Are there benefits to hydrogen water?
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Photo by Alex Azabache
By: Mark Sisson
Hydrogen water is water that’s been infused with extra hydrogen gas to increase the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, drawing on years of research by medical professionals who have been exploring the benefits of inhaled hydrogen for cardiac patients, people going into and coming out of surgery, and other medical applications. Hydrogen gas can nullify many of the reactive oxygen species responsible for oxidative stress, and pre- and peri-operative hydrogen inhalation does appear to help patients recover more quickly and avoid many of the side effects inherent to surgery. But that’s inhaled hydrogen gas in a medical setting. Does commercial hydrogen water have similar benefits?
I was actually surprised to find that the research is fairly compelling. Let’s dig in.
Hydrogen water improves physical performance
Both acute and long-term hydrogen water intake can improve your performance in the gym, on the bike, or on the field.
One study had cyclists either drink hydrogen water or placebo water prior to cycling. Those who drank hydrogen water had more endurance and reported less fatigue during training.
Hydrogen water has also been shown to reduce lactate, an objective measure of fatigue, when consumed 30 minutes before a workout. Lactate builds up with exhaustive exercise—the harder and longer you go, the more lactate you produce and the more tired you get. The researchers hypothesized that hydrogen water reduces lactate by increasing mitochondrial respiration and ATP production.
However, another study found that a 7-day course of hydrogen water only improved exercise performance in trained athletes. Non-athletes saw no benefit. To really see the benefits of hydrogen water for physical performance, you probably need to be doing serious training.
If you are doing serious training or competing and need to maintain performance despite fatigue, hydrogen water can help. One recent study found that drinking hydrogen water rescued the antioxidant capacity of athletes engaged in three unbroken days of intense physical training. Moreover, they experienced no performance decline.
Hydrogen water improves metabolic health
Metabolic syndrome is the most common illness in the country. Your average diabetic, hypertensive adult with low HDL levels and high triglycerides who’s due for a heart attack any moment? He’s got metabolic syndrome.
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