For a couple of years now, Lifestyle columnist and jewelry designer Melanie Cuevas has been drinking hydrogen water, which, until recently, was available mainly in hospitals.

The former beauty editor had seen a friend drinking it, which piqued her interest. She read up on how hydrogen water contains hydrogen molecules that act as powerful antioxidants to neutralize free radicals.

Cuevas began ordering the water which came in packs from Japan, and now drinks at least one pack daily.

“It’s like buying expensive mineral water,” she said. “There’s no harm in drinking it.”

Now, people can generate hydrogen water in their own homes with the portable hydrogen generators available in the market today. Dermatologist Aivee Teo and her husband aesthetic surgeon Z Teo launched Aivee Water earlier this month at a luncheon in Makati.

In his speech, Z Teo explained how Aivee Water is able to create 900 parts per billion molecular hydrogen because of the titanium plates located at the base of the bottle. Other hydrogen generating water bottles are able to create only 300 to 600 parts per billion molecular hydrogen because the plates used are only titanium coated.

Molecular hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element on earth. It is the only antioxidant that can enter the cell and neutralize free radicals. Dr. Z said that it might take a week to get used to drinking hydrogen water.

“I’ve been drinking it for a month now and I feel energized. I’m able to go from meeting to meeting without feeling tired,” he said.

In a testimonial, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, Jr., said: “Hydrogen water allows me to recover more quickly after games and long road trips. I’m able to sustain a high level of performance for longer periods, and I definitely noticed that it helped speed my recovery from an ankle injury.”

Noted benefits

Some of the benefits of drinking hydrogen water include reduced inflammation, a strengthened immune system to help fight diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer’s, increased antioxidants, increased metabolism to aid in weight loss, and rejuvenated skin.

Dr. Aivee said that aside from imbibing hydrogen water, one can also use it to wash one’s face or hair. Just be sure not to get the base of the bottle wet.

“We actually use hydrogen water on our surgical patients,” she said. “We want to have as much hydrogen molecules in our bodies as possible.”

The Aivee Water bottle (P15,000) has to be initially charged for four to five hours. After every hydrogen-generating cycle which lasts five minutes, the water should be drunk ideally within four hours when it’s at its most potent.

It’s tempting to describe hydrogen water as a miracle cure, but for those who want to boost their metabolism, it’s just like drinking one’s dose of antioxidants.