What Is Hydrogen Water?
Hydrogen water is simply pure water with extra hydrogen molecules added to it.
Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic gas that binds to other elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon to form various compounds, including table sugar and water.
It’s thought that the body can’t effectively absorb the hydrogen in plain water, as it’s bound to oxygen.
Does It Benefit Health?
Provide Antioxidant Benefits
Free radicals are unstable molecules that contribute to oxidative stress, a major cause of disease, and inflammation.
Molecular hydrogen fights free radicals in your body and protects your cells from the effects of oxidative stress.
In an eight-week study in 49 people receiving radiation therapy for liver cancer, half the participants were instructed to drink 51–68 ounces (1,500–2,000 ml) of hydrogen-enriched water per day.
At the end of the trial, those who consumed the hydrogen water experienced decreased levels of hydroperoxide — a marker of oxidative stress — and maintained greater antioxidant activity after radiation treatment than the control group (Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on the quality of life of patients treated with radiotherapy for liver tumors).
Benefit Those With Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by high blood sugar, increased triglyceride levels, high cholesterol, and excess belly fat.
Chronic inflammation is suspected to be a contributing factor.
Some research shows that hydrogen water may be effective at reducing markers of oxidative stress and improving risk factors related to metabolic syndrome.
One 10-week study instructed 20 people with signs of metabolic syndrome to drink 30–34 ounces (0.9–1 liter) of hydrogen-enriched water per day.
At the end of the trial, participants experienced significant reductions in “bad” LDL and total cholesterol, increases in “good” HDL cholesterol, greater antioxidant activity, and reduced levels of inflammatory markers, such as TNF-α (Hydrogen-rich water decreases serum LDL-cholesterol levels and improves HDL function in patients with potential metabolic syndrome).
Benefit Athletes
The product benefits athletes by reducing inflammation and slowing the accumulation of lactate in the blood, which is a sign of muscle fatigue.
A study in ten male soccer players found that athletes who drank 51 ounces (1,500 ml) of hydrogen-enriched water experienced lower levels of blood lactate and decreased muscle fatigue after training compared to a placebo group (Pilot study: Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on muscle fatigue caused by acute exercise in elite athletes).
Another small two-week study in eight male cyclists demonstrated that the men who consumed 68 ounces (2 liters) of hydrogen-enriched water daily had greater power output during sprinting exercises than those who drank regular water (Effects of hydrogen rich water on prolonged intermittent exercise).
Why Not Drink It Now?
So many studies show that hydrogen water may reduce oxidative stress in people undergoing radiation, boost performance in athletes, and improve certain blood markers in those with metabolic syndrome.
And hydrogen water is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA, meaning that it’s approved for human consumption and not known to cause harm.
So why not grab a new hydrogen bottle for a healthier life?
