Is Hydrogen Water a Hoax?

Medically reviewed by Emily Callahan, MPH, RDN

Contrary to popular belief, the most epic coupling of all time isn’t peanut butter and jelly. It’s not even peanut butter and chocolate. It’s hydrogen and oxygen.

See, when two hydrogen atoms love each other very much, they bind with an oxygen atom and you get water. And that spicy threesome, my friends, is basically the foundation of life.

The human body is approximately 60% water — we can’t live without it. From the skin on your scalp to the tissue in your toes — your body depends on H2O to function properly.

That said, sometimes the classic water cooler can feel a bit basic considering all the flavors and vitamin enhancements that are out there for hydration these days.

One of the latest options is hydrogen water. You’ve probably seen advertisements or reels on social media. The enhanced H2O blend is said to offer a wide range of health benefits that may increase energy, boost immunity and decrease inflammation that leads to chronic disease.

But as the old saying goes: You can’t believe everything user Thirsty97 posts online.

Here’s what you need to know about the potential health benefits of hydrogen water.

What is hydrogen water?

Hydrogen water is regular H2O with added molecular hydrogen gas (H2). It’s also called hydrogen-rich water or hydrogen-infused water.

The idea is that the added hydrogen isn’t bonded to oxygen, so your body will absorb its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may benefit your health.

Hydrogen water benefits

Research is ongoing regarding the health benefits of drinking hydrogen water. But there are some small studies that link the H2-boosted beverage to certain health perks.

Reduced inflammation: A 2020 study found that adults who drank 1.5 liters of hydrogen water a day for a month had reduced inflammatory responses.

Improved athletic performance: A 2021 study of trained and untrained cyclists found that drinking hydrogen water for seven days improved performance and reduced fatigue for trained cyclists — but not for the untrained cyclists. Another study found that drinking hydrogen-rich water before working out reduced fatigue, especially toward the end of the exercise.

Better aging: Hydrogen may reduce oxidative stress, which can speed up aging. One study found that drinking hydrogen water for six months had a positive effect on many factors associated with aging, including an increase in choline, a neurotransmitter that regulates memory, mood and muscle control.

Improved mental health: One study found that drinking hydrogen water daily for a month led to improvements in mood and anxiety.

Improved heart health: Hydrogen has known anti-inflammatory properties that may improve heart health. One study found that participants who drank hydrogen water for 10 weeks decreased the “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood.

In addition to drinking hydrogen-rich water, one study found that hydrogen water baths and applying hydrogen water-soaked towels to the face improved the appearance of wrinkles and blotches on skin.

Hydrogen water negative side effects

Overall, hydrogen water is considered safe and most studies have not reported significant negative side effects, according to the Food and Drug Administration. However, the amount of hydrogen added to products isn’t regulated and there’s no industry guideline for how much added hydrogen is needed to achieve potential health benefits.

How to make hydrogen water

You can add more H to your H2O in various ways. Hydrogen water is available in pre-packaged products and beverages. You can also add hydrogen tablets to your water or purchase a high-tech speciality water bottle or water system to infuse it for you.

Is hydrogen water good for you?

The research behind hydrogen water appears promising, but much more research, including longer-term studies of a range of different types of people, is needed to better understand the potential health benefits. And purchasing hydrogen products can be expensive.

Bottom line: Water doesn’t have to be fancy. Like you, it’s great how it is.

This article was originally published on healthywomen.org.