• Ionized water is water with mineral ions in it. Minerals in water become ionized when they either gain or lose electrons. All water found in nature has minerals in it.
• Ionized water in nature is ionized to some extent.
• Deionized water has no minerals in it. It is made by distilling water or through reverse osmosis.
• Water with no minerals in it is not natural water, all natural water has minerals in it.

Ionized alkaline water is also known as Electrolyzed Reduced Water because it has been shown in laboratory settings to reduce the effects of oxidation. The ability of ionized alkaline water to reduce oxidative damage is referred to as its Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP).

Oxidation – Happens when an acidic substance steals electrons from a substance. Oxidation will damage or destroy a substance; it causes cut apples to turn brown, and metal to rust. Acidic water oxidizes things – including body tissues and DNA, by stealing electrons from them. Doctors recommend antioxidant foods to stop the damage caused by oxidation.

Reduction – Happens when an antioxidant substance gives electrons to a substance such as free radicals that attack body tissues and DNA. The antioxidant reduces the free radicals ability to oxidize tissues and DNA. Medical science suggests this process help keep you healthy.

Ionized alkaline water is known by scientists as Electrolyzed Reduced Water, because it reduces oxidation. ERW has extra electrons which can reduce the ability of harmful substances to oxidize things like tissues and DNA. Research into the health benefits of the reduction caused by ERW is ongoing.

Ionized acidic water is known by scientists as Electrolyzed Oxidative Water (EOW) because it increases oxidation. It’s ability to increase oxidation gives EOW the ability to sanitize surfaces, tools, kitchen implements and more. When it’s made with salt, EOW becomes a powerful acidic water that replaces many toxic household cleaners.

Only when the blood has a normal alkaline reaction that our organs of digestion and assimilation and our glands can function normally, thus completely neutralizing and eliminating waste matter and toxins and maintaining bodily heat and electricity. If they are surrounded by strongly alkaline fluids, the cells of the body will be better preserved and will need less frequent replacement.

Tap water is a mixture of two kinds of ions: Mineral ions, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, and bicarbonate ions. Those mineral ions have a positive electromagnetic charge. Bicarbonate is dissolved CO2, it’s formed when CO2 is absorbed by water from the air. Bicarbonate has a negative electromagnetic charge.

Home water ionizers use electromagnetism to separate the positively charged minerals from the negatively charged bicarbonate. Water ionizers have charged plates, which act just like magnets, they attract the ions that have the opposite charge they do. When that happens, the ions pass through a membrane called a Bipolar Exchange Membrane. The membrane allows ions to pass through it, but it doesn’t allow other types of particles to cross.

The ion separation process makes both alkaline and acidic waters at the same time because the membrane separates the minerals from the bicarbonate. That makes the water inside the alkaline chamber into alkaline water, and the water inside the acidic chamber into acidic water.

The study, called Electrolyzed–Reduced Water Scavenges Active Oxygen Species and Protects DNA from Oxidative Damage examined ionized alkaline water’s ability to stop oxidative damage done to our DNA by harmful oxidants like free radicals. Oxidation by free radicals has been linked to premature aging and degenerative disease.

Read the full study here:

Alkaline foods and water are incredibly powerful things to consume. These foods and drinks are naturally higher in negative ions (among many other healthful things) which neutralize positive ions in the body. This can be confusing for a lot of people since the word "positive" has a... positive association, but in the case of food and water, negative ions are wonderful! Toxins are positively charged in nature and when met with negative ions, are rendered powerless. 

he positives of negative ions
A 2008 review [2] of over a 100 years of studies found evidence that negative ions could:

• boost immune system function
• help regulate sleep patterns and mood
• reduce stress
• increase metabolism of carbohydrates and fats
• kill or inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and mould, such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus

A 2013 review [3] found many people who exposed to increased amounts of positive ions reported:

• unpleasantness
• acute respiratory irritation
• joint symptoms

The negatives of positive ions
Positive ions, while also occurring in nature, are oftentimes created by human-made sources. They are emitted from many technological and mechanical devices and anything that’s some distance from nature.

Some familiar sources of positive ions in our personal space.

• Computers and screens
• Air-conditioned environments
• Microwave ovens
• Pollution
• Concreted areas
• Processed food (the further from nature than organic whole foods)

The influx of positive ions into our lives and bodies goes some way to explaining common ailments like tiredness, stress and lack of sleep.