This drink can fight aging, promote weight loss, and boost energy, says doc: ‘It's the magic bullet I was looking for'
Proper hydration is crucial — but what if your glass of water could do more than quench your thirst?
There's a tubocharged drink gaining popularity in the US that proponents say can boost your energy, fight signs of aging and even ward off signs of disease.
'This is going to change the world,' Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a renowned nutritionist and dermatologist, told The Post.
4 Perricone's second book 'The Beauty Molecule' was released April 15.
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In his new book, 'The Beauty Molecule: Introducing Neuroceuticals, the Breakthrough for Ageless Beauty,' Perricone breaks down the science behind the beverage and shares insider tips to maximize every sip.
Looking East for the 'magic bullet'
A decade ago, Perricone set out on a mission to find what he called the 'magic bullet' — an anti-inflammatory that's non-toxic, affordable, easy to use and widely accessible.
In Asia, inhaling hydrogen gas for better health and vitality had long been a common practice. But when research out of Japan showed that drinking hydrogen-infused water can boost energy, Perricone's curiosity was piqued — though he remained skeptical.
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'Hydrogen is a nonpolar molecule. It's not going to interact with the body,' Perricone remembers thinking at the time.
To get to the bottom of it, Perricone traveled to Tokyo to meet with scientists studying hydrogen.
They explained that, when applied to living cells, hydrogen has a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. It also boosts cellular energy while targeting and neutralizing dangerous free radicals in the body.
4 Perricone recommends drinking two cans of hydrogen water per day.
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'The toxic hydroxyl radical causes significant damage to cell structures and contributes to their functional decline; in other words, aging,' Perricone wrote in his new book.
Back in the US, Perricone, with the help of colleague Dr. Peter Pugliese, began testing the effects of hydrogen water on energy. Their focus was on NAD+ and NADH, two forms of the same molecule that plays a key role in cellular energy as well as the aging process.
It's the one of the only molecules in the skin that fluoresces, meaning it emits light or radiation when exposed to certain conditions, such as an LED light.
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To test whether hydrogen water could boost NADH, Perricone and his team conducted a study in which half the participants drank hydrogen water and the other half had a placebo. Afterward, they were placed under an LED light to track changes.
Perricone expected it to take hours to see any results, but within just two minutes, the first participants' NADH levels spiked.
'I sure as hell knew it wasn't just water,' he said.
By the end of the study, participants had a 12.5% average increase in NADH, with the elevated levels lasting for hours.
'This study proved to me that hydrogen can and does increase cellular energy,' Perricone wrote.
'If we can get this country drinking hydrogen water on a regular basis, we could lower our health care costs by a third.' Dr. Nicholas Perricone
A multi-million dollar bet
Over the past eight years, Perricone has poured millions into developing his own hydrogen water — using the same technology and methods already popular in Japan.
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'It's the magic bullet I was looking for,' he said.
Not only is hydrogen water simple, inexpensive and non-toxic, but Perricone said it can help normalize metabolism.
'As we age, one of the biggest killers is the loss of metabolic control, which is seen in an increase in blood sugar, despite an increase in insulin,' Perricone wrote.
4 Hydrogen has been shown to help normalize metabolism.
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This condition, called metabolic syndrome, causes high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, belly fat and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. It's linked to a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and even cognitive decline.
Perricone believes that hydrogen water could be key in reversing the rise of metabolic syndrome across the country.
He pointed to a study by Dr. Tyler LeBaron, founder of the Molecular Hydrogen Institute, which followed 60 people in India diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Half drank hydrogen water, while the other half drank plain water — with no changes to diet or exercise.
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After 24 weeks, the results were staggering.
'One hundred percent of those drinking hydrogen water no longer had metabolic syndrome, and they also lost an average of seven pounds,' Perricone said, noting that the placebo group showed no improvements.
'If we can get this country drinking hydrogen water on a regular basis, we could lower our health care costs by a third,' he said.
In his book, Perricone lists several other benefits associated with hydrogen water, including reducing skin aging, boosting gut health, enhancing nutrient absorption, removing toxins, speeding recovery from workouts and improving muscle tone and joint mobility.
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He even says it can combat the toxic effects of alcohol, alleviating hangovers, and fight jet lag.
Maximizing the benefits of hydrogen water
Several brans sell hydrogen water, while Perricone has launched his own line, priced at $69.00 for a 24-pack of 12 oz cans. It's proven a quick hit and has already sold out — though they promise to restock soon.
4 Perricone has spent eight years developing his own brand of hydrogen water.
Perricone Hydrogen Water Company
But before you crack open a cold can, there are a few things you should know.
'You have to drink it out of the can; you can't pour it into a glass or sip it through a straw because you'll lose the hydrogen,' Perricone said. 'You also have to drink it within 10 minutes of opening.'
Perricone recommends drinking hydrogen water twice a day, the same as the participants in the metabolic syndrome study. But he drinks more himself — typically three to four cans per day.
'It gets rid of brain fog in the morning very quickly,' he said. 'I like to have it midday before a workout and towards the end of the day because I often have a lot of work to do and want to have a nice clear brain.'
Perricone also believes hydrogen water can be especially helpful for people who play sports, particularly children and teens.
'If there's a quick movement of the head, like in soccer, for example, micro-inflammation is created every time they work out,' he explained.
'I would love to see everybody who works out like this or plays sports to have a can of hydrogen water before or after to stop this low-grade inflammation, because it's cumulative and can damage the body over time. We want this to start in kindergarten.'
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