Water is an essential drink for our body to function without any hitch, and roughly fifty-sixty percent of our bodies are made up of water. Water ranks as the best drink for our body among the varieties of beverages available, and the recommended amount ranges between two-three liters/per day.
But enough about our regular and plain water, there are several varieties of water, e.g., mineral, sparkling, and so on; however, have you heard of black water? And no, not the murky water, but the drink is known as black water.
It brings us to the question of what black water drinks are.
Black water drink is also known as black alkaline water. It gets its color from the fulvic acid and has a high pH, which explains the “Alkaline” term in the name. It has other minerals and nutrients, which makes it healthier than regular water.
Here we will discuss the ingredients in black water, its taste, and the benefits and drawbacks of drinking black water (is it good for you?). Let’s dive in right away.
Black Water: Ingredients, Flavor, and More
There are numerous varieties of water out there, but black water has been in the limelight for quite some time, and celebrities entering the array add to its hype.
Black water drink is also a premium type of water and can cost you approximately three to four times the price of a regular (16 oz.) mineral water bottle.
Ingredients
Starting with the ingredients, the backbone of the black water drink is fulvic acid, with black color and a pH between eight-nine. Some other minerals are also present, e.g., sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and more, in this drink, with some plant-based nutrients, which can promote healthy body functions.
Fulvic Acid
Fulvic acid is the main component that governs the benefits of our black water drink. The origin of fulvic acid explains the significant role played by this acid in the past to maintain healthy functions in plants and humans.
Fulvic acid helps the biological functions of plants and humans by transporting, breaking down, and absorbing these bio-nutrients. Also, Shilajit, which contains a high amount of fulvic acid, has been traditionally used as a medicine in China and in Ayurvedic medicine.
However, our soil has almost become devoid of the fulvic acid it naturally possessed. This scholarly article studies the effects of chemical treatment on the rhizosphere, which is believed to be the cause of the loss of fulvic acid in present-day soil.
Taste
There are two broad categories when it comes to the taste of black water drinks.
The taste of black water can be pretty much the same as your run-off-the-mill water, with color being the deceiving factor.
Other black waters may taste more of an earthy flavor with a hint of bitterness. Though it will start to taste normal after you down a few bottles and you get used to it.
Benefits
Several advantages are associated with the intake of black water.
1. Can Help You Live Longer
Heavy metals are toxic to our bodies and can enter our bodies through our diets. Fulvic acid contributes to the breakdown of these and helps our bodies get rid of them. Conversely, it aids the body in absorbing beneficial nutrients readily and has a beneficial effect.
2. Improves Gut Health
Perhaps the most common and sought-after effect of black water is the improvement of gut health. It improves the overall health of your gut, maintains healthy functionality by aiding in toxin removal, and prevents adverse conditions, e.g., acid reflux.
3. Immune System Boosting
Another plus point of drinking black water is the boost in the immune system. The blood pH shouldn’t be acidic for that, and black water plays a crucial role in ensuring it stays between 7-7.5.
4. Improves Bone Health
Black water has seen some popularity on the bone health side too. Because of the presence of calcium with other essential salts, it helps to prevent the deterioration of bones, which can lead to several conditions, e.g., osteoporosis.
5. Other Benefits
Also, black water has seen some light in cancer treatment as it helps tackle cancerous cells by promoting the activity of anti-cancer cells. A relationship between drinking black water and an increase in fertility has also been viewed.
Black water drink can be an alternative to energy drinks as it provides the energy boost necessary to keep you going. However, unlike energy drinks that contain caffeine, it doesn’t, in turn, also promote sleep.
The fulvic acid in black water can reduce inflammation, so it can be used as a preventive measure or hamper the adverse effects of allergies.
Drawbacks
Unlike the numerous benefits of black water, the demerits are few and far between, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t any. All these side effects arise due to the improper consumption or overconsumption of black water. Therefore, to keep things healthy, drink black water in moderation.
- The first and foremost demerit relates to the alteration of pH level in the blood. It can result in a condition known as alkalosis.
- The effect of fulvic acid in black water on the immune system goes both ways. It can worsen diseases related to the immune system because of the boost in the immune system and spike up the risk of these diseases, e.g., Lupus.
- While rare, there are instances where drinking black water may result in vomiting and nausea. So, starting slowly or based on your doctor’s recommendation is your go-to option.
While several benefits and demerits are discussed here, the point to be considered is that further research is needed to ascertain the benefits and demerits of black water.
Takeaway
Before wrapping up, now you know all there is to know about black water. This black drink is your plain old water with added benefits. It is a black liquid with several beneficial properties for your gut health, skin, and other bodily functions.
Also, to reiterate, black water drink is black-colored alkaline water (high pH) and contains fulvic acid and other essential minerals. It also helps absorb, transport, and break down bio-nutrients in the body.
While research is still needed to fully grasp black water’s side effects or plus points, it won’t hurt to try it for yourself, as celebs have also jumped on this bandwagon.
