Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
What is the importance of the acid - alkaline balance for the body? The metabolism
of the body is kept in balance through the actions of numerous mechanisms. Acid is
a by-product of some of these actions.
Over acidity, can become a dangerous condition that weakens all body systems and
gives rise to an internal environment conducive to disease. A healthy body will maintain
alkaline reserves to meet emergency demands. However, when excess acids have to be
neutralised the alkaline reserves may become depleted leaving the body in a weakened
condition.
Testing the body's Acid - Alkaline (bicarbonate) balance:
Using pH test strips, to determine pH factor of the body.
If the urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 to 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 and
7.0 in the evening, the body’s buffering systems are functioning within a healthy
range.
If the saliva pH remains between 6.5 and 7.5 all day, the body’s buffering systems
are functioning within a healthy range.
The best time to test body pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after
a meal.
Urine pH.
The results of urine testing indicate how well your body is assimilating minerals,
especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These minerals are known as
the "acid buffers" because they are used by the body to control the acid level.
If the acid levels are too high, the body will not be able to excrete acid. It will
either store the acid in body tissues or buffer it—that is, take minerals from elsewhere
in order to neutralise acidity.
Saliva pH.
The results of saliva testing indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in the body,
more so the activity of the liver and stomach.
Some people may have acidic pH readings from both urine and saliva—this is known
as "double acid."
Maintaining the Balance:
The body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is
balanced. Therefore, it is possible to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable
to absorb or assimilate them.
What Causes a person to be acidic?
The prime reason that acidosis occurs is when the diet is too high in acid-producing
animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy, and too low in alkaline-producing foods
like fresh vegetables. Additionally, acid-producing processed foods such as white
flour and sugar, acid-producing beverages such as coffee and soft drinks and artificial
chemical sweeteners which are extremely acid-forming are all part of the modern day
diet. Also many drugs, are acid-forming.
One of the best ways to correct an overly-acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.
Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition forces the body
to borrow minerals—including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium—from vital
organs and bones to buffer the acid and safely remove it from the body. The body
can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity—a condition that may go
undetected for years.
Mild prolonged acidosis can cause such problems as:
Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood vessels and the reduction
of oxygen.
Weight gain.
Obesity.
Diabetes.
Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.
Immune deficiency.
Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to cancerous mutations.
Premature aging.
Osteoporosis - weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs.
Note -Large, well-designed clinical trials on the effectiveness of an alkaline diet
for general health are lacking.
Safety Concerns:
An alkaline diet should not be undertaken by people with acute or chronic kidney
failure, with pre-existing heart disease and those on medications that affect potassium
levels in the body must check with their health professional first.
An alkaline diet is a diet that emphasises, to a varying degree, fresh fruit, vegetables,
roots and tubers, nuts, and legumes.
Before embarking on any diet regime a person must ensure that it is the right regime
for them.
First check the acid alkaline balance over time within the body, it may not require
adjustment.
If a healthy balance is indicated then having a diet that consists of about 60% alkalising
foodstuffs and 40% acidic forming foodstuffs should maintain a healthy balance.
Remember the body can become too alkaline if an unbalanced approach is undertaken.
Excessive alkaline levels produce an catabolic state within the body which will become
unhealthy.
Note - High acidic levels and high alkaline levels will cause health problems.
Alkaline diet primarily consists of:
Vegetables (all sorts), green vegetables in particular.
Fresh vegetable juice.
Fresh fruits.
1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and juice from ½ a lemon in warm (not hot)
water each day.
Alkalising grains - oats - quinoa - wild rice.
Seaweeds.
Avoid:
High protein intake.
Fat.
Sugar.
Refined / packaged foodstuffs
Fast food.
Stress.
Colas / fizzy drinks.
Always monitor the pH levels when undertaking a alkalising dietary regime to ensure
that the body is brought back into balance without swing too far into high levels
of alkalinity. Once the body is balanced and provided that there are no other underlying
problems a well planned diet should maintain a health acid - alkaline balance without
the need to take supplements.
