You might have heard of this “super water” trend where people drink a few drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide diluted in a glass of water to stay slim and healthy and help you combat illnesses.
It is believed that consuming hydrogen peroxide gives extra oxygen to your body. This, in turn, helps treat various illnesses from something as mild as a sore throat to something as severe as cancer. They call this the “super water” and claim it to be harmless since it only comes from oxygen and water. However, medical professionals have warned against this since this practice is not backed by science and research.
So, can you really drink hydrogen peroxide? The short answer is NO. Read on to find out what happens when you do drink hydrogen peroxide.
What is hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide or H2O2 is an odorless and clear liquid made up of oxygen and hydrogen. It is available in different concentrations from 3% to 90%. The most common hydrogen peroxide products you can get in stores and drugstores usually have a 3% potency.
The most common use of hydrogen peroxide is as a disinfectant and cleaner for a variety of items that need frequent sterilization. The ones we usually have at home is a 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is a potent oxidizing agent that is non-toxic. This makes hydrogen peroxide one of the safest natural sanitizers that you can find on the planet.
Why do people drink hydrogen peroxide?
A small group of people does the practice of making “super water” by pouring a few drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide in a glass of water. They believe that the extra oxygen on your body greatly helps you deal with various ailments like diabetes, arthritis, sore throat, lupus, AIDS, and cancers. Some even take it as part of their diet regimen, believing that it is a great way to remove toxins from the body. They think that this will help them reach their weight loss goals faster.
Our bodies actually produce hydrogen peroxide. The immune system uses it to help fight off infections caused by toxins, bacteria, parasites, and viruses that may invade your body. This is probably where people get the idea that consuming more hydrogen peroxide would boost the body’s self-healing properties.
This “super water” trend usually involves food grade hydrogen peroxide. Ironically, despite its name, it is not safe to ingest.
Food grade hydrogen peroxide is called that, because it is a form of hydrogen peroxide with no harmful stabilizers, making it a safe disinfectant for food packages and fruits and vegetables. People use it also for food processing, such as producing cheese or bleaching wheat flour.
The verdict from medical professionals
Medical professionals do not encourage the practice of drinking hydrogen peroxide because there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims. The truth is, hydrogen peroxide actually increases inflammation and is found to accelerate the progression of cancer. In fact, if you drink hydrogen peroxide, you will be experiencing unpleasant side effects. Some of these side effects can be deadly. Health professionals consider drinking hydrogen peroxide as a “natural remedy” is a life-threatening mistake.
Side effects of drinking hydrogen peroxide
It is true that when you drink hydrogen peroxide, it will react with your body and produce very high amounts of oxygen. But when the oxygen is produced too high, it can cross over from your gut and interact with your blood vessels. When this happens, it can block the blood flow to your heart, lungs, and brain. A sip of hydrogen peroxide is enough to release hundreds of millimeters of oxygen in your body. Your gut is not designed to have that much air in it and release the air elsewhere.
All that air will not only interact with your blood vessels but also your brain, lungs, and heart. This could be very deadly, as it can lead to a stroke or a heart attack. The severity of complications that can happen when you drink hydrogen peroxide will depend on the concentration and volume that you ingest. For instance, if you swallow a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide, you will be feeling side effects like bloating, vomiting, and mild stomach pain.
If you consume larger amounts or higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, this can cause stomach burns, ulcers, and a perforated gut, throat, and mouth. Sometimes it can even result in fainting, breathing problems, and in worse cases, death. Food grade hydrogen peroxide may sound like a safer and gentle concentration, but it is actually not. It has a 35% concentration – over 10 times stronger and more corrosive than the common 3% hydrogen peroxide products.
Food grade hydrogen peroxide is corrosive enough to burn your skin. So, even just a few drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide diluted in water can put you at a lot of health risks.
What do you do if you have ingested hydrogen peroxide?
It is recommended that you drink as much water as you can if you ingested hydrogen peroxide. For small amounts of ingested hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 3%, you should call your doctor or local poison control helpline and seek immediate assistance. For huge amounts and high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, you should seek immediate assistance in the nearest clinic or emergency room.
Last thoughts
Drinking hydrogen peroxide is perceived as an alternative medicine and health remedy for some people who claim that it helps them with a range of illnesses. However, there are no research and scientific evidence that can back up these claims about hydrogen peroxide.
One thing is for sure – medical professionals discourage this practice as it can lead to numerous side effects, some of which could be deadly. Because of this, drinking any amount or concentration of hydrogen peroxide – no matter how small – is not recommended.
Hydrogen peroxide is a useful and versatile liquid to have in the house, but it should only be used externally.