Introduction:Recently, a natural mineral water branded as "weakly alkaline" sparked a buying frenzy at Sam's Club due to rumors that "fathers who drink it are more likely to have sons." The related topic even topped Weibo’s hot search list. This article will delve into the full story of the incident, clarify whether weakly alkaline water truly has the magical effect of influencing a fetus’s gender, and explore the social psychology and common misconceptions behind it. The goal is to help readers approach the topic of pregnancy preparation rationally and understand genuinely scientific reproductive knowledge.

Recently, a weakly alkaline natural mineral water sourced from Changshou Mountain in Bama Longevity Town, Guangxi, sold at Sam's Club, was snapped up en masse due to online rumors that "fathers drinking it can help have sons," leading to shortages in many areas. This 300-milliliter mineral water, compliant with China’s national standard GB8537 and typically priced around one yuan, is an ordinary drinking water product. However, because of its "weakly alkaline" label, it stirred waves of discussion on social media platforms and was even dubbed "son-producing water." The related hashtag #MineralWaterClaimedToHelpHaveSonsSellsOutDueToRumors even briefly claimed the top spot on Weibo’s trending list.

Many netizens shared personal anecdotes, claiming things like "I really gave birth to a son after drinking it," or "My husband and I drank it continuously for half a year and successfully welcomed a baby boy." Some even compiled so-called "best practice guides for drinking son-producing water," suggesting that fathers-to-be drink it continuously for at least six months to increase the chances of having a son. But is there any real scientific basis to these claims?

In fact, as early as last year, the Shenzhen Health Commission debunked such rumors through official channels, explicitly stating that the concept of "acidic or alkaline body constitution" is completely pseudoscience. Neither consuming so-called alkaline foods nor using alkaline liquids to clean private parts can influence the gender of a fetus—in fact, improper use may even lead to vaginal infections. The consensus in the medical community is that a fetus’s gender is determined by the sex chromosomes carried by the sperm: male sperm carry either X or Y chromosomes. Whichever sperm reaches and fertilizes the mother’s egg first determines the baby’s sex—this has absolutely nothing to do with diet or the so-called "environmental acidity or alkalinity."

This mineral water, jokingly referred to by netizens as "son-producing water," is unique in that its source is located on Changshou Mountain in Bama Yao Autonomous County, Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The area is known as a longevity village due to its high proportion of centenarians and is recognized as one of the world’s five major longevity regions. Sam's Club collaborated with this location to launch this 300-milliliter natural mineral water, produced according to the GB8537 standard. Priced affordably at around one yuan per bottle, it was originally just one among many mineral waters on the market—but the three words "weakly alkaline" endowed it with various miraculous effects, ranging from neutralizing stomach acid and alleviating gout to helping conceive baby boys. The topic has continued to gain traction.

It’s worth noting that not all mineral water sold at Sam's is considered "son-producing water"—the key factor is whether the water source is from Bama Longevity Mountain. Many netizens shared on social platforms: "I went to Sam's and saw that whole shelf surrounded by people. I thought it was a limited-time deal, but it turned out they were scrambling to buy ‘son-producing water.’" Some consumers also stated bluntly: "Whether it’s true or not, there’s no harm in buying a box to try at home."

At the same time, rational voices have pointed out that such rumors reflect deeper societal value issues, including the persistent preference for sons over daughters. Coupled with some self-media outlets deliberately creating sensational topics to attract traffic, the public often lacks discernment and follows trends blindly. One netizen remarked bluntly: "It’s shocking to still see news like this in 2024. Did nine years of compulsory education really make no difference?"

Beyond the claim that "weakly alkaline water helps have boys," other internet rumors suggest that eating so-called alkaline foods such as pumpkins, potatoes, and eggplants—or using folk remedies like incense ash—can allegedly increase the chance of conceiving a boy. These methods not only lack any medical basis, but some may even negatively impact health. Medical experts emphasize that couples preparing for pregnancy should focus on scientific preconception practices, including a balanced diet, regular routines, and good lifestyle habits—rather than placing hope in unfounded home remedies.

In summary, there is currently no scientific evidence supporting the idea that drinking weakly alkaline mineral water can influence the gender of a fetus. The health and well-being of the baby is what all parents should prioritize most. When facing online rumors, maintaining rational thinking and verifying information sources are essential to avoid unnecessary anxiety and misconceptions.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.