Three-quarters of the human body is made up of water (the brain alone contains 85% water), so it is very important to stay hydrated. Stress, dehydration, poor diet and environmental pollution can all contribute to an acidic body. Alkalizing your body prevents acidosis developing, a condition that prevents sufficient absorption of nutrients and manifests as numerous unpleasant symptoms such as confusion, vomiting, and visual disturbance. Drinking alkaline water perfuses your body with higher levels of oxygen, improving your skin, concentration, sleep quality and athletic performance while reducing the occurrence of stomach upsets and headaches. Neutralizing the body’s acidity can also strengthen the immune system and protect against a large number of health concerns ranging from acid reflux (heartburn) and hypertension (high blood pressure) to diabetes and cancer. Alkaline water’s health benefits arise from its ability to neutralize harmful free radicals. The filtering out of chemicals and pollutants from tap water also saves the body from having to deal with and eliminate them. Furthermore, for those who are trying to lose weight, drinking alkaline water can boost metabolism, accelerating fat removal and also keep the stomach feeling full, so not as much food is consumed.