Scientist Ray Kurzweil Talks About Alkaline Water

39 Pages·2013·0.26 MB·English

Scientist Ray Kurzweil Talks About Alkaline Water
Ray Kurzweil was inducted in 2002 into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, established by the U.S.
Patent Office. He received the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize, the nation’s largest award in invention and
innovation. He also received the 1999 National Medal of Technology, the nation’s highest honor in
technology, from President Clinton in a White House ceremony.
He has also received scores of other national and international awards, including the 1994 Dickson Prize
(Carnegie Mellon University’s top science prize), Engineer of the Year from Design News, Inventor of the
Year from MIT, and the Grace Murray Hopper Award from the Association for Computing Machinery. He
has received twelve honorary Doctorates and honors from three U.S. presidents.
He has received seven national and international film awards. Ray’s books include The Age of Intelligent
Machines, The Age of Spiritual Machines, and Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever. Four
of Ray’s books have been national best sellers and The Age of Spiritual Machines has been translated
into 9 languages and was the #1 best selling book on Amazon in science.

Scientist Ray Kurzweil
Talks About Alkaline Water

Question: How can alkaline water with a pH
of 9 or 10 be expected to affect the body
when the pH of the stomach is 2 or less?
Answer: It is important to remember that
large amounts of hydrochloric acid are
present in the stomach primarily when
food is there. There is only a small
amount of acid in stomach when it is
empty, and this can be easily overcome
when alkaline electron-rich water is consumed. Therefore, in order to gain maximum
benefit, we recommend drinking alkaline water in between meals. Water consumed
between meals will very quickly pass through the stomach and the GI tract.
Question: I have read on the Internet that it is not possible to create alkaline or acid
water from pure water and that water that is pure enough to drink can’t be split into
alkaline and acid components. Is this true?
Answer: As responsible scientists, we had the same skepticism when we first heard
about alkaline water.

Therefore, the first thing we did was to purchase a water alkalinizer as well as an
accurate electronic pH meter. We ran tap water with pH 7.1 from our home faucet into
the device and found that the water coming out of the alkaline outlet had a pH of 9.5
(indicating very alkaline), while the water from the acid outlet measured pH 4.5
(indicating very acidic).
We repeated this experiment with a variety of tap waters obtaining alkaline outputs
with a pH ranging from 9.5 to 9.9. It is true that “pure” or distilled water can not be
ionized. If you were to try to “split” distilled water, it would not work. Tap or spring
water, however, has dissolved minerals in it. It’s the minerals in the water; primarily
calcium, potassium and magnesium that allow water to be “split” by an electric current
into alkaline, “electron-rich” (i.e., containing negatively charged ions that can engage
in chemical reactions to provide electrons to positively charged free radicals) and acid,
“electron-deficient” components. Individuals who say it is not possible to split tap or
spring water are misinformed.
One site on the Internet states “Ionized water is nothing more than sales fiction; the
term is meaningless to chemists. Most water that is fit for drinking is too unconductive
to undergo significant electrolysis.”
The above statement is easily shown to be incorrect with a simple pH meter and an
electrolysis machine. Most tap waters run through the machine produce highly alkaline
water as measured by a pH meter.
Question: Since you advocate drinking alkaline water, why not simply mix something
like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) with water and drink that? There are, in fact,
alkaline waters sold that are made by mixing water with bicarbonate. Wouldn’t that
work as well and be much less expensive than a water alkalinizer?
Answer: There are more benefits to “alkaline water” than simply the alkalinity or pH.
The most important feature of alkaline water produced by a water alkalinizer is its
oxidation reduction potential (ORP). Water with a high negative ORP is of particular
value in its ability to neutralize oxygen free radicals.
ORP can also be directly tested using an ORP sensor and meter. We have conducted
these experiments as well. We found that water coming directly from the tap had an
ORP of +290mV, while the water coming out of the water alkalinizer had a negative
ORP. The more negative the ORP of a substance (that is, the higher its negative
ORP), the more likely it is to engage in chemical reactions that donate electrons.
These electrons are immediately available to engage in reactions that neutralize
positively charged free radicals. This is the key benefit of water produced by a water
alkalinizer that is not available by simply drinking water than has had some bicarb or
other compounds dissolved in it to make it alkaline.
Although water mixed with bicarbonate is indeed alkaline, it does not have a negative
ORP; rather it has a positive ORP, meaning that it is unable to neutralize dangerous
oxygen free radicals. Alkaline water produced by running tap water through an
electrolysis machine does have a high negative ORP, meaning that it does have the
ability to neutralize oxygen free radicals. We have confirmed these ORP
measurements through our direct tests.
Question: OK, why is it important to drink alkaline water with a high negative ORP?
Answer: All chemical reactions occur with the transfer of electrons. Negatively charged
entities are said to be reducing agents, meaning they are relatively electron rich and
are able to donate electrons, reducing the charge of the entity with which they react.
Relatively electron-poor entities are referred to as oxidizing agents, meaning they tend
to pull electrons away. Thus, each substance in our body may act as either an
oxidizing or reducing agent.
However, not just any negatively charged ion will be able to engage in the specific
chemical reactions needed to neutralize oxygen free radicals. The HCO3-
(bicarbonate) ions in alkaline bicarb water do not have this potential, whereas the OH-
and mineral-rich water coming from an electrolysis machine (from tap water) does
have this potential. That is implied in the negative value of the “oxidation reduction
potential.”
Free radicals are among the most damaging molecules in the body and are highly
unstable molecules that are oxidizing agents and are electron deficient. They are a
principal cause of damage and disease in the body. Oxygen free radicals contribute
significantly to a broad variety of harmful conditions in the body ranging from life-
threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke and cancer, to less severe
conditions such as sunburns, arthritis, cataracts, and many others. Free radicals
MUST get electrons from somewhere and will steal them from whatever molecules are
around, including normal, healthy tissues.
Damage to tissues results when free radicals strip these electrons from healthy cells.
If the damage goes on unchecked, this will lead to disease. For example, the oxidation
of LDL cholesterol particles in arterial walls by free radicals triggers an immune
system response that results in atherosclerosis, the principal cause of heart disease.
The negative ions in alkaline water from an electrolysis machine are a rich source of
electrons that can be donated to these free radicals in the body, neutralizing them and
stopping them from damaging healthy tissues. Specifically, these ions have the
potential to engage in the chemical reactions necessary to neutralize oxygen free
radicals.
Vitamin C and E, grape seed extract and alpha lipoic acid, for example, are all
powerful electron donors. The vegetable-rich diet we recommend is alkaline and helps
donate electrons to the body. Alkaline, electron-rich water falls in the same category. It
can help with your body’s need for electrons to counteract free radicals.
Interestingly, we also tested vegetable juice with the ORP meter and found that it also
has a high negative ORP, meaning that it is able to neutralize oxygen free radicals. So
at least one of the important benefits of eating vegetables can be obtained from
drinking the high negative ORP alkaline water from an electrolysis machine.
Another benefit of drinking alkaline water is that it assists in the absorption of minerals.
We know that if the body is not absorbing enough minerals, it will rob minerals from
the body’s mineral reserves, chiefly calcium from the bones.
It is well known that many chronic diseases result in excess acidity of the body
(metabolic acidosis). We also know that the body tends to become more acidic due to
modern dietary habits and lifestyles and the aging process itself. By drinking high
negative ORP alkaline water, you combat metabolic acidosis and improve absorption
of nutrients.
The blood is carefully buffered to keep it in a narrow range between pH 7.35 to 7.45.
The body keeps blood pH stable by utilizing alkaline buffers, chiefly bicarbonate, to
neutralize acidic liquids (such as colas, which have a pH as low as 2.5) and other
acidic products and byproducts. But as the blood stream receives these acidic
substances, the alkaline buffers get used up.
Drinking alkaline water helps reduce the burden on the limited alkaline buffers which
are needed for the body’s natural detoxification processes.
Question: Is there research that actually shows the benefits of drinking alkaline water?
Answer: A number of studies are summarized below. One study described below
suggests that alkaline water encourages “friendly” anaerobic microflora in the human
intestinal tract, and discourages “unfriendly” aerobic organisms. The researcher (see
Vorobjeva NV below) writes: “Many diseases of the intestine are due to a disturbance
in the balance of the microorganisms inhabiting the gut. The treatment of such
diseases involves the restoration of the quantity and/or balance of residential
microflora in the intestinal tract. It is known that aerobes and anaerobes grow at
different oxidation-reduction potentials (ORP). The former require positive E(h) values
up to +400 mV. Anaerobes do not grow unless the E(h) value is negative between -
300 and -400 mV. In this work, it is suggested that prerequisite for the recovery and
maintenance of obligatory anaerobic microflora in the intestinal tract is a negative
ORP value of the intestinal milieu. Electrolyzed reducing water with E(h) values
between 0 and -300 mV produced in electrolysis devices possesses this property.
Drinking such water favours the growth of residential microflora in the gut. A sufficient
array of data confirms this idea.”
Dr. Grossman has also had many of his patients report of health benefits they have
experienced from drinking alkaline electron-rich water.
*********************************************
A sample of studies on the health benefits of alkaline electron-rich water.
Huang KC, Yang CC, Lee KT, Chien CT. Reduced hemodialysis-induced oxidative stress in
end-stage renal disease patients by electrolyzed reduced water. Kidney Int. 2003
Aug;64(2):704-14.
*********************************************
BACKGROUND : Increased oxidative stress in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients may
oxidize macromolecules and consequently lead to cardiovascular events during chronic
hemodialysis. Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) with reactive oxygen species (ROS)
scavenging ability may have a potential effect on reduction of hemodialysis-induced oxidative
stress in ESRD patients. METHODS: We developed a chemiluminescence emission
spectrum and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis to assess the effect of ERW
replacement on plasma ROS (H2O2 and HOCl) scavenging activity and oxidized lipid or
protein production in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. Oxidized markers, dityrosine,
methylguanidine, and phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide, and inflammatory markers,
interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. RESULTS: Although
hemodialysis efficiently removes dityrosine and creatinine, hemodialysis increased oxidative
stress, including phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide, and methylguanidine. Hemodialysis
reduced the plasma ROS scavenging activity, as shown by the augmented reference H2O2
and HOCl counts (Rh2o2 and Rhocl, respectively) and decreased antioxidative activity
(expressed as total antioxidant status in this study). ERW administration diminished
hemodialysis-enhanced Rh2o2 and Rhocl, minimized oxidized and inflammatory markers
(CRP and IL-6), and partly restored total antioxidant status during 1-month treatment.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that hemodialysis with ERW administration may
efficiently increase the H2O2- and HOCl-dependent antioxidant defense and reduce H2O2-
and HOCl-induced oxidative stress.
Shirahata S, Kabayama S, Nakano M, Miura T, Kusumoto K, Gotoh M, Hayashi H, Otsubo K,
Morisawa S, Katakura Y. Electrolyzed-reduced water scavenges active oxygen species and
protects DNA from oxidative damage. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997 May
8;234(1):269-74.
Active oxygen species or free radicals are considered to cause extensive oxidative damage
to biological macromolecules, which brings about a variety of diseases as well as aging. The
ideal scavenger for active oxygen should be ‘active hydrogen’. ‘Active hydrogen’ can be
produced in reduced water near the cathode during electrolysis of water. Reduced water
exhibits high pH, low dissolved oxygen (DO), extremely high dissolved molecular hydrogen
(DH), and extremely negative redox potential (RP) values. Strongly electrolyzed-reduced
water, as well as ascorbic acid, (+)-catechin and tannic acid, completely scavenged O.-2
produced by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XOD) system in sodium phosphate
buffer (pH 7.0). The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of reduced water is stable at 4
degrees C for over a month and was not lost even after neutralization, repeated freezing and
melting, deflation with sonication, vigorous mixing, boiling, repeated filtration, or closed
autoclaving, but was lost by opened autoclaving or by closed autoclaving in the presence of
tungsten trioxide which efficiently adsorbs active atomic hydrogen. Water bubbled with
hydrogen gas exhibited low DO, extremely high DH and extremely low RP values, as does
reduced water, but it has no SOD-like activity. These results suggest that the SOD-like
activity of reduced water is not due to the dissolved molecular hydrogen but due to the
dissolved atomic hydrogen (active hydrogen). Although SOD accumulated H2O2 when
added to the HX-XOD system, reduced water decreased the amount of H2O2 produced by
XOD. Reduced water, as well as catalase and ascorbic acid, could directly scavenge H2O2.
Reduced water suppresses single-strand breakage of DNA b active oxygen species
produced by the Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid in a dose-dependent manner,
suggesting that reduced water can scavenge not only O2.- and H2O2, but also 1O2 and .OH.
Vorobjeva NV. Selective stimulation of the growth of anaerobic microflora in the human
intestinal tract by electrolyzed reducing water. Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):543-6.
96-99% of the “friendly” or residential microflora of intestinal tract of humans consists of strict
anaerobes and only 1-4% of aerobes. Many diseases of the intestine are due to a
disturbance in the balance of the microorganisms inhabiting the gut. The treatment of such
diseases involves the restoration of the quantity and/or balance of residential microflora in
the intestinal tract. It is known that aerobes and anaerobes grow at different oxidation-
reduction potentials (ORP). The former require positive E(h) values up to +400 mV.
Anaerobes do not grow unless the E(h) value is negative between -300 and -400 mV. In this
work, it is suggested that prerequisite for the recovery and maintenance of obligatory
anaerobic microflora in the intestinal tract is a negative ORP value of the intestinal milieu.
Electrolyzed reducing water with E(h) values between 0 and -300 mV produced in
electrolysis devices possesses this property. Drinking such water favours the growth of
residential microflora in the gut. A sufficient array of data confirms this idea. However, most
researchers explain the mechanism of its action by an antioxidant properties destined to
detox the oxidants in the gut and other host tissues. Evidence is presented in favour of the
hypothesis that the primary target for electrolyzed reducing water is the residential microflora
in the gut.
Chen H, Kimura M, Zhu Z, Itokawa Y, Evaluation on ionized calcium as a nutrient. The 11th
symposium on Trace Nutrients Research, Japan Trace Nutrients Research Society, p131-
138, 1994.
*********************************************
Summary: To clarify effect of ionized calcium water for drinking water in rats, 36 Male Wister
rats weighing about 50g were randomly divided into 6 groups, and given following diet and
drinking water : (1) Ca-sufficient diet, tap-water; (2) Ca-sufficient diet, tap-water;(3) Ca-
sufficient diet, calcium lactate added-ionized calcium-water : (4) Ca-deficient diet, calcium
lactate added-water ; (5) Ca deficient diet, calcium lactate added-water 6) Ca-deficient diet,
calcium lactate added ionized calcium-water. The diets were given by paired-feeding method
4 weeks and drinking water was ad libitum. The significant change of calcium concentration
in the rats were was follows; Ca concentration of plasma, spleen, of plasma, spleen, kidney,
testis and tibia in Ca deficient groups (4), (5), (6) were significantly low compared with these
in Ca sufficient groups (1),(2),(3) Ca concentration in brain of groups (4),(5),(6) was low
compared to these in groups (2), Ca concentration in heart and muscle of group (4) was low
compared to Ca deficient groups (1),(2),(3), but these in group (5) drank Ca added-water was
recovered and these in group (6) drank ionized-Ca-water was higher than these in any other
groups. Ca concentration of liver in groups (4) were significantly lower than that in group
(1),(3) and Ca concentration of liver in Ca deficient rats (groups (5),(6)) drank Ca-added-
water were high compared to these in group (4). In 24 hours urine discharge of group (2) was
high compared with groups (4), (5), (6). These results suggest that ionized Ca in drinking
water may be active for intestinal absorption.
Vormann J, Worlitschek M, Goedecke T, Silver B, Supplementation with alkaline minerals
reduces symptoms of patients with chronic low back pain, J Trace Elem. Med. Biol. Vol. 15,
pp. 179-183, 2001
Abstract: The cause of low back pain is heterogeneous, it has been hypothesized that a
latent chronic acidosis might contribute to these symptoms. It was tested whether a
supplementation with alkaline minerals would influence symptoms in patients with low back
pain symptoms. In an open prospective study 82 patients with chronic low back pain received
daily 30 g of a lactose based alkaline multimineral supplement (Basica) over a period of 4
weeks in addition to their usual medication. Pain symptoms were quantified with the “Arhus
low back pain rating scale” (ARS). Mean ARS dropped highly significant by 49% from 41 to
21 points after 4 weeks supplementation. In 76 out of 82 patients a reduction in ARS was
achieved by the supplementation. Total blood buffering capacity was significantly increased
from 77.69 ± 6.79 to 80.16 ± 5.24 mmol/L (mean ± SEM, n=82, p < 0.001) and also blood pH
rose from 7.456 ± 0.007 to 7.470 ± 0.007 (mean ± SEM, n=75, p < 0.05). Only intracellular
magnesium increased by 11% while other intracellular minerals were not significantly
changed in sublingual tissue as measured with the EXA-test. Plasma concentrations of
potassium, calcium, iron, copper, and zinc were within the normal range and not significantly
influenced by the supplementation. Plasma magnesium was slightly reduced after the
supplementation (-3%, p < 0.05). The results show that a disturbed acid-base balance may
contribute to the symptoms of low back pain. The simple and safe addition of an alkaline
multimineral preparate was able to reduce the pain symptoms in these patients with chronic
low back pain.
Personal
Born, February 12, 1948
Married to Sonya R. Kurzweil
Contact Information
Kurzweil Technologies, Inc. PMB 193 733 Turnpike Street North Andover, MA 01845
781-263-0000
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.KurzweilTech.com and www.KurzweilAI.net

Education
1970
B.S., Computer Science and Literature, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Companies Founded
2005
Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc.
K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. developed and introduced the first pocket-sized print-to-
speech reading machine for the blind (the Kurzweil – National Federation of the Blind
Reader).
2003
Co-Founder, Chairman and co-CEO, Ray & Terry’s Longevity Products, Inc.
Ray & Terry’s Longevity Products develops and markets leading nutraceutical health
products that combine excellent taste with outstanding nutritional qualities. The food products
are not just fortified with nutritional supplements, they are comprised entirely of health-
promoting nutritional supplements. The company also develops and markets nutritional
supplements.
2001
Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, www.KurzweilAI.net
KurzweilAI.net is the “home of the big thinkers,” with over about 1,000 articles by over 100
authors on the future of technology and its impact on society. It features “Ramona,” a lifelike
avatar with conversational abilities based on natural language processing technology.
KurzweilAI.net is a leading resource on the web for advanced technologies, with more than
one million readers and a daily electronic newsletter.
2000
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Kurzweil Cyber Art Technologies, Inc. (”KCAT”)
KCAT “creates software that creates art.” KCAT products include “Ray Kurzweil’s Cybernetic
Poet” and “AARON the Cybernetic Artist” developed by Harold Cohen.
Developing Ray Kurzweil’s Fractal Artist, an intelligent interactive art creation program.
1999
Founder, Chairman and CEO, FAT KAT, Inc.
FAT KAT: Financial Accelerating Transactions from Kurzweil Adaptive Technologies. FAT
KAT is developing intelligent systems based on applying pattern recognition-based
algorithms to make stock-market transaction decisions.
1996
Founder , former CEO and current Chairman Emeritus, Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc.
(”KESI”)
Kurzweil Education develops and markets educational software products. KESI has
developed a new generation of reading technology software for persons with reading
disabilities, ADHD, low vision, and visual impairment. Its two product lines – the Kurzweil
3000 and Kurzweil 1000 – are the lead products in their product categories. The Kurzweil
3000 has been adopted by thousands of schools in the United States and other countries.
1995
Founder, Chairman and CEO of Kurzweil Technologies, Inc. (”KTI”).
KTI is a software development firm, currently supporting KurzweilAI.net, KCAT and FAT KAT.
KTI is developing a hand held reading system for the blind in a joint effort with the National
Federation of the Blind.
KTI has provided assistance to clients on the assessment, development and disposition of
patents, technology assets and software technologies. KTI clients have included:
United Therapeutics, Inc.
The American Board of Family Practice
Wang Laboratories, Inc. Creditors Committee
Wang Laboratories, Inc.
Kendall Square Research, Inc. Creditors Committee
DSP Associates
Tech Online
1982
Founder and former CEO, Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, Inc. (”KAI”).
KAI developed the first commercially marketed large vocabulary speech Recognition
technology. The company continues as part of ScanSoft (formerly Kurzweil Computer
Products, Inc.).
1982
Founder and former CEO, Kurzweil Music Systems, Inc.
Sold in 1990, is now the Kurzweil Music Systems division of Hyundai.
The Kurzweil Music products continue as a leading brand of musical instruments for both
professional and amateur musicians, distributed in 45 countries worldwide.
1974
Founder and former CEO, Kurzweil Computer Products, Inc.
Sold to Xerox Corporation in 1980, now Nuance (a public company with a $2 billion market
cap).
Kurzweil Computer Products (now Nuance) was the worldwide market leader in reading
machines for the Blind through 1996 and continues today as a leader in scanning and
character recognition technology and products. The current market leader in reading
machines for the blind and persons with learning disabilities is Kurzweil Educational
Systems, Inc.
The Kurzweil OCR (optical character recognition) software is now called TextBridge, a
worldwide market leader in OCR. This software has been in continuous development for 29
years.
Technology Firsts
2006
First pocket-sized print-to-speech reading machine for the blind (the Kurzweil – National
Federation of the Blind Reader)
2001
First “host / hostess” Avatar on the Web to combine a lifelike photo realistic, moving and
speaking facial image with a conversational engine.
2001
First Virtual Performing and Recording Artist (Ramona) to perform in front of a live audience
with a live band.
1997
First Print-to-Speech Reading System for Persons with Reading Disabilities that Reads from
a Displayed Image of the Page (Kurzweil 3000)
1997
First Continuous Speech Natural Language Command and Control Software(Kurzweil
VoiceCommands)
1994
First Speech Recognition Dictation System for Windows (Kurzweil Voice for Windows)
1987
First commercially marketed Large Vocabulary Speech Recognition (Kurzweil Voice Report)
1985
First Knowledge Base System for Creating Medical Reports (Kurzweil VoiceMED)
1984
First Computer Music Keyboard capable of accurately reproducing the sounds of the grand
piano and other orchestral instruments (Kurzweil 250)
1976
First Omni-Font (i.e., any type font) Optical Character Recognition (now Xerox TextBridge)
1976
First Print-to-Speech Reading Machine for the Blind (Kurzweil Reading Machine) The
Kurzweil Reading Machine is considered to be the world’s first consumer product to
successfully incorporate Artificial Intelligence technology.
1975
First CCD Flatbed Scanner
1975
First Text-to-Speech speech synthesis
1967
First computer-based Expert System for College Selection (SELECT). SELECT was sold to
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (New York)
1964
Developed computer-based expert system for music composition; won seven national
awards including first prize in the International Science Fair in Electronics &
Communications. Honored at award ceremony with President Johnson recognizing
achievements of young American scientists.
1964
First computerized Four-Way Analysis of Variance (statistical program)
Selected Current Products of Companies Founded by Ray Kurzweil
The companies founded by Ray Kurzweil all continue with major research and development
programs and product lines. Three of these companies (the last three below) were sold to
larger companies, but nonetheless maintain their identity as active subsidiaries. The products
offered by these companies continue to be prominent in their markets, which are the same
markets they were founded to pursue. Below are selected current products of these
companies, many of which have won awards.