Draft- Argumentative Essay

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Water is the most important liquid on Earth. It has been important for people for thousands of years. Without water, there would be no life on earth. In chemistry, water consists of very small molecules. Each of them has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom that forms a chemical formula H2O. Through successive developments of science, different studies were conducted about water and Alkalization exists. It was formed by the words Alkaline and Ionization. It is a process of lowering acid in a solution and alkaline is the product of this systematic process.

An alkaline is commonly used as a synonym for base or basic. In chemistry, it is any substance that contains pH level greater than 7. Then, alkaline water is a water having a pH level higher than 7 approximately 8. It is commonly known as ionized water and helps neutralize the chemical imbalances of the body because of being a basic substance. Although alkaline water can lessen the acidic waste in the body and can cause body rejuvenation, I believe that it is very unnatural and can cause cardiovascular disease and metabolic imbalances.

According to an alternative and natural medicine study, the effect of alkaline water brings a healthy body. The most popular effect of alkaline water is as antioxidant. It helps flushes away the toxin in the body and helps in getting rid of free radicals. It supplies health-sustaining minerals such as Ca, K, Na, Mg to the body. Alkaline water also helps the cells in your body to live longer. Second, findings states that alkaline water is a term use when the pH is above 7.  The effect of alkaline water in the body is enormous. Normally, our body is acidic, it is because of the food that we eat and drink. After ingestion, alkaline water is almost immediately neutralized by hydrochloric acid present in the stomach. After leaving the stomach, water is combined with pancreatic enzymes, transforming the final product into an alkaline agent once again. Drinking water with a pH around 8- 10 helps neutralize and bring balance in the body. (Backhouse, 2010) Another amazing effect of such water (Backhouse, 2011) is that by drinking alkaline water, it helps lessen the acidic waste in the body making us less susceptible to diseases and illness. Body rejuvenation is another wonderful effect of alkaline water that helps build a stronger immune system.

On the other hand, studies were also conducted to know the negative effects of drinking alkaline water. Biological Terrain Analysis helps in the realization that water with a strongly negative ORP value is way out of balance for the human body. It measures the reducing power of a substance without the skewing effects of pH.  It may initially reduce the free radical load but continued consumption and the aggressive neutralization of oxygen radicals upsets cellular redox balance, which plays a pivotal role in immune function and metabolic homeostasis. (Pangman, 2004) Claims that “ionized” waters are antioxidants are untrue; hypochlorites (present in most such water) are in fact oxidizing agents. (Lower, 2011)  Medical research verifies that their absence is equally as harmful as their overabundance. The ongoing consumption of alkaline ionized water tips the balance and it opens the way for other serious metabolic consequences. (Evans, 2003) Other studies specifically the new science of water, found out that since the digestive process begins in the stomach—an extremely acidic environment—a person must ask the question: What is the impact of alkaline water on the digestive process? Fifty percent of people over the age of 60 are hypochlorhydric. This means that they can no longer produce enough stomach acid for optimal digestion. For these individuals, the consumption of alkaline water presents a significant problem. The third strongest negative point according to the studies of eMedicine: Alkalosis, drinking alkaline water causes chemical changes within the body that affect the health and function of your heart. In a study published in the Journal of Toxicology Science in 1998, researchers found that rats given alkaline water to drink suffered from hardening and cell damage of the heart muscles. Drinking alkaline water lead to increased enzymes, potassium levels and weight gain and resulted in damage to the rats' hearts. When rats were given regular tap water, none of the rats experienced any of these changes.

            With these findings, I believe that drinking alkaline water has no empirical evidence that it has noticeable effect on the body. There are no credible evidences in scientific literature to support claims that alkaline water has greater health effects or health benefits than drinking natural water. “There is no reason to expect that water formed when alkaline hydroxide ion is neutralized will retain any special characteristics of healing any disease.” (Monique, 2011) I can also conclude that most of the evidence used to support claims health benefits for alkaline water is in the form of testimonials instead of having a well constructed scientific studies. Because of modernization, we should be aware that technologies don’t always have positive effects; it can also lead to negative effects.