Alkaline water has become all the rage in recent years with throngs of celebrities (in the form of Beyoncé and the Obamas to name just a few) and health experts alike singing its praises.
Looking at some of the most talked about benefits of alkaline water to the body, not to mention scientific evidence (as listed at the end of the article) that it can alleviate stomach pain and acid reflux, it’s not surprising why it continues to win the hearts of both the glitterati and ordinary men and women.
Now back home in South Africa, one of Mzansi’s own favourite TV stars is taking things a notch up with the launch of his own supply of bottled alkaline water. In November 2021, television producer Sonia Mbele unveiled to many’s surprise, her own line of water aptly called Alkamax.
The company produces what it describes as “supercharged alkaline ionised water highly beneficial to the human body” and is available in 330ml, 500ml, 750ml, 1litre and 5litre.
During a recent catch up with NOWinSA editor Tankiso Komane, the former ‘Generations‘ actress says the decision was motivated by her own ever-busy working schedule, which requires her to always be on tiptop shape mentally and physically.
“With the research I did, I found out that alkaline water is ionised, which is good for cleansing the body. But this particular one also has antioxidants, meaning it doesn’t only hydrates, but detoxes as well. If you have gastric refluxes, it also helps with that. It’s also good for weight loss … I haven’t gained weight since I started taking alkaline water four months ago.”
As the executive producer and founder of Sonia Mbele Films, which is behind a slew of top TV shows such as ‘Pastor’s Wife‘, ‘Take Me Out‘, and ‘Real Housewives of Johannesburg‘, the mother of three has quite a busy schedule. “For me to function optimally, I need an all-round quality nutrition with good immunity boosting properties, that are natural resources, and we can all agree that water is part of well-balanced diet, which is why this was a natural progression in terms of business,” she explains.
“The other thing is that I don’t take energy drinks, so this does a good job in helping me perform at my utmost best. It is the kind of water that makes you feel vitalised,” she says adding: “I mean there’s so many benefits when it comes to alkaline water specifically. With this one, it has a pH level of between 9.5 and 10.5, the reason being that some people don’t store it properly, or they may leave out in the sun, which reduces its strength – but in that case it will never be anything lower than 9.5 if you test it. When stored correctly, the maximum will always be 10.5.”
The move not only sees her become the first black female to manufacture her own brand of water in South Africa, but will ensure she does her bit in providing opportunities to those who lost their job losses as the result of Covid-19 and many of its far reaching implications. As long as she can remember, Mbele has always wanted to create a positive change in society, something meaningful that’s going to outlast her, she says.
Alkamax; market availability
That South Africa has a serious water shortage it’s no secret, which sees an emerging trend of companies seeking a more reliable supply and services such as this. “There’s a need for water right now throughout the country, and we are glad to be the company that is standing in the gap in that regard and making a difference,” says Mbele.
“At the moment we sell and distribute a bottle (340 ml) for R6.50, which is competitive price-wise . In this trying times of joblessness amid the pandemic, the whole point was to create employment, as well as help other create multiple streams of income. But there’s been a huge demand across a broader spectrum, where we’re now getting approached by retailers, and at the moment you can find us at some Spar Tops countrywide.”
Although Alkamax’s main factory is in Pretoria North, Mbele says the company has efficient distribution channels in all the country’s nine provinces. “We are already available in Cape Town and are launching in Mpumalanga this week.”
The company is also launching in Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. “We are growing the footprint as we move forward for sure.”
Additional info: What is Alkaline Water?
Water is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, hence we call it H2O. Water’s pH level determines how acidic it is and ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, or balanced between acidic and alkaline. If water is below 7 on the pH scale, it’s “acidic.” If it’s higher than 7, it’s alkaline, it means it possesses lesser concentration of hydrogen ions (it’s not acidic).
That said, water can be high or low in pH, which can either have adverse effects.
What are the benefits of drinking Alkaline Water?
There are so many benefits to drinking Alkaline Water that it’s impossible to list them all here. But to name just a few, drinking Alkaline Water helps with the following:
- Improves the appearance of skin, nails and hair
- Increases your natural energy levels
- Delivers amazing vital antioxidant power
- Can help you to lose weight
- In addition to evidence that alkaline water may enhance both cognitive and physical performance, a report by Pubmed concluded that it may have therapeutic benefits for patients with reflux disease.
NB:To order or get more information on how to become an Alkamax distributor, visit: www.alkamaxbeverages.co.za.
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