Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Mark Wahlberg team up with maker of ‘performance water’ AQUAhydrate

28-Feb-2013 - Last updated on 28-Feb-2013 at 16:00 GMT

Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg, who recently lent his name to a new range of sports nutrition products called MARKED, has teamed up with fellow celebrity Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to promote and develop high pH alkaline water AQUAhydrate.

Under a joint venture deal, Combs and Wahlberg will oversee business strategy with CEO John Cochran, formerly President of Fiji Water, said the southern California-based firm in a statement.

“Together they will help drive the AQUAhydrate vision and be instrumental in helping secure retail partnerships for the water brand, such as their recently signed deals with Safeway, Kroger and GNC.”

High in electrolytes, high pH

Marketed as “a high performance water without the sugar and calories found in traditional sports drinks or vitamin enhanced beverages”, AQUAhydrate contains electrolytes and has an unusually high pH (9+), and has become popular among many athletes and celebrities. It is also the official sports water of the USA water polo teams.

“It is this powerful synergy between alkalinity, electrolytes and minerals which fuels ultimate hydration, balance and performance, and which has made AQUAhydrate the water of choice for myriad health/fitness authorities, athletes, and celebrity endorsers”, said the firm.

Through a proprietary process, the water in AQUAhydrate is purified, supplemented with electrolytes and trace minerals, and raised to an alkaline pH of 9+ (regular water has a pH of 7) via electrolysis, says the firm, which claims its water can help prevent ‘acid tide’:

“Many of the processed foods and beverages we eat are acidic in nature… Bodies high in toxic acidic waste over an extended period of time experience what’s called ‘Acid Tide’ that can lead to loss of strength, decreased bone, muscle, and kidney health, and decreased vitality or sluggishness.

“Many leading doctors and nutritionists believe that one key measure to prevent Acid Tide is by consuming food and beverages with high alkaline metabolizing effects.”

Is alkaline water really better?

Supporters say alkaline water can neutralize acid in your bloodstream, boost your metabolism and help your body absorb nutrients more effectively. However, many scientists argue that if we drink alkaline water it is immediately neutralized by stomach acid.