hydrogen rich water & athletics

September 10, 2020 Erikka Springer

I’m excited to be sharing information about the benefits of hydrogen rich water for athletics today.

As someone who enjoys movement - a lot - I was stoked to learn about the properties of this water (that I’ve been drinking for 9 months!😁) that benefit not only your overall health & wellness - but athletic performance as well.

So how does hydrogen rich water play a role in athletic performance & recovery?

Throughout this blog post, the terms hydrogen rich water and ionized water will be used, these are used interchangeably and refer to the same thing.

the benefits:

✺ Aids in recovery post-exercise ✺

✺ SUSTAINs EXERCISE ✺

✺ REDUCEs INFLAMMATION ✺

✺ PROVIDES GREATER HYDRATION ✺

how? (let’s break it down)

✺ AIDS IN RECOVERY POST-EXERCISE ✺

SUMMARY: Following periods of increased physical activity, oxidation and free radical production also increase. Ionized water is rich in molecular hydrogen - which is able to counter oxidation and free radical damage at a cellular level.

Exercise is amazing for you, obviously, but following periods of increased physical activity, oxidation & free radical production also increase. Most of us are already facing oxidative damage through environmental & lifestyle factors such as poor diet, alcohol consumption, pollution, etc. While our body does produce antioxidants and we are able to ingest antioxidants from sources such as berries, kale, spinach, hibiscus tea, etc., often times, the number of free radicals in your body outweigh the number of antioxidants. To compensate for this, many people will eat plenty of foods containing antioxidants (especially post-exercise); but it is important to note here that there is a huge difference in the relative size of antioxidants next to molecular hydrogen (this graphic shows the size comparison). Ionized water is rich in molecular hydrogen. This is significant because while those larger antioxidant molecules are able to counteract oxidation and free radical damage in your body, molecular hydrogen is able to do this at a cellular level (its ability to pass through the biomembrane and diffuse rapidly between cells allow it to reach subcellular compartments like mitochondria).

The most important and beneficial property of ionized water is that it is rich in molecular hydrogen (H2), through the process of electrolysis. H2 is the smallest molecule in the world and acts as antioxidant in our bodies, to counter the increased oxidation that comes from athletic activity as well as the oxidative stress we already face in our daily lives. Because of the small molecule cluster size (H2 has a molecular weight of 2) of electrolyzed reduced water, it is able to easily penetrate our cell walls and carry out toxic & acidic waste (detox). Molecular hydrogen works to neutralize free radicals in our bodies - that could otherwise go on to alter lipids, proteins, DNA & trigger a number of diseases.

✺ SUSTAINS EXERCISE ✺

SUMMARY: Proper hydration influences the function of every organ and tissue in our bodies. Hydrogen rich water has been shown to improve exercise-induced decline of muscle function as well as improve high intensity anaerobic exercise performance and decreased heart rate during exercise.

OXYGENATION

There are certain food groups that you may have come across, if you’re into nutrition, that indirectly benefit the cardiovascular system. Examples of these would be: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes. But it is important to note here that, in order for your lungs to function optimally (and for your body to then fully benefit from the foods you’re eating), and therefore support sustained exercise, they must be hydrated. Again, this is where molecular hydrogen comes in. Every organ and tissue in our body is greatly influenced by hydration - the major ones here are the heart, brain (water accounts for 75% of brain mass), lungs, kidneys & muscles.

When you are exercising, your lungs are working harder - your body uses more oxygen. In order to be able to sustain this increased demand, your breathing and circulation have to increase to transport oxygen to your muscles so they can keep moving. Hydrogen rich water has been shown to improve ventilatory efficiency. Blood vessels work to carry blood from the heart to every tissue and organ throughout the body. This is essential to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues, remove carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide production increases during exercise) and metabolic waste from tissues, communicate hormone signaling among tissues, etc. Because of its small size, H2 is able to cross the blood brain barrier with ease (this benefits neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease).

MUSCLE FUNCTION & LACTATE LEVELS

Hydrogen rich water has been shown to improve exercise-induced decline of muscle function (muscle fatigue & muscle cramping during exercise) and prevent increased blood lactate levels during heavy exercise. Hydrogen rich water has also been shown to decrease heart rate during exercise.

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been shown to positively effect exercise capacity - this may be due to its antioxidant & anti-inflammatory properties that work to reduce exercise-induced inflammation & oxidative stress, as well as alter anabolic hormones production by regulating cell signaling (H2 improves cell signaling, this is huge).

Studies have shown that drinking alkalized water (another beneficial property of ionized reduced water) improves hydration status, acid-base balance, and high intensity anaerobic exercise performance - as well as counter the effects of increased lactic acid production during increased physical activity.

✺ REDUCES INFLAMMATION ✺

SUMMARY: Ionized water is rich in antioxidants. The molecular hydrogen found in ionized water acts as a selective antioxidant - targeting only damaging free radicals - and has been found to be non-toxic at high concentrations.

I mentioned above that molecular hydrogen (H2) works as an antioxidant. This is another incredible benefit of ionized water. Water that is rich in molecular hydrogen = water that is rich in antioxidants.

Because H2 is a selective antioxidant, it targets only toxic reactive-oxygen species (harmful free radicals). H2 selectively targets the hydroxyl radical (that causes more damage than any other free radical), for example. Let loose in your body, hydroxyl is able to go on to attack the cell membrane (causing membrane damage), destroy DNA base sequences (disintegrating the double-helix structure), and even cause cell death and mutations to occur. The fact that H2 selectively targets damaging free radicals, preserves other important reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (for normal cell signaling) and has been found to be non-toxic at high concentrations, is huge.

The most important benefit of neutralizing free radicals and countering the effects of oxidation in your body is that oxidative stress plays a huge role in the progression of disease (think long-term here guys). Oxidative stress promotes several serious conditions (cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, sarcopenia, frailty and neurodegenerative diseases (to name a few)).

This is a video showing a comparison of the oxidation or anti-oxidation potential of various waters & gatorade next to ionized water (yes, there is a machine that can measure the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of liquids). This includes alkaline (store bought), spring & brita filtered water. Click on the image to watch the video!↓

✺ PROVIDES GREATER HYDRATION ✺

SUMMARY: Free radicals require an electron to neutralize. While searching for an electron, free radicals scavenge through your cells and compete for hydration within your body. Molecular hydrogen donates a positive ion to mediate this process. This allows your body to function as it’s meant to and recover from the oxidation and aging that free radicals cause over time when let loose in the body.

FREE RADICALS

At the same time that electrolyzed reduced water is working to rid our bodies of toxic & acidic waste at a cellular level, it is also working to hydrate at a cellular level. Guys - this is so important for so many reasons (I talk about this in the ‘sustained exercise’ section) but at the very least I’ve got to say, if you’re active or athletically inclined at all, I know you understand the importance of hydrating - before, during (dehydration during a workout decreases athletic performance) and especially after a work out.

But how does this work - really? It is literally the same process that allows the countering of oxidation in the body and the allowance of greater hydration. Free radicals, that result from many lifestyle factors (including exercise), require an electron to neutralize. During this process, free radicals are scavenging through your cells and are competing for hydration within your body. This is where molecular hydrogen comes in. Molecular hydrogen donates a positive ion to mediate this process. This allows your body to function as it’s meant to and stop the oxidation & aging process that free radicals cause when let loose in the body.

INTO THE BLOODSTREAM

After drinking a glass of water, it passes quickly through your stomach, to your intestines and is then absorbed in your blood & plasma (it is then carried throughout your body). If the water you’re drinking contains preservatives, chemicals, pollutants, etc. - these are absorbed along with the water you drank and carried throughout your body. Drinking water that is free of chemicals, preservatives, pollutants - that contains the electrolytes and minerals our bodies benefit from - and that also contains molecular hydrogen (which is then absorbed with the water and carried in the blood to benefit all parts of the body) is a game changer - this is filtered, ionized.

NOTES

*Your body does not want preservatives or added chemicals. So often these are found in the food we eat and the water we drink. Especially bottled water - read the label on your bottled water and you’ll see any of these ingredients: magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium bicarbonate, to name a few. These are often added to water to change the pH and achieve alkaline water (this has a similar effect as taking a Tums) - this is not useful for your body, and may actually be causing damage - adding chemicals, to achieve an alkaline pH, consistently to your system can change your blood pH over time, which can create a lot of health issues in the long-term. Ionized or alkalized/alkaline ionized water has gone through an electrical change, while alkaline water has gone through a chemical change, there is a huge difference between the two. I’m sure you can relate to feeling full/heavy after drinking a big glass of water (I used to experience this constantly when trying to keep up with recommended water consumption), this does not happen with filtered, ionized water.

**Hydration at a cellular level and absorption without the contaminants & chemicals found in so many other sources of water is incredibly beneficial in this aspect. I recently learned about a way to track your hydration levels along with other factors indicative of good health - this is a urine test called Vivoo. It measures your hydration levels on a scale of 1-10. It also shows presence of UTI infections, levels of ketones, kidney & liver function, etc. Your hydration is so important (our body composition falls anywhere between 55-75% water)! Order this test! Most people are at a 7-8. If you are at any level less than a 10, let’s talk.

conclusion

Diving into all this research made me even more grateful that I have access to this water, every day. I will always encourage you to do your own research - on electrolyzed reduced, alkalized, molecular hydrogen, alkaline ionized or hydrogen rich water. This is only the research I compiled for hydrogen rich water and how it plays a role in athletics. There is so much more to dive into here.

This link will take you to 460,000+ studies on Pubmed on molecular hydrogen.

So many of us already spend a lot of time & energy on exercising & eating well, while ignoring something as equally, if not more important as the water we drink.

Do your research - and reach out when you’re ready to take your hydration & athletics to the next level.

*If you’re interested in how ionized water is created (through the process of electrolysis), click here.

**Message here ↓ for any questions about the science, how an ionizer machine works or how you could have access to an ionizer in your home.

See this form in the original post

curious?

Here is the research referenced in this blog post!

the benefits:

✺ Aids in recovery post-exercise ✺

✺ SUSTAINs EXERCISE ✺

✺ REDUCEs INFLAMMATION ✺

✺ PROVIDES GREATER HYDRATION ✺

how? (let’s break it down)

✺ AIDS IN RECOVERY POST-EXERCISE ✺

✺ SUSTAINS EXERCISE ✺

✺ REDUCES INFLAMMATION ✺

✺ PROVIDES GREATER HYDRATION ✺

conclusion

curious?

free radicals, antioxidants, oxidative stress & molecular hydrogen

molecular hydrogen & disease

hydration, molecular hydrogen & athletic performance

hydration, molecular hydrogen & organ function