In recent years, with the rising popularity of the “hydrogen health” concept, the hydrogen-rich water machine market has expanded rapidly. However, accompanying issues such as false advertising and technological fraud have caused consumers to frequently “step into traps”. How to cut through the chaos and rationally view the efficacy of hydrogen-rich water has become a crucial topic in the current healthy consumption field.
The “bubbles” in the hydrogen-rich water market are concentrated in three aspects:
Firstly, the exaggeration of efficacy, which infinitely amplifies the conclusions of basic research. Although hydrogen molecule medicine has seen the publication of thousands of papers since its inception in 2007, most studies remain in the cell or animal experiment stage. Academician Zhong Nanshan’s team clearly pointed out in Progress in Hydrogen Molecule Medicine: “The long-term intervention effect of hydrogen molecules on the human body has not been clarified, and the existing data cannot be directly inferred as ‘drinking hydrogen-rich water can cure diseases’.” Nevertheless, some merchants misinterpret “animal experiments showing that hydrogen molecules may inhibit inflammation” as “drinking hydrogen-rich water can cure arthritis”, using academic terms to package false advertising.
Secondly, technological fraud, which deceives consumers with inferior craftsmanship. Industry insiders have revealed that low-priced products often use outdated technologies such as “single-tank electrolysis” and “magnesium rod hydrogen production”. These technologies not only result in low hydrogen dissolution (mostly less than 0.5ppm) but also produce harmful by-products like ozone and residual chlorine. A testing institution found in its inspection of 20 best-selling hydrogen-rich water machines that 15 of them had excessive ozone content, which may irritate the respiratory tract with long-term consumption; 8 machines were not equipped with core filtration devices, with a heavy metal removal rate of less than 50%, meaning the so-called “healthy water” actually hides pollution risks.
Thirdly, the lack of standards and low market access thresholds. Currently, there is no unified national standard for hydrogen-rich water machines. Some enterprises formulate their own “enterprise standards” and their testing data is “self-reported”. According to the 2024 report of the China Consumers Association, 68% of hydrogen-rich water machines cannot provide third-party evidence for their claimed “hydrogen dissolution capacity”, and 72% of products do not mark core technical parameters. Consumers often face difficulties in “providing evidence” when safeguarding their rights.
The first step towards rationality is to recognize the true value of hydrogen-rich water. Scientific research shows that hydrogen-rich water may have auxiliary effects in relieving muscle soreness after exercise and improving metabolic indicators of people with high uric acid levels, but these effects are “adding icing on the cake” rather than “providing timely help”. An experiment conducted by a sports medicine research institute in Shanghai showed that the relief rate of hydrogen-rich water on exercise fatigue is approximately 15%-20%, and it can only take effect when combined with proper rest. “The core of healthy drinking water is safety, followed by potential benefits. Putting the cart before the horse will only lead to losses outweighing gains,” emphasized Professor Wang, a nutrition expert.
Technological compliance is a prerequisite for healthy hydrogen-rich water. High-quality products should have a clear technical path: In the electrolysis process, inert electrodes such as platinum are used, and polarity separation technology is adopted to reduce by-products; the hydrogen dissolution capacity is stable with continuous testing data to avoid “instantaneous compliance”; the purification system covers the entire process of pre-treatment, reverse osmosis, and bacteriostasis to ensure the safety of raw water. The Technical Guidelines for Hydrogen-Rich Water Machines issued by the China Household Electrical Appliances Association suggest that consumers should give priority to products with authoritative certifications such as SGS and NSF, and pay attention to core indicators such as “stability of hydrogen dissolution capacity” and “heavy metal removal rate”.
On the path of compliant development, the technical path of Bewinch N9Pro is of reference significance. Its second-generation polar platinum electrolysis technology improves hydrogen production efficiency through a stacked titanium-based structure. Third-party testing shows that the hydrogen dissolution capacity is stably maintained at 1.6ppm, with a 24-hour attenuation rate of only 7.3%; the supporting Multiple progressive purification system achieves a 99.9% removal rate of harmful chlorides, ensuring water quality safety from the source. More importantly, its promotion has always been limited to the scope of “auxiliary for healthy drinking water”, and it proactively labels “not a substitute for medical intervention”. This restrained attitude is exactly the rational model that the market needs.
The upgrading of healthy drinking water should not be a carnival of concepts, but a progress in technology. When the market fades its impetuousness and consumers return to rationality, products that adhere to the compliant path like Bewinch N9Pro can truly serve the health needs. Enabling hydrogen-rich water to return from “concept speculation” to “scientific application”, and establishing healthy drinking water on the basis of reliable technology and moderate promotion – this is the right path for the long-term development of the industry.