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You may have noticed the buzz about alkaline water recently: It’s a staple of the alkaline dietthis link opens in a new tab, and promoted by celebs like Miranda Kerr for its supposed health perks. Among those perks is the belief that alkaline H2O—which, by definition, has a higher pH (and lower acidity) than what comes out of the tap—can help neutralize stomach acid and relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, aka heartburn. But does this claim really hold water? We spoke with some medical experts to find out.

First things first: What is alkaline water?
All foods and beverages have a pH level. This stands for power of hydrogen, and it measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance. The pH scale ranges from 1 (the most acidic) to 14 (the most basic, or alkaline). Most tap and bottled water has a pH around 7, which is neutral, although it can vary slightly in either direction.

What's behind the heartburn claims?
Your body also has its own pH levels, says Evan Dellon, MD, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “For example, pH tends to be neutral in the blood, lower in the stomach, and higher in the small bowel,” he explains.

Doctors don't recommend alkaline water
Heartburn is caused by a flow of stomach acid backward into the esophagus, and drinking an alkaline solution may neutralize that fluid for a few minutes, according to Dr. Dellon. But it won’t solve the underlying problem of why that acid’s there in the first place.

“It’s no different than taking a Tums or drinking a lot of milk—which some people with reflux like to do because milk is also slightly alkaline,” he says.