I'm actually confused : while some websites claim consuming alkaline water doesn't serve any purpose -

"Have you seen advertisements for products such as coral calcium or alkaline water that are supposed to neutralize acid in your bloodstream? Taking calcium or drinking alkaline water does not affect blood acidity. Anyone who tells you that certain foods or supplements make your stomach or blood acidic does not understand nutrition.

You should not believe that it matters whether foods are acidic or alkaline, because no foods change the acidity of anything in your body except your urine. Your stomach is so acidic that no food can change its acidity. Citrus fruits, vinegar, and vitamins such as ascorbic acid or folic acid do not change the acidity of your stomach or your bloodstream. An entire bottle of calcium pills or antacids would not change the acidity of your stomach for more than a few minutes." http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelate...DSH/coral2.html

"We have been told for years that coffee, acidic fruit as well as spicy foods can aggravate acid stomach. Therefore, we should avoid these in our daily diet in order to reduce acid stomach. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in May 2006 showed that none of these myths hold true. Researchers from the Stanford University found that the only two behavioral changes can reduce symptoms of acid stomach - eating less and elevate your head while sleeping." http://www.healthcastle.com/acidstomach.shtml

"If you do drink alkaline water, its alkalinity is quickly removed by the highly acidic gastric fluid in the stomach."
http://www.chem1.com/CQ/ionbunk.html

But how come credible companies such as Panasonic and many more keep churning out alkaline water machine ???? Do they offer any real benefit which we are unaware of?