Hydrogen water is water that has been infused with molecular hydrogen. Molecular hydrogen refers to the molecule H2, which is the gaseous form of hydrogen. It influences nearly every organ in the body because it holds a neutral charge, and is small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier, the placenta, and even into cells and their nuclei/mitochondria. This minuscule molecule (the smallest in existence!) is extremely bioavailable, which means that H2 is easy for our bodies to absorb within its various organ systems. 🫀🫁🧠

Because this molecule grooves well with our bodies, it is non-toxic. It also doesn't leave behind any byproducts as a result of its actions on the body. When combined with water, H2 finds itself surrounded by water molecules (the hydrogen doesn't combine with the water molecules), thus forming aqueous H2. This is what we consume when we drink hydrogen water. 🚰

The minimum effective concentration of H2 varies depending upon the who you ask, with a generally accepted range of .5 parts per million (ppm, equivalent to mg/L) and 1.6 ppm.

How Does it Function?

Molecular hydrogen does not function like a typical antioxidant, in that it doesn't donate an electron in order to neutralize free radicals.

It exerts antioxidant-like effects by specifically reducing hydroxyl (OH-) radicals, which are the most cytotoxic (toxic to cells), while leaving other reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are beneficial to the cell.

How is it Made?

What are its Benefits?

• One of the biggest functions that H2 carries out in the body is its antioxidant-like function. H2 both neutralizes and prevents free radicals by upregulating our natural antioxidant production.  This prevents the excessive accumulation of free radicals throughout the body, which reduces oxidative stress.

• This stress accumulates and leads to age-related disease (and on a larger scale - death). H2 has shown promise in treating conditions that come with age, but it also has been studied as a potential preventative/treatment for cancer and stroke.

🎀 H2 has already been shown to decrease tumor generation, and is currently being studied as part of the treatment for certain types of breast cancer.

• H2 increases the production of proteins in the body that control inflammation, resulting in it being a great anti-inflammatory agent. It can help aid recovery when it comes to general health and wound healing, but it also comes in handy when recovering from sports and exercise.
  • Notably, it was found that the anti-inflammatory properties of H2 made it a great candidate in treating pulmonary conditions such as asthma, COPD, and other diseases. 🫁

• As mentioned before, H2 passes through the blood-brain barrier, and therefore exerts a direct effect on the nervous system. Thus, H2 has been found to aid in treating and preventing neurodegeneration. 🧠

💭H2 is currently being considered as part of treatment protocol for diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

• H2 is naturally produced by our guts. Increasing the volume of H2 poses a beneficial effect on the gut microbiome, thus supporting the growth of good bacteria.

• • Moreover, there has been evidence that H2 modulates butyrate production in the body, which prevents leaky gut, increases insulin sensitivity, and prevents cancer development in the colon. 
  • Because of its glucose and insulin modulatory properties, H2 also provides anti-diabetic effects, specifically in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. 

• H2 helps maintain cardiac health, while treating various cardiac pathologies, such as ischemic stroke.

• H2 also readily diffuses through the abdominal cavity, and has been found localizing in adipose tissue.
  • Consuming H2 water that utilizes platinum results in the suppression of lipid peroxidation (i.e. it decreases a particularly damaging type of oxidation that occurs within fat tissue).
  • This helps to treat and prevent insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

• H2 is also beneficial for joint, hair, and nail health. When taken externally (bathing, misting, etc.), it stimulates type 1 collagen production in the skin (and is more bioavailable than collagen supplements).

• Externally, H2 helps to treat wounds and heal acne, eczema and UV damage, amongst other skin ailments.

What are others "selling"?

One of the reasons why I chose to partner with Healthy Hydration was because of their transparency about the benefits of their products. They encourage customers and affiliates to test their water, and keep up with the current science. ⚛️

Also, they do not forget that the integrity of their products relies on their ability to provide items that do not work against the consumer in some way, as other company's products do (ex. those that use filters that leach microplastics into the unit). Healthy Hydration understands the importance of providing adequate, microplastic-free tap water filtration, and not just molecular hydrogen. 👏🏼

Lastly, there have been many metaphysical-ish attempts at explaining the seemingly miraculous properties of molecular hydrogen. Healthy Hydration sticks to the science when it comes to advertising their products, letting consumers explore their own deeper explanations and experiences without making claims that either can't be proven, or can be disproven.

(And What About Those Cheap Hydrogen Bottles on Amazon? 👀)

That was one of the first questions that I asked after initially deciding to invest in hydrogen water. So I hopped onto Amazon and found dozens of variations. However, I found that many people have also tested these devices to measure their ppm of molecular hydrogen, and posted those finding online as reviews. And I realized that many of these bottles don't even meet the threshold for therapeutic use, or don't disclose their hydrogen ppm. 🙃 

When it come to certain health investments, I prefer to go straight to a source that encourages you to test. Healthy Hydration was a great option for my family when it comes to transparency like that.