Acid-Alkali Balance
Dr. Jimmy Steger
The acidity and alkalinity levels within our bodies are measured by the Potential of Hydrogen (PH) scale. The pH level of 7.0 is considered to be neutral; any levels below 7.0 are considered to be acidic and unhealthy and above 7.0 are considered to be alkaline. Because the human body is naturally acidic, due to faulty diet, it’s important we strive to keep our systems at 7.2 -7.4. Perfect blood ph is 7.365 and if it moves by as much as 1/100th of a percent, we die. If you are wondering what your current levels are, there is a self-test that can be done in order to achieve these results on your own. All you have to do is purchase litmus paper from any health food store and place saliva or urine on the paper to watch it change color. The paper you bought will indicate what the colors mean. I personally like to check it through saliva, because it is easier and faster.
Acidosis is a common condition in which the fluids within the body become overly acidic over time from eating incorrectly. This is not healthy and not where you want your body to be. Some of the symptoms you might see with this condition include insomnia, water retention, migraine headaches, arthritis, low blood pressure, constipation, difficulty swallowing, bumps on the roof of your mouth and the tongue. This is just a short list of the many different symptoms that can be experienced when acidosis has taken place. As you can imagine with so many different symptoms to consider, it can be hard for a doctor to properly diagnose this condition in the early stages.
There are two different classifications when it comes to acidosis, which are respiratory and metabolic. Respiratory acidosis can be the direct result of existing conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. Basically this form of acidosis is the interruption of control of the acid levels within our bodies or consequently the depletion of alkaline. When this occurs the lungs become unable to remove carbon dioxide from the airways and respiratory acidosis is the result.
On the other hand, metabolic acidosis occurs when there is a chemical disturbance within the body, which changes the levels of acid and alkali. There are many different actions and conditions, which can create this type of acidosis such as conditions like diabetes, kidney failure and the over use of medications such as aspirin. These conditions and disorders directly contribute to the depletion of the alkali, which is needed for proper balance. There are many different natural treatments, which can be utilized in order to keep your acid levels strong but not so strong that they deplete the alkali.
- Coenzyme A is a natural supplement, which helps to promote the strength of the immune system and eliminate toxins from the body.
- Kelp can be taken in dosages of 1,000-1,500 mg and helps reduce the amount of acid located within the body.
- Phosphorus is an essential mineral, which aids in the transformation of food into energy.
- Potassium can help aid when it comes to the PH levels of the blood and can be taken several times a day in a supplement form.
As you can see each of these natural supplements can do their part to help make sure that your pH balances are always correct and therefore you are decreasing your risk of many different conditions, which can arise when your acid and alkali levels are out of order.
Directly on the other hand there is a condition called alkalosis, which of course is the condition where the body has too high levels of alkali. This condition is far less common than that of acidosis but it still does occur today. Alkalosis produces what is known as over excitation of the nervous system and the peripheral nerves are affected first. Some of the symptoms for this condition may be classified as being highly nervous, sore muscles, seizures, hypertension, edema, chronic indigestion, vomiting, thick blood and thickening of the skin. This is just a short list of examples to allow you to see what some of the symptoms may be.
The symptoms of alkalosis are far more unique and serious and therefore easier for physicians to single out today. The most common cause of alkalosis is an over intake of alkaline based drugs such as sodium bicarbonate, which is used in the treatment for ulcers. It can also be the result of a poor diet, which is very common in our society today, regular vomiting, high cholesterol and osteoarthritis.
Now that you have the understanding of what can happen when your pH levels are out of order it is important to understand how to keep them in order through your diet. The basic rule is to consume 80% of alkaline forming foods and 20% of acidic forming foods and drinks through your everyday diet. Some acid forming foods include:
- Beans
- Eggs
- Fish
- Meat (Beef , Pork)
- Milk
- Foods with added sugar also refined sugar
- Olives
- Pasta
- Poultry
- Soft Drinks
On the other hand the alkaline forming foods include:
- Corn
- Fresh Fruits
- Mushrooms (not recommended)
- Onions
- Raisins
- Fresh Vegetables
- Soy Products (not recommended)
- Avocados
- Sprouts
As you can see there are many ways for you to keep your levels balanced while still enjoying the foods that you like. Not many people pay attention to this unique form of health but when you are feeling ill and don’t know why your pH levels may be imbalanced, now you have the knowledge to take the appropriate actions to rectify this situation. Pay attention to the foods you consume within a day and you will begin to see where you are going wrong and what you can do to alter your levels for excellent health. Remember the phrase, Alkali or Die.
Until next time, Stay Healthy!
Dr. Jimmy Steger