You’ve probably been pretty intrigued by hydrogen water and its potential benefits. The idea of making it at home sounds pretty simple, it’s just a little hydrogen, a bit of science, and “voilà”—healthy water.
I hate to burst that bubble, but typical home setups aren’t going to cut it. You can’t really produce meaningful quantities of hydrogen, let alone the kind of purity and concentration that would actually give you any health benefits.
I’ve tried some methods myself, like combining malic acid with a magnesium stick or using magnesium rods. The effort, the mess, the confusion, it’s just not worth it.
The good news is there are actually two practical ways to make hydrogen water at home. You can use either a hydrogen water bottle or hydrogen tablets.
Both will cost you a little something, but it’s way better than playing mad scientist with flammable hydrogen.
Read on as I describe each method and tell you what works best for me.
Method #1: Hydrogen Water Bottle
Hydrogen water bottles are hands down my favorite way to make hydrogen water at home.
They don’t quite produce as much PPM as tablets, but the 3 PPM my Piurify Hydrogenator gives me is more than enough to feel the benefits. The key is just being consistent with it.
On top of the hydrogen generation, the bottle itself is pretty stunning. It has that sleek, modern look and a soft glow that I can’t help but stare at. I bought it for myself, but I’ve started thinking it would make a pretty unique gift for someone else, too!
Now, the downside: you won’t find these bottles in stores like Walmart. They’re an online-only purchase, and Amazon is flooded with so many low-quality options.
When I was shopping around for mine, I had no idea what the differences were between most of the bottles. It felt like 99% of them looked the same and had the same features, just sold under different brand names. Just look at these results on Amazon:
Yeah, hydrogen water is a hot trend right now, and there’s a lot of junk being sold to cash in on it.
If you’re thinking about getting one for yourself, do yourself a favor and check out my hydrogen water bottles ranking. I’ve been testing mine for over a year now, so you’ll get the info from someone who’s been there.
Method #2: Hydrogen Tablets
If you’re not feeling the hydrogen bottle vibe, the alternative is hydrogen tablets, with the most popular ones being produced by Dr. Mercola.
The big selling point here is how simple they are to use—just drop one in, wait a bit, and you’ve got hydrogen water.
What might catch your attention is that some tablets can generate up to 8 PPM of hydrogen, which is way more than most bottles, usually hovering around 1-4.5 PPM.
I’ve used both tablets and bottles myself, and honestly, I didn’t feel much of a difference. But if higher PPM is your thing, tablets might be your best choice.
Of course, no solution is perfect. The downside of hydrogen tablets is that they’re a recurring cost. You’re buying a new package every so often, which adds up over time.
A bottle, on the other hand, is a one-time investment. If you’re curious about the cost breakdown, I’ve got a comparison between hydrogen tablets and bottles that you might want to check out.
For me, though, the idea of having to keep buying tablets just doesn’t sit right. That’s why I lean toward hydrogen bottles, even though they do come with a higher upfront cost.
At least I don’t have to keep reaching for my wallet every time I want some hydrogen water.
How to Start Drinking Hydrogen Water?
If you’re new to it, just start by swapping a glass or two of your regular water with hydrogen water each day (although I personally drink 64 oz. of hydrogen water daily).
You can buy pre-bottled hydrogen water, but the fresher, the better, so a hydrogen water bottle is a solid investment if you plan to drink it regularly.
Most people just sip it like normal water, but if you’re using it for workouts or recovery, try drinking it before or after exercise to see how you feel.
Starting to drink hydrogen water is truly simple. No complicated rituals or experiments required.
How Long Does Hydrogen Water Last?
If you’re using a proper hydrogen water bottle (one designed to keep the hydrogen from escaping) it can last anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on the bottle’s seal and material.
But if you leave it sitting too long, especially in a regular plastic or open-top bottle, the hydrogen will quickly escape, turning it back into plain old water. So, if you want max benefits, drink it fresh!
I drink my hydrogen water within 5 minutes since finishing the production cycle.
Can You Use Tap Water to Make Hydrogen Water?
Technically, you can use tap water to make hydrogen water, but it depends on the quality of your tap water. If it’s full of chlorine, heavy metals, or other impurities, those could mess with the hydrogen infusion process and even affect the taste.
That’s why I always filter my tap water first before using my hydrogen water bottle and I recommend you doing the same.
Does Hydrogen Water Smell?
Hydrogen gas itself is completely odorless, so when it’s dissolved in water, it doesn’t add any funky scents.
If your hydrogen water does smell weird, something else is going on. Maybe the bottle needs a good clean, or the water source has impurities.
But in its pure form, hydrogen water should just smell like… well, nothing!
Final Thoughts
I’ve been using hydrogen water bottles for a year now, and before that, I gave tablets a try. I think these are the two best and only ways to make hydrogen water at home.
That said, I lean a bit more towards investing in a hydrogen bottle. It’s just more convenient and budget-friendly for me in the long run.
Pick your method and start sipping on that hydrogen water!
Jeremiah Kowalski
Hey there! I’m Jeremiah, the guy behind WaterBottleAdvisor.com. I used to have a bad habit of guzzling sodas while working remotely, but thanks to reusable water bottles, I’ve turned my hydration game around. After testing over 50 bottles, I’m here to help you find the perfect one to make staying hydrated a joy, not a chore. When I’m not reviewing bottles, you’ll likely find me scaling steep trails around the world, trusty water bottle in hand.
