Not too long ago, “hydrogen what?” would have been a perfectly reasonable response, especially if you weren’t scrolling through hyper-specific fitness spaces. Not anymore. Now, bottled hydrogen water is the drink of choice in biohacking circles and, increasingly, hydrogen inhalation therapies quietly appearing in Indian wellness clinics, positioned alongside IV drips, cryotherapy, and recovery lounges. What once felt like a niche import from Japan and Europe is now inching closer to home—from integrative clinics in Mumbai and Pune to longevity-focused centres in Chennai and Kerala.
On social media platforms, #hydrogenwater Reels and posts are popping up with stylish hydration accessories, glossy bottles, lit-up text overlays about antioxidants, and influencers touting its multiple benefits. Suddenly, it’s not enough that you were vaguely aware of its existence from science class in school; you need to have tried drinking it, dissolving it, or breathing it in.
What hydrogen is supposed to do
Hydrogen supplements are being pitched as fast-acting antioxidants, calming inflammation, supporting recovery, and helping the body cope with oxidative stress. From a clinical perspective, Dr Vishakha Shivdasani, Mumbai-based physician focussing on longevity and disease reversal, says the interest isn’t entirely off-base.
Molecular hydrogen behaves differently from conventional antioxidants like vitamins C or E, which broadly neutralise free radicals. Hydrogen, she explains, is selective. Instead of wiping out all free radicals—some of which are useful to the body—it appears to target the most damaging ones while leaving beneficial ones intact. Its ultra-small size allows it to move quickly through the body, reaching mitochondria (the cell’s energy engines) and even crossing the blood-brain barrier. “That’s why it’s being explored in high-oxidative-stress states,” Dr Shivdasani says, “particularly around intense exercise or inflammatory load.”
She’s careful, however, to separate theory from practise. For one, clinical evidence on the benefits is still limited. She also flags two practical issues: hydrogen is volatile (it escapes water quickly) and there’s no standardised therapeutic dosing yet. That means many consumer products may deliver far less hydrogen than what’s used in studies. “The science isn’t frivolous,” she says, “but it isn’t settled either.” For now, hydrogen fits best as adjunct support during acute oxidative stress, not a daily wellness essential.
Where logic kicks in
According to celebrity fitness coach and author Shivohaam Bhatt, hydrogen only makes sense if you understand the system it’s meant to support. “If you don’t understand the engine, you won’t understand whether adding a supplement even makes sense,” he says.
That engine is the mitochondria, which not just create energy but also act as stress sensors that respond to training, sleep, fasting, sunlight, breathing, and mental load. When mitochondria produce energy, a small amount of oxidative stress is inevitable—and that’s not a bad thing. “Low to moderate oxidative stress is what helps the body adapt,” Bhatt explains. “It’s how we get stronger, fitter, and more resilient. That’s hormesis: good stress.”
Problems start when stress becomes chronic: poor sleep, overtraining, metabolic issues or constant psychological pressure. That’s the context where hydrogen might help—by easing excessive oxidative damage without blocking the stress signals that make you stronger. “But if you’re already sleeping well, training smart, and eating properly, the impact is usually marginal,” he says. “Hydrogen can polish a healthy system. It can’t fix a broken one.”
Why wellness culture is into it
Hydrogen’s rise follows a familiar pattern. Protein found its way into popcorn and idli batter. Collagen slipped into lattes and mocktails. Hydrogen has arrived at a moment when wellness is obsessed with optimisation that is easy, packaged in slick branding, and tries to hook you with science-y promises.
Online, reactions are mixed. On Reddit, some users swear by hydrogen during heavy training weeks or jet lag, reporting less fatigue and quicker bounce-back. Others remain sceptical, questioning whether hydrogen even survives long enough in water to make a difference. The running joke? Timing. Drink it fast, or you’re basically paying for fancy water. Longevity claims, in particular, get side-eyed.
No miracles here
Regenerative medicine specialist and founder of Nuvana Clinic, Dr Rohan Goyal, frames hydrogen as a recovery aid rather than a treatment. “It helps the body handle everyday stress a little better,” he says, whether that stress comes from workouts, travel, pollution, long workdays, or poor sleep. Delivery matters too. Tablets and hydrogen water offer smaller, gradual exposure, while inhalation delivers higher concentrations more quickly—which explains why some people feel an immediate sense of clarity or relaxation. What doesn’t hold up, he cautions, are claims around disease reversal or dramatic anti-ageing. “Hydrogen is supportive, not curative,” he says. “The science is promising, but it’s not a miracle.”
The consensus: This isn’t the next creatine-level breakthrough. It’s a niche, maybe-useful add-on—interesting for short-term recovery, questionable as an anti-ageing shortcut.
