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Dr. Andrew Weil has responded again to a question about Ionized Water and whether it is healthy for someone to consume. This time someone has called it “Kangen Water” and asked the question of Dr. Weil: “What do you know about the efficacy of Kangen water?” Published September 13, 2010.
A multi-level marketing company known as Enagic has renamed Ionized Water (electrolyzed water) Kagen Water in an attempt to make claims that the water their water ionizers creates is superior to ionized water, which it is not. Kangen in Japanese means “return to the origins”, meaning that Ionized Water will help you return to the origins of your natural state of healthiness, which is exactly what Ionized Water does.
The mark “Kangen Water®” has been used by Enagic Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation(“Enagic Japan”), in the general promotion of electrolytic water generators which cancontrol the pH level of water. Enagic Japan registered the mark Kangen Water® with theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office, whose registration number is 2990706. Enagic Japanhas licensed the mark Kangen Water® to Enagic USA. Inc.(“Enagic USA”). It’s best to survey the market when purchasing a water ionizer for pricing and quality.
Dr. Weil: “I’m sorry, but I am prejudiced against all such pyramid marketing schemes and urge you to avoid them, whatever the products are.”
We must not let “pyramid marketing schemes” (MLM’s) dictate to us what is valid in the world of health and this is because most MLM’s are legitimate, even though some of us may not like the way they do business. If you hear about Ionized Water from a Kagen dealer then my suggestion would be to check the Internet for what else might possibly be out there that doesn’t cost $4000.
Dr. Weil: “the notion that it is somehow protective of health and can prevent disease by balancing the body’s pH. . . . the human body needs absolutely no help in adjusting its pH. Normally, the pH of blood and most body fluids is near seven, which is close to neutral. This acid-base balance is under very tight physiologic control because all of the chemical reactions that maintain life depend on it. Unless you have serious respiratory or kidney problems, body pH will remain in balance no matter what you eat or drink.”
Dr. Weil is claiming here that body pH essentially remains the same no matter what we put into it because of buffers. I wish that was so, but I am afraid that Dr. Weil is entirely wrong here. I agree that blood pH is always stable at 7.25 – 7.45, but his statement includes “most bodily fluids,” meaning fluids other than blood. The blood immediately cleanses itself all acid waste and toxins into bodily tissues that enters it. All disease thrives in an acid environment in the body and will not live in a more alkaline, or neutral, pH of about 7.0, which should be measured through the urine and not the blood or saliva. One must test their urine each morning upon waking for one month to get a moving average of their body pH. I am quite surprised at Dr. Weil’s assessment of blood vs. body pH. I cannot say that his medical training has served him well in that regard.
Dr. Weil: “I’ve even seen claims that it can cure obesity, high blood pressure and breast cancer.”
Because someone has misrepresented what Ionized Water is capable of doing for our health does not change the truth about what Ionized Water actually is. Ionized Water is the healthiest substance that we can possibly put into our bodies that mimics most of the qualities that raw (uncooked) fruits and vegetables have. They both have an abundance of electrons, a negative ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential), and are alkaline and detoxifying. However, no food or water is capable of healing our bodies of any disease. Rather it is what the body does with these raw foods and water that allows the body to heal itself. The body is capable of healing itself of any disease if you stop putting the wrong things into it and start putting the right things into it. My Seven Component Health Protocol explains exactly how we can do that.
Dr. Weil: “As for water, you should consider the fact that alkaline water is common throughout the western states but to my knowledge it has not protected anyone from the diseases common in our population.”
This is a fair statement for Dr. Weil to make however we need to recognize that it would be impossible to determine one way or another without comprehensive studies being conducted of people who drank this water verses those who did not and lived in the same location. Only then could we determine whether Dr. Weil’s assessment of naturally occurring alkaline water in the Southwestern US was indeed healthy for a person to consume or whether it had no substantial effect.
Dr. Weil: “Bottom line: The health claims for water ionizers and for alkaline water are bogus”.
I doubt Dr. Weil has ever consumed Ionized Water because if he would drink it each day for a month he would not be making this statement. Ionized Water is a powerful antioxidant that alkalizes and removes acid waste from the body. It is also extremely hydrating and consequently detoxifying because it pushes toxins (poisons) out of the body. It has two antioxidant properties, an abundance of electrons and a negative ORP. If Dr. Weil does not recognize these antioxidant properties that exist within Ionized Water then he does not recognize the most fundamental tenants of natural health because both of these antioxidants are found in nature and only in nature can true health be found.
Like the vast majority of medical professionals who know a lot about medicine and next to nothing about health, Dr. Weil should stick to commenting on subjects he actually studied and consumed himself. The evidence of the miraculous health properties of Ionized Water is abundant and irrefutable.
I believe that Dr. Weil should take the advice of Walt Whitman who said: “You must travel it yourself.”
There are even more esoteric recordings based on “space sounds” – electromagnetic waves detected by the Voyager and other spacecraft. These recordings can definitely help us achieve a relaxed state, Alfa, where the dominant frequency of the brain slows down and becomes more powerful. This can be very beneficial in the fight against hypertension, and opens the door to deeper levels of mind. But it is only the beginning of what is possible today with the sound.
Thank you very much for the post and for publishing a good site. I have been hunting for honest info on natural health and can put this information to use. I have found it difficult to locate honest information, as there are tons of web sites with innaccurate articles. Definitely keep the good information coming!
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Really? This article is 3 years old? Why are we giving it more attention now?
I’m totally confused as to what “water” to get that would be healthy for me and within my small budget (Social Security only and Food Stamps). Obviously Kangen trades on its name. Do you know an Ionized water company or source that I could either buy the water from directly or the kit. Thanks so much for your blog.
denise
nyc
oh, I do not agree with this Dr. Weil.
i could go on for hours, but why even bother.
You obviously want to call all companies pyramids.
I bet you have insurance. Your insurance company must be one too because its net marketing. along with the foods you eat. ect… just on a different level.
I am not sure about the company you so badly hate that you had to do a site on to warn people, and if in your past you tried to make money through a net marketing company and because you failed maybe, you think they are all pyramids or something, however, I know your information said is not all true.
Maybe your one of these doctors who tell people they do not need vitamins when it is proven over and over again people today are depleted more than ever, and there is not way to get what the body needs with all the processed foods today. Or they type of doctor who is a family doctor and wants to treat all his patients in everything instead of spending them to a specialist who do know what is best for them. Which is why they are specialist.
You remind me of my doctor who said all is fine until I got worse. I finally went to other specialist and found out I had major vitamin deficiencies. The other doctor sounded just like this one on this page. Good thing i found good up to date doctors or I would be crippled by now or dead.
I do not know. I just not buying your expertize after what I read. Although I agree that if the company has some serious product issues in quality control it seems from people reviews online on a company or two. That I can see being addressed.
Misleading people today with so many other health issues that they are OK drinking normal food and water today is NOT being a good doctor in my eyes.
although I did agree on a couple of things. There are those who make alot of cure false claims. (wish site had an edit button)… would prefer to edit some of my above statement on a couple of things. However, is ok.
I see nothing wrong with a net marketing company. I do see value in a high alkaline water system. If it can be done with a quality product where a company will backs up their products, I find that a good thing. If its net marketing, i personally find that even more attractive.
I got very sick for 10 yrs. I had a residual income, raising 2 sons as a single mother. If not for that, we would have been homeless, so I am all for building a residual income.
I am not part of this co so I dont know. I do think low molecule alkaline water just as important as healthy fresh food diet vs process foods. And just as important as exercise or keeping mobile for longevity.