Hydrogen water might not have been on your bingo list when you were searching for supplements or health-conscious drinks that can provide a boost to your overall physical performance. But for many, it is all the rage right now, and it’s one of the most promising ways to reduce body inflammation via the antioxidant properties of molecular hydrogen.

Is it all a hoax? Well, no. While the science behind it is still in its infancy and more research is needed, there’s evidence out there that shows a direct correlation between high concentrations of hydrogen-rich water and a reduction in blood glucose levels and total cholesterol.

Who Should Consider Hydrogen-Rich Water?

It really depends on how an average day looks for you. Are you a person who doesn’t really engage in high-intensity sport, who already replaces lost fluids with an electrolyte drink and who tries to stay well-hydrated and follow a balanced diet with plenty of rest between meals? In that case, hydrogen-rich water will likely not make much of a difference in your case. But there are some instances in which it can work:

After Exercise                    

• Multiple studies demonstrated that hydrogen-water supplementation can have a positive effect on muscle recovery. It makes sense after all. Molecular hydrogen is a therapeutic antioxidant (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5223313/) that can cross the cell membrane barrier and neutralise oxidative radicals. 

During Periods of Heavy Lifting

•                      Intensive exercise creates ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) as a byproduct of the increased molecular activity, which is necessary in order for the body to become more adapted to new physical challenges. But ROS causes oxidative damage to muscle cells, and it contributes to soreness and longer recovery times.
•                      Since it can neutralise ROS, molecular hydrogen can basically clean up the cellular damage associated with weight training and improve recovery while also making it easier to progress linearly when it comes to weights.

What’s the Science Behind It?

Hydrogen water is hyped to the moon and beyond these days. Its proponents say it can do pretty much everything, from increasing energy levels to eliminating inflammation after workouts or promoting recovery. Is it all true? Well, science appears to back up some of these claims. Hydrogen-rich water is just simple H20 that was enriched with extra molecular hydrogen. It’s nothing groundbreaking.

With that being said, molecular hydrogen can neutralise reactive oxygen species and thus, it’s proven so far to have an effect in eliminating muscle fatigue and post-workout cellular damage. Other studies have found that the consumption of hydrogen-rich water can ameliorate the unwanted side effects of radiation therapy; it appears to be a promising adjunctive strategy for the treatment of COVID-19, by potentially reducing the likelihood of a “cytokine storm, and it also seems to activate the Nrf2/ARE signalling pathway (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443916302861), a cell regulatory process that can neutralise free radicals. 

Is Hydrogen-Rich Water the Same as an Electrolyte Drink?

No, in fact they are kind of at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to the mechanical function behind them.

Hydrogen Water:

•                      It’s pretty much just regular water that has extra dissolved molecular hydrogen
•                      It’s thought to have an antioxidative effect, and thus it can reduce oxidative stress
•                      Cannot replace the mineral levels you have lost during exercise
•                      It’s thought to aid with exercise recovery and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy. That said, more research is needed

Electrolyte Drink:

•                      Unlike with hydrogen water, which simply contains added molecular hydrogen alongside the normal H20, an electrolyte drink contains minerals such as Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Chlorine or Calcium. So, the stuff you lose during periods of intensive sweating.
•                      The main role of an electrolyte drink is to improve hydration at a cellular level, via the activation of the Sodium-glucose co-transporter, and to replace the minerals you lost during periods of fluid loss caused by heat, exercise or illness.
•                      The benefits of electrolytes to hydration and electrolyte replacement are well-researched. An electrolyte drink cannot aid with chronic ailments, but it can accelerate recovery after exercise or make it easier to recoup your strength after episodes of acute illness.

When to Choose an Electrolyte Drink?

Personally, I will always choose an electrolyte supplement when I have been sweating a lot for an extended period of time and I’m dealing with symptoms specific to an electrolyte imbalance, such as numb hands, muscle cramps, confusion, headaches, or fatigue. Electrolyte supplements are a better choice if you’re following a ketogenic diet and you’ve lost a ton of fluids in a short amount of time, or if you’ve been struck by a stomach bug and you’re dealing with diarrhea or intense vomiting.

When to Go for Hydrogen Water?

With ready-to-drink hydrogen water (https://lytes.com.au/collections/molecular-hydrogen), things are a bit more complex. I would personally go for it if I’m already hydrated and I need a supplement with known antioxidant properties. Have you just completed a demanding workout and recovery without pain is your main goal? Then, hydrogen-rich water is probably worth considering. Yes, the science behind it is less conclusive than that of electrolyte beverages. But there is evidence to suggest that it can help with cellular stress. 

Can You Go for Both?

Yes, in fact, this is likely the best available approach if we’re being honest. The electrolyte supplement can help you recover the electrically charged minerals you lost during sweating, while the hydrogen-rich water, with its antioxidant effect, might help with oxidative stress and cellular signal transmission.

The electrolyte beverage will probably be more important to your overall recovery, as charged minerals are scientifically known to influence pretty much all the internal processes happening inside your body after a workout. But hydrogen-rich water is not a hoax and it really does seem to have an impact in post-workout recovery, especially since its antioxidative properties appear to influence how cells respond to stress. There’s no reason why you can’t use both of them at the same time. In fact, the role of hydrogen-rich water and electrolyte supplements in the human body is pretty much complementary. 

Article source: https://article-realm.com/article/Business/83920-Hydrogen-Water-What-It-Is-How-It-Works-and-Whether-It-Delivers-Results.html