Dr. Lee Kyu-jae, president at The Korean Water Society and professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine

1

Taean (Chungnam) AsiaToday reporter Park Sung-eun - While healthy water has grown more and more popular over the last few decades, hydrogen waters have become a large and growing trend worldwide due to its anti-aging effects and other health benefits. In this situation, the Korea's first-ever natural hydrogen water was found in Taean, Chungnam, last year. The water is Korea's pride that has miracle health benefits.

Dr. Lee Kyu-jae, president at The Korean Water Society and professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine, recently visited Taean and showed excitement regarding the discovery of natural hydrogen water in Korea. Lee said, "Hydrogen was 200 to 230 parts-per-billion (ppb) last year. With this, Korea has become the first-ever country that produces natural hydrogen water."

Hydrogen water is known to suppress oxidative damage, which may aid in inhibiting age-related inflammatory reactions. Besides, it is known to aid in digestion and improve overly acidic conditions that most people today suffer from. The first research of hydrogen on human body began with Dr. Shirahata's active hydrogen theory in 1997, which proved the ability of drinking, inhaling, and taking a hydrogen bath.

So far, it has been impossible to purchase natural hydrogen water in Korea. However, things have changed completely when natural hydrogen water was found last year from natural bedrock water from the depth of 870 meters in Taean.

Experts say that this region's water contains more hydrogen than world's top healing waters in Nordenau Germany (80 ppb of hydrogen), Tlacote Mexico (180 ppb), Nadana Village India (180 ppb), and Lourdes France (410 ppb).
 
President Lee Kyu-jae visited the natural hydrogen water manufacturing factory along with officials from Environment and Health-Related Product Safety Institute under Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Lee said, "Hydrogen water is already popular in Japan, and there are further researches on hydrogen being carried out in China as well. However, it is still in its infancy in Korea. I came to Taean with Chinese government officials to tell them that Korea has natural hydrogen water as well."

While there is a growing interest in this water among United States, China, and Japan, AsiaToday has launched premium natural mineral water, Haru 2.0, containing natural hydrogen water produced in this factory on June 22. Approved by US FDA, Haru 2.0 has been recognized for its value as it has been selected as "Korea's Good Water for Atopic Dermatitis 2012."

The water from this region is also known to neutralize cesium, which is a radioactive material, and is beneficial for maternal health. It contains a large amount of 20 different rare natural minerals that are good for health, such as natural iodine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, and germanium.