functional water

We have already seen an attempt to reinvigorate the market for bottled water in the production of raw water. But now we have been given another way of looking at water by labelling it functional water.  This is water which is enhanced in some way to produce a specific benefit.   Alkaline water is water in which the alkalinity is increased, supposedly to improve fertility, to increase energy and to prevent cancer. The idea behind the last claim is that cancer cells prefer an acidic environment to an alkaline one. It ignores the fact that your body digests alkaline water to retain the regular ph balance in the digestive system so the extra alkaline salts pass out through the urine.

 Then there is hydrogen-rich water, water infused with extra hydrogen molecules. The idea is that this is an antioxidant.  There is electrolytic water which has been popular in the sporting world for some time. The electrolytes promote rehydration.  But if you are not an athlete, and you don’t have diarrhoea, extra hydration does nothing for you. Then there is caffeinated water, designed to give you a lift without the health negatives associated with coffee.  And lastly there is infused water, water with the flavour of citrus fruits, berries, and even cucumber. 

Such functionality!