Alkaline water is quackery

[MillCreek]

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/oct/29/alkaline-water-cure-bs-science-beyonce-tom-brady

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/living-water/

https://www.apswater.com/article.asp?id=198&title=Alkaline+Water+Hoax+is+Simple+Science

I was at a local gun show recently, and one of the table holders was selling a device to create 'alkaline water' for $ 1200 (!). He had many colorful posters and brochures touting the benefits of alkaline water.  I was interested to see that many of the brochures were written by people with no scientific credentials, or were from chiropractors or homeopaths. I have an email in to the gun show management company to ask if they have any criteria for health-related products being sold at their show.

[Fly320s]

Ugh.  Alkaline water is, like, so basic.  Oh Em Gee. 

[Hawkmoon]

Ugh.  Alkaline water is, like, so basic.  Oh Em Gee. 

Don't quit your day job.

[MechAg94]

So is that like when you are walking through the desert and you come upon the water that has skeletons around it? 

[230RN]

millcreek said,

I have an email in to the gun show management company to ask if they have any criteria for health-related products being sold at their show.

Yes.  They have to have the table fee.

And not to start an argument with  you, but let's keep in mind that a lot of curatives and palliatives in modern practice have come from quite "unscientific" and "folk practice" sources.  

Ascorbic acid and salts of salicylic acid come to mind as examples, of course.

I'm not defending that particular instance, just noting that in essence, engineering begets science as often as science begets engineering. 

Terry

[K Frame]

Fuh!

I'll stick with my raw water, thank you!

[Ron]

millcreek said,
 

Yes.  They have to have the table fee.

And not to start an argument with  you, but let's keep in mind that a lot of curatives and palliatives in modern practice have come from quite "unscientific" and "folk practice" sources.  

Ascorbic acid and salts of salicylic acid come to mind as examples, of course.

I'm not defending that particular instance, just noting that in essence, engineering begets science as often as science begets engineering. 

Terry

Pretty sure engineering begets science more frequently than vice versa historically.

They are two different sides of the same coin though in regards to technological progress.

I saw a bottle of alkaline water sitting in the break room at work. None of us there knew what its supposed benefits were supposed to be.

[bedlamite]

Don't quit your day job.

He didn't pass the litmus test.

[230RN]

Me:

I'm not defending that particular instance, just noting that in essence, engineering begets science as often as science begets engineering.

Ron:

Pretty sure engineering begets science more frequently than vice versa historically.

They are two different sides of the same coin though in regards to technological progress.

I saw a bottle of alkaline water sitting in the break room at work. None of us there knew what its supposed benefits were supposed to be.

The "as often as" was a judgement call on my part as a kind of default.  In actuality, I'm not sure at what point the "begetting" equilibrium lies.  I suspect that this "point" depends a lot on history, as you pointed out.

However, one implication is that most science actually originates from anecdotes.  I think Asimov used the example of science usually starting with the remark, "Gee, that's odd."

The alkaline water keeps some of those darned protons from running around loose in your tummy.

Terry, 230RN

[Hawkmoon]

I saw a bottle of alkaline water sitting in the break room at work. None of us there knew what its supposed benefits were supposed to be.

It's moderately beneficial for people with ulcers or acid reflux.

[TechMan]

Fuh!

I'll stick with my raw water, thank you!

Be careful raw water can contain Giardiasis or other such diseases.  What you want is safe and clean GMO water.

[K Frame]

Be careful raw water can contain Giardiasis or other such diseases.  What you want is safe and clean GMO water.

LIES! BIG PHARMA/BIG WATER/BIG GOVERNMENT LIES!

[Scout26]

Nah, what you want is Glutin-free, Organic water...

[MikeB]

Was this booth next to the guy selling dehydrated emergency water rations?

[Brad Johnson]

Nah, what you want is Glutin-free, Organic water...

At the store yesterday and I saw a bottle of shampoo with "Gluten Free!" in big, gold-foil letters on the front. Yes, shampoo. Shampoo!

Is there some subset of humanity with an overwhelming urge to drink the stuff... ?  

When the "nitrogen in your tires is de wundefullist!" craze was at full swing I took a special sadistic glee in telling people who'd just announced they spent a hundred bucks on a tire inflation that I used a 78% nitrogen mix that I'd found for free, then watching them go into mental meltdown trying to figure it out.

Brad

[K Frame]

"When the "nitrogen in your tires is de wundefullist!" craze was at full swing I took a special sadistic glee in telling people who'd just announced they spent a hundred bucks on a tire inflation that I used a 78% nitrogen mix that I'd found for free, then watching them go into mental meltdown trying to figure it out."

You're an evil little man.

I admire that.

[dogmush]

I was at a local gun show recently, and one of the table holders was selling a device to create 'alkaline water' for $ 1200 (!). He had many colorful posters and brochures touting the benefits of alkaline water.  I was interested to see that many of the brochures were written by people with no scientific credentials, or were from chiropractors or homeopaths. I have an email in to the gun show management company to ask if they have any criteria for health-related products being sold at their show.

So it mixed some baking soda into the water?  Tell me was he selling very many of these machines?  I feel like I could manufacture something that does the same thing and sells for say....$1000.

[French G.]

I used to have horrible digestive problems whenever I traveled. Finally decided that it was because home base was a limestone well of the turn the shower heads into stalactites variety. I was used to drinking this and my stomach was pumping out massive acid to compensate.

[MechAg94]

Nah, what you want is Glutin-free, Organic water...

....and now with added Lithium salts!

[230RN]

I used to have horrible digestive problems whenever I traveled. Finally decided that it was because home base was a limestone well of the turn the shower heads into stalactites variety. I was used to drinking this and my stomach was pumping out massive acid to compensate.

I break up a Tums tablet and put it in with the ground coffee before turning the coffeepot on.  I've been doing this for so long I've forgotten why.  At this point, it's just superstitious behavior.  I do know that strong coffee from outside sources will give me a headache.


If you want to see some snake-oil type ads, watch TV from Over-The-Air sources.  Right now, there's an ad on the telly for "Super-Beets," which purport to supply you with nitric oxide for heart health.

Last time I had any beets, years ago, they scared the hell out of me when I looked at my turds the next day.

Not sayin' yea and not sayin' nay on the super beets and nitric oxide, but sayin' I'll wait and see.

Terry

[Firethorn]

And not to start an argument with  you, but let's keep in mind that a lot of curatives and palliatives in modern practice have come from quite "unscientific" and "folk practice" sources.  

Ascorbic acid and salts of salicylic acid come to mind as examples, of course.

I love this video in relation to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnbFgRv8-Kw

"Herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years.  But then we tested it, and the stuff that worked became medicine."

[dm1333]

At the store yesterday and I saw a bottle of shampoo with "Gluten Free!" in big, gold-foil letters on the front. Yes, shampoo. Shampoo!

Is there some subset of humanity with an overwhelming urge to drink the stuff... ?  

When the "nitrogen in your tires is de wundefullist!" craze was at full swing I took a special sadistic glee in telling people who'd just announced they spent a hundred bucks on a tire inflation that I used a 78% nitrogen mix that I'd found for free, then watching them go into mental meltdown trying to figure it out.

Brad

Sure, a group has moved on from just eating tide pods.

[BlueStarLizzard]

At the store yesterday and I saw a bottle of shampoo with "Gluten Free!" in big, gold-foil letters on the front. Yes, shampoo. Shampoo!

Is there some subset of humanity with an overwhelming urge to drink the stuff... ?  

When the "nitrogen in your tires is de wundefullist!" craze was at full swing I took a special sadistic glee in telling people who'd just announced they spent a hundred bucks on a tire inflation that I used a 78% nitrogen mix that I'd found for free, then watching them go into mental meltdown trying to figure it out.

Brad

Got you beat. Gluten free DOG SHAMPOO. Uh huh.

[Strings]

It's moderately beneficial for people with ulcers or acid reflux.

This is kinda where some of the problems start

"Hey... this helped me with <insert medical problem>. You should try it for <insert whole host of unrelated problems>

[Hawkmoon]

I liked the stuff we carried on hikes and overnight camping trips when I was a Boy Scout. Dehydrated H2O -- saved a lot of weight in your pack, and when you needed it, you just added water.