Hydrogen-infused water, often referred to as hydrogen water, is water that has been infused with molecular hydrogen (H2) and is marketed for its potential health benefits, including antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects. The concept originated in Japan in the early 20th century, gaining popularity after a 2007 study in nature.com led by Shigeo Otha demonstrated hydrogen's therapeutic effects as an antioxidant.

Water ionizers were first invented in the early 1900s, with Japanese research on electrolyzed water first taking place in 1931. The devices gained popularity in the 1950s, as they began to gain followers claiming they had “healing effects.” In 1962, two separate companies applied to have their ionizer machines classified as medical devices. Harold Shapley, Head of the Harvard College Observatory (1921-1952) …As our Founder details through the published hypothesis paper “Evolution, Adaptive Stressors and Molecular Hydrogen,” hydrogen gas, and even hydrogen water, have evolutionary origins. The “hydrogen hypothesis” posits that our mitochondria evolved from a hydrogen-dependent organism. Further, molecular hydrogen played a critical role in the evolution of our atmosphere, and through this atmosphere, life on our planet. Even the ancient waters tested, deep underground, in modern times have detectable hydrogen gas. The oldest waters ever discovered, over a billion years old, could be termed as “hydrogen water.” Those who first hear about it, either health experts or the general population, automatically default to abnormally high levels of skepticism.

 In addition, medical experts and scientists in the field of molecular biology from around the world have conducted studies on Nordeanau water’s composition in Germany and effects on the body. It has been found that Nordeanu water contains a large amount of hydrogen it was not until 2007 when a team of Japanese scientists led by I. Ohsawa et al discovered that Hydrogen gas when inhaled could act as a therapeutic antioxidant and protect the body cells from Free Radicals. The research and findings were first published in Nature Medicine (2007). The landmark publication sparked the interest in its potential health benefits worldwide and led to some breakthrough research. Since then, over 1,000 studies have been conducted on Hydrogen and its benefits for over 170 human diseases and essentially every organ of the human body.

Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, non-toxic gas with a multitude of therapeutic benefits for human diseases. Amongst some of the benefits are as a powerful antioxidant (and selective anti-oxidation), anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis (anti-cell death) and anti-allergy. There are various methods of using hydrogen ~ via ingestion, inhalation, injection, spraying onto the skin or absorbed through a bath.

As health-conscious consumers seek alternatives to sugary drinks, the demand for hydrogen water has surged in the past years, despite the prevalence of misconceptions regarding its efficacy and production methods.

Hydrogen water, also known as hydrogen-rich water, is regular water infused with additional hydrogen molecules and has gained growing attention as a potential health-promoting beverage. While some small studies suggest that drinking hydrogen water may provide antioxidant benefits, reduce inflammation, and even boost athletic performance, more extensive research is needed to fully validate these potential health effects, which we cannot fully explain based on our current understanding of molecular biology. Hydrogen gas can be absorbed into the body through various mechanisms, including inhalation, ingestion of hydrogen-rich water, and percutaneous absorption through the skin. Recent research has provided direct evidence of hydrogen absorption from the skin during hydrogen bathing, which is a known custom in Japan and related to many healthy benefits of bathing in healing waters around the world. A study using a hydrogen bathing system developed by the School of Veterinary Medicine at Kitasato University demonstrated that hydrogen dissolved in warm water permeates through the skin during bathing, supplying not only the surface of the body but also the organs, the brain and other deeper tissues through the bloodstream with hydrogen molecules. Hydrogen gas is the only potent antioxidant that can readily pass the blood brain barrier, hence its neuro-protective effects, additionally to hydrogens ghrelin production enhancing function.

The health claims surrounding hydrogen water encompass various areas, including mood enhancement, inflammation reduction, and improved athletic performance.

French Alps for example were already known to be beneficial to human health. All thanks to Marquis de Lessert, whose health improved when he began drinking the natural mineral water sourced from the region close to Lake Geneva. France has always been known as the center of high society, luxury, and elegance, and Evian has played up these qualities since the very beginning. This bottled water brand was even mentioned in the book “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie. Evian is now owned by the food conglomerate Danone but the brand continually works to keep up its luxury image to maintain its sizable market share. Consumers have become more conscious of their health and well-being. They understand the negative impact of too much sugar, calories, and sodium on one’s health. So, they are increasingly looking for healthier alternatives to their favorite soft drinks and this is evident in the growth of the non-alcoholic beverage category of the global beverage industry. Apart from changing their diets, health-conscious consumers are also exercising more, which has increased the sales of nutrient-rich water brands that boast health benefits. Water brands are increasingly choosing to market bottled water with labels such as “oxygen-rich,” “spring,” “fortified,” “alkaline,” and “vitamin-rich.”

Additional research has found psychological advantages, including improvements in mood, anxiety and quality of life, as well as gains in performance on neuropsychological assessments when customers start drinking healthier water. Water since millennia has been associated with psychological as well as physical wellness and health. Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous health issues, from cardiovascular diseases to autoimmune disorders, and often continues stress. By addressing inflammation at its source, hydrogen rich water could contribute to a healthier society. Pre-made hydrogen-infused water can be purchased from different vendors, but the associated cost of repurchasing toxic aluminum cans for $2 and the required therapeutic concentration per day of hydrogen gas, would render this variant significantly more expensive in just a few weeks. Magnesium tablets, another variant of on demand hydrogen rich water creation, can have metal impurities, coating and stabilizing agents to prevent magnesium oxidation before use. Hydrogen infusing generators are the purest and best option to generate hydrogen rich water.

The human body constantly faces oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and aging. Hydrogen-infused water, rich in molecular hydrogen (H2), has demonstrated potent antioxidant properties. One particular study titled, 'Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial', published in Nature Scientific Reports, found evidence for these benefits from drinking 1.5 liters per day over 4 weeks. - A significant increase in biological antioxidant potential. - A reduction in a marker for DNA damage due to oxidative stress (8-Oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine).

Preliminary research supports these benefits, with studies indicating that hydrogen water may enhance quality of life and reduce muscle fatigue.

In an eight-week study in 49 people receiving radiation therapy for liver cancer, half the participants were instructed to drink 51–68 ounces (1,500–2,000 ml) of hydrogen-enriched water per day. At the end of the trial, those who consumed the hydrogen water experienced decreased levels of hydroperoxide — a marker of oxidative stress — and maintained greater antioxidant activity after radiation treatment than the control group. Countless studies show that hydrogen water reduces oxidative stress in people undergoing radiation, boost performance in athletes, and improve certain blood markers in those with metabolic syndrome. In athletes, hydrogen rich water may benefit by reducing inflammation and slowing the accumulation of lactate in the blood, which is a sign of muscle fatigue ( A study in ten male soccer players found that athletes who drank 51 ounces (1,500 ml) of hydrogen-enriched water experienced lower levels of blood lactate and decreased muscle fatigue after exercise compared to a placebo group ( Another small two-week study in eight male cyclists demonstrated that the men who consumed 68 ounces (2 liters) of hydrogen-enriched water daily had greater power output during sprinting exercises than those who drank regular water. Another study by Mikami et al. (2019) found that hydrogen water consumption improved exercise-induced decline of muscle function in young athletes. The researchers observed that drinking hydrogen water before exercise helped maintain peak torque and reduce lactate levels compared to placebo.

Most individuals and even companies who are marketing such products confuse hydrogen water with alkaline water, it is important to note that the two differ fundamentally.

The antioxidant mechanisms of H2 are not fully understood, but clearly demonstrated by 3000+ per reviewed scientific studies. Firstly, it may directly neutralise hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which are considered among the most reactive and damaging free radicals in biological systems. Secondly, H2 might indirectly affect cellular signalling pathways and gene expression related to antioxidant systems, potentially enhancing the body's natural defence mechanisms against oxidative stress (Ohta, 2015). See more on this here. One of the most intriguing aspects of molecular hydrogen as an antioxidant is its selective nature. Unlike some antioxidants that can become pro-oxidants if consumed in excess, H2 appears to selectively reduce cytotoxic oxygen radicals without disturbing physiological reactive oxygen species that play important roles in cell signalling (Ohsawa et al., 2007). This selectivity could potentially allow for the neutralisation of harmful free radicals without interfering with healing and necessary cellular oxidative processes. A study by Ohsawa et al. (2007) demonstrated that hydrogen could selectively reduce cytotoxic oxygen radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, in cultured cells. The potential implications of this antioxidant effect are wide-ranging. Oxidative stress has been linked to various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and certain types of cancer. By potentially reducing oxidative stress, hydrogen water might have a protective effect against these conditions, although more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.

While hydrogen water and alkaline water are both marketed as health enhancing beverages, they are fundamentally different. Alkaline water is water in specific pH range, above 7.365. pH stands for potentia hydrogenii, which translated means the potential of hydrogen, referring to the potential of hydrogen being present. The benefits of alkaline water are based on pH, hence the potential of hydrogen being presented and nothing else. During the electrolysis of water, H+ atoms are being consumed, absorbing electrons at the cathode and transform into molecular hydrogen. This consumption of H+, which is what makes water acidic to begin with, is the reason for the alkaline pH. Again, an alkaline pH is simply the indication that molecular hydrogen may be present.

Despite its rising popularity, hydrogen water has not escaped scrutiny. Controversies persist regarding the marketing practices of some producers, leading to regulatory actions from agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has issued warnings against misleading health claims about hydrogen water products.

FDA approvals are nowadays often used as a marketing badge position right next to the 60-day warranty and hassle free return symbols. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency in the United States that regulates the safety and quality of health products. Today, the United States is considered one of the most diseased and overweight nations in the world, with exception such as California. This is concerning and poses the question of the competency of this federal agency to advice on health products to begin with. RFK Kennedy has clearly communicated the shortcomings of these institutions in the last weeks. In 1960s the FDA approved Thalidomide to be marketed as a sedative and morning sickness drug for pregnant women. This one of the earliest instances where FDAs regulatory drug approvals lead to countless birth defects. In 2006 Thalidomide resurfaced under a completely different application, clearly showing that the initial function of Thalidomide prior to approval were not understood at all. This lead to a revamp in legislative procedures for the FDA, but this was not the only incident where the FDA failed to render its designated service properly. In 1980, due to bureaucratic lethargy, many people could not get their hands on life saving AIDS medication, because of the agency's slow approval processes. In recent years, the FDA has faced significant challenges and controversies, largely influenced by the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we will not further delve into that. It is important to not dully follow any institution, brand, product, and objectively try to evaluate topics based on scientific evidence with a clear, open, and objective mind. Ultimately your health is in your hands, realizing that is important.