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Some people have a reverse osmosis system and a hydrogen generator to further enrich their tap water with hydrogen and filter it. They primarily hope to gain health benefits from this. Today, let’s take a look at why enriching water with hydrogen is pointless and why water only needs to be filtered if the drinking water regulations in your area are insufficient.

How is water enriched with hydrogen?

Hydrogen-enriched water is obtained through electrolysis, in which water is split into hydrogen and oxygen through an electric charge. The water is enriched with molecular hydrogen, which is supposed to act as an antioxidant. There are various methods for enriching hydrogen in water, including the use of hydrogen generators, hydrogen ionizers, hydrogen tablets or powders.

What do manufacturers of hydrogen-enriched water promise?

Some manufacturers claim that drinking hydrogen-enriched water can detoxify the body, balance the acidity in the body, and even strengthen the immune system. Others claim that it improves athletic performance and accelerates recovery after training. Some also believe that it can help to heal or prevent certain diseases and ailments.

What is needed to produce filtered hydrogen-enriched water

• Reverse Osmosis Device
  A reverse osmosis device is often used as a pre-treatment for water used in a hydrogen generator. It is a water filter that separates water from dissolved minerals, salts, and other impurities through a semi-permeable membrane. It is often used to purify drinking water and can help to improve the taste and quality of water. However, it has no effect on the pH or hydrogen concentration in the water.

• Hydrogen generator
  A hydrogen generator is a device that produces hydrogen gas. There are different types of hydrogen generators, but in general, hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, in which water is split into oxygen and hydrogen through an electric voltage. Some hydrogen generators can also produce hydrogen through the chemical reaction between certain metals and water.

Hydrogen generators are used in various applications, including hydrogen production for fuel cells, use in chemistry and metallurgy, and use as a reducing agent in the electronics industry.

And hydrogen is also marketed as a dietary supplement by pseudoscientists, resulting in devices on the market that produce hydrogen-enriched water that promises health benefits.

Why it’s not necessary to filter water everywhere

In many countries, including Austria and Germany, tap water is of high quality and can be safely consumed. The drinking water regulation sets strict requirements for the quality of tap water, and regular checks ensure that these standards are maintained. Generally, tap water is free of harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals and contains important minerals such as calcium and magnesium. A reverse osmosis device is therefore usually not necessary, as it is not only expensive to purchase and maintain but can also lead to the removal of important minerals from the water. Those who have concerns can simply boil the tap water or use an inexpensive filter to remove any impurities.

Why hydrogen-enriched water does not offer health benefits?

There is no compelling scientific evidence that hydrogen-enriched water actually has significant health benefits or can cure diseases. There are few studies that have shown that hydrogen-enriched water can have antioxidant effects and reduce inflammation.

However, these studies have methodological limitations that significantly impair their meaningfulness. Some of these studies have a small number of participants or do not have a control group, which means that the results may not be representative or may have been influenced by other factors. The studies also often have a too short observation time to provide meaningful results.

There are also concerns about the independence of some studies, as they may have been funded by manufacturers or sellers of hydrogen-enriched water. This can lead to a bias effect, where the results may be portrayed more positively than they actually are.

As I always say, it is important to carefully evaluate the quality and independence of studies and not draw premature conclusions from the results.

The current data suggests that the benefits of hydrogen-enriched water are not significant enough to be statistically relevant. Upon comprehensive examination of the available data, there is currently no compelling argument for the benefits of hydrogen-enriched water.

Closing Words

Currently, there is no compelling data to support the notion that enriching water with hydrogen provides a health benefit. If further and more comprehensive studies are conducted, we can discuss this topic again. Given the limited data available, I personally would not spend significant sums on such equipment.

However, one thing is certain: It is always a good idea to drink enough fluids every day! 🥛🥛🥛