When it comes to health, understanding the concept of pH is vital. Scientists use pH to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, and the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7, represented by straight water with no dissolved substances, is considered neutral. The most acidic substances have a pH of 0, and the most alkaline substances have a pH of 14. The "H" in pH stands for Hydrogen, which is what pH actually measures. However, the numbers are the opposite of what you might think; a lower pH means a substance has more hydrogen ions, and a higher pH means that there is less hydrogen and more hydroxyl. In addition, a change of one on the pH scale represents a change of ten in the amount of hydrogen ions, so a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6 and a hundred times more acidic than a pH of 7.

The measure of pH is particularly important where water is concerned. The pH of water which we drink daily is one to pay close attention to. Water with a low pH is highly corrosive, so it generally contains toxic materials such as heavy metals and environmental pollutants. Aquatic life struggles in even moderately acidic water, and in humans, low pH of water can create an acid state in the body that weakens the immune system, is harmful to all other body systems, and destroys the enzymes that help the body to digest food and assimilate vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, when pH water values are at 7, the water is dead. It does not contain any life-enhancing minerals, and it does not have the power to neutralize the excess acid that most people have within their bodies. Distilled water and water that has gone through a reverse osmosis process fall into this category.

Unfortunately, most water in nature today is acidic due to high levels of pollution in the environment. Rainwater has a pH of 5.6, and in some areas it reaches pH levels as low as 4.0. In many freshwater bodies and groundwater systems, the pH of water is 6 or lower. Perhaps this is why the majority of people have a slightly acidic body environment when their bodies should be at a pH of around 7.4 to function optimally. The best way to correct this problem is to drink water with a high pH, otherwise known as alkaline water or pH water.

High pH water values do much more than simply restore the body's pH balance, however. Alkaline water contains high amounts of oxygen, and this oxygen is in the form of hydroxyl ions, which is the ideal state for consumption by our cells. These ions are linked to colloidal minerals, which the body can readily absorb and use. Alkaline water is also much more hydrating than neutral or acidic water, and this better hydration helps to reduce food cravings, eliminate joint and back pain and create softer, smoother skin. Not only that, but this type of water actually detoxifies the body; it soaks deeply into every cell, dissolves contaminates, and flushes them out of the system. In fact, it may even be able to reverse the aging process, which is caused by a build-up of acid.

According to Dr. Ray Kurzweil, whose genius has been compared to Thomas Edison by the Time Magazine, "Consuming the right type of water is vital to detoxifying the body's acidic waste products and is one of the most powerful health treatments available." This "right type of water" is water with a high pH.