Planning Series Professor Lee Kyu-jae, MD on "Senior Water Care": The Toxin Produced by Exercise 'Reactive Oxygen Species'··· 3 Medical Defense Mechanisms of Alkaline Ionized Water (#9)

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Jin-ho] “Exercise is essential for seniors to maintain health. However, paradoxically, the higher the exercise intensity, the more our body consumes tens of times more oxygen than usual, and in this process, large amounts of 'reactive oxygen species (ROS),' toxic substances that attack cells and accelerate aging, are generated.”

Professor Lee Kyu-jae, MD (Yonsei University College of Medicine at Wonju), has delivered an unexpected medical warning to seniors who enjoy exercise. While younger people have abundant antioxidant enzymes in their bodies that effectively defend against toxic reactive oxygen species on their own, the senior generation faces a significant weakness in their body's inherent defense system due to aging. Consequently, the reactive oxygen species released during exercise can damage muscle cells and lead to side effects such as chronic fatigue and pain.

How then can seniors control the toxicity of reactive oxygen species and safely enjoy exercise? This article investigates the three key medical defense mechanisms of alkaline ionized water that Professor Lee revealed.

■ Three Medical Mechanisms of Alkaline Ionized Water in Controlling 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 from a molecular biological perspective in three stages.

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

Alkaline ionized water contains abundant active hydrogen dissolved in it. Reactive oxygen species are highly unstable and possess the property of extracting electrons from surrounding normal cells to destroy them (oxidation). At this point, the active hydrogen in alkaline ionized water exerts strong reducing power, providing electrons to the reactive oxygen species instead. The reactive oxygen species, stabilized by gaining electrons, loses its toxicity and transforms into pure water that is harmless to our body, safely discharging outside the body.

⊙ Stage 2: Supporting the body's antioxidant enzyme system through ionized minerals

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

⊙ Stage 3: Rapid water supply through aquaporins and discharge of metabolic waste

During exercise, not only reactive oxygen species but also metabolic waste products such as lactic acid that cause muscle fatigue accumulate. Alkaline ionized water passes through aquaporins, the water channels of cell membranes, faster than regular water due to its ionized mineral composition and fine water particle characteristics. When consumed during or immediately after exercise, water is rapidly absorbed into cells, suppressing reactive oxygen species generation while simultaneously quickly washing away lactic acid accumulated in muscles, reducing post-exercise muscle soreness.

■ "Plain water during exercise falls short"··· Preventive medicine drinking method for seniors

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

“Drinking mineral-free plain water from a regular water purifier during exercise falls short of quenching the deep cellular thirst and oxidative stress. It is important to consistently drink magnesium and active hydrogen-rich alkaline ionized water not only before and after exercise but also during intermittent periods of exercise. This is the wisest preventive medicine approach to exercise that maximizes 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 danger of reactive oxygen species is contained in a single glass of magnesium alkaline ionized water.

Then, what substantial clinical achievements has functional water that manages oxidative stress and balances immunity actually achieved in improving representative chronic diseases that afflict the senior generation?

In the 10th installment next week, we will conduct an in-depth investigation of the significant medical cases and preventive medicine value of improving three major chronic diseases (four symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, high blood sugar renal cell protection, and atopic dermatitis and skin immune imbalance) that Professor Lee's research team has accumulated over decades, cases that have changed the quality of life for seniors.