Kangen Water Alternatives

T here are a few things we cannot live without, and water is one of them. And with hydration, it’s not all about quantity – quality matters just as much, if not more. On paper, naturally alkaline spring water is the best solution for hydration. The pH is naturally high and it contains all the beneficial minerals your body needs. However, it needs to be sourced, filtered and stored properly to maintain its effect.

On the other hand, alkaline water produced by top-tier water ionizing systems doesn’t have these issues. After the electrolysis and filtration processes these machines employ, your regular tap water is turned into high-pH water with high antioxidant properties that tastes and hydrates better. You have it on demand too, so there’s no going to the store whenever you run out of water. Just refill your glass and rejoice.

Among all water ionizers brands, one stands out because of the ingenious marketing for the product – Enagic’s Kangen water. The tactics of the company to promote their brand of high-pH water were so good that a lot of people mistake the terms alkaline and Kangen, which in reality is a simple name and it means “return to origin” in Japanese, a reference to the fact that this water is supposed to bring your body back to its alkaline state.

The Kangen water Enagic ionizers produce is beneficial and worth drinking, there’s no denying it. But the expensive price tag of these machines does throw a lot of customers off. If you find yourself in this situation and you are looking for viable substitutes to the healthy Kangen water everyone is hyping, you’re in the right place because we will provide just that in the following. Let’s see what are your best budget-friendly alternatives for Kangen water!

Fitness Woman Holding Glass of Alkaline Water

What Are the Benefits of Kangen Water?

Kangen water, which is basically alkaline water but it’s under the official brand name of the water produced by Enagic ionizing machines, has the same benefits provided by reduced water. The company claims that its product has greater antioxidant effects as opposed to the alkaline water other machines make, but while the statement is true, it doesn’t generally apply. There are products like the Tyent Alkaline H2 Hybrid with ORP values down to -1150 mV, so there is competition for Enagic products on the market.

Turning back to the topic that interests us, let’s first look at the benefits of alkaline water in general since these are the same benefits you reap by drinking Kangen water. Then, we’ll explore your best alternatives together. Here are a few studies and clinical trials, and what health benefits of alkaline water they highlight:

• A study by Jamie A. Koufman, MD, and Nikki Johnston, PhD: States that water with 8.8 pH permanently incapacitates pepsin, benefitting patients with acid reflux.
• A study by Mariantonia Logozzi et al.: Proves that the antioxidant properties of alkaline water help improve or at least delay the aging process. When used to wash and in facial treatments, the skin anti-aging benefits are further increased.
• A study by Jakuc Chycky et al.: Demonstrates that a daily intake of 3-4 liters of alkaline mineralized water by combat sports athletes improves hydration status and increases performance.
• A study by Tsutomu Sato et al.: Proves that alkaline ionized water prevents dental erosion inflicted by acidic drinks and reduces caries.

Alternative Solution No. 1 – Alkaline Water from Different Water Ionizer Brands

We previously explained that the term Kangen is just the brand’s name. It’s still simply alkaline ionized water. So, the most obvious alternative for it is alkaline water produced by a different water ionizer manufacturer, as easy as that. The best machine at the moment is the Tyent Alkaline H2 Hybrid which produces ionized water with an ORP value down to -1,150 mV, but it is just as expensive as Enagic models are. The low-budget options we recommend instead are the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 9.5 and the IntelGadgets IONtech IT-757 which are more accessible because of their cheaper price tags. Other water ionizer brands we recommend as viable alternatives for Enagic are Life Water and Bawell.

Alternative Solution No. 2 – Use Additives to Make Alkaline Water

• #1 – Use Baking Soda

  This is a highly basic ingredient that increases water pH after adding a slight amount of it. Just half a teaspoon of baking soda added to a gallon of filtered water changes its basic level. Make sure you mix it well so that it dissolves completely and interacts with all the water molecules in the bottle you use. Other creative ways to use baking soda for health improvement purposes include ionic foot baths. Dissolve 2 cups of it alongside 1 cup of sea salt and 1 cup of Epsom salt in boiling water. When the water temperature is at a comfortable level, soak your feet in it for a thorough detox.
  

  

  Detox Infused Water with Lemon Naturally Alkaline

• #2 – Use Lemon Juice

  Instinctively, you might think that the lemon would turn the water acidic. In fact, lemons are anionic. After you drink the water in which you squeezed lemon juice or inserted a few slices, it will become anionic as a result of your body’s reaction to the anions during digestion. Use fresh lemons that haven’t been exposed to air for more than half an hour.

• #3 – Use Apple Cider Vinegar

  A wonder food in the truest sense of the word, apple cider vinegar is very beneficial for your health. It also turns the water’s pH from neutral to alkaline. Just make sure that you follow instructions regarding the amount you use. The pungent smell and taste of this ingredient will throw you off if there is an imbalance. All that you have to do is mix 16 ounces of water with half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and shake the bottle well.

• #4 – Use pH Drops

  You can find these in stores and online. Directions regarding preparation will be provided on the bottle, we can’t give you a set number since it differs from one product to another. They contain alkaline minerals that are strong enough to raise the water’s pH. Just make sure that the water you add them in is filtered because they do not affect contaminants.

The Bottom Line

Just because you want to live healthier doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on it. Proper hydration is of utmost importance for athletic performance, not only for your health. And the healthiest water you can drink is alkaline. Kangen isn’t the only high-pH water out there, it’s just alkaline water produced by a specific brand of water ionizing systems. So, as you already learned, you have the option to go for a cheaper machine that fits your budget and enjoy the same hydration means on-demand. Alternatively, you can make alkaline water at home using the ingredients previously discussed. What’s important is that you stick to a healthy regimen that doesn’t only involve exercise and proper dieting but drinking the most hydrating, health-boosting water available.