Training & Nutrition - Ionized Water-Alkaline Water

I have been reading about Alkalinity and Acidic levels in the foods and water we consume and how we should be eating more foods like fruits and vegetables for their abundance of Alkaline.

This site has alot of interesting info.

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/salivaphtest.htm
(I'm not promoting any companies product, this page just has relevent info)

It's apparent that we need to be drinking Ionized water(Alkaline Water)


What I wanted to know was since us cyclists need to drink alot of water(i do anyways) when cycling for long periods of time(touring, long distance cycling, etc) can we drink Too Much Ionized water to where our pH levels get too high to where it is unhealthy?

OK this page seems a bit fishy, they say that "When healthy, the pH of blood is 7.4, the pH of spinal fluid is 7.4, and the pH of saliva is 7.4. Thus the pH of saliva parallels the extra cellular fluid."

Then they say that some people have had thier saliva measured at pH 4.5. Does this mean that blood pH is 4.5?

Do you know the limits of blood pH, and what a pH of 4.5 means?

If saliva testing is the "most consistent and most definitive physical sign of the ionic calcium deficiency syndrome." Why would there be a need for a blood Ca test? Just test the saliva.

Read of few of the articles that are cited and see what they really say.

There is no need to drink special water for good health. Alkaline mineral waters were once the rage in the US with claims made that they could cure all sorts of ills. People would travel great distances to drink and bathe in the waters of mineral springs in hopes of curing what ails them. All of these health claims were false. Other than the relaxation you get from any hot bath, there are no special healing powers of alkaline water.

BTW, the pH of the body's fluids is pretty constant. If it changed significantly, you'd die. Oh, and if you do drink a bunch of alkaline water, it will be quickly neutralized by your very acidic stomach fluids with no chance to perform any miracles further down the digestive tract.

PH is best tested by urine on litmus paper, disease causing germs and infections thrive in acidic environments, e.g. alkalinity in the water supply is perfect for preventing tooth decay, sodium bicarb thus often recomended as a tooth powder. My big family lived for years on a ranch with well water (very basic) and none of my kids ever had a cavity.

The blood pH level is carefully regulated by the body, through buffer systems. A change from the normal 7.4 to 7.2 is extreme. Maybe even deadly. I'm not sure. But food doesn't play a part in blood pH levels.

The blood pH level is carefully regulated by the body, through buffer systems. A change from the normal 7.4 to 7.2 is extreme. Maybe even deadly. I'm not sure. But food doesn't play a part in blood pH levels.


pH of the urine is much more variable than blood pH it usually ranges from 4.6 to 8 with a normal average of somewhere around 6. After all the body has to do something with all those extra protons.

pH of the urine is much more variable than blood pH it usually ranges from 4.6 to 8 with a normal average of somewhere around 6. After all the body has to do something with all those extra protons.

Absolutely! It is a waste mechanism after all. But that's the point. The body can handle a wide range of foods (in terms of pH) without messing up the internal systems.

Absolutely! It is a waste mechanism after all. But that's the point. The body can handle a wide range of foods (in terms of pH) without messing up the internal systems.

Yes, you are right, I misunderstood you.