Alkaline water does not prevent or treat cancer

A viral post circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms claims that drinking alkaline water can help prevent or even treat cancer. Such claims have been popular in wellness and alternative-health circles for years, often shared by users promoting “alkaline diets” or homemade detox remedies. However, our review of scientific research and medical guidelines finds this claim to be misleading and potentially harmful.

Social Media Post

A video circulating with the claim that “Alkaline water helps prevent cancer” and stated that cancer cells find it difficult to strive in an alkaline environment.

Source | Archive

Fact Check

Biological and Physiological Considerations

Our bodies carefully maintain their pH balance. Blood pH stays between 7.35 and 7.45, controlled by multiple systems including breathing, kidney function, and natural buffers in the blood. This regulation ensures that what we eat or drink, including alkaline water, has very little effect on our overall body pH. While alkaline water might temporarily change urine pH or mineral levels, research shows it doesn’t meaningfully alter the body’s overall pH balance.

Medical experts have studied this topic extensively. The National Cancer Institute finds minimal evidence supporting alkaline water for cancer prevention. Similarly, MD Anderson Cancer Center reports there’s not enough scientific backing to suggest alkaline water offers health benefits over regular water.

Furthermore, the relationship between cancer and pH is more nuanced than often claimed. Cancer cells typically create an acidic environment as they grow, rather than requiring acidity to develop in the first place (Source). The popular idea that “cancer cells cannot survive in an alkaline environment” is also misleading. While tumors often make their surroundings acidic, cancer cells maintain a slightly alkaline pH inside their own cells, which supports their growth and metabolism. Changing the body’s overall pH through diet or water cannot effectively alter this tumor microenvironment or inhibit cancer growth in humans.

According to Cancer Research UK, body pH is tightly regulated and cannot be changed by food or drink. Studies on tumor biology also show that cancer cells adapt to acidity and even rely on maintaining intracellular alkalinity for survival. Therefore, drinking alkaline water cannot create an environment that kills cancer cells or prevents them from forming.

What the Scientific Evidence Shows

Research in laboratories shows that altering acidity levels might affect cancer cells. Some animal studies found that when mice drink water with high amounts of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), it can slightly change the acidity around tumors and slow their spread. However, these studies use much higher doses than people could safely consume.

There is very little research in humans: no major clinical trials show that drinking alkaline water prevents cancer in healthy people. As per Verywell Health, Medical experts emphasize that treatments that work in lab dishes or mice often don’t work in humans. While some early, small studies are looking at combining bicarbonate with cancer treatments (like chemotherapy), these are preliminary and don’t prove that alkaline water prevents cancer.

Expert Statements, Cancer Organizations, and Medical Consensus

Leading cancer organizations worldwide have clearly addressed claims about alkaline water. Cancer Research UK explicitly identifies the idea that “alkaline water reduces cancer risk” as a myth. They explain that our body maintains its own pH balance, and drinking alkaline water or installing water ionizers won’t prevent cancer.The Arthritis Foundation calls many alkaline water health claims “hype” and confirms there’s no evidence it prevents cancer.

Similarly, the Cancer Council Australia noted the lack of proper human studies on alkaline diets or water for cancer prevention.  Health experts also warn that consuming too much alkaline water could actually be harmful, potentially causing problems like metabolic alkalosis (when the body becomes too alkaline), electrolyte imbalances, or kidney issues, especially in people with existing health conditions (Source).

Risks, Misuse, and Opportunity Cost

Research indicates that there are considerations around alkaline water consumption. Studies suggest that consuming highly alkaline water, or adding substances like baking soda, might affect acid-base and electrolyte balance in some individuals. In some cases, this could potentially lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, confusion, or muscle twitching (Source).

Additionally, health experts note that if people rely exclusively on alternative approaches like alkaline water instead of evidence-based medical treatments, this could impact treatment outcomes. Medical professionals emphasize the importance of discussing all health approaches with healthcare providers.

Conclusion

Claims that alkaline water can prevent or treat cancer are misleading and lack scientific evidence. The body already maintains a tight pH balance, and drinking alkaline water does not significantly alter this balance in ways that would affect cancer development.