What Is Hydrogen Water, and Should You Be Drinking It? How Hydrogen Water Is Made

 

The chemical formula for water is H₂O (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom), and hydrogen water is simply water with more hydrogen (H) added to it. The concept seems to have started decades ago in Japan, where it’s referred to as shin'nooru solution.

 “Water already contains hydrogen, but hydrogen water is made by bubbling pure hydrogen gas into water,” says Gill Tietz, an adjunct chemistry professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. “It can also be made with electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.” Even with all that

manipulation, the taste stays the same.

Proposed Benefits of Hydrogen Water

Even though hydrogen water is convenient and easy to acquire, the real question is: Is hydrogen water good for you? The whole idea is that extra hydrogen amps up antioxidant activity. Molecular hydrogen has been shown to be more selective than other antioxidants by neutralizing only harmful reactive oxygen species (such as free radicals) rather than both harmful and helpful ones.

 

 “Hydrogen is an exciting antioxidant because of its small size, so it can diffuse through cell membranes,

Enhances Energy and Exercise Performance

One small study found that participants who drank hydrogen water 10 to 30 minutes before exercise had increased endurance and lower levels of fatigue as measured by maximal oxygen consumption, visual analogue scales, and Borg’s scale, which measures intensity of physical activity.

Reduces Body Fat

One small study found that when 10 overweight women took an oral version of hydrogen-generating minerals (so, a pill rather than hydrogen water specifically) for four weeks, they lowered their body fat percentage and insulin resistance. The researchers noted, however, that there were not significant differences in weight, body mass index, or body circumference compared with the control group.

Boosts Skin Health 

The touted benefits don't only come from ingesting hydrogen water — there may also be a reason to bathe in it. A few studies have shown hydrogen water skin benefits, particularly for those battling the chronic inflammatory condition psoriasis. 

Side Effects of Hydrogen Water

As mentioned, there aren’t any hydrogen water negative side effects.

 The only notable downsides are that it can be more expensive and less convenient than drinking from the tap. “There’s no downside except for the extra money spent,”