Synthetic 'Vitamins' Endanger Naive Consumers

LET'S TAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK MINUTES HERE

AND TALK ABOUT A TOPIC THAT IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME
AND ONE THAT YOU SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A 95 PLUS PERCENT CHANCE THAT THE VITAMINS YOU'RE CURRENTLY TAKING ARE HARMING YOU.

AND I SAY THAT AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND ,
BECAUSE MORE THAN 95% OF THE VITAMINS THAT ARE SOLD TODAY ARE SYNTHETIC .

THEY'RE MANUFACTURED WITH CHEMICALS IN A LAB.
NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
"OH.NO.I TAKE A REALLY GOOD ONE" AND
"MY DOCTOR EVEN SUGGESTED I TAKE IT.

WELL, LET ME JUST STOP YOU THERE,
BECAUSE IF YOUR DOCTOR SUGGESTED YOU TAKE IT, UNLESS THAT DOCTOR IS SOME SORT OF A NATURAL PRACTITIONER, THERE'S A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THAT IS A SYNTHETIC 'VITAMIN'.

NOW, EVEN YOUR TOP BRANDS, LIKE CENTRUM, ONE A DAY, JUST ABOUT ALL THE VITAMINS SOLD AT THE GROCERY STORE, YOUR LOCAL GNC, EVEN NATURE MADE, FOLKS. NATURE MADE SELLS SYNTHETIC VITAMINS. YOU CAN GO RIGHT ON THEIR WEBSITES.

SO THE SYNTHETIC FORM OF VITAMIN B12 IS CALLED CYANOCOBALAMIN . IT ACTUALLY HAS CYANIDE IN IT, [YES, THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE, CYANIDE], THAT THEN HAS TO BE REMOVED BY YOUR LIVER.

BUT CYANOCOBALAMIN IS THE SYNTHETIC FORM OF VITAMIN B12.
METHYLCOBALAMIN IS THE ALL NATURAL FORM OF VITAMIN B12.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AND LOOK AT CENTRUM, ONE A DAY, NATURE MADE, GNC PRODUCTS AND SEE IF YOU SEE THE CYANOCOBALAMIN OR THE METHYLCOBALAMIN. BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND. WE DID THE RESEARCH.

WE LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE, AND WE HAVE BEEN IN THE STORES. IT IS SYNTHETIC.

THESE COMPANIES ARE OWNED BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
I MEAN, NATURE MADE IS OWNED BY OTSUKA.

CENTRUM IS OWNED BY PFIZER.

ONE A DAY BRAND IS OWNED BY BAYER.
AND THEY USE SYNTHETIC VITAMINS.

SYNTHETIC VITAMINS ARE VERY HARMFUL TO YOUR BODY SYSTEM, AND THER'S LOTS OF REASONS.

AND I COULD GO INTO ALL THE SCIENCE.
I MEAN, WELL, YOU CAN GOOGLE SEARCH IT FOR YOURSELF, BUT I CAN TELL YOU EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE IS SYNTHETIC CALCIUM HAS BEEN PROVEN TO INCREASE YOUR RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE  BY AS MUCH AS 30% .

I MEAN, THESE ARE STAGGERING NUMBERS . AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE MEDIA LUMPS ALL SUPPLEMENTS TOGETHER.  THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ALL-NATURAL AND A SYNTHETIC. 

SO WHY, WHY WOULD SOMEONE USE SYNTHETIC 'VITAMINS' INSTEAD OF NATURAL IF SYNTHETIC SO BAD FOR YOU? WELL, I AM PRETTY SURE YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT BEFORE I EVEN SAY IT.

FIRST OF ALL, CYANOCOBALAMIN, THE SYNTHETIC FORM OF VITAMIN B12, IS ONE HUNDRED TIMES CHEAPER THAN THE METHYLCOBALAMIN, THE ALL-NATURAL B12. SO NOT ONLY IT IS CHEAPER, BUT THESE SYNTHETIC 'VITAMINS' HAVE A FAR FAR LONGER SHELF LIFE.

SO THAT JUST DOESN'T MEAN THE SUPPLEMENTS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE SHELF  IN THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE OR, YOU KNOW, YOUR HEALTH FOOD VITAMIN SHOP. NOT JUST THE SUPPLEMENTS THAT NEED A LONGER SHELF LIFE.

BUT HOW ABOUT ALL THE FOOD THAT WE EAT THAT IS BEING FORTIFIED WITH VITAMIN B AND FORTIFIED WITH CALCIUM?  WELL, ALL OF THOSE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SIT ON THE SHELF  FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE BEFORE YOU GET TO BUY THAT BOX OF CEREAL OR BUY THAT LOAF OF BREAD , OR BUY THOSE CHIPS OR BUY THOSE CRACKERS. AND WHO ARE YOU PROBABLY FEEDING THAT STUFF TO?   YOUR KIDDOS, YOUR BABIES. IT'S GOT SYNTHETIC VITAMINS IN THERE.

SO PLEASE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR. BECOME EDUCATED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF VITAMINS BECAUSE THERE IS A TRUE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL-NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC.
AND THE SYNTHETIC VERSION IS REALLY CREATING A TOXIC OVERLOAD ON YOUR BODY SYSTEMS AND IF IT'S CREATING A TOXIC OVERLOAD ON YOUR SYSTEM, JUST THINK WHAT IT IS DOING TO YOUR KIDS.

FIND A VERY GOOD, HIGH-QUALITY ALL-NATURAL SUPPLEMENT THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND HOW YOU FEEL ON A DAILY BASIS.

YOU JUST READ THE TRANSCRIPT FROM HEALTH HACK FOR BUSY PEOPLE.
 
What Is Methylcobalamin?

Methylcobalamin circulates through the bloodstream and is one of two naturally-occurring coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 that the body utilizes. Adenosylcobalamin is the other form sometimes used in the dietary supplement industry. The body needs B12 to convert homocysteine to methionine, protect DNA and RNA, support energy, protect nerve and brain cells, stimulate serotonin production, contribute to red blood cell formation, support immune function, and maintain a positive mood.

What’s So Great about Methylcobalamin?

Hydroxocobalamin is the main B12 form found in meat, fish, and dairy products. Cyanocobalamin is a common but synthetic B12 that is often added to foods, and the body must use precious energy to convert this form into methylcobalamin. This B12 form has a higher stability and bioavailability and doesn’t require conversion. These next 4 facts will explain the benefits of methylcobalamin.

1. Increases Available Physical Energy

Every chemical reaction in the body expends energy. When the body needs to convert a vitamin into a form the body can use, this reaction also requires energy. For example, supplementing with the cyanocobalamin form of B12 requires the body to expend energy that removes the cyanide molecule and replaces it with a methyl group. Taking methylcobalamin as a B12 supplement eliminates the need for this extra chemical reaction.

 

2. Encourages Detox

Methyl groups activate hundreds of chemical reactions throughout the body. One such process includes triggering detox reactions. This includes the removal of heavy metals, environmental toxins, and waste products.

3. Supports Brain and Nerve Health

Methylcobalamin is the only form of B12 that can cross the blood-brain barrier without assistance or conversion. Its methyl group stimulates serotonin creation, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood support. It also works directly on brain cells to protect against damage from excitotoxins. ^[1] Researchers have found large doses of methylcobalamin may offer therapeutic value for those suffering from ALS and multiple sclerosis. ^{[2] [3]} This is the only form of B12 that acts on the nervous system.

4. Neutralizes Homocysteine

High homocysteine levels is undesirable and known to be an indicator of heart disease and stroke risk. Free homocysteine in the blood causes sclerosis of the arteries, putting strain on the vascular system and the heart. One of the primary reactions of methylcobalamin is to convert homocysteine to methionine, reducing the potential for damage. Outcomes from this reaction include the formation of cysteine, a precursor to the super-antioxidant glutathione. Methionine also contributes to the formation of adenosylcobalamin, the other form of B12 used by the body in mitochondrial energy creation, the foundation for all human energy.

Supplementing with Methylcobalamin

Methylcobalamin supplementation has exploded in popularity. It’s the most functional B12 supplement because it’s already in bioavailable form, the body does not need to convert it. This offers a huge advantage over other types of vitamin B12. Sublingual supplementation of methylcobalamin is one of the most common ways it’s taken because of the quick absorption. When you’re deciding on a B12 supplement, find one that combines both methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. I developed a formula called VeganSafe™ B-12, which not only offers both of these forms of B12, but is also vegan friendly and produced in the USA. It truly is the best quality B12 supplement available and we’ve gotten incredible feedback from our customers who’ve tried it.

References (3)

1. Kikuchi M, Kashii S, Honda Y, et al. Protective effects of methylcobalamin, a vitamin B12 analog, against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in retinal cell culture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997 Apr;38(5): 848-54.
2. Izumi Y1, Kaji R. Vitamin B12 metabolism and massive-dose methyl vitamin B12 therapy in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis. Intern Med. 1994 Feb;33(2):82-6.

Have you supplemented with methylcobalamin? How did it go? Share your thoughts and comments below.


Vitamin B-12 warning: Avoid cyanocobalamin, take only methylcobalamin


(NaturalNews) One of the pitfalls of pursuing a healthy diet is that we are sometimes blind to nutrients we may be missing. And in the world of healthy eating, one of the most common nutrient deficiencies involves vitamin B-12, a crucial nutrient for nerve health and the construction of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body.

Vitamin B-12 deficiency is especially common among vegetarians and vegans, but it's also surprisingly common in meat eaters, too. Why? Because vitamin B-12 can only be absorbed in the small intestine, and due to common intestinal ailments, even many meat eaters who consume high levels of B-12 are unable to absorb it in their gut.

This leads to a series of seemingly "mystery" health symptoms that actually have a simple common cause: Vitamin B-12 deficiency!

Symptoms of B-12 deficiency

B-12 deficiency is shockingly widespread. Studies now show that up to 40% of the population may be deficient in vitamin B-12 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7595423.st...).

Here are some of the most common symptoms of deficiency (do you experience any of these?):

* Chest pain or shortness of breath
* Fatigue or unexplained weakness
* Dizziness, trouble with balance, and fainting
* Confusion, memory loss or dementia
* Coldness, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
* Slow reflexes or diminished nervous system function
* Pale skin or yellowing of the skin
* Sore mouth and tongue

... in addition, vitamin B-12 deficiency can actually cause brain shrinkage, according to a University of Oxford study (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7595423.st...). Although more work needs to be done, research is already suggesting a link between vitamin B-12 deficiency and Alzheimer's.

If you (or someone you know) shows any of the symptoms listed above, I urge you to immediately investigate vitamin B-12 and determine if a deficiency in this nutrient may be causing your symptoms!

Again, vitamin B-12 deficiency is especially common in vegans and vegetarians because typical vitamin B-12 sources (meats, yogurt, etc.) are simply not present in their diets. But even meat eaters can be deficient in B-12 due to poor digestion. This is especially true for older people who suffer a diminished ability to absorb nutrients in their small intestine.

In addition, diabetes medications and even pain pills can interfere with B-12 absorption, and intestinal parasites can also strongly block its absorption in the gut.

Solutions for vitamin B-12

Traditionally, people who are deficient in vitamin B-12 have received injections of B-12. This is extremely effective because it bypasses the digestive tract and goes right into the bloodstream. But it has one obvious downside: It requires being injected! So most people aren't interested in this method.

Instead, most people supplement their vitamin B-12 using nutritional supplements. But here's where this can go wrong: The most commonly available form of vitamin B-12 on the market is the cheap synthetic form that's actually bound to a cyanide molecule (yes, cyanide, the poison). It's called cyanocobalamin, and you'll find it in all the cheap vitamins made by pharmaceutical companies and sold at grocery stores and big box stores.

Action item: If you have any vitamin B-12 supplements, check the ingredients label right now to see what form of vitamin B-12 they contain. If they contain cyanocobalamin, throw them out!

Cyanocobalamin is a cheap, synthetic chemical made in a laboratory. It's virtually impossible for you to find this form in nature. Low-end vitamin manufacturers use it because it can be bought in bulk and added to products with claims that they "contain vitamin B-12!" What they don't tell you is that the vitamin is bound to a toxic, poisonous cyanide molecule that must then be removed from your body by your liver. Cyanocobalamin is also up to 100 times cheaper than the higher quality methylcobalamin which we'll talk about below.

As Wikipedia explains: "A common synthetic form of the vitamin, cyanocobalamin, does not occur in nature, but is used in many pharmaceuticals and supplements, and as a food additive, because of its lower cost. In the body it is converted to the physiological forms, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, leaving behind the cyanide..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12)

Removing the cyanide molecule from the vitamin and then flushing it out of your body requires using up so-called "methyl groups" of molecules in your body that are needed to fight things like homocysteine (high levels cause heart disease). By taking low-quality cyanobalamin, you're actually stealing methyl groups from your body and making it do more work at the biochemical level. This uses up substances such as glutathione that are often in short supply anyway, potentially worsening your overall health situation rather than helping it. This is one of the reasons why low-grade vitamins may actually be worse for your body than taking nothing at all!

Cyanocobalamin, in summary, is a low-grade, low-quality and slightly toxic (cyanide) form of vitamin B-12 that's used by all the cheap vitamin manufacturers. I recommend avoiding it completely. It won't kill you to take it, of course, but there's a better solution for B-12.

The better choice: Methylcobalamin

The proper form of vitamin B-12 to supplement is called methylcobalamin. This is the form that exists in nature, and it is pre-methylated, meaning it's ready for your biochemistry to put to immediate use. Methylcobalamin has several key advantages over cyanocobalamin:

* Increased absorption
* Better retention in tissues
* Contains no toxic cyanide
* Supports production of SAMe

As explained by Ed Sharpe:

"The coenzyme form of vitamin B12 is known as methylcobalamin or methyl B12. It's the only form of vitamin B12 which can directly participate in homocysteine metabolism. In addition, converting homocysteine to methionine via methyl B12 generates an increased supply of SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine), the body's most important methyl donor." (http://www.health101.org/art_methylcobalamin...)

Every informed nutritionist knows that methylcobalamin is far superior to cyanocobalamin. That's why companies like Ola Loa (www.DrinkYourVitamins.com) use only the high-end "methyl" form of B-12.

Why 99% of vitamin B-12 supplements are wasted

Taking vitamin B-12 as an oral dose is largely a waste of money. As much as 99% of what you swallow is not even absorbed... it's just passed through your body. (http://www.health101.org/art_methylcobalamin...)

There are really only three methods for absorbing vitamin B-12 that reliably work:

#1) B-12 injections.
#2) Sublingual absorption.
#3) Skin absorption.

B-12 injections obviously require injections from a trained medical professional, so few people pursue this route. Sublingual absorption is a viable route, but nearly all the sublingual B-12 products use the cyanocobalamin form of the vitamin (with the cyanide molecule).

A vitamin B-12 skin patch is now available that delivers methylcobalamin through the skin, using a small medical-grade patch placed behind the ear. Each patch delivers 1000 mcg of methylcobalamin (1,666% DV) in a steady release over a 1-2 day period, after which the patch may be removed and discarded.

In addition to methylcobalamin, each path also delivers 400mcg of Folic Acid (another form of a B vitamin), which is widely known to work synergistically with methylcobalamin to help support healthy heart function and nervous system function*.

B-12 energy patch works through skin absorption

The B-12 Energy Patch is available now in packs of 8 patches (a 1-2 month supply) from the NaturalNews Store. This 8-pack carries a list price of $39.95, but through our volume purchasing, we are able to offer it to NaturalNews readers at 53% off the list price.

When purchased in a 3-pack (total of 24 patches), the price is lowered even more to 57% off the list price.

Click here to see the products in our store.

* These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease.

What customers say about this B-12 patch

(From Amazon.com) For me a much better alternative to effective sublingual pills

"B12 is running low in my family tree. A couple of relatives have been regular at getting B12 shots. I never felt like I needed the shots, because I thought I could get by with red meat, liver and sublingual pills. I decided to try the patches just to see... I did not expect them to be more effective than sublingual pills.

I must say I was wrong. From the first patch I noticed the boost, which is at first more subtle than the more noticeable boost of the sublingual pills giving you more B12 in a shorter time span. But it picks up over time and feels way more efficient. By way of example, I used the big plate in my road bike and did not pant at the top of three bad climbs hours after getting the patch. To get this kind of effect with sublingual pills after getting low of B12 would take over ten days for me and quite a bit of dedication remembering to keep supplementing. It can get rather tedious waiting for the pills to dissolve under the tongue.

The second day I used two patches right behind the ear, but they both fell off, presumably from the sweat biking. Yet the day before the one patch I tried less close to the ear stayed put biking and after two showers, and I had no dropped patches since. If you exercise, watch out for areas where sweat would accumulate.

I think there is no comparison between this brand and the other one advertised. For four bucks more, you get half the patches and the wrong type of B12 -- cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin. Read about it because cyanocobalamin has to be turned into methylcobalamin by the liver. You can spare that. My doctor put me on cyanocobalamin initially and I turned to methylcobalamin with much greater results. Also, this brand I review has the daily allowance of folic acid as an added bonus (read up on the benefits of taking folic acid with B12), rather than selenium.

I've had no side effects and no skin reactions with this product. I am so satisfied I have ordered a B-complex as a patch from a different company. It is advised to have a B-complex if you supplement in big doses with any vitamin of the B family."

Click here to get these vitamin B-12 patches.

They're on sale now at an incredible price through the NaturalNews Store.

Whatever form of vitamin B-12 you use, remember this: avoid cyanocobalamin! (Unless you enjoy eating cyanide, that is...)

Additional sources for this story include:

http://www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/index.ph...

Ting R, Szeto C, Chan M, Ma K, Chow K (2006). "Risk factors of vitamin B(12) deficiency in patients receiving metformin". Arch Intern Med 166 (18): 1975–9
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abs...
 

Alkaline water dangers: why you should not drink it

Alkaline water has been quite the buzz for many people. They are always wondering if the water can truly offer the stated health benefits or not. The manufacturers will at all times claim that their product is safe, but is it that safe? Any smart consumer would want to know not only about benefits of alkaline water, but also about its side effects. The best part is that nowadays people will post reviews about a new product stating the benefits and side effects to share their experience.

What is alkaline water?

Before getting into the whole idea that alkaline water is dangerous, we must understand what alkaline water really is. Alkaline water is commonly defined as a beverage that has a value greater than 7 on the pH scale. This means that the water is neither neutral nor acidic. Another name for alkaline water is ionized water.

The alkaline water is commonly characterized by having lots of electrons and a negative charge. The alkaline water is said to help in slowing down the aging process because of high electrone content. Whenever electrons are neutralized, the cell damage is reduced, which means that aging process is slowed down.

Where can a person buy alkaline water?

If you read about the benefits of alkaline water, the first instinct will be getting yourself a bottle or two of alkaline water. It is quite easy to lay your hands on alkaline water, as it is available in many stores around you. The other way would be converting your tap water to alkaline water. To do this, you need an alkaline water machine that does the conversion.

The possible negatives, risks and dangers of drinking alkaline water.

Having a balanced pH is crucial to your health

The pH of the body is measured in terms of the hydrogen ion concentration. If your body has a high number of hydrogen ions, then the body pH is said to be lower or acidic. Well, having a balanced pH is the core biochemical process and it’s extremely crucial that your body maintains an ideal or near ideal pH at all times.

What makes body pH so important after all? 

Well, if you’ve had the chance to study Chemistry in high school, you’d definitely know the answer to this question. But still, here is the answer for you. Our bodies are made of countless cells and cells have endless biochemical processes going on. These chemical processes are completed successfully by means of body enzymes. But, here is a catch! Body enzymes need a very precise pH to work properly. If the pH is more or less than the required pH, the enzymes will not work and the resultant biochemical processes will shut down as well! To be honest, a deranged body pH is a catastrophic condition and should be immediately treated because it can cause almost irreversible damage to body organs, such as kidneys, heart and brain.

Alkaline water, as the name suggests, tends to make your body alkaline. It’s true the body pH at several places, like blood, is slightly alkaline. So, drinking alkaline water once in a while may actually help strengthen these body systems. But, consuming it regularly is what you need to be very careful about. When you drink alkaline water too often, you’re actually overloading your body with a lot of alkali that your body doesn’t even need. This way, you’re increasing your body pH without any good reason and forcing the shutdown of different biochemical processes (1).

Alkaline water has nothing to do with cancer

The common selling point of alkaline water is that it can help in curing cancer and even prevent cancer. Keeping the body in the alkaline state for a long time has its side effects. Most people will end up having problems with their digestive systems and nutritional deficiencies. The nutritional deficiency will then result in having a weakened immune system.

The excessive alkaline water in the body will also result in overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and fungus. This may keep the immune system down for a long time. If the immune system is not rejuvenated it is very difficult to heal and/or prevent cancer.

Till date, there is no solid scientific which proof that using alkaline water can help, in any way, with any kind of cancer. In fact, the result of different clinical studies have proved just opposite - alkaline water has no benefit in treating or reversing cancer symptoms. In fact, till date, there is no human clinical trial that could support this idea.

Since there is no human evidence, we’ll have to stick to animal data. Even the results of data collected from animals have shown that use of alkaline water gives no benefit in treating cancer. Results of a clinical study conducted on rats showed that use of alkaline water didn’t affect the abnormal proliferation of cancer cells and had no effect on cancer burden.

Till we get more data, it can be safely stated that use of alkaline water has no benefit in treating cancer. In fact, using it may actually worsen the immune system.

Worsened nutrition deficiencies

Like your body enzymes, the function of gut depends on body pH as well. Gut performs a wide array of functions ranging from digestion to nutrient absorption. Take vitamin B12 for example. It binds to a protein from a saliva and passes to the stomach. In the stomach, due to stomach’s acidic pH, B12 leaves that protein and binds with another agent called the intrinsic factor. This process is extremely critical from the absorption of B12 because the intestine only recognizes intrinsic factor and absorbs only that B12 that is bound to intrinsic factor. That’s why, people using stomach acid decreasing medicines and having undergone gastric bypass, which decreases the level of stomach pH, can’t properly absorb vitamin B12.

Now, imagine you drinking alkaline water daily. It will definitely make the stomach pH more alkaline and will not let it perform its necessary steps in B12 absorption. And that’s only one nutrient. Relying heavily on alkaline water can significantly alter the absorption of a bunch of other nutrients like iron, calcium, folate and so on.

In fact, results of animal studies have proved that use of alkaline water can cause significant growth retardation due to poor nutrient absorption from the gut (2).

Alkaline water cannot be used with medication

According to research, close to 90% of Americans do depend on using over-the-counter medications for a condition of two. The worst part would be using the alkaline water to take medications. The alkaline water is highly reactive with most medications. The reaction between alkaline water and the medication can lead to the formation of dangerous by-products that are harmful to your health. It can be said that alkaline water is just ideal for those people who are completely healthy, which means that it is ideal for nobody as nobody is 100% healthy.

Again, the activation and absorption of drugs from the gut is dependent on ideal gut pH. If you’re messing up your gut pH, you’re more likely to make drugs ineffective too.

Alkaline promoting drugs are not effective in the longer run

The alkaline tablets are just the solid forms of alkaline water. The drugs are commonly used in the treatment of reflux problems. The idea is to have the drugs reduce the level of acidity in the stomach. The drugs are known to only work for a short time, but will not cure the stomach reflux problems. You need proper medication to eliminate such problems.

The alkaline water is sold by the multi-level marketers

Whenever a new health product or any other product, the multi-level marketers are likely to take it up and advertise it to anyone. The problem is that these marketers do not understand the effects of the product; their only objective is to sell it and gain the commissions. Those people that are gullible enough to believe them, they are likely to buy the product. Since many multi-level marketers are in the business of selling the alkaline water, people have started to doubt the information the marketers offer. You might even find the alkaline water being sold at very much discounted prices, which makes it even a bit more suspicious.

Common side effects associated with drinking alkaline water

Of course, you are likely to read about the many benefits of alkalinized water, but the disadvantages do outweigh the benefits. Not many people would be comfortable taking something that is likely to have a negative impact on their health rather than offering benefits. Here are some of the common side effects that a person drinking alkaline water is likely to face.

Digestion malfunctions

The common phrase the sellers would tell you is that the alkaline water helps in digestion to keep you healthy at all times. However, it is not true, as it actually hinders the normal digestion process. This is due to steep changes in pH levels. People who are over 60 years should not drink alkaline water as the digestion side effects are severe.

The digestion malfunctions are likely to lead to conditions such as hypochlorhydria. This is a sickness caused by calcium malabsorption, which gets worse with the continuous use of the alkaline water.

In fact, there is a well characterized syndrome due to the excessive alkalization of stomach. It is called milk alkali syndrome. In this syndrome, when the stomach acid is decreased a bit too much, the absorption of calcium gets compromised to dangerous levels. Decreased calcium levels can be dangerous because a normal calcium level is needed for proper brain, gut and muscle function (3).

Cardiovascular problems

The alkaline water was used on rats and the tests recorded. It was observed that the alkaline water had some severe and permanent side effects on the cardiovascular system of the rats. The same can be applied to humans who almost have the same composition. Your cardiovascular cells might be rejuvenated at first, but they will die when there is a continuous exposure to alkaline water.

The alkaline water can still lead to increased number of enzymes in the cardiovascular system. Many enzymes are likely to damage the muscles around the heart and other important parts of the cardiovascular system.

Metabolic abnormalities

Metabolism is an important process that must not be interfered with at any time. You need metabolism to get the necessary energy to stay healthy and do many other activities. The metabolism has to be regulated so as you get just enough energy whenever needed. The alkaline water is seen to cause metabolism abnormalities in a person. Such abnormalities can lead to diseases, such as metabolic alkalosis, which commonly causes discomfort in a person.

The other common side effects of alkaline water include conditions such as edema, mental confusion, and hypertension. No one would want to suffer from these conditions as they are frequently associated with severe complications.

The side effects of the alkaline water are likely to be more prevalent and severe if the water is not from the natural sources. The artificially alkalinized water has many chemicals added to make it more alkaline. It is best to use natural water as it will not have any additional harmful chemicals. Some of the side effects are not mentioned here, as sometimes the alkaline water will affect people differently based on their body composition.

Puts extra burden on kidneys

Kidneys are body’s major excretory structures. Another important function of kidneys is to keep your body pH within normal range. For instance, when the body pH increases- becomes more alkaline- the kidneys come into action and start to excrete more bicarbonate ions into the urine. That’s how kidneys function to keep the body pH close to ideal.

When you drink alkaline water, you’re actually making your body systems more alkaline and increasing the concentration of bicarbonate ions. At first, kidneys take on this problem and can keep the body pH normal by eliminating bicarbonate ions from body. But, once you start to rely heavily on such water, even kidneys fail to excrete all of the bicarbonate ions and this leads to metabolic alkalosis. When the body gets into alkalosis, kidneys start to function more than normal.

That’s a bad new for all, especially for those who are already suffering from some sort of kidney disease because this will further worsen the kidney damage. If you’re suffering from kidney disease, use of alkaline water is a BIG NO for you!

It can actually make you dehydrated

Using too much alkaline water can actually dehydrate your body quickly instead of hydrating it. When a lot of unnecessary ions make way to your gut, they actually squeeze out more water from it (Basic Chemistry Knowledge!). In fact, drinking too much alkaline water can dehydrate you at the cellular levels.

Types of alkaline water processing

If you are still yet to be convinced that the alkaline water is dangerous, wait until you go through the different types of alkaline water processing methods.

Free-standing electrical home method

These are the common units used by many people to make the alkaline water at home. The common brands include the Kaagen, i-Water, and many others. The water will pass through a carbon filter that removes the toxins and improve the taste. The problem arises when the filter becomes clogged and not removed. It will become the breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The water is finally passed over an electrified platinum-covered titanium plates. The process is meant to alkalinize the water. The platinum added to the water is toxic and harmful to the human health.

It is argued that this method will likely increase the chances of getting the Yin disease. Keep yourself away from the alkaline water to avoid such disease occurrence.

Water store alkaline water

You might be surprised what your water store is doing to get the best-selling alkaline water. The fresh water undergoes the process of reverse osmosis to form the alkaline water. In most cases, the also involves the addition of calcium powder or solution. Too much calcium in the body will of course have its own problems. The dominating problem is that you are likely to face the Yin disease again (4).

The process of reverse osmosis will not help the body hydrate at all. You are not to use such water for daily drinking.

The calcium used in this process is made from the coral calcium, which may contain some toxic metals. The water is likely to take up the toxic metals easily when the process of reverse osmosis is used. These toxic metals have been seen to affect the body cells and kidneys. Soon or later, you start to develop complications related to kidney failure.

Alkastream alkaline water unit

It is a different machine that is non-electric. The unit can be used under the sink being linked to the mains water supply. The unit will add magnesium compound into the water to alkalinize it. The process is meant to help in avoiding the expensive and dangerous platinum plates. However, the end product is still the same harmful alkaline water. The magnesium compound will ruin the poor quality water tap making it to cause complications in humans. You have to avoid this method as well.

Should I drink alkaline water?

If you want an unbiased opinion, the answer is NO. Reason being the side effects are way more than the good things about alkaline water. Drinking such water once in a while may help you with indigestion, but there is nothing more to it than this. It can’t miraculously cure any sort of cancer. Or it is not a magic elixir that is going to make all your health problems go away overnight. What makes the use of alkaline water even more question is lack of any scientific proof for its health benefits. 

If alkaline water is as healthy as the manufacturers claim it to be then why is there an absolute lack of clinical studies that can support this claim?

The alkaline water is likely to come with many health promises than many other health products. You should not be cheated to try alkaline water to deal with your issues. Some people are seen to take alkaline water to treat headaches or fatigue. Some of these conditions are caused by your lifestyle, and they can be eliminated with the choice of a good lifestyle.

You might be tempted to take the alkaline water in order to treat cancer or may be cardiovascular problems as stated by the marketers. The doctors can offer you the best medication that will deal with your condition. The use of alkaline water just makes things worse for the patient. For the heart issues, it is all about the diet changes you have to make. All is needed is to eat healthy each day and exercise more to have a healthy cardiovascular system.

Conclusion

As much as the alkaline water might seem the solution to problems such as Acidosis, the outcome is not always what you expect. The logical explanation to why doctors are yet to approve the use of the alkaline water is because of the likely side effects that people get. Most of the documented researches show that the tests were only carried on dogs and plants. 

How do you even translate the results of plants to be used on humans? So far, there has been no extensive research on the benefits that the alkaline water can do for the humans.

By now you know that the use of alkaline water is not the solution to your health problems. It is time to follow the recommended methods in order to live a healthy life. Consult a nutritionist who can help in coming up with an impressive diet plan for you to use. 

Notes:
(1) Scientific Research Studies on Ionized Alkaline Water
Physiological effects of alkaline ionized water: Effects on metabolites produced by intestinal fermentation... http://www.ionza.co.nz/content/Intestinal-fermentation-Alkaline_Water.pdf

Notes (2): Vitamin B12 ...Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin). The last vitamin that belongs the family of B vitamins is vitamin B12. It is also known by some other names like cobalamin, cynocobalamin, hydroxycobalmine- depending on the type of substance attached to the central structure. The properties of this vitamin are discussed as follows.

Food sources

The food sources of this vitamin include:

Vitamin B12 is unique in a respect that the colonic bacteria can synthesize this vitamin.
Animal meat and meat products are an important source. These sources include eggs, meat, milk, milk products and liver.
Sea foods are also important food source.
Vitamin B12 is not present in plants. That’s why the deficiency of this vitamin usually occurs in individuals that solely depend on plants as a source of their food.
Functions

Following are the functions performed by vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 plays a very important role in the cellular metabolism of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates.
It is also critical in the production of red bone marrow.
It also helps in the production of nerve sheaths and nerve proteins.
It also functions as a co-enzyme in the metabolism of methionine. Elevation of methionine is a marker for heart disease.
Side effects

It has very low chances of toxicity in healthy individuals. It can, however, trigger hematological abnormalities. It can cause weakening of vision. It can cause gastric distress, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It can also trigger skin allergies and skin reactions.

Recommended intake

The recommended intake of vitamin B12 (RDA - mcg/day) is as follows:

Infants 0-6 months: 0.4 mcg
Infants 7-12 months: 0.5 mcg
Children 1-3: 0.9 mcg
Children 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg
Children 9-13 years: 1.8 mcg
Older children and adults: 2.4 mcg
Pregnant women: 2.6 mcg
Breast-feeding women: 2.8 mcg

Notes (3) ...characterized syndrome due to the excessive alkalization of stomach...Systemic and local effects of long-term exposure to alkaline drinking water in rats . ...https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2517712/ 

Milk-Alkali Syndrome...Background:Milk-alkali syndrome is caused by the ingestion of large amounts of calcium and absorbable alkali, with resulting hypercalcemia. If unrecognized and untreated, milk-alkali syndrome can lead to metastatic calcification and renal failure. ...http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/123324-overview

Notes (4) Yin disease is a term to describe a constellation of symptoms that often appear together and are related to an excessively yin condition of the body.  This condition is very common today and is therefore worth discussing.  It is not recognized as a medical diagnosis at this time, unfortunately. 

 

HOW THE BODY STAYS YANG IN THE FACE OF STRESS AND TRAUMA ... http://drlwilson.com/articles/YIN%20DISEASE.htm