What the pH level of your water has to do with your well-being

Why the pH level of your water matters

If you eat healthily, get enough exercise and sleep well, you are already doing a lot for your well-being. But there is one aspect that many people overlook: your body’s acid-base balance – and the role your drinking water can play in this.

What is the acid-base balance?

Your body functions best in a slightly alkaline environment. The pH of your blood remains very stable between 7.35 and 7.45 – a narrow range that the body must maintain using sophisticated buffer systems. If the pH were to actually fall into the acidic range below 7, it would be life-threatening.

The pH value (the ‘p’ stands for ‘potentia’, the ‘H’ for ‘hydrogenium’) describes the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14: values below 7 are acidic, 7 is neutral, and values above 7 are alkaline. Different parts of your body have very different pH levels: your stomach is highly acidic, with a pH of 1.5 to 2 – it needs this to break down food. Your blood, on the other hand, is slightly alkaline. Your urine fluctuates between 5 and 8 depending on your diet and the time of day.

How does the body regulate pH levels?

Your body has several regulatory mechanisms that keep the pH level stable. The most important of these are the so-called buffer systems in the blood (primarily the bicarbonate buffer), the lungs (which release CO₂ and thus acid via the respiratory rate) and the kidneys (which excrete acids via the urine). The liver, intestines, skin, connective tissue, bones and muscles can also play a regulatory role.

In healthy people, these systems function very reliably. They are able to neutralise or excrete large amounts of acids. True acidosis – medically known as acidosis – rarely occurs in healthy people and primarily affects those with chronic kidney disease or diabetes.

What role does diet play?

In nutritional science, foods are classified according to their effect on the acid-base balance. Animal protein, sugar, white flour and highly processed foods are primarily acid-forming. Vegetables, fruit, herbs and sprouts are alkaline-forming. A diet consisting mainly of acid-forming foods causes the blood’s pH levels to shift towards the lower end of the healthy range (7.36–7.38) – not yet acidosis, but a constant strain on the body’s regulatory systems.

What does ‘latent acidosis’ mean?

Although acute acidosis is rare, research shows that a long-term acid-forming diet can have consequences. The DONALD study by the University of Bonn, which has been following participants for decades, found evidence of links between an acid-forming diet and various health problems – including kidney stones, high blood pressure and gout. The effects on bones are best supported by scientific evidence: a chronically acid-laden diet can contribute to bone demineralisation, known as osteopenia or osteoporosis.

Our modern lifestyle promotes acid accumulation: sugar, processed foods, meat, white flour, stress and lack of exercise – all of these produce acids in the body. When the body’s buffer systems are under constant strain, the body must draw on its mineral reserves to neutralise acids. This is achieved, amongst other things, by drawing on calcium from the bones and magnesium from the muscles.

Typical signs of latent acid overload can include: tiredness and exhaustion, headaches, skin problems, joint and muscle pain, digestive complaints and inner restlessness. These symptoms are non-specific – they can have many causes. But they can also be an indication that the body is busy balancing acids.

What can you do yourself?

A balanced, alkaline-rich diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit and herbs is the most important factor. But fluid intake also plays a vital role. Normally, the body maintains a watery environment in which almost all metabolic processes take place. If the body’s water balance becomes disrupted, enzymes and nutrients are no longer transported properly. Exercise also helps: the body eliminates acids through breathing and sweat. And last but not least, stress plays a role – chronic stress promotes acid production in the body.

The role of water

Adequate fluid intake directly supports your body’s buffer systems. Almost all metabolic processes take place in an aqueous environment. If the body’s water balance becomes unbalanced, enzymes, nutrients and minerals are no longer transported properly. The kidneys’ ability to excrete excess acids also depends crucially on fluid intake.

Water with a slightly alkaline pH can help your body balance acids. It is not about changing the pH of your blood – your body regulates that itself. It is about making your body’s work easier, rather than harder.

The MAUNAWAI approach

After filtration, MAUNAWAI water has a slightly alkaline pH value. Not because we add anything, but because our filtration process – just like in nature – restores the water’s natural balance. Pi technology works with natural mineral ceramics that restore the water’s original mineral balance.

The difference from tap water

Normal tap water often has a pH value that is neutral to slightly acidic. This is not dangerous, but it does not actively help your body to maintain balance either. MAUNAWAI water offers a gentle, natural advantage here – no extremes, but rather what the body is familiar with and can process well.

Is “alkaline water” a miracle cure?

We want to be honest here: many advertising claims surrounding “alkaline water” or “alkaline diets” are not sufficiently substantiated by science. There are manufacturers who use misleading claims and profit from fears of acidification. The Consumer Advice Centre in Hesse also points out that many so-called alkaline products primarily benefit the manufacturers.

At MAUNAWAI, we do not rely on exaggerated promises. Our approach is based on a simple, straightforward idea: water whose pH value resembles the body’s natural environment supports it better than water that does not. Not a miracle cure, but a small, daily contribution to your well-being.