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March 27, 2024

8 Health Benefits of Hydrogen Water

Hydrogen water is good for you. Supposedly.

But, um, where’s the research? Well, here’s the truth. As with any groundbreaking supplement (hydrogen water only first hit our shores seven years ago!), the body of evidence will be small — at least in the early stages.

The good news? More clinical trials supporting the health benefits of hydrogen water are now emerging.

Below, find a deep dive into the most noteworthy findings you should know about.

Mechanisms driving molecular hydrogen benefits

Very briefly, there are 2 primary underlying mechanisms driving the health benefits of hydrogen water.

#1: Staves off oxidative stress

Free radicals are tiny, unstable nanoparticles with unpaired electrons.

In their quest for stability, these compounds are indiscriminate from who (or, more accurately, what) they steal electrons from — including your cells, DNA, and protein.

The result is widespread, devastating destruction.

And there’s a term for it: oxidative stress, which has been linked to many health conditions.

Enter, hydrogen water.

As an antioxidant, molecular H2 can “donate” its electrons to free radicals without becoming unstable, essentially nipping oxidative stress in the bud.

#2: Supports ATP production at the subcellular level

The hydrogen molecule is the smallest molecule.

Because of its tiny size, it can diffuse even into the mitochondria, the cell's powerhouse (yes, this means the mitochondria is smaller than a cell!), to support optimal ATP (i.e., energy) production.

Health benefits of hydrogen water

OK, hydrogen water exerts antioxidant effects and supports optimal cellular energy production.

But what does that translate to in terms you care about? We’ll let the following health benefits of hydrogen water speak for themselves.

#1: Blood glucose levels

Blood glucose levels refer to how much glucose, the body’s primary energy source, is present in your bloodstream.

Your body primarily relies on 2 hormones to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range:

Insulin: Responsible for moving glucose from the bloodstream into the body cells for use or storage when blood glucose levels are too high
Glucagon: Responsible for converting glycogen into glucose and releasing it into the bloodstream when blood glucose levels are too low

However, in some cases, your body may not produce enough of those 2 hormones and/or become less sensitive to their effects.

This compromises your body’s blood sugar level balance.

Thankfully, though, research shows molecular hydrogen may help your body respond better to blood-sugar-regulating hormones, supporting healthy glucose curves.

#2: Lipid levels

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in your blood. There are 2 types of cholesterol:

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: “Good” cholesterol.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: “Bad” cholesterol.

Just as with your blood glucose levels, there is an optimal range your cholesterol levels should stay within.

Anything higher or lower, and you’re in trouble, which is why you’ll probably be glad to learn that molecular hydrogen may help support healthy cholesterol levels.

#3: Body composition

For the uninitiated, body composition is the body’s fat relative to fat-free mass.

While the optimal amount of body fat can differ from person to person, carrying too much body fat increases the risk of many health conditions.

Fortunately, studies suggest that hydrogen water may support a healthy body composition.

#4: Brain health

Here’s a fun fact about the brain: it’s the most energy-demanding organ in your body.

This means cognitive functions, such as thinking, memory, and learning, are intertwined with glucose levels and the efficiency with which your brain can convert the fuel source into ATP.

Now, remember how hydrogen water supports ATP production in the mitochondria? Yep.

This may explain molecular hydrogen’s association with healthy brain function, including alertness, clarity, and memory.

#5: Skin health

Your skin protects your body — it is a crucial barrier that keeps beneficial things in (e.g., water for hydration) and harmful things out (e.g., microbes that cause infections). Keeping it in tip-top condition is thus a natural priority.

That said, it’s not uncommon to injure your skin when you're living an active lifestyle.

To support your body’s natural ability to patch up cuts, bumps, and scrapes, consider getting yourself some molecular hydrogen; it’s been shown to be beneficial for skin distress.

#6: Exercise performance

health benefits of hydrogen water exercise performance

ATP drives the biochemical reactions necessary for muscle contraction.

During exercise, your body must continuously supply your muscles with ATP to keep them moving. Now, at this point, you probably already know where this is going: molecular hydrogen supports optimal mitochondrial function, and mitochondria generate ATP.

This is why studies have shown that molecular hydrogen may support anaerobic exercise performance, mitigate fatigue, and improve endurance in athletes.

#7: Joint health

Cartilage is the smooth, shiny, white connective tissue that cushions the ends of your bones and allows them to move smoothly and easily against each other.

Unfortunately, cartilage naturally deteriorates with age due to a mixture of factors, including a decrease in the “lubricating fluid” and synovial fluid, alongside oxidative stress (an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the body’s natural defense systems).

This may result in joint stiffness and discomfort.

As an antioxidant, molecular hydrogen may strengthen the body’s natural defense mechanisms against damaging ROS, promoting optimal joint health and mobility.

#8: Gut microbiome

There is no “blueprint” for a healthy gut microbiome.

However, nearly all scientists agree on a key characteristic all healthy, well-balanced gut microbiomes share: gut microbial diversity, which, excitingly, molecular hydrogen has been shown to support.

Not all hydrogen water is made equal

Depending on where you get your hydrogen water from (prepackaged cans, hydrogen water machines, or hydrogen tablets), how much molecular hydrogen you end up drinking can change — and you won’t know if you’re actually reaching the levels necessary to reap the health benefits of hydrogen water.

Forgive our language, but that sucks.

Why waste money on hydrogen water that doesn’t work?

That’s right. You shouldn’t, which is why you should check out Nutrionic™ H₂Energizer tablets, arguably the best hydrogen tablets available: