The Tyent Alkaline Water Company Checks Out the Competition, Part 2 (Revised)

 
Yesterday we began looking at other water ionizer companies to review the differences between them, see how their machines create alkaline water and explore what you get for your money. 

We began with world famous Kangen water by Enagic.  People familiar with alkaline water and the machines that produce it recognize Kangen as one of the most well known brands in the industry. They are by far the biggest company in the ionized alkaline water world.  Nevertheless, as posed yesterday, the question remains, does just being the biggest make them the best?

What About Those Chemicals You Need to Add to Kangen?

It is true that you must add chemicals to adjust the pH level of your water inside a Kangen machine.

To make their Strong Beauty Water, you need to add the dangerous chemical Hypochlorite. When you add Sodium Hypochlorite to the electrolysis enhancer, that chemical passes through the same tubes and across the same plates that your drinking water does.

Of course the fear is possible cross-contamination into your drinking water.

What is Sodium Hypochlorite and what is the Risk?

Not being a doctor or health care professional, I can’t tell you the specific issues cross contamination might create but as a person who drinks filtered water my gut feeling is it can’t be good for you.

As to what Sodium Hypochlorite is, that I can tell you. This is the main chemical in bleach. It is used for disinfecting, household cleaning, and as a bleaching agent.

In the course of my research on Hypochlorite I read several pieces on it and found that universally, they for the most part, say the same thing: dangerous stuff. According to the Environmental Working Group, the chemical is clearly a cause for concern particularly. They list evidence of skin irritation/allergies/damage; acute aquatic toxicity; and respiratory effects among the chief concerns.

Further Potential Health Effects

Eye: May cause irreversible eye injury. Contact with liquid is corrosive to the eyes and causes severe burns.

Skin: Causes skin burns.

Ingestion: May cause methemoglobinemia, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), convulsions, and death. Causes severe digestive tract burns with abdominal pain, vomiting, and possible death. Methemoglobinemia is characterized by dizziness, drowsiness, headache, breath shortness, cyanosis with bluish skin, rapid heart rate and chocolate-brown colored blood.

Ouch!  I don’t believe I want to be putting any of that stuff (in any amount) into the same machine that I will be getting my drinking water from but I’m funny that way.

Why Do Kangen Machines Cost So Much?

Well, I researched that also and according to Yahoo, Finance:

While Enagic’s (TM) multi-level marketing business model is effective at spreading the word about alkaline water, it comes with a very high cost. Its 8-tier commission model means that every time a customer buys through an Enagic™ distributor, 8 levels of sales people are paid hefty commissions. That generally adds up to almost two-thirds of the price of their machines themselves.

That may explain why the cost of a Kangen water ionizer is about the highest in the industry.

We want to hear what you think. Are you comfortable with the idea of adding dangerous chemicals to your water ionizer? Drop us a line and let us know your thoughts.