The new Trend In Japan “Hydrogen Water,” which has been popular in Japan since 2014; also known as “H2 Water,” “Hydrogen Rich Water,” “Negative Hydrogen Ion Water,” or “reduced water,” etc. the main water is rich in hydrogen molecules, which can resist oxidation and achieve beauty and health effects. It is also famous from Japan to Taiwan. Not only have manufacturers launched related products, but there are also products on the market that can be separated into hydrogen water by home appliances. Machine. But how does hydrogen water work? Is the hydrogen concentration marked on the product the actual concentration when drinking?

The machines that electrolyze water to generate hydrogen on the market used to be called “alkaline ionized water.” However, “hydrogen water” and “alkaline ionized water” come from the same machine, and they are also the same water, but the marketing appeal is different. This type of machine has been recognized by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the competent authority of Japan, as a medical machine that can improve gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the hydrogen water produced by this machine has a hydrogen concentration of only 0.1-1ppm, which is lower than other hydrogen water products.

Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun reported on August 2, 2016, that the hydrogen water on the Japanese market is labeled as “hydrogen concentration 1.8-2.7ppm”, “0.3-0.8ppm”, and also labeled as “up to 7.0ppm”. However, looking closer at the label, you will find words such as “when generated” or “when filled” near the concentration number. It indicates the hydrogen concentration injected when the product is made, not the actual hydrogen concentration when purchased and drunk at the store.

Shinichi Hirano, a visiting researcher at Japan’s National Adult Medical Research Center (National Adult Medical Research Center), led a research team to investigate the hydrogen concentration in hydrogen water products on the Japanese market. 0.2ppm, about 0.8-1.2ppm in aluminum foil bags, and about 0.1-0.5ppm in alkaline ionized water produced by electrolysis.

The study pointed out that under normal pressure conditions, the upper limit of hydrogen concentration is 1.6 ppm. Still, the injected hydrogen molecule concentration can be increased by increasing the pressure during processing, so many products are marked above 1.6 ppm. But, when the public buys, the hydrogen concentration in the product may already be lower than the labeled concentration. In addition to the gradual loss of hydrogen from the gaps in the packaging container after the product leaves the factory because it is already in a standard pressure environment, which is lower than the pressure during processing, it will also affect the hydrogen concentration.

At present, neither Japan nor Taiwan’s regulations have a clear definition of hydrogen water. As long as it contains a little hydrogen molecule, it can be called hydrogen or hydrogen water. Hirano Shinichi believes that it should be clearly defined that the hydrogen concentration of such products must be above a few ppm to be called hydrogen water, and consumers will not be misled.

In addition, research on hydrogen water has only emerged in the past ten years. Relevant clinical trials are limited, and the effect on the human body is still unclear. Even in Japan, where hydrogen water originated, there are no products certified by the government as having health benefits. Consumers should not mindlessly follow fashion when purchasing related products.

Eight facts about hydrogen water (hydrogen water)
1. There is no clear definition in the regulations
2. The object of relevant research is hydrogen, not hydrogen water
3. No matter what kind of container packaging is used, hydrogen will gradually lose from the water
4. Utilization The hydrogen water produced by electrolysis has a lower hydrogen concentration than ordinary hydrogen water.
5. The upper limit of hydrogen concentration is 1.6 ppm under normal pressure. Still, the upper limit will increase as the pressure increases.
6. There are about 400 researches on hydrogen. Among them, there are only about 20 clinical studies on humans.
7. Although there are clinical studies on patients, there is almost no research data to confirm the effect of drinking on ordinary healthy people.
8. At present, there are no hydrogen water products certified by the government as having health benefits