ORP: Oxidation Reduction Potential
ORP is a measure of whether what you are consuming oxidizes or reduces another substance inside your body. If a substance has a positive ORP, it is considered an oxidizer. The higher the ORP the more it damages cells and increases the aging process. Liquids with a negative ORP are considered anti-oxidants and can slow the aging process.
The human body needs to have a negative ORP and be on the alkaline side to function. A person’s saliva and a number of other body fluids have a negative ORP value as do many fresh fruit juices. As a matter of fact, you can test the freshness of fruit juice by its ORP level.
It is possible to test the ORP value of the water you drink too. Alkaline water which is water with a pH of 8 or more, has a negative ORP value. A High pH and negative ORP makes alkaline water good and health-full for your body, because it nourishes your body’s fluids. In plain speak, positive ORP readings indicate that your drinking water is more contaminated. Negative ORP readings on the other hand, indicate just the opposite. The more negative the ORP is, the more anti-oxidizing the substance is. This has many benefits for you.
Negative ORP water doesn’t contain dangerous, possibly lethal contaminants like Lead and Mercury and this is also a very big reason alkaline water is safe and healthy. Lead and mercury, both affect the brain and nerves and can cause death. If a substance has a positive ORP it is considered an oxidizer. The higher the ORP the more it damages cells and increases the aging process. The more negative the ORP value, the more anti-oxidant properties are present in the body. As mentioned earlier, these properties are associated with anti-aging and cellular health. Positive ORP values, on the other hand, have the opposite effect. They age you before time!
ORP meter can be used to check the level of antioxidants in the body. A minimum level should be -50 mV. But a good level of antioxidant should be -100 mV to -300 mV. -120 mV to -150 mV is a reasonably good value. Usually with just the pH (if below 6.0) and ORP nearing positive values, one can predict his own sickness before it happens. It is much earlier indicator than someone coming down with fever.