What is Molecular Hydrogen Water?
Molecular Hydrogen Water, also known as Electrolyzed Reduced Water (ERW), is water enriched with (H2) Molecular Hydrogen. It has a negative oxidation-reduction potential or ORP and aids your body in returning to a balanced state.
Through the process of electrolysis, your tap water is transformed into an efficient antioxidant that is superior to tap, purified, and bottled water.
Hydrogen Rich
Water that is hydrogen-rich has a high concentration of Molecular Hydrogen (H2).
Hydrogen is the smallest molecule in existence and has the capacity to pass the blood-brain barrier, cell membranes, and actively reach every cell in the body to help heal & repair.
Using a medical-grade ionizer for electrolysis, your tap water becomes hydrogen-rich drinking water.
Antioxidant
Oxidation reactions in the body can produce free radicals, while antioxidants terminate these reactions. Elevated rates of oxidants and insufficient antioxidants in the body cause oxidative stress.
Molecular Hydrogen acts as an efficient antioxidant that diffuses rapidly across cell membranes and can reduce free radicals, suppressing oxidative stress.
It does this by neutralizing cytotoxic free radicals; therefore, reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular stress while improving energy levels - by directly impacting the mitochondria (the powerhouse for energy-producing ATP in our body!)
Antioxidant
Oxidation reactions in the body can produce free radicals, while antioxidants terminate these reactions. Elevated rates of oxidants and insufficient antioxidants in the body cause oxidative stress. A constant supply of external sources of antioxidants should be part of one‘s daily diet, to reduce oxidative stress and related damage. This is why everyone should not only care about the quantity of the water we drink, but also about the quality. Both are essential for our wellbeing.
Alkaline
As with most things in life, optimal health begins with balance. Our bodies must maintain a pH balance of 7.365, which is slightly alkaline. A pH (potential of hydrogen) scale is used to determine whether a substance is acidic or alkaline. On this scale 7.0 is neutral. Anything above 7 is considered alkaline and anything below 7 is considered acidic.
The more molecular hydrogen gas that is infused in your water, the higher (more alkaline) your Molecular Hydrogen Water will be. The iddeal drinking range for Molecular Hydrogen water is 8.5-9.5 pH.
Negative ORP
Molecular Hydrogen Water is characterised by exhibiting a negative ORP. ORP is the Electrical potential needed to reduce or slow down rusting and decay (oxidization).
In generalised terms, for humans a positive or high ORP is better for the outside of the body (cleaning and sanitizing). A low ORP value (in negative numbers) indicates that a substance has a higher antioxidizing potential, and is preferred for oral consumption.
Just like pH, ORP values are an important measurement for determining the quality of water. Molecular Hydrogen Water can range from -200mV to -400mV, depending on the set-up of the ionizer and the base tap water being used, making it more powerful than vitamin C or green tea. The ideal ORP level for the human body is said to be between -150mV and -400mV.
Negative ORP
Molecular Hydrogen Water is characterised by exhibiting a negative ORP. A high ORP value (in positive numbers), indicates that a substance has a higher oxidizing potential. In generalised terms, for humans a positive or high ORP is better for the outside of the body (cleaning and sanitizing). A low ORP value (in negative numbers) indicates that a substance has a higher antioxidizing potential, and is preferred for oral consumption. Just like pH, ORP values are an important measurement for determining the quality of water.
Molecular Hydrogen Water can range from -200mV to -800mV, depending on the set-up of the ionizer and the base tap water being used, making it more powerful than vitamin C or green tea.
Geek Out On The Science
Ever wonder how ordinary tap water transforms into antioxidant-rich molecular hydrogen water? Here's the step-by-step science behind the process.
Explore Medical Studies by Disease Model
Want to see what the research says? Browse peer-reviewed studies on molecular hydrogen, organized by health topic, from sources such as PubMed and Google Scholar.
Deep Dive Into Molecular Hydrogen Water
Get free access to our water hub-a library of videos, resources, and guides you can browse at your own pace to learn about all the ways molecular hydrogen water can make a difference in your life.
FAQs
Your Questions Answered: Everything About Molecular Hydrogen Water
Why start drinking 8.5 Molecular Hydrogen Water first?
While there are no known side effects to drinking molecular hydrogen water, it’s a very effective antioxidant that supports detoxification and flushing of your system. Depending on your current health, some people may notice mild detox symptoms as the molecular hydrogen does its work. For this reason, we recommend starting with 8.5 pH Molecular Hydrogen Water for a week or two before increasing to 9.0 or 9.5.
Can I take medication with Molecular Hydrogen Water?
No. Because molecular hydrogen can diffuse rapidly across cell membranes, it’s not recommended to take medication with it, as it may alter the rate of absorption. Medications should be taken with 7.0 pH clean water instead.
Can infants and children drink Molecular Hydrogen Water?
For children and seniors, setting a low pH to start and gradually increasing it is also recommended as the body adjusts to the pH level.
In the case of infants (until about a year old), since breast milk or milk is the only thing they consume, the intestinal movement is generally different from adults, and the use of Molecular Hydrogen Water is not encouraged until the infant begins to consume more sophisticated foods. As with medications (see above FAQ), Molecular Hydrogen Water should not be used to make powdered milk for infants.
Why can't I buy bottled Molecular Hydrogen Water?
Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a tiny gas molecule that gives this water its antioxidant properties. Once it’s dissolved, it starts dissipating almost immediately — slipping out through microscopic pores in most container materials. It doesn’t take visible leaks. It will also react with oxygen in the water or the air at the top of the bottle.
By the time bottled water reaches store shelves — usually weeks or months after it’s packaged — the H₂ (and therefore the antioxidant benefits) would be long gone. That’s why Molecular Hydrogen Water is best made fresh, ideally right before/same day you drink it.
How does an ionizer make Molecular Hydrogen Water & how is that different from bottled Alkaline Waters I see in stores?
An ionizer uses electrolysis — an electrical process — to split water into two streams: one rich in molecular hydrogen (H₂) and more alkaline, and another more acidic. The alkaline, hydrogen-rich water offers antioxidant properties thanks to dissolved H₂. Click here for a more detailed dive into the science of electrolysis.
Most bottled “alkaline waters” are made chemically, by adding ingredients like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to raise the pH. This changes the chemistry of the water, but it doesn’t create molecular hydrogen or improve the water’s oxidation-reduction potential (ORP).
Because it’s chemically altered, drinking large amounts of baking soda–based alkaline water over time can lead to excessive intake of those additives, which may have negative side effects. You can usually spot this by checking the ingredient list — if you see “sodium bicarbonate” or other additives, that’s how it was made.
Molecular Hydrogen Water or Electrolyzed Reduced Water (ERW) from an ionizer is different: it’s produced fresh, without additives, and contains dissolved molecular hydrogen — the key element behind its antioxidant health benefits.
What ionizer do you use and recommend for making Molecular Hydrogen Water?
I personally use, recommend, and sell Enagic’s line of water ionizers. After doing my research, I found Enagic to be unmatched in both quality and credibility:
- Medical-grade appliance and recognized as a pre-approved medical device by Medicard in Canada.
- A Japanese company with over 50 years in business, holding multiple ISO certifications.
- Built with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts only for quality and longevity.
I use Enagic’s K8 model, which offers advanced filtration, eight platinum-dipped titanium plates, and multiple water settings — including hydrogen-rich drinking water, cleaning water, and emulsifying produce wash water.
Click to learn more about Enagic, their certifications, and the K8 ionizer here.