Is alkaline water good for you?

Updated · Scores from third-party lab reports · How we score

Alkaline water is fine to drink, but there is little evidence it is healthier than regular clean water. Your stomach acid neutralizes it within minutes, and your kidneys and lungs keep blood pH tightly controlled whatever you drink. What matters more is the water itself: its contaminants, source and packaging.

Natural vs artificial alkaline water

Naturally alkaline waters get a high pH from dissolved minerals like calcium and bicarbonate picked up from rock. Many popular alkaline brands are purified water that is ionized or has electrolytes added to raise the pH. Our scoring rewards the natural kind because it comes with real minerals.

How popular alkaline brands score

  1. Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Plastic Bottle — 82/100, plastic
  2. Kirkland Signature Purified Water Plastic Bottle — 63/100, plastic
  3. Proud Source Spring Water Aluminum Bottle — 58/100, aluminum
  4. Essentia Ionized Alkaline & Electrolyte Water Plastic Bottle — 50/100, plastic
  5. Glaceau Smartwater Plastic Bottle — 50/100, polyester
  6. Core Hydration Plastic Bottle — 50/100, plastic

The best alkaline waters by purity

  1. Acqua Filette Natural Glass Bottle — 95/100, glass
  2. Acqua Filette Gently Sparkling Glass Bottle — 95/100, glass
  3. Ophora Water Hyper-Oxygenated Half Gallon Glass Bottle — 91/100, glass
  4. Galvanina Still Mineral Water Glass Bottle — 91/100, glass
  5. Hallstein Water Gallon — 89/100, plastic
  6. Ophora Water for Wellness Nano-Pure Hyper-Oxygenated Drinking Water Glass Bottle — 87/100, glass
  7. Hallstein Water Glass Bottle — 86/100, glass
  8. Eternal Water Gallon — 85/100, plastic

Full list: best alkaline water brands.

Frequently asked questions

Is it OK to drink alkaline water every day?

For healthy people, yes. There is no strong evidence of harm or of major benefit. People with kidney disease should ask their doctor.

Is Essentia water healthy?

Essentia scores 50/100 in our data. It is purified water with added electrolytes, sold in plastic, which limits its score.

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