HEALTHY LIVING

by

Eva Warren

PH Balance

Did you know there is a delicate balance in your body of acid vs. alkaline? Our bodies are always working to keep this balance. Alkalinity and acidity within our bodies are measured by a pH scale. pH stands for potential of hydrogen. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral. pH above 7 is alkaline; pH below 7 is acid. When Our pH is off it may indicate disease in the body. There may be symptoms which indicate that the pH is not balanced. We need to consider that plus the foods we eat which may alter our pH.

Some symptoms of acidosis may be low blood pressure, insomnia, sensitivity of the teeth to acid fruits and vinegar, dry, hard stools, or alternating diarrhea with constipation. Do you have difficulty swallowing? Sighing frequently may be a symptom as well. Burning in the mouth or under the tongue and rheumatoid arthritis have been symptoms of acidosis. You may ask, ”What have I done to cause this condition in my body?” Perhaps it’s the food you eat.

Our bodies are designed to handle the expulsion of alkalis and acids on a regular basis. Our blood becomes acidic from the choice of food we eat. Breathing gets rid of most of the acid in our bodies, however, our kidneys must eliminate acid from the foods we eat. Our kidneys extract minerals from our diet and use the minerals to neutralize acids leaving the body. Toxicity may result when our mineral reserves are low.

When the pH becomes unbalanced it is usually because the body has become acidic. Generally the problem that creates acidosis is a diet of meat, refined foods, sugar, and dairy products. When acidosis occurs, the body is forced to take minerals from our bones and vital organs to buffer the acid and then safely remove it from our bodies. Calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium are among the minerals used to perform this process. Thus bones and organs may weaken over the years, and disease is the result.

High alkalinity may be a problem, as well, but is far less common. It may cause much of the same problems as high acidity. High alkalinity may result in the body when ammonia is produced from abnormal microbes in a sluggish colon. An over-alkaline body may also result from our liver producing more ammonia to offset chronic acidosis. Being exposed to ammonia-containing fertilizers, alkaline chemicals, and cleaning solutions may result in high alkalinity. Stress hormones in the body may contribute as well.

Fruits and vegetables contain organic minerals that help keep the body in balance with a healthy pH. Fruits may have organic acids, but the body easily handles these acids with respiration. Fill your diet with lots of green foods such as zucchini, broccoli, romaine, and other green lettuces. Avocadoes, fresh coconut, corn, dates, most fresh fruits, most vegetables, raisins, soy foods, honey, maple syrup, and molasses are all alkaline forming foods. Super green foods such as chlorella, wheatgrass, spirulina and dulse are very alkaline to your body. Low level acid forming foods are butter, seeds, nuts, ice cream, most grains, and cheeses. Citrus fruits might seem to be acid forming but the citric acid they contain is actually alkalinizing.

Acid forming foods are beans, brussels sprouts, asparagus, cranberries, cornstarch, catsup, coffee, chickpeas, alcohol, eggs, milk, meat, lentils, legumes, flour, and flour based foods, fish, vinegar, tea, sugar, soft drinks, shellfish, sauerkraut, prunes, poultry, plums, pepper, pasta, organ meats, olives, oatmeal, noodles, and mustard. Rxs, aspirin, and tobacco are very acid forming. This is a general idea and meant as a guideline for choosing foods.

So how do you know if your body is acid or alkaline? Health stores sell pH paper that you can purchase to test your saliva and/or urine. Follow the general instructions on the package. You will see a chart of colors and numbers. Match your color to the closest one on the chart. Remember, as I stated above, the ideal pH for the human body is between 6.0 and 6.8. Numbers below 6.3 pH are acidic; numbers above 6.8 pH are alkaline. The test should be performed before eating or one hour after eating.

After you have performed the test and determined where you stand on the chart, you can start to make changes in the foods you eat. Your test may come out perfectly normal. However, if you test too acidic then you should eat more alkalizing foods. Of course, if you test too alkaline, choose some healthy acidic foods to balance out your body.

If you are very acidic some alkalizing green drinks may help you become more alkaline. Kelp reduces acid in the body. Kelp is loaded with minerals as well which aids the kidneys and helps maintain proper pH balance. 1500 mg. per day is recommended. Potassium also aids in keeping the pH in balance-- 99 mgs, daily is recommended. Generally if you eat a lot of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet, this will in itself keep your body’s pH in balance. The key is not to take in too much acid. All day soda and coffee drinkers might want to consider cutting back.

This information is meant to help you in your goals to be a healthier person. It is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat anyone. Always seek your health care professional for your health needs. Until next time I am wishing for you the best in health.

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Eva is a graduate of the American Institute of Holistic Theology and practices as a Doctor of Naturology. You may reach her at littleherbshoppe@hotmail.com

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