Planned Series Medical Doctor Professor Lee Gyu-jae's "Senior Water Care": The Poison of Exercise 'Reactive Oxygen Species'··· Three Medical Defense Mechanisms of Alkaline Ionized Water (#9)

[News S=Reporter Kim Jin-ho] “Exercise is essential for seniors to maintain health. However, paradoxically, as exercise intensity increases, our bodies consume tens of times more oxygen than usual, and in this process, large amounts of ‘reactive oxygen species (ROS)’—a toxic substance that attacks cells and accelerates aging—are generated in large quantities.”

Medical Doctor Professor Lee Gyu-jae (Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) issued an unexpected medical warning to seniors who enjoy exercise. The problem is that while younger people have abundant antioxidant enzymes in their bodies to effectively defend against toxic reactive oxygen species on their own, seniors have significantly weakened internal defense systems due to aging. Therefore, the reactive oxygen species released during exercise can damage muscle cells, leading to side effects such as chronic fatigue and pain.

So how can seniors control the toxicity of reactive oxygen species and safely enjoy exercise? This article covers the three key medical defense mechanisms of alkaline ionized water revealed by Professor Lee Gyu-jae.

■ Three Major Medical Mechanisms of Alkaline Ionized Water That Eliminate Reactive Oxygen Species

Professor Lee explained the mechanism by which alkaline ionized water directly removes harmful reactive oxygen species generated during exercise and prevents cell damage in three stages from a molecular biological perspective.

⊙ Stage 1: Reduction action of active hydrogen, converting toxic oxygen into harmless ‘water (H₂O)’

Alkaline ionized water contains abundant dissolved active hydrogen. Reactive oxygen species are extremely unstable and have the nature (oxidation) of attempting to destroy normal surrounding cells by stealing their electrons. At this point, the active hydrogen in alkaline ionized water exerts powerful reducing power by providing electrons to reactive oxygen species instead. The reactive oxygen species, having obtained electrons and stabilized, loses its toxicity and transforms into pure water harmless to our bodies, which is then safely excreted from the body.

⊙ Stage 2: Support for the body's antioxidant enzyme system by ionized minerals

Ionized electrolyte minerals such as magnesium (Mg²⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) contained in alkaline mineral water function as coenzymes that activate the antioxidant system in our bodies. Minerals are essential for antioxidant enzymes in the body to function properly, and as minerals in ionic form are rapidly absorbed, they enhance the activity of enzymes that suppress oxidative stress within cells.

⊙ Stage 3: Rapid water supply through aquaporins and rapid metabolic waste excretion

During exercise, not only reactive oxygen species but also metabolic wastes such as lactic acid that cause muscle fatigue accumulate. Alkaline ionized water, with its ionized minerals and fine water particle characteristics, passes through aquaporins—the water channels in cell membranes—faster than ordinary water. When consumed during or after exercise, water is rapidly absorbed into cells, suppressing reactive oxygen species generation while simultaneously quickly flushing away lactic acid accumulated in muscles, reducing post-exercise muscle soreness.

■ "Plain water during exercise is insufficient"··· Preventive medical drinking method for seniors

Professor Lee Gyu-jae emphasizes that seniors should examine the type of water they drink daily and their drinking habits for healthy exercise.

“Drinking plain water from ordinary water purifiers containing no minerals during exercise is insufficient to quench the deep thirst of cells and relieve oxidative stress. It is important to consistently consume alkaline ionized water rich in magnesium and active hydrogen before and after exercise, as well as during exercise intervals. This is the wisest preventive medical approach to exercise—maximizing exercise benefits while protecting precious muscles and cells from the toxic substance reactive oxygen species.”

The wisdom of reaping the benefits of exercise while blocking the dangers of reactive oxygen species is found in a single glass of magnesium alkaline ionized water.

Then, what substantive clinical results has functional water—which controls oxidative stress and balances immunity—achieved in improving the representative chronic diseases that plague seniors?

In the next issue's 10th installment, Professor Lee Gyu-jae's research team will intensively cover the meaningful medical cases and preventive medical value of improving three major chronic diseases (four gastrointestinal symptoms, high blood sugar kidney cell protection, atopic dermatitis and skin immune imbalance) that changed the quality of life for seniors, based on core research accumulated over decades.