Everyone is talking about hydrogen water today. I was also intrigued when I heard about the Echo Go+ for the first time from Gary Brecka on a podcast. But what is it, really? Is it some kind of magic drink or a hoax? Or is it advantageous and backed by science?
Well, I bought several hydrogen water generators and packaged cans to test the claims and find the REAL TRUTH. While I personally had mixed experiences, I also read several research journals written by scientists and doctors to come to a conclusion based on facts.
If you’ve been scratching your head over hydrogen water, I’m here to clear things up for you. Let’s dive into the BENEFITS and SIDE EFFECTS so you can make an informed decision. Let’s get started!
What Is Hydrogen Water?
The first time I heard about hydrogen water, I was as surprised as you are! The idea of enhancing our regular water had never crossed my mind, so I was genuinely intrigued. We all learned in school that water is made of hydrogen and oxygen. So, what is this new invention causing such a stir in the market?
Hydrogen water is essentially pure water with additional H2 molecules. It’s created in two main ways. First, plain water should be saturated with hydrogen gas before being packaged into cans. Second, by generating H2 gas inside special containers like bottles, jugs, or pitchers, which typically hold between 400 ml and 1.6 liters.
You can buy such water in fancy packages like cans and pouches or purchase dissolvable tablets. However, the most convenient way is to use a portable hydrogen water bottle, which you can use to generate your own molecular hydrogen water at home.
What Makes Hydrogen Water Special?
Hydrogen water has gained immense popularity, particularly among athletes, and the endorsement of notable figures like Gary Brecka, Joe Rogan, Andrew Huberman, and Dana White highlights the growing interest in it.
While plain water remains the gold standard for hydration, some scientists argue that infusing water with additional hydrogen molecules offers UNIQUE health benefits not found in plain water alone. This is because our bodies may struggle to fully absorb the H2 in plain water, as it is chemically bound to oxygen.
This research suggests that enriching water with extra hydrogen molecules can enhance their cell accessibility. These additional H2 molecules are believed to function as antioxidants, potentially shielding our bodies from oxidative stress damage. As a result, it is increasingly valued for its potential health advantages over regular water.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not a doctor, and this isn’t medical advice—just my personal experience with hydrogen water and how it has affected me. I’ve done plenty of research on the topic and have linked reliable sources for you to explore.
So, What Are The Benefits Of Hydrogen Water?
Coming from a family of athletes, with both my parents excelling in sports, I’ve always been keen on things that can boost athletic performance. That’s why hydrogen water caught my attention—it’s said to help ATHLETES. As I dug deeper, I found studies suggesting it has even more advantages.
Based on my own experiences and research, I’ve categorized these advantages to make them easier to understand. Below, I’ve detailed each one to give you a clearer picture.
A. Physical Health Advantages
1. Nutritional Benefits
Similar to regular drinking water, hydrogen water doesn’t contain protein, calories, carbohydrates, or fats. However, depending on the manufacturer, it may contain trace levels of important MINERALS and VITAMINS. Some brands include essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, fluoride, iron, and even trace amounts of Vitamin A.
Therefore, in addition to being a reliable source of hydration, the presence of these essential nutrients in hydrogen water undoubtedly adds to its nutritional value.
2. Athletic Performance Improvement And Muscle Recovery
Like I said before, I was immediately interested in hydro-water, as soon as I saw claims that it might benefit athletes. I decided to try it for about 3 weeks and see if there was any difference in my daily workouts. I read about a study and decided to follow the same routine, where I drank almost 51 ounces or 1.5 liters of hydrogen water every day for 15 minutes before exercising, as part of my experiment.
After almost 2 weeks, I could feel reduced muscle fatigue and increased endurance, even after undergoing the most strenuous exercise routines. I can say that the feeling was CLEARLY DIFFERENT compared to my workout sessions before I started drinking hydrogen-rich water.
I also felt more energetic during my morning runs, which I believe is the effect of this health product. My experiment gained ground when I found that scientists assert that the extra hydrogen molecules might help reduce muscle inflammation by slowing down the accumulation of serum lactate in our bloodstream, which eventually eases fatigue after an intense workout.
3. Anti-inflammatory Effect
Various diseases, like arthritis, diabetes, and allergies, are known to be accompanied by chronic inflammation. Managing or reducing inflammation constitutes a major part of controlling or preventing these health disorders.
One of the major causes of inflammation and disease is the free radicals that lead to oxidative stress in cells. Studies indicate that hydrogen water might have anti-inflammatory capabilities since H is known to be a potential antioxidant. So, drinking such water consistently might have a role to play in preventing oxidative stress and the resultant inflammation.
In a controlled experiment conducted in 2020, participants who consumed 1.5 liters of hydrogen water daily for four weeks were observed to develop a higher antioxidant capability than those who received a placebo. Those who drank hydro-water as part of this trial also showed reduced inflammatory responses.
4. Metabolic Health
According to research, hydrogenated water might help boost metabolic health, as well as the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a health condition marked by symptoms, such as high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, low HDL cholesterol, and obesity. This syndrome entails high risk because it can potentially enhance the chances of stroke and cardiovascular disorders in the patient.
In a 2020 study, participants suffering from metabolic syndrome observed improvements after consuming hydro-water for about 24 weeks as a supplement. While scientists believe that hydrogen water can be used as a supportive or adjuvant therapy, it cannot be used as a standard treatment procedure for metabolic syndrome.
5. Anti-aging
Hydrogen water is gaining RAPID POPULARITY in the beauty and cosmetics industry as a potential anti-aging agent, owing to its anti-oxidative capabilities. As we all know, antioxidants are hugely recommended for improving our skin health; they help slow down the appearance of the signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles.
Studies suggest that hydro-water might also help improve skin conditions such as psoriasis, and parapsoriasis since it is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent.
B. Mental Wellbeing
Initially, I was under the impression that hydrogen water’s diverse benefits were confined to physical health only. However, I was genuinely surprised when I came across a study suggesting that drinking this type of water might also help lift our mood!
Across a duration of 4 weeks, participants who received placebo water showed no signs of change in their mental state, while those who consumed hydrogen water showed CLEAR IMPROVEMENT in their overall depressive state and anxiety levels.
Scientists assert that extra hydrogen molecules play the role of antioxidants, thereby negating the oxidative stress in our brain and reducing inflammation. This helps boost the overall state of mental well-being.
As mentioned before, I noticed higher energy and endurance levels while experimenting with hydrogen water bottles. But that was not all because I also realized I had fewer mood swings.
Mood swings are natural and happen to all of us. But more than 2 weeks into drinking molecular hydrogen water, I started noticing improvements in my OVERALL MOOD, even while I was PMSing! However, I was not aware of it at first; only after I came across the aforesaid study was I able to connect the dots.
While I strongly believe that hydrogen-rich water might play a role in boosting our mood, further research is needed to confirm this.
C. Improved Quality Of Life
In another study, hydrogen water was administered to some out of 26 adult volunteers, while others received placebo water for about 4 weeks. After the specified duration, significant changes in nervous activity were observed among those who received hydro-water in comparison to those who were administered a placebo.
The observations suggest that drinking hydrogen water consistently might help improve quality of life and maintain general good health.
Side Effects Of Drinking Hydrogen Water
Now that we have seen the diverse physical and mental health benefits of drinking hydrogen water, the next question that invariably arises is whether there are any disadvantages. In fact, I have been asked more questions about its possible side effects.
Drinking hydrogen water is generally safe, but some potential considerations include:
- Digestive Issues: Some people might experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as bloating or gas, especially if consumed in large quantities.
- Interactions with Medications: Hydrogen water could potentially interact with certain medications. It’s advisable to consult your doctor if you are on medication.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: Excessive consumption might affect electrolyte balance, particularly if it replaces other fluids.
- Unknown Long-term Effects: As hydrogen water is relatively new, we do not yet have that much clarity on its side effects.
My Experience With Hydrogen Water
After hearing about hydrogen water from Gary Brecka, I was curious but skeptical. So, I decided to test it for myself. Over the last few years, I’ve tried different hydrogen water bottles and even packaged ones to see if I could notice any real advantages.
One of the first things I observed was improved hydration—I felt more refreshed compared to drinking plain water, especially during long work hours. However, what stood out the most was its effect on energy levels and recovery.
I tested drinking hydrogen water before and after workouts, and after about two weeks, I noticed I wasn’t as exhausted after intense sessions. My muscles didn’t feel as sore, and I recovered faster than usual.
Beyond workouts, I also experienced a subtle mood boost. It wasn’t a drastic change, but I found myself feeling more balanced and less irritable, even during stressful days.
While I didn’t have any adverse effects, I didn’t notice drastic life-changing results either. Hydrogen water didn’t suddenly make me superhuman, but it did offer noticeable, albeit mild, benefits.
Would I continue drinking it? YES—but more as a hydration upgrade rather than a miracle cure.
Key Takeaways
Hydrogen water is pure water enhanced with additional H2 molecules, created by either saturating water with H2 gas or generating and infusing it in water in special containers.
It offers potential health benefits due to its antioxidant properties, which may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
Hydrogen water is particularly popular among athletes for its potential to improve athletic performance, muscle recovery, and endurance.
Studies suggest that this water might also improve metabolic health, support anti-aging efforts, and enhance skin conditions.
Mental well-being benefits include potential mood enhancement and reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms.
The concentration of H2 in hydrogen water can vary by brand, as there is no standardization yet.
