Alkaline waters are now very popular in the market. Two of the most trending brands right now are Essentia vs AQUAhydrate. However, despite the claims and heavy advertisements, keep in mind that alkaline waters are not yet backed with enough scientific proof for their effects. Below, we will discuss more about alkaline waters and the differences between Essentia and AQUAhydrate.
Continue reading below to understand better about:
– What alkaline water actually is
– The possible benefits and side effects of alkaline water
– The flavor of Essentia and AQUAhydrate alkaline waters
– The comparison of their mineral levels
– The pH level of Essentia vs AQUAhydrate
About Alkaline Water
You probably have heard a lot about the claimed benefits of alkaline waters. Some companies say that drinking alkaline water can help to slow down your aging process, adjust your body’s pH level, and even prevent various chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. So, what is alkaline water, actually?
Well, the term “alkaline” essentially refers to the pH level of the substance. The pH level measures the acidity or alkalinity of the substance. It has a scale of 0 – 14. Something with a pH level of 1 is very acidic, whereas something with a pH level of 13 is very alkaline. Note that normal drinking water has a neutral pH level of 7.
Alkaline water has a higher pH level than normal drinking water. It is usually between 8 and 9, although there are some products that have pH levels as high as 9.5. In addition, alkaline water should contain alkaline minerals and a negative Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) value. ORP refers to the ability of the water to act as a pro-oxidant or antioxidant; the more negative the ORP value, the more antioxidizing the water is.
Benefits and Side Effects of Alkaline Water
Due to the fact that alkaline water has a higher pH level, some people believe that alkaline water can help to neutralize acidic substances in your body. There are several claimed benefits of alkaline water, which include:
– Anti-aging effects
– Immune system support
– Hydration, skin health, and detoxification effects
– Colon cleansing
– Cancer resistance
– Weight loss
As mentioned above, alkaline waters also need to contain minerals. So, alkaline water may also help to rehydrate your body after a heavy physical exercise. However, keep in mind that alkaline water doesn’t contain any carbohydrate, so it only replaces the lost minerals. You probably need some carbohydrate after going through a heavy physical exercise.
However, most health professionals say that the so-called benefits of alkaline water are not yet backed with enough scientific evidence. As explained by Mayo Clinic, normal drinking water is best for most people. So far, the studies on alkaline water have given mixed results. Some results support the benefits of alkaline water on treating acid reflux, high blood viscosity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Some others say that alkaline water doesn’t give any significant benefit.
Although alkaline water is generally safe for consumption, there are also possible negative side effects that may occur if you drink alkaline water too much. One of the biggest risks is that drinking alkaline water will lower your stomach’s acidity. You need your stomach’s acidity for killing bacteria and other pathogens that may get into your body via the things that you eat.
Furthermore, an excess of alkalinity in your body may actually cause skin irritations and gastrointestinal issues. An excessively high alkalinity will agitate your body’s normal pH and lead to metabolic alkalosis, which involves symptoms like: nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching, hand tremors, tingling on the face, and confusion. Metabolic alkalosis may also reduce free calcium in your body and compromise bone health.
So, if you are interested with the benefits of alkaline water, you can try it and see whether it works for you. However, avoid drinking too much of it. There is no exact limit on the amount that you may consume within a day, but you should not replace all of your normal drinking water with alkaline water. You should still use normal drinking water as your primary hydration.
Essentia vs AQUAhydrate: Flavor
Flavor is definitely one of the first things that come up in your mind when considering alkaline water like Essentia or AQUAhydrate. How do they taste? Are they actually enjoyable?
Well, please keep your expectations low because they are not really different from each other. And they are also not drastically different compared to normal drinking water. There are indeed notable differences, but nothing extraordinary.
Both Essentia and AQUAhydrate have a smooth and silky texture. This is quite noticeable if you are used to drinking regular water. In addition, they also taste a little bit sweeter than regular water. Some people love Essentia and AQUAhydrate particularly because of the slightly sweet taste.
Essentia vs AQUAhydrate: Mineral Content
Now, let’s compare what minerals that these drinks actually contain. One reason why Essentia and AQUAhydrate are popular among gym-goers and athletes is because these drinks are apparently able to provide minerals and electrolytes for rehydration after a heavy physical activity. But, is that true?
Essentia does come with some minerals and electrolytes. The ingredient list mentions sodium bicarbonate, dipotassium phosphate, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate. However, these compounds are mostly only for adjusting the pH level and enhancing the texture and flavor. According to the label, each serving of Essentia contains 0 calories and 0g sodium. So, it is not really rehydrating, as it won’t help you replace the lost minerals after a heavy physical activity.
AQUAhydrate is slightly better in this aspect. It comes with some minerals with more significant amounts. The ingredient list of AQUAhydrate includes sodium chloride and a concentrate of iodine, iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium, chromium, manganese, copper, and molybdenum. The total sodium is about 10mg. Each mineral in the concentrate has an amount that is less than 2% of the daily recommended value.So, although the mineral levels are rather low, AQUAhydrate is still a slightly better choice for rehydration.
Essentia vs AQUAhydrate: pH Level
It is strange that many people who consume alkaline water think that higher pH levels have better effects. Besides that the benefits and effectiveness of alkaline water are not yet backed with enough scientific evidence, we have mentioned above that excessive alkaline water may lower your stomach’s acidity and actually risk your health. Higher pH levels will lower the stomach’s acidity more quickly. While occasional consumption is probably fine, frequent and excessive consumption of Essentia or AQUAhydrate is not recommended.
Essentia has a pH level of 9.5. This is a bit higher than most other alkaline waters in the market. It claims that it has been proven to be more effective in rehydration than other alkaline water products in the market, but that is not completely true as it does not provide noticeable amounts of minerals.
Nevertheless, Essentia apparently has been processed through high standards. According to the company, Essentia has been purified through three mechanisms: microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet exposure. These mechanisms are important for removing pathogens and other contaminants in the water. Hence, the company claims that Essentia is 99.9% pure.
The high pH level in Essentia is acquired through an ionization process. So, the high pH level does not naturally occur. The ionization process removes acidic ions that have a bitter taste from the water. Furthermore, Essentia uses a plastic packaging that is BPA-free, fluoride-free, chlorine-free, and chromium-free to avoid any risk of degradation on the quality of the water.
AQUAhydrate has a pH level of 9+. Some people mention that AQUAhydrate has been measured to show a pH level that ranges between 9.0 and 9.5. So, the alkalinity level is pretty much similar to that of Essentia. According the company, AQUAhydrate acquired its elevated pH level from supercharging. This process runs electric currents through the water to remove acidic ions from the water and to increase the pH level from neutral to alkaline.
Furthermore, the company has also mentioned that AQUAhydrate has been filtered and also exposed to ultraviolet light five times throughout the processing. This is to ensure that the product is free from contamination from any pathogen or undesired chemical. It does not contain any flavor or sweetener.
Packaging Size
Finally, let’s take a look at the available packaging options on Essentia and AQUAhydrate. They both are available in a variety of forms and sizes.
Essentia has introduced a new packaging style and multi-pack forms. Now you can get it in:
– A 12-pack of 1.0L bottles
– A 12-pack of 1.5L bottles
– A 24-pack of 20oz bottles
AQUAhydrate is available in even more options. You can get it in:
– A 12-pack of 1.0L bottles
– A 12-pack of 50.7oz bottles
– A 12-pack of 33.8oz bottles
– A 24-pack of 16.9oz bottles
Essentia vs AQUAhydrate
| Essentia | AQUAhydrate |
|---|---|
| - Much lower mineral content | - Higher mineral content |
| - pH level of 9.5 | - pH level of 9+ (usually between 9.0 and 9.5) |
| - Purified through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, UV exposure | - Purified through 5X filtration and UV exposure |
| - Fewer packaging options | - More packaging options |
Conclusion
In general, between these two alkaline waters, AQUAhydrate is more recommended. It has more minerals that can help you rehydrate after a physical activity. In addition, it is also available in more packaging forms. However, keep in mind that you should not drink alkaline water excessively.