Q. My coworker is trying to sell me a machine to make ionized water. Is this a scam?

A. What these companies are selling is an overpriced machine (costing $1,500 to $3,000) that is supposed make "ionized" alkaline water. Marketers claim that ionized water can reverse aging, lower blood pressure, prevent migraines and increase energy. Promoters often state that obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer are caused by an overly acidic body, and that alkaline water can fix this. These claims contradict the basic laws of chemistry and physiology.

Chemist Stephen Lower calls ionized water "snake oil on tap." The ionizing machine attaches to your tap so it can separate water into its acidic and alkaline components by running an electric current through it. The problem is, pure water is a poor conductor of electricity and therefore will not actually turn alkaline with these devices. If you really wanted alkaline water, it would be cheaper to just add some baking soda to water.

Do we actually need alkaline water to rid our bodies of acid? Contrary to popular belief, eating acidic foods will not cause your blood or body cells to become more acidic. During digestion, the stomach becomes very acidic due to the release of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is more acidic than lemon, vinegar, or any other food. This acidic environment is needed for digestive enzymes to break down food properly. If you were to drink alkaline water, these same stomach acids would neutralize it immediately.

When the stomach contents enter the intestine, they are made alkaline by pancreatic secretions — so all water you drink eventually becomes alkaline anyway!

Acidity and alkalinity are measured on a scale from 0 to 14, known as pH. The body maintains a pH range of 7.35 to 7.45. Our bodies have systems in place to keep pH in check. Whenever pH shifts outside the healthy range, the body automatically brings itself back into balance.

For example, if your blood pH starts to become acidic, your breathing rate speeds up, forcing you to blow out more carbon dioxide. This makes your blood less acidic. Neutralizing substances in the blood are also activated. Lastly, your kidneys eliminate excess acidic substances in the urine.

What about claims that ionized water will give you vitality and health? Could it be the fact that you are drinking more water than before that is improving your health? Think about it.