Oxygenated water is an innovative type of functional water that has oxygen infused into it during the bottling or canning stages. This infusion process has led to claims that the added oxygen can offer various health advantages, such as enhancing exercise recovery, expelling toxins from the body, and facilitating better alcohol metabolism. Nevertheless, the scientific evidence supporting these health claims is relatively scarce.

Despite being low in calories, oxygenated water lacks significant nutritional content. It's important to note that there are numerous brands available on the market, with some offering additional components like caffeine, electrolytes, hemp extract, and sweeteners. These variations can cater to diverse consumer preferences and needs.

This article aims to provide you with comprehensive insights into the world of oxygenated water, ensuring you have all the necessary information.

Potential Benefits

Although research on oxygenated water remains limited, some studies indicate that it may provide various advantages.

May Enhance Lactate Clearance

During moderate to intense physical activity lasting over 10 seconds, your body generates lactate as a byproduct of energy metabolism. As lactate levels rise, muscle acidity increases, potentially leading to fatigue if not managed. Thus, clearing lactate and reducing muscle acidity becomes crucial during extended exercise sessions.

A study involving 25 trained runners revealed that those who consumed oxygenated water during workouts experienced improved lactate clearance post-exercise. However, no significant enhancements in overall exercise performance were reported. Given that this is a single study, further investigation is warranted. Nevertheless, for high-level endurance athletes, trying oxygenated water could be beneficial.

May Aid Alcohol Metabolism

Another potential benefit of consuming oxygenated water is its role in improving alcohol metabolism. When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine, subsequently transported to the liver for metabolism via a series of oxygen-dependent reactions. Consequently, one side effect of alcohol metabolism can be a deficiency of oxygen in the liver.

A study examining alcohol metabolism in 15 healthy men found that beverages containing dissolved oxygen might hasten the reduction of blood alcohol levels after heavy drinking. Nonetheless, additional research is crucial to confirm the efficacy of oxygenated water in enhancing alcohol metabolism.

Can Support Your Hydration Needs

Aside from these potential benefits, oxygenated water can effectively help you fulfill your daily hydration requirements. A widely accepted guideline for water consumption suggests at least eight 8-ounce glasses (approximately 2 liters) daily.

Considering that about 60% of your body is made up of water, maintaining adequate hydration is vital for numerous bodily functions, including regulating temperature, sustaining blood pressure, and ensuring optimal brain function. Incorporating oxygenated water into your daily fluid intake can assist you in meeting these hydration needs. While evidence supporting the advantages of oxygenated water is limited, some studies imply that it promotes lactate clearance during workouts and enhances alcohol metabolism. Additionally, it can help you satisfy your daily fluid requirements.

Precautions and Downsides

While oxygenated water is typically considered safe for consumption, there are several important precautions to keep in mind when drinking it.

Comparison to Hydrogen Peroxide

Oxygenated water shares similarities with hydrogen peroxide, a widely used antiseptic. Both substances are forms of oxygen-infused liquids; however, hydrogen peroxide contains a bond between two oxygen atoms, which makes it unsuitable for drinking. In contrast, oxygenated water simply consists of oxygen dissolved in water, which is safe for human consumption.

It’s crucial to understand that hydrogen peroxide, whether food grade or medical grade, is dangerous to ingest. Even small quantities can lead to severe side effects, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, sore throat, and, in extreme cases, internal bleeding. Thus, it is essential to consume only oxygenated water specifically formulated for human use, which can typically be found in the beverage aisle of stores.

Immediate Consumption Required

Similar to how sparkling water loses its fizz over time, oxygenated water can rapidly lose its oxygen content once the container is opened. For this reason, manufacturers usually recommend consuming oxygenated water within 30 minutes of opening to ensure maximum oxygen intake. Additionally, most oxygenated water is packaged in cans, which makes quick consumption even more critical, as these containers cannot be resealed.

Insufficient Research on Its Use

Despite the buzz surrounding oxygenated water in nutrition and fitness circles, substantial high-quality research supporting its benefits is still lacking. Many questions remain unanswered, including how effectively oxygen is absorbed in the intestines and its solubility in water.

Moreover, some advocates claim that this beverage can improve skin and hair health, yet no scientific studies substantiate these assertions. Until robust scientific research addresses these inquiries, it remains challenging to ascertain whether oxygenated water provides health benefits that go beyond those attributed to regular water.

When to Use Oxygenated Water

Oxygenated water serves as an excellent post-workout beverage, although it is versatile enough to be enjoyed at any time of the day. Many brands enhance their formulas by adding other beneficial ingredients, such as caffeine, electrolytes, and hemp extract (cannabidiol or CBD).

The varieties that contain caffeine may serve well as pre-workout drinks, as caffeine is known to enhance exercise performance. However, it's essential to note that caffeine can disrupt sleep patterns for some individuals, so it is advisable to avoid consumption close to bedtime.

Electrolytes present in certain formulations can significantly aid hydration, particularly when consumed before, during, or after moderate to intense physical activities. Additionally, preliminary studies indicate that CBD may help alleviate chronic pain and anxiety, typically requiring a dosage of at least 15 mg per serving, while most oxygenated waters generally contain 10 mg or less of this compound.

You can enjoy oxygenated water before or after your workouts, or simply incorporate it as a refreshing beverage throughout your day, either as a substitute for regular water or alongside it. Although oxygenated water is suitable for consumption throughout the day, many individuals prefer to drink it around their exercise sessions to fully harness its potential benefits.

Comparing Oxygenated Water with Other Functional Waters

Comparing oxygenated water with other varieties of functional water can be quite challenging, primarily due to the diversity in their ingredients.

Among the popular types of functional waters are alkaline water, caffeinated water, antioxidant water, protein-infused water, and chlorophyll water. Except for protein water, there is limited scientific data available that supports the health claims of these beverages. While all functional waters, including oxygenated water, can assist in fulfilling your hydration requirements, it is crucial to examine the nutrition labels with care. Although sparkling water is not classified as functional water, it frequently comes up in discussions alongside oxygenated water because of its effervescent quality.

The key distinction lies in the source of the bubbles: sparkling water's fizz is produced by dissolved carbon dioxide, whereas the bubbles in oxygenated water originate from dissolved oxygen. This leads to a somewhat similar mouthfeel, although oxygenated water is generally less effervescent. Oxygenated water stands as one of the many varieties of functional waters available in the marketplace, each designed with unique ingredients to promote various health benefits.

The Bottom Line

Oxygenated water is a widely embraced drink that undergoes a process where oxygen is infused into it. This beverage has gained attention for its potential benefits, as limited research indicates it might aid in lactate clearance during physical activity and improve alcohol metabolism. However, many other health claims surrounding oxygenated water lack sufficient scientific evidence to back them up. Nevertheless, incorporating oxygenated water into a well-balanced diet can be beneficial. While it offers hydration, it should not be solely depended upon for any specific health advantages.