7 Reasons Why Acidic Water Is Bad For You

Acidic water can be bad for your body. Find out why and how below.

The Negative Effects of Drinking Acidic Water

Acidic Water Definition: Any water with pH levels below 7. Anything above 7 is considered to be alkaline, and exactly 7 is deemed neutral.

 

What Causes the Acidity in Water?

It can have a number of natural causes. One of them could be caused by rain, which is mildly acidic, as well as trees and roots, and soil microbes that emit carbon dioxide and produce acids.

Other causes could be acidic mine drainage and spills, as well as chemical dumps that can further pull down the pH in water.

But, sediments in the soil, as well as sedimentary rocks, consist of minerals that serve to neutralize the acid in the water. They act as primary water filters, which is why water found deep underground tends to be pure and drinkable.

Water found in shallow groundwater in comparison is acidic. This is due to metamorphic and igneous rocks’ inability to neutralize the acid content in water.

The said type of water isn’t exactly potable for the following reasons.

1. Exposes You to Heavy Metals

Drinking acidic water exposes your body to heavy metals and minerals present in the water. Acidic water often causes problems for pipes, as it is highly corrosive and leads to damage.

Now, if that kind of water can damage your pipes, imagine what it can do to your body. Metals and minerals present in acidic water can include iron, copper, manganese, and zinc.

Exposure to too much of these metals may lead to illness and poisoning. Acidic water can also have a rather metallic and unsavory taste, which isn’t exactly what you want from the water you drink.

2. Damages Your Teeth over Time

Your mouth is already filled with many natural acids that break down food and bacteria. Trying to clean it with more acid via acidic water will only have a counterproductive effect.

Acidic water can make the acid in your mouth work even harder and corrode your teeth faster. And if it can corrode your teeth, it can easily damage your soft gums as well.

3. Places Young Children at Risk

Acidic water is filled with metals and contaminants, and should not be consumed by anyone especially young children. They are more at risk due to the rapid growth of their bodies, which means that their systems absorb nutrients–as well as contaminants–at a faster rate than adults.

Elevated levels of metal contaminants found in acidic water can cause plenty of health issues that could prove fatal or debilitating for children. Vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease, liver disease, stomach cramps, and nausea are among the leading health issues caused by the consumption of acidic water.

4. Damages Your Plumbing System

Due to the high acidic level in the water, plumbing can get damaged and corroded. It can even dissolve the copper right off the pipes, which is bad news for humans.

If the copper from pipes contaminates your drinking water, it can cause serious problems. Though copper is a daily dietary requirement for humans, an overabundance of copper in the body can lead to kidney and/or liver damage.

To get a sure sign of acidic water, check your pipes. Things to look out for include blue-green stains on copper pipes, red stains on galvanized iron, leaks, and system corrosion problems.

5. No Calcium Retention

Your body has a lower ability to absorb calcium with a high amount of acidic water in its system. This leads to more rapid bone loss over long periods of time.

The consumption of alkaline water, as opposed to acidic water, promotes more calcium retention. This is because minerals such as calcium are 30% more absorbed from water than from food.

RELATED: Can A Water Ionizer Help Improve Bone Health?

6. Causes Gastrointestinal Sickness

The leaching of metals from acidic water often leads to a gastrointestinal upset. Whenever you get overexposure to zinc residue from pipes, you can get nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting; you can even get these same symptoms upon overexposure to copper.

7. Increases Exposure to Contaminants

When bodies of water rise to pH scale levels of ten or plummet to 4.5, massive fish deaths occur. This is because contaminants increase: disease-causing bacteria, parasites, and skyrocketing ammonia levels to name a few.

60% of the public water supply comes from surface or shallow sources of water, which is known to be more acidic due to degradation in bedrocks, carbon dioxide, and limited natural filtration. This makes it highly likely for every American to have ingested acidic water at some point.

Are There Benefits to Acidic Water?

Acidic water can be bad when ingested and processed internally by the human body. But, upon topical application, it can be beneficial.

It has natural astringent properties that make it ideal for washing your face. It may help relieve itchiness and dryness caused by skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, and athlete’s foot.

Using acidic water to wash and rinse hair also benefits the scalp. It may help reduce the incidence of dandruff.

Its antiseptic and antibacterial qualities also make it perfect for efficient hand washing, as well as sterilization of minor wounds, and kitchen surfaces.

Acidic water is also ideal for washing and cleaning fruits, meats, and vegetables. Any water under pH level 3 can kill pathogens and remove traces of pesticides upon the first contact.

Acidic water also promotes healthy growth of plants. It helps repel harmful bugs and pests, limits the resurgence of fungi, and even lengthen the shelf life of cut flowers in vases.

Acidic water has many unfortunate effects that cause several health conditions in people. But, this doesn’t mean you should completely eliminate its presence in your home because it has several superficial benefits as well.

 

Learn the best water filter for removing Chromium-6 in this video from Water Ionizers from Tyent USA:

To maintain the balance of the kinds of water you have in your home, it helps to talk to your water provider and install a water filtration system in your home. This way you can reap the benefits of both acidic and non-acidic water.

What is your experience with acidic water? Share them with us in the comments section below!

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