Alkaline water is said to help counteract the acid that’s found in your bloodstream. It’s thought that drinking water with a higher pH can increase your metabolism and improve your body’s ability to absorb vital nutrients. Some theorize that this will starve any cancer cells found in your body because cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment.
Introducing something alkaline is said to slow or stop cancer growth by balancing your body’s pH levels. In general, alkaline water may have a hydrating effect on your body. For some people, it might also improve symptoms related to stomach acid reflux. However, in a body with normal function, alkaline water will not cause a significant change, if any, in your body’s overall acid-base balance measured in the bloodstream.
What the research says
There currently isn’t any scientific evidence to support the idea that alkaline water can treat or prevent cancer. It’s nearly impossible to grossly alter the pH level of your blood by eating or drinking certain foods or liquids. Under normal circumstances, your body naturally balances its internal pH level without needing a high level of thought or action on your part. Your body has multiple, complex, and interrelated cellular mechanisms involved in keeping your internal pH where it should be.
If you have cancer, it shouldn’t drastically affect your overall pH level. Cancerous cells do produce lactic acid, but it usually isn’t enough to alter the pH level of your body. In general, there’s very little research about the way alkalinity affects the human body.