Skip to Content

Does a Brita Alkaline Filter Make Water Alkaline?

does a brita filter make water alkaline

Brita Filters have been used for years by consumers looking to quench their thirst with clean, filtered water.

They do just that, clean and filter the water removing metals and impurities that we didn’t need in our water in the first place.

But one of the things some consumers are looking for in their clean water source is alkalinity. What about Brita filters; 

Does a Brita filter make water alkaline?

While Brita filters work wonders in filtering out the less desirable parts of many of our water or tap water sources such as toxins and metals, they do not actually make the water alkaline.

Allow us to explain.

Why Drink Alkaline Water?

Alkaline water is often sought out by consumers that are looking to neutralize, essential minerals or reduce the acid content in their bodies.

All that alkaline water is, is water that has a higher pH level than your typical straight source drinking water.

Your average drinking water is going to typically carry a neutral pH level of 7, whereas you will find that alkaline water has a pH level of 8 or 9.

The pH level is a way of measuring the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, such as a tap water, ranging from 0 to 14.

A low pH number, such as 2 would indicate that the substance in question is very acidic. A higher number like 11 or 12 would point to the water in question being very alkaline.

Your average water pH level, 7, indicates that it is a base.

What Makes Alkaline Water So Desirable?

brita water ph

While there are several independent studies that point to alkaline water having properties that improve the overall health of the consumer, there is not a wealth of research that proves whether or not it has those positive effects on a mass populace.

There is, however, evidence within those studies that point to numerous health benefits gained from consuming alkaline water like natural minerals.

Recent studies have even shown that drinking alkaline water increases whole blood viscosity, which contributes to healthier blood flow.

Alkaline water is also believed to have colon cleansing properties as well as supporting the immune system.

Proponents of alkaline water also believe based on studies that it helps detoxify the body.

While many of those studies are small-scale, they do point to health benefits gained from alkaline water versus regular Glass Of water.

You will find alkaline water supporters claim it helps them with everything from skin health and hydration to easier weight loss.

How Does a Brita Filter Work?

 

Many ask, do Brita filters work?

While Brita filters do not make water Alkaline, they do an awful lot in the way of making safer, more desirable drinking water.

Brita currently produces five filters that are all aimed at removing toxins and metals from water.

Standard alkaline Brita filter, for example, filters the water through a mesh screen with carbon granules that keep out black flecks while reducing chlorine, mercury, and odor. 

The alkaline water filter Brita features Ion Exchange Resin which keeps zinc, cadmium, and copper out of your water or tap water

In general, those metals that are in just about every water source are not great for us, and filtering them out can only have a positive effect.

Also popular and commonly used are their faucet filters. 

Brita’s faucet filters work to reduce benzene, lead, asbestos, chlorine, and particulates amongst other impurities found in water.

Does Alkaline Water Have Side Effects?

is filtered water alkaline

In general, alkaline water is considered to be a safe alternative to drinking regular water in plastic bottles, however, there is a low risk of possible side effects than other acidic drinks.

With that being said, the majority of these side effects are found to be the result of consuming an excess amount of alkaline water are not present in the vast majority of the alkaline water drinking population.

One of the things that people like so much about alkaline water is how it reduces and neutralizes stomach acids.

That is, after all, one of the main enticing factors about alkaline water in an alkaline water machine.

Overindulging in alkaline water, however, has been reported to reduce stomach acidity.

When your stomach acid content is reduced too much, you run the risk of potentially allowing bacteria and pathogens that would normally die with an acidic stomach to possibly enter your bloodstream.

This is not necessarily the end of the world, but if you switch to solely alkaline water and reduce your stomach acidity too significantly, you run the risk of letting some of that bad bacteria live.

Overindulgence in alkaline water can also cause gastrointestinal problems potentially.

While many alkaline water drinkers report that it helps their overall skin health and moisture, there is a small population of people that have reported skin irritation from it.

Perhaps the most and only possibly serious side effect reported from drinking too much alkaline water is a condition known as metabolic alkalosis.

Metabolic alkalosis occurs when there are increased bicarbonate concentrations in the body as the result of elevating the body’s pH level beyond the typical range as well as decreased hydrogen ions.

Metabolic alkalosis is not detectable when the symptoms are minor because they are simply not noticeable.

More serious cases, however, produce very noticeable symptoms that if you are experiencing, you should go to your primary caregiver immediately.

The most common symptoms of metabolic alkalosis are nausea and vomiting, muscle spasms/twitching, low potassium levels, tremors, and tingling in the hands, feet, and face.

It can also cause calcium deficiency, but if you are currently experiencing calcium deficiency it could very well be caused by your parathyroid gland.

It is rare and it is treatable.

Typically, medical professionals treat metabolic alkalosis by giving the patient fluid that is rich in chlorides.

You will find more people that have benefited positively from consuming alkaline water than those that have had adverse effects.

Where To Find Alkaline Water

ph of brita filtered water

Alkaline water is not hard to find and there are many sources for it available online today.

Besides being able to purchase alkaline water at your local grocery store, there are a number of filters that ionize and make your water alkaline.

Many of these filters work by ionizing the water and demineralizing it, making for the perfect and smooth alkaline water you are probably craving.

If Alkaline Water Filters are just simply not an option for you, there are a couple of simple “home remedies” that will get your water alkaline in no time.

Believe it or not, just adding a little baking soda will increase the alkalinity in your water significantly. After all, baking soda is a base.

If you would prefer to not add baking soda to your water for the fear of affecting its taste, you could try pH drops.

There are a number of pH drops available now that you simply drip into your water and enjoy the positive effects of.

If you are going to purchase bottled alkaline water, pay attention to what process they used to raise the pH level.

You will see that some use reverse osmosis, while others use electricity to sift through the induvial molecules in the water thus ionizing it.

Alkaline Water As Part Of A Healthy Lifestyle

glass of alkaline water

Ultimately, what drives many people towards alkaline water is the purported health benefits.

While we have detailed some of the potential and rare adverse side effects of drinking alkaline water, there is a good amount of studies and user reports out there that point to alkaline water as being good for you and welcome addition to a healthy lifestyle.

With that being said, read up on metabolic alkalosis and if you are experiencing any symptoms, cut back on or drop the alkaline water altogether and check in with your medical professional.

Brita Alkaline Water Filter

While Brita filters do not make water alkaline, they definitely provide a clean drinking water experience for the consumer.

If you are dead set on drinking alkaline water and are ready for the possible health benefits that you have read about, you should definitely look into filters and ionizers that are specifically geared towards water alkalinity.

Brita filters do plenty to make your drinking water or unfiltered water safe and rid of nasty metals, toxins, and impurities that not only make for worse-tasting water but are also unhealthy.

In that regard, Brita filters are a vastly useful and healthy addition to your faucet, bottle, or water dispenser. Alkaline filter water does not, however, ionize your water or make it alkaline.

Alkaline water is generally considered to not only be safe, but actually have very positive health benefits that have caused so many people to jump on the bandwagon and start drinking it.

It is important to remember that your water source is just as significant as whatever filter or process you are using to make your water alkaline. The PH of Brita filtered water is also stable.

With the help of a clean water source, a strong ionizing and alkalizing filter, baking soda, or pH drops, you can turn your water alkaline and embrace the benefits that many consumers have reported over the years. 

Remember to do your research and decide if alkaline water is best for you!