Hold onto your water bottles, because Florida’s Surgeon General is now promoting something that sounds like it belongs in a sci-fi novel rather than a public health advisory. Joseph Ladapo, already a polarizing figure in the medical community, has recently urged people to drink 'structured water'—a concept that, according to actual scientists, is about as real as unicorns. But here's where it gets controversial: Ladapo claims this so-called structured water offers more health benefits than regular H2O, despite a glaring lack of scientific evidence to back it up.
In a recent X post, Ladapo responded to the Florida Department of Health’s standard advice to stay hydrated by suggesting people avoid plastic bottles and opt for structured water instead. While his caution about plastic bottles isn’t entirely off the mark—experts do warn against reusing them due to bacterial buildup—his endorsement of structured water has raised more than a few eyebrows. Timothy Schmidt, head of the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney, expressed astonishment that someone in such a critical public role could display such a fundamental misunderstanding of science. 'It’s a nebulous idea,' Schmidt explained, 'ranging from a chemically impossible formula to a fleeting phenomenon that can’t be bottled or sold.'
And this is the part most people miss: structured water, also known as hexagonal or Exclusion Zone (EZ) water, is touted as a 'fourth phase' of water—distinct from liquid, gas, or solid. Its proponents, like bioengineer Gerald Pollack, argue that water near hydrophilic surfaces behaves differently, forming a unique structure. They even claim it has a chemical formula of H3O2 instead of H2O, and that it boosts nutrient absorption, detoxification, and immunity. But here’s the kicker: while water’s behavior near hydrophilic surfaces is a real phenomenon, the idea that it can be bottled and sold as a health product is pure fantasy. Schmidt points out that any such structure would last mere trillionths of a second, making it impossible to mass-produce.
Yet, this hasn’t stopped marketers from peddling structured water products, often with media outlets unwittingly amplifying their claims. Even the Sydney Morning Herald once fell for the hype, publishing an article in 2022 that uncritically praised its supposed benefits. Is this just another case of snake oil in a shiny new bottle, or is there a grain of truth worth exploring? We’ll let you decide.
Ladapo’s track record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he championed unproven treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin while downplaying the virus’s severity. Since becoming Florida’s Surgeon General in 2021, he’s repeatedly questioned vaccine safety and mandates, even comparing them to slavery—a stance so extreme that even former President Donald Trump criticized it. His push to eliminate school vaccine mandates and end water fluoridation has further alienated him from the scientific community. Are these the actions of a public health advocate, or someone with a dangerous disregard for evidence-based medicine?
While promoting structured water might seem like a minor offense compared to his other controversies, it’s a troubling sign of a broader trend: the rise of anti-science rhetoric in positions of power. What does this mean for the future of public health in the U.S.? And how can we ensure that science, not pseudoscience, guides our policies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to make waves.
