What is the best: inhaling molecular hydrogen gas or drinking hydrogen water?
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 25
There are different ways to get the therapeutic benefits of molecular hydrogen from its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The two primary methods of hydrogen consumption are:
1) Drinking water infused with molecular hydrogen gas
2) Inhaling molecular hydrogen gas
Today I will talk about how both methods of hydrogen consumption work, what each one does in your body and how to decide whether you should inhale the gas, drink the water or perhaps combine both.
Hydrogen water
Hydrogen water is regular drinking water infused with molecular hydrogen gas.
There are two ways to make hydrogen water:
1. In a hydrogen water machine or portable water bottle through electrolysis technology.
2. By dissolving hydrogen generating tablets in drinking water.
What happens in your body when you drink hydrogen water?
The hydrogen goes into the stomach, the intestines, into the liver, the heart and the lungs. In the microbiome "hydrogen-rich water (HRW) may modulate oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota to promote antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effects, though results vary across models and durations."
It also impacts various second messenger systems in the GI tract and the liver.
These are intracellular signaling molecules released by the cell in response to exposure to the first messengers or extracellular signaling molecules; the
hormones and neurotransmitters.
Benefits of drinking hydrogen water
Easy and accessible for daily and on-the-go use
Increases hydration
Supports energy levels, cellular health, skin and gut health
Helps with workout related recovery and performance
Contributes to wellness in general
Hydrogen gas inhalation
This method consists of breathing in a low concentration of molecular hydrogen gas (usually 1–4%) through a nasal cannula or mask using a hydrogen inhalation machine.
It delivers molecular hydrogen directly to the lungs, allowing for rapid absorption into the bloodstream.
What happens in your body when you inhale hydrogen gas?
The hydrogen goes directly into the lungs and dissolves in the blood.
From there it expands systematically throughout the rest of your body, into all your cells from the muscles to the brain.
Benefits of inhaling hydrogen gas
Much higher concentration delivery of molecular hydrogen than in hydrogen water
Supports heart, lung and brain health
Able to positively and fast impact inflammation and fatigue
Effective during acute high stress situations
Which molecular hydrogen method is best for you?
Both hydrogen methods have their own potent benefits, so it really depends on your personal needs and goals.
If you're looking for a way to support your overall wellness and improve your hydration in an easy way that fits into a modern on-the-go lifestyle, then drinking hydrogen water is a good choice.
It is especially suitable for those of us looking for long-term health and wellness optimization.
Are you interested in going a bit deeper into molecular hydrogen's therapeutic benefits? Whether it is to support you with chronic health conditions, recovery after injury or surgery, balancing inflammation-related issues or as a preventive health protocol, then inhaling molecular hydrogen is a good choice.
Inhaling hydrogen gas is often used to help support specific conditions or as an emergency treatment.
In Japan, the world's pioneer in hydrogen research and use, hydrogen gas inhalation is a recognized medical treatment for various conditions.
How to get the maximum benefits from molecular hydrogen
Using both methods of hydrogen consumption by drinking the water as well as inhaling the gas offers additional advantages.
As Dr. Tyler LeBaron, PhD and founder of the Molecular Hydrogen Institute says: it's good to both inhale hydrogen gas and drink hydrogen water because the pharmacokinetics (what the body does to a drug) and pharmacodynamics (what a drug does to the body) are different in both hydrogen methods.
This can also be seen in different gene expressions: some genes respond specifically to drinking hydrogen water, while others respond better to hydrogen gas inhalation.
Ready to get started with hydrogen?
Take a look at our premium IHSA-certified portable hydrogen water bottles and hydrogen supplements here.
If you're looking for a molecular hydrogen gas inhalation device that also produces hydrogen water, take a look at these machines:
And finally to get a better understanding of how to measure hydrogen dosage in your water, we've prepared this article for you.
