Can drinking alkaline water clear up acid reflux? Yes, it can, and I’m going to tell you exactly how to do it because I’ve been where you are. After a round of antibiotics tore up my stomach, I was left with a nasty case of heartburn that wouldn’t go away no matter what I did.
It was so bad that I feared eating food, and I don’t fear eating food. I love food more than anything and can eat until I drop. Acid reflux had stolen my ability to digest anything.
I can still remember that dreadful evening I woke up from a nap beside my girlfriend with fire in my throat. It hurt! At first, she didn’t know what was wrong with me because I could barely speak.
I drank water, but the fire continued to jump up into my throat. Eventually, we went to the pharmacy to pick up some antacids. That night, I slept sitting up to avoid the same burning pain that had woken me up.
I bet a lot of you who have experienced the same agony are shaking your heads in agreement right now.
There’s good news, though. I got rid of my acid reflux almost a year ago, and I’ve been able to keep it in check ever since then.
People, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m going to lead you to it.
Can drinking alkaline water clear up acid reflux?
As I mentioned in the beginning, the answer to this question is yes. However, it’s more complicated than simply drinking water with a pH above neutral or 7.
You see, a lot of tap water is slightly alkaline and even some conventional bottled water brands are, but they won’t do the trick.
You can move up the ladder to alkaline spring water, but eventually, you’ll need something more powerful than slightly alkaline spring water.
In one study, people with acid reflux drank alkaline water with a pH of 8.8.
The results of the study showed that water with a pH of 8.8 deactivated human pepsin. Pepsin is a tricky beast.
It can linger in the esophagus and cause damage.
Even by drinking water that has a pH of 8, you can’t be sure that you’ll knock out the pepsin.
The best part is the study found that water with a pH of 8.8 permanently deactivated human pepsin. This explains the reason why drinking extra conventional filtered water had no effect on my reflux and heartburn the first few months I was dealing with it.
I’m going to tell you the best way to drink alkaline water to get rid of acid reflux and heartburn for good.
Start Slowly
I can already see you now running to pick up a bottle of alkaline water.
Well, there’s more to it.
You don’t want to jump straight into drinking water with a high pH because you could get a negative detox reaction called a Herxheimer reaction.
It’s what happens when your body releases toxins faster than it can get rid of them.
Why can alkaline water do this? Alkaline ionized water is easier for our bodies to absorb. That’s why it does a great job of hydrating us.
If we start with too high of a water pH, the water can cleanse our bodies too quickly. A lot of times when people detox too quickly, they get temporary flu-like symptoms. It’s happened to me in the past.
Now, that you know to start slowly, I’m going to go over the exact steps to follow.
How to Get Rid of Acid Reflux and Heartburn with Alkaline Water (Steps)
- First, you need to buy alkaline water.
- In the first two weeks, drink alkaline water with a pH between 8 and 9 max.
- Once you finish the first two weeks, you can jump up to water with a max pH of 9.5. A good brand is Essentia ionized water that has a pH of 9.5.
- Drink this water indefinitely until your acid reflux and heartburn are gone.
- It’s best to continue drinking water with a pH between 8 and 9.5 after the symptoms are gone. That’s what I’ve done, and it’s worked wonderfully.
Best Times to Drink Alkaline Water
Now, there are certain times of the day to drink alkaline water to clear up heartburn and acid reflux. To make it easier for you to remember, I’ll list them below:
- The absolute best time to drink alkaline water is right when you wake up on an empty stomach. Every morning, I drink at least two full cups of alkaline ionized water to start my day.
- Don’t drink alkaline water while you eat. If you must drink while you’re eating, try to drink purified water with a neutral pH.
- Avoid drinking alkaline water 1/2 hour before you eat and at least one hour after you eat.
- I always drink one full glass before bed to help keep me hydrated while I sleep.
- Try to drink 2 liters or more of alkaline water throughout the day. It’s important to stay extra hydrated while reversing reflux, but like all things in life, there’s no need to go overboard.
Now you know how to drink it and when to drink it.
Since I’m not a doctor, the doctor in the video below can give you a better idea of what happens in your stomach when you drink alkaline water:
The next section is important as well, so don’t leave yet.
Alkaline Water vs Ionized Water
It’s important to know the difference between alkaline water and alkaline ionized water.
Essentia is one of the few bottled water brands selling alkaline ionized water.
My reflux and heartburn didn’t go away until I began drinking alkaline ionized water.
Ionized water has undergone a process called electrolysis that’s all-natural.
Alkaline water is simply water with an alkaline pH. You can make alkaline water at home with baking soda, but you can’t make powerful ionized water without an ionizer.
You have two options:
- Buy Essentia Water in bulk
- Invest in a quality water ionizer that allows you to make an unlimited supply of alkaline ionized water right in your home
My Top 10 Water Ionizers is a good place to start to learn everything you need to know about ionized water. There are ionizers there that fit all budgets.
The problem is if you go back to drinking slightly acidic or neutral water after getting rid of your reflux, the pepsin can easily creep back in.
Remember, pepsin can survive in a slightly alkaline environment.
Plus, the alkaline minerals in ionized water including calcium, magnesium, and potassium are easier for our bodies to absorb.
The bottom line is you want a steady supply of alkaline ionized water to banish your reflux for good.
Final Thoughts
Please keep in mind, I’m not a doctor, and no information here should be construed as medical advice nor is it intended to replace sound medical advice.
However, these are the exact steps I followed to clear up a nasty case of reflux and heartburn that had plagued me after taking a round of broad-spectrum antibiotics for a throat infection.
The pain was unreal that night I woke up with acid fire in my throat.
Once I discovered alkaline ionized water, I haven’t looked back. It’s actually the reason I started this site, and in less than a year, I’ve loaded this site with helpful information about alkaline ionized water.
All the information on my site comes backed by scientific research, personal experience, and many hours & late nights of my own research on alkaline water.
