletic performance are related due to several potential benefits.
Act as an antioxidant
Due to its property of negative oxidation-reduction potential, consumption of alkaline water means increasing antioxidants in the body. This should help with recovery which can be a huge deal for many athletes. If you can recover faster, you can train more.
Decrease acid in the body
A body that is too acidic isn’t good. This can lead to several health complications which an athlete cannot afford. In this regard, alkaline water and athletic performance make sense as it helps balance out the body.
On the other hand, though, a body that is too alkaline isn’t good as well and can also lead to health complications. So the takeaway here is that there should be a proper balance and consuming alkaline water can be helpful for acidic bodies.
If you usually experience acid reflux, then this is a good way to help with that as well.
Helps with cholesterol
There has also been a study regarding alkaline water being able to help people with cholesterol problems as well as high blood pressure and even diabetes.
While most professional athletes usually wouldn’t have those problems in the first place, there are amateur athletes who got into the sport in order to improve their health. Those battling high cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes can look into this more.
Recovery through blood viscosity
There has been another study looking at the relationship between alkaline water and athletic performance.
Without getting too much into the technical details, basically alkaline water can help athletes with recovery. Consumption of it after a strenuous workout increases blood flow efficiency which is essential for muscle recovery.
Other proposed benefits
There are other benefits proposed with alkaline water and athletic performance but these are mostly based on user experience rather than specific studies. This includes:
- Helps with cleaning the colon
- Assists weight loss
- Provides anti-aging properties
- Helps improve the immune system
These benefits are great even for non-athletes.
Possible Side Effects of Alkaline Water and Athletic Performance
As with anything else in this world, too much of something can be bad for the body. As mentioned earlier, balance is important. If you start out with an acidic body and use alkaline water to help with that, consuming too much can bring you to the other end of the spectrum.
Skin irritations and gastrointestinal issues have also been recorded as part of consuming too much alkaline water. Other proposed side effects include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Muscle twitches
- Handshaking
- And even confusion
Safety of Alkaline Water
Generally speaking, it is safe to consume alkaline water. Especially if you choose naturally occurring alkaline water over those that are produced artificially. This is because the former would contain minerals that are actually helpful for your body.
Another thing to take note of is moderation. Yes, it does show benefits in certain situations and can be quite helpful. However, there are reported side effects as mentioned earlier especially when consumed too much.
It’s best to take everything into consideration before including this into your regular diet plan or training program.
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