UFC Hall of Famer Stephen Bonnar said he was hospitalized after drinking the Real Water brand of alkaline water.
According to 3 News UFC hall of Famer Stephen Bonnar is suing the makers of Real Water, an alkaline water product, claiming that the drink landed him in hospital. Bonnar is one of six plaintiffs suing Real Water; a company that is currently under investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration.
In November Bonnar was hospitalized for five days with acute liver failure, per a complaint filed in Clark County District Court. Bonnar’s co-plaintiffs all say they suffered liver damage after drinking Real Water, too, with four of them saying they were also hospitalized. One of the plaintiffs added that their dog died after drinking the product.
The FDA is currently investigating Real Water over 11 cases of illnesses, five of which involved acute hepatitis. Affinitylifestyles.com, Inc., which owns Real Water, has asked retailers to pull the product from their shelves in accordance with the FDA’s investigation.
Despite this, the FDA claims the company is demonstrating a lack of cooperation. The agency claims it hasn’t been able to examine Affinitylifestyles facilities in Henderson, NV and Mesa, AZ. The FDA also said they haven’t received records that have been requested from the company.
On their website the FDA commented that, “Although the investigation is ongoing, current epidemiologic information indicates that this alkaline water product may be the cause of the illnesses.”
Real Water boasts an alkaline level of 9.0 pH. Believers in the benefits of alkaline water say that the water balances out acids inside the body, leading to a myriad of positive effects. However, many scientific and medical institutions say otherwise.
The Mayo Clinic questions claims that alkaline water can help prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease, saying “there is little credible evidence to support such claims.” The Mayo Clinic also states that research shows that alkaline water is unlikely to significantly change the pH level of your blood.
Bonnar, an alumni from season one of The Ultimate Fighter, was one half of the most important UFC fight of all time. In 2005 he and Forrest Griffin put on a fight in the TUF Finale that is credited with propelling UFC and MMA into the mainstream.
Despite losing that fight Bonnar would go on to have a 15-fight career with the UFC. His Octagon tenure came to an end after he suffered a TKO loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 153 in 2012.
In 2014 Bonnar lost a split decision to Tito Ortiz at Bellator 2014. He hasn’t fought since then.