Does Water Ionizer Filter Fluoride
Water ionization is the latest in a series of health movements aimed at creating better living for the fast-paced American lifestyle. Ionized water is reported to carry massive health benefits such as the elimination of free radicals in the body, even bacterial scrubbing in some cases. One question arising recently surrounds how much the water being consumed is altered by the process. Is water ionization taking out too much? Does this Spark an idea?
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What is Water Ionization?
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A water ionizer is an attachment to a faucet or a separate appliance that ionizes water. Manufacturers claim that the process of water ionization has far-reaching health benefits as it is reported to infuse pure water with antioxidant properties, which have shown to slow the aging process, assist in fighting certain diseases and may help prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body. Many swear by these products while others doubt the authenticity of their claims.
How It Works
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A water ionizer uses a process called electrolysis to separate water into alkaline and acid factions by using calcium and magnesium ions present in almost all forms of (common) drinking water. The water is then said to be "electrolized" and possessed of certain cleansing powers, which have held scientifically true in terms of bacterial removal in laboratory settings. Water ionization has no effect on distilled water or water filtered through reverse-osmosis.
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What it Removes
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Water ionization reduces the acidic components present within the water to create essentially "alkalized" water. Water ionization does not remove fluoride from water, however according to www.watershed.net, "...since fluoride is an acidic mineral carrying a positive charge, some of it will be removed from the alkaline side to the acidic side of the ionized water. This will reduce the amount of fluoride found in the alkaline water...we can effectively remove up to approximately 50% of the fluoride from the alkaline ionized water."
The Best Products
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There many water ionizers on the market of differing cost and value. The best value on the market for these systems are products that carry free-trial offers so that the consumer can incorporate ionized water into their diet on a short-term basis to see if there are any noticeable effects or benefits. Ionizers typically cost between $800 and $1,200.
Warnings
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The jury is still out on water ionization. While many health officials claim it to be a panacea for removing free radicals from the body and important for maintaining vigor and vitality, others claim it to be bunk and baseless. "You won't find anything about the benefits of alkaline water in any standard textbook on nutritional biochemistry," writes www.chem1.com, "and anyone with training in physiology or biochemistry would consider the claims in favor of it ludicrous..."
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Sherrie Thai
