What is Hydrogen Water, and What is Hydrogen Water Good For? Dipping Our Toes Into the Research of Hydrogen Water

If you’ve been listening to health podcasts or have followed health and science-related news on the internet in the past couple of years, it’s likely you’ve heard of hydrogen water. Perhaps you were introduced through health and fitness podcaster and influencer, Gary Brecka, who frequently speaks of the health benefits of hydrogen-infused water. Or perhaps you’ve just observed the rapid influx of hydrogen water machines, hydrogen tablets, or hydrogen water bottles that have suddenly flooded the market. Whatever the cause, if you have had your interest peaked into hydrogen water, I want to dedicate this article to address the question of not only of what hydrogen water is but what hydrogen water is good for.

If you’ve been following the Water Review Man for awhile you know I frequently remind you that I am not a scientist. Not only am I not a scientist, but I am very slow to learn when it comes to anything science related. In fact, I almost didn’t pass my high school chemistry class, and I only did because I had the help of a tutor after school. So, I am most definitely not anything like Gary Brecka, who I enjoy listening to and who seems to have a natural command of the research into many health-related subjects, including hydrogen water. Where I am coming from, rather, is the position of a middle-aged man who is very late-to-the-game when it comes to health-related things, including the science of water and its benefits. I have only recently been digging into the science of water and its many benefits, and one of the topics that has most intrigued me has been the research around hydrogen water. Now again, I’m not gifted when it comes to this stuff, but I have been so personally benefiting from not just water, but hydrogen water, in particular, that I have created Water Review Man in part to be able to share what I’ve learned with the wider community.

What is Hydrogen Water?

So, from the bird’s eye view of a very non-scientifically inclined man, what is hydrogen water and what is hydrogen water good for? The answer, at its most basic, is that hydrogen water is water that has had extra hydrogen gas added, or infused, into it. To say it differently, regular water is H2O, right? That’s probably the only chemistry I remember. Well, H2O means two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom that have been bonded together. Now, hydrogen water is water that has extra “free hydrogen molecules”, or H2, dissolved in it.

What is Hydrogen Water Good For?

There are many potential benefits of hydrogen water. But let me highlight the two main categories of benefits:

1. Increases hydration:

It appears, from what I’ve read, that hydrogen water has been shown to increase hydration. Now why would that be? Isn’t all water the same? Well, no, it clearly isn’t. Most of us know that lots of water has junk added to it that makes it less healthy than water without that stuff, but quite often people don’t think about what could be missing from our water that it would be improved by having. Having more hydrogen in the water actually improves the hydration that water provides. How does it do this? Put simply, the more “broken up” the hydrogen is, the more easily it can penetrate into the body. Now just look into all the benefits of being well-hydrated, in general, and imagine having much more access to those benefits because of the increased hydration that hydrogen water, in particular, can provide. To name just a few of the health benefits of better hydration: boosted energy, improved digestion, better weight management, better skin, decrease in aches and pains, better concentration, better heart health.

2. Decreases inflammation/antioxidant benefits:

These benefits are likely all inter-connected. Again, I’m not a scientist, but there are lots of studies to suggest that hydrogen water has antioxidant properties that can aid in the decreasing of inflammation. Inflammation has been shown to be related to all kinds of diseases and other health problems, so decreasing inflammation is a really important thing. What are some specific ways that these benefits of hydrogen water could help you, though? Let’s look at just a sampling, from an article that WebMD has on the topic. You know that something is getting into the mainstream when it shows up on WebMD. WebMD says that hydrogen water could: (1) treat COVID-19, (2) prevent disease, (3) fight metabolic syndrome, (4) benefit people on dialysis, (5) treat cancer, (6) improve mental health, and (7) benefit liver function.

Wow, so those are just some of the benefits of how hydrogen water is being shown to improve people’s health. I have personally been benefiting from drinking hydrogen water on a regular basis for a solid year now, and I can testify to how it has improved my mood and my skin, in particular, and who knows what other ways it has helped me that I don’t even know. I encourage you to continue digging into the studies and research into hydrogen water and its benefits. I will continue to highlight some of the studies here, but even more will I be reviewing various hydrogen water related products, so you can begin to find the best hydrogen water products and systems around. Just as not all water is the same, so too not all hydrogen water systems are the same. Some, unfortunately, may do more harm than good. So stay tuned as I review hydrogen water products so you can stay hydrated and stay healthy.