An
infant, who feeds from a mother's breast, is considered
alkaline, meaning his body is full of vital and useful
minerals. In contrast, the nursing mother is
decalcified and becomes acidic because she loses vital
nutrients needed for a healthy body. The nursing
mother is usually asked to boost her body by eating and
drinking more alkaline-rich food and water.
As the baby grows, he is
given food (most of which are acidic, except for fruits and
vegetables) and subjected to daily stress and polluted air,
which all contribute to the acidity of the human body.
This in turn causes sickness, degenerative diseases and even
rapid aging. Fresh fruits and vegetables are alkaline
but fertilizers and pesticides may make them unsafe.
Medical and nutritional
studies done in the United States, Europe and Asia (Japan
and Korea) have proven that the accumulation of acidic
wastes in the body is the principal cause of degenerative
diseases and aging.
The accumulation of acids
-- called acidosis -- if unchecked, can cause hypertension
(the number one killer disease in the Philippines),
diabetes, cancer, psoriasis, allergies including asthma,
gout, osteoporosis, gout and arthritis. Acidity
depletes the body cells of needed oxygen which, medical science
shows, leads to degenerative diseases.
One way to rid the body of
acidic wastes is to be "alkalized" by taking
alkaline minerals, the easiest way of which is by drinking
alkaline water.
Doctors advise taking
alkaline minerals to oxygenate the cells, neutralize body acids
and restore pH balance (the body's normal pH is 7, below
which is acidic, above which is alkaline).
Alkaline water is produced
by a water ionizer that is attached to the tap to filter and
separate the acidic minerals in water (namely sulfur,
phosphorus, chlorine, iodine, and other heavy metals) from
alkaline minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and
sodium ions).
Such an equipment is now
commercially available in the Philippines. This
technology was brought here by Atty. Ben Magnaye, who
accidentally read about the promising prospects of alkaline
water after his wife was afflicted by severe depression
(which led to other diseases) in 1997 following
the death of their son.
First invented in Japan in
the 1950s, the technology became popular in Korea in
the 1980s, recognized by Korea's Ministry of Health and
Welfare as a "medical material producer" because
of the ability of the ionized alkaline water to
strengthen the immune system in fighting degenerative
diseases. A similar request for accreditation is now
pending with the Department of Health in the Philippines.
Magnaye sells the unit at
his Jupiter Health Technologies office at No. 15 Tarlac- Garcia Loop, Philamlife Village, Pamplona Dos,
Las Piñas City, but he is now tying up with distributors
to sell the
equipment. Eventually, when the market becomes
feasible enough, Magnaye said he would convince the Korean
manufacturer to put up a plant in the country (which would
help in generating jobs and reducing the cost of the
unit).
The ionizer is now
becoming popular among the country's elite and health
conscious population. And, given a tie up with
financing companies, this may catch up with the middle
class and those who would want a healthy option for their
lives.
The alkaline water
produced by the ionizer is full of excess oxygen ions needed
by the body t function better. It tastes better than
tap water or any other type of commercially available water,
and it does not give the user a feeling of being bloated.
Numerous testimonies of
users both here and abroad all point to the advantage of
alkaline water for those currently afflicted with
degenerative diseases as well as for those who want to live
long and healthy lives.
Ionized water produced by
the equipment is oxygen-rich (oxygen being useful for the
blood and for circulation), bacteria-free and easily
hydrates the body.
It provides alkaline
minerals to the cells, dissolving excess fatty acids,
cholesterol and crystalline uric acids. It also acts
as a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes and flushes out
body acids responsible for those degenerative
diseases. When used regularly, (it least the required
eight glasses per day), alkaline water reverses aging.
The ionizer separates the
acidic minerals in water from the alkaline minerals.
The acidic water that is produced is useful for disinfecting
and as an astringent for skin disorders like pimples, acne,
moist eczema, gum inflammation, and stanching. It is
also useful in preventing infections from dental
treatments. Additionally, acidic water produced by the
ionizer can be excellent for planting and flower
arrangements because it extends the life of cut flowers.
Although one store (Ioniq,
which has branches in Makati and other parts of Metro
Manila) sells bottled (plastics) alkaline water, the
porosity of plastics disables it to properly store the
oxygen, thereby defeating the purpose of ionized alkaline
water, Magnaye said as he advised the use of tightly-sealed
glass bottles for those intending to put up ionized water
stores.
The cost of alkaline water
produced by the ionizer is less than P4 per gallon, far less
than the cost of purified, distilled or mineral bottled
water of P7 to P11 per gallon.
In addition, the machine
is expected to last P7 to P10 years -- but only the filter
has to be changed after 1,000 gallons of water has been
produced and a replacement filter is about P1,500 -- which
makes it a cheaper health option for many people.
Since the equipment was
first sold in the country last year, Magnaye said he sold
500 units or about P12 to P15 million but this year he
expects to sell 1,000 units or P35 to P40 million.
Magnaye said those who now
consume ionized alkaline have abandoned all their pills
(except vitamins) and see their doctors less. "If
this good word is spread around, this could lead to a
healthy country."
BY ROSE DE LA CRUZ
PHILIPPINE GRAPHIC
May 2001 |
