The reason that alkaline water machines must use platinum is: Platinum (along with titanium) is a very hard & dense metal and will not break down and leach into your alkaline ionized water… even over time. So the electrodes will virtually last forever, and Platinum catalyzes [speeds up] the electrolysis process allowing water to ionize instantly as the water passes through the alkaline water machine’s electrolysis chamber. A water ionizer (alkaline water machine) wouldn’t ionize water well at all without platinum. Read more about water ionizer plates.

There are several water ionizers that I think are in the category of “best”. As long as the water ionizer is manufactured properly, can achieve a wide enough range of pH, produces an abundance of antioxidants at each of the alkaline pH-levels, and has an adequate warranty I would call it one of the best ones. Then there are other features to consider… You’re invited to stop-by my “Water Ionizer Comparison Chart” page.

You should start slowly. Set the controls to the lowest alkaline level. Assuming the water agrees with you, increase the amount you drink and the level of ionization intensity. High levels of alkalinity — up to 9.5-10.0 — are best for drinking water; the highest levels can be used for cooking. Use the “Purified Water” setting for taking any medications that your doctor advises not to be taken with alkaline water. Do not drink the acid water that comes out of the lower spout. Read more about Water Ionizer Use.

PH comes from Latin and translates to “power of Hydrogen” or “potential Hydrogen”. It basically means how acid, alkaline or neutral something is. Hydrogen has the ability to combine with oxygen in different ways and by doing so it can carry an extra electron or not, which makes the molecule alkaline or acidic, and thus have either a negative charge or a positive charge. On a scale of 1 – 14, 1 – 6 would be ranges of acidity (with 1 being the most acid); 8 – 14 would be ranges of alkalinity (with 14 being the most alkaline); and 7 would be neutral. Our saliva should be slightly alkaline (a little above 7.3) for us to be in a healthy state. Read about our Free Urine/Saliva pH Test Kit.