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Do you know your body’s pH? Why is it Important?

 

"Those who fail to take the time to be healthy will ultimately have lots of time to be sick"

I’ve been talking to people for years about the importance of understanding their internal pH (Potential of Hydrogen).  A couple situations this week prompted me to write this blog.  I hope to summarize the importance of maintaining a healthy acid-alkaline balance, and indicate steps to ensure you maintian a healthly balance.

Ph-balances

Body Chemistry

We live and die at a cellular level. If our cells are healthy then we are healthy and if our cells are not healthy, if they live in a toxic environment, then we are not healthy. Remember that the body’s natural state is health, not illness.  Unfortunately, the majority of North Americans are living in a state of illness, not health.  The human body contains about ten gallons of fluid so our cells are swimming in an ocean that is either acidic, neutral or alkaline. The body’s systems work best in an environment that is neutral to slightly alkaline although some vital organs, like the stomach, either produce or house very acidic substances.  

 

Your blood pH should be slightly alkaline (7.35 - 7.45) and this is important to know.  Slightly below or above this range means you will experience symptoms of disease and sickness.  A pH of 7.0 is neutral.  A pH below 7.0 is acidic.  A pH above 7.0 is alkaline.  A blood pH of 6.8, which is only slightly acidic, can induce coma or even cause death, so your body will do everything it can to maintain a healthy blood pH.

 

High Body Acidity

 

High acidity is a common problem because the North American diet which is heavily acidic and a source of destructive Free Radicals.  When the body’s mineral reserves are depleted, the body “steals” alkaline minerals from whatever source it can to maintain the blood's healthy pH. This usually means that minerals are taken from bones and vital organs. Over time this weakens the organs, muscles and bones.

Some of the common health problems that result from high acidity, include

    * Acceleration of free radical damage
    * Bladder and kidney problems
    * Cardiovascular weakness
    * Immune system weakneses
    * Acid buildup resulting in joint pain
    * Low energy
    * Osteoporosis, eventually resulting in brittle bones and hip fractures, and
    * Weight gain

Diet is the primary cause of acid-alkaline imbalance in the body. 

 

What causes an Acidic internal system?

 

An acidic pH can occur from an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, immune reactions, or any process that deprives cells of oxygen and other nutrients.  The body will try to compensate for an internal acidic pH by using alkaline minerals from any source.  If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur leading to a state of poor health.

 

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical North American diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fruits, leafy greens and fresh vegetables.  Additionally, we eat acid producing processed foods like white flour and sugar, and drink acid producing beverages like coffee, soft drinks and alcohol.  A can of Coca Cola has a pH of 2.5, which is 100,000 times more acidic than water and requires 32 glasses of water at a pH of 10 to dilute it?  Every time you drink a can of Coke, or any soft drink, it's the same acidity as pouring the equivalent amount of vinegar (pH of 2.4) into your body, (without all the harmful chemicals and toxins found in Coke).  Think about that the next time you order your kids the highly acidic Happy Meal and Soft Drink from McDonalds.  It should be called the "Acidic Meal from McDonalds". 

 

Another source of acid that's often overlooked in our highly medicated North American culture is our dependency on drugs (both prescribed and over the counter).  Almost all drugs are acid forming and people pop pills like candy.  I saw a commerical for Tylonol and their tag line was, "get back to your normal".  Come on, since when does normal require you to take a drug. Shame on them for implying you require any drug to be normal.  I always thought normal was living in a natural state without the need for any drugs.  We also use artificial chemical sweeteners like NutraSweet, Spoonful, Sweet 'N Low, Equal, or Aspartame, which are extremely acid forming and in some cases poisonous.  One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid internal bady is to clean up the diet.  

 

What should we do to maintain a healthy pH?

To maintain good health, your diet should consist of 60% to 70% alkaline forming foods and 30% to 40% acid forming foods, depending on your current state of health.  Remember, balance between acid forming and alkaline forming foods is key.  To restore health if you’re suffering from any illnesses should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods. It is advisable to measure you pH with any number of test kits that are available.  I personally use the pH kit from a company call pHion; it's easy to use and interpret the results. 

    * Generally, alkaline forming foods include: almost all fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, seeds and nuts.
    * Generally, acid forming foods include: meat, fish, eggs, dailry, grains and legumes

The chart below provide you with a partial list of specific foods that are either:

    * Highly Acidic/Alkaline
    * Moderately Acidic/Alkaline
    * Low Acidic/Alkaline

An acidic body is a sickness magnet.  What you eat and drink will impact you body's pH.  You need both acid and alkaline, the key is the proper balance.

High Acid

Meats

Bacon, beef, chicken, crabs, eggs, fish, ham, lamb, liver, lobster, mutton, oyster, pork, turkey, veal.
   

High alkaline

Dried fruits

apricots, figs, raisins

Fruits

olives

Sweetener

molasses

Vegetables

beet greens, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, sea vegetables (ie Kombu Fucoidan).

Medium acid

Grains and legumes

Barley, corn, lentils, oats, peanuts, rice, rye, wheat.

Nuts

Brazil nuts, walnuts.

Dairy products

cheese (hard and soft)
   

Medium alkalinity

Fresh fruits

Most fruits including: apricots, bananas, blackberries, cantaloupe, cherries, currants, dates (dried), lemons, limes, loganberries, mango, nectarines, oranges, peach, persimmons, pineapple, raspberry, tangerine.

Vegetables

Most vegetables including: beets, carrots, celery, cucumber, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsnips, potato, pumpkin, sauerkraut, sweet potato, tomatoes, water cress.

Legumes

Lima beans, navy beans, peas.

Nuts

Almonds, chestnuts, coconuts.

Low acid

Fruits

Cranberries, plums.

Fats

Butter, cream, oils.
   

Low alkalinity

Fresh fruits

Apple, blue berries, gooseberries, pear, strawberries, watermelon.

Grains

Millet.

Legumes

Kidney beans, snap beans, soya beans.

Vegetables

Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, okra, onions, peppers, radish, squash, turnip.

From Professor Walter Veith's book “Diet and Health”.


Conclusion

Our bodies are constantly rebuilding themselves. You're really not the same person you were last year. For example, your body replaces the lining of your stomach about every five days, your skin in about a month, your skeleton about every three months, your liver about every six weeks and the red blood cells circulate for about 120 days before being replaced by new cells.  Your body eliminates approximately one billion dead cells everyday.

 

What you eat and drink today affects the body you have tomorrow. That can be good or bad, it all depends on what food choices you make today. The new body that you are building for tomorrow is affected by the food you eat today, in addition to the waste you eliminate, or as important, the waste you don't eliminate, the air you breath, the liquids you drink, and the stress you feel and how you respond to it. Everything you do affects your new body that you're building for yourself today.

 

A long-term acid producing diet (typical North American diet) creates a toxic environment at the cellular level. If the cells can’t function, the body ceases to function.  On the other hand, a diet that's a healthy balance of acidic and alkaline foods and liquids (leaning towards the alkaline) creates an environment that's conducive to total cellular health. 

 

So the next time you sit down for a meal, think about what you eat and drink, you're future self will thank you if you make healthy choices.