What Is Alkaline Water? Health Highs And Lows Of Miranda Kerr's Go-To Beverage

Everything You Need To Know About Miranda Kerr's Go-To Drink, Alkaline Water
|

Earlier this week, former Victoria's Secret Angel and all-round mega babe Miranda Kerr announced her love for alkaline water.

"I follow an alkaline-based diet and drink between two to three litres of alkaline water every day to stay hydrated," she revealed.

Cue, a gazillion flustered fans taking to Google to find out what on earth alkaline water is.

And - shock horror - it might not actually be that great after all.

Open Image Modal

We can reveal that alkaline water isn't something you find in a volcanic lake or in science class. It's just water that's less acidic than tap water, because it has fewer hydrogen ions.

Alkaline water is rich in calcium, silica, potassium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, says nutritionist John Berardi.

There have been various health claims that the likes of alkaline water could reduce cancer risk, improve gut health, benefit diabetes patients and generally stave off illness. But, Refinery 29 reports this simply isn't the case.

There are also claims that alkaline water can neutralise acid in your bloodstream, which provides a balance to all the crap you consume such as fatty foods and sweets. But, again, there's no evidence.

According to Charles Mueller, clinical associate professor of nutrition at New York University, eating or drinking anything that's alkaline isn't going to change your blood's acidity, because your body already has specific PH ranges that aid digestion.

"The pH in your stomach is so acidic that it completely obliterates anything that you’ve had to drink or eat," Dr Mueller told Refinery 29.

"When the food moves into your small bowel, bicarbonate obliterates the acidic nature of the contents coming out of your stomach."

In a blog on The Huffington Post, nutritionist John Berardi says that our bodies do "a fantastic job of maintaining blood pH within each respective range".

He adds: "Secondly if your pH is out of balance, it's important to get to the underlying cause. Without knowing the cause, you can't determine whether alkaline water will really help you."

"What's more, focusing on the pH level of our water is sort of besides the point. Because if alkaline water is helpful, that might be due to the minerals it contains rather than its pH level, per se."

Until the health benefits are scientifically backed up, maybe it's best to just save your money and stick to tap water.

Foods You Can Eat On The Alkaline Diet
Broccoli(01 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
Cabbage(02 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Zdenek Nemec/Czech News Agency)
Carrots(03 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Cauliflowers(04 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:FRED TANNEAU via Getty Images)
Celery(05 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Kansas City Star via Getty Images)
Cucumber(06 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Thomas Trutschel via Getty Images)
Aubergine(07 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Garlic(08 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
Garlic(09 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:DEA / G. NEGRI via Getty Images)
Green Beans(10 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Chicago Tribune via Getty Images)
Green Pea (11 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:JTB Photo via Getty Images)
Kale(12 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Lettuce(13 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Paul Seheult/Eye Ubiquitous)
Mushrooms(14 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Onions(15 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Parsnips(16 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Frank Bienewald via Getty Images)
Peas(17 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Paul Seheult/Eye Ubiquitous)
Peppers(18 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Pumpkin(19 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Goran Jakus/PIXSELL/Pixsell)
Radishes(20 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Paula Thomas via Getty Images)
Spinach(21 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Esperanza Adelantado García via Getty Images)
Sweet Potato(22 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Tomatoes(23 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Watercress(24 of61)
Open Image Modal
Used a lot in sushi (credit:Tim Graham via Getty Images)
Daikon(25 of61)
Open Image Modal
Japanese radish (credit:JTB Photo via Getty Images)
Nori(26 of61)
Open Image Modal
Nori - the seaweed used on the outside of many sushi variations - can also be eaten alone as a snack or toasted and crumbled as a topping on soups. (credit:Kansas City Star via Getty Images)
Apple(27 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Pablo Blazquez Dominguez via Getty Images)
Apricots(28 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:PIERRE ANDRIEU via Getty Images)
Avocado(29 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:David McNew via Getty Images)
Banana(30 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Clive Gee/PA Wire)
Blackberries(31 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Elizabeth W. Kearley via Getty Images)
Melon and Watermelon(32 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Carlos Osorio via Getty Images)
Cherries(33 of61)
Open Image Modal
Specifically sour cherries are alkalising. (credit:Libor Zavoral/Czech News Agency)
Coconut(34 of61)
Open Image Modal
Fresh coconut only. (credit:Carlos Osorio via Getty Images)
Dried Figs, Dates and Raisins(35 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:SHAH MARAI via Getty Images)
Grapes(36 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:ERIC FEFERBERG via Getty Images)
Grapefruit(37 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Philip Toscano/PA Archive)
Lemons(38 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Roberto Machado Noa via Getty Images)
Limes(39 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Roberto Machado Noa via Getty Images)
Nectarines(40 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Oranges and Tangerines(41 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:De Agostini Picture Library via Getty Images)
Almonds and Chestnuts(42 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Keith Beaty via Getty Images)
Tofu(43 of61)
Open Image Modal
Fermented tofu. (credit:JTB Photo via Getty Images)
Tempeh(44 of61)
Open Image Modal
Fermented tempeh. (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Stevia(45 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:JTB Photo via Getty Images)
Chilli Pepper(46 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:De Agostini Picture Library via Getty Images)
Cinnamon(47 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Curry Spice(48 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Esperanza Adelantado García via Getty Images)
Ginger(49 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
All Herbs(50 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:TOBIAS SCHWARZ via Getty Images)
Miso(51 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Vince Talotta via Getty Images)
Mustard(52 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Apple Cider Vinegar(53 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Chicago Tribune via Getty Images)
Soured Dairy and Yoghurt(54 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Mango and Papaya(55 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Potatoes(56 of61)
Open Image Modal
With skin still on. (credit:Jayme Poisson via Getty Images)
Soy Sauce(57 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:DEA / G. CIGOLINI via Getty Images)
Green Tea(58 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Adam Blenford/PA Images Contributor)
Soy Milk and Cheese(59 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Media for Medical via Getty Images)
Quinoa(60 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Kansas City Star via Getty Images)
Wild Rice(61 of61)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Paul Seheult/Eye Ubiquitous)