pH indicator and its impact on the quality of drinking water.
What is pH?
pH(“potentia hydrogeni” - the strength of hydrogen, or “pondus hydrogenii” - the weight of hydrogen) is a unit of measurement for the activity of hydrogen ions in any substance, quantitatively expressing its acidity.
This term appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century in Denmark. The pH indicator was introduced by the Danish chemist Soren Petr Lauritz Sorensen (1868-1939), although statements about a certain “power of water” are also found among his predecessors.
Hydrogen activity is defined as the negative decimal logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration expressed in moles per liter:
pH = -log
For simplicity and convenience, the pH indicator was introduced in the calculations. pH is determined by the quantitative ratio of H+ and OH- ions in water, formed during the dissociation of water. It is customary to measure pH levels on a 14-digit scale.
If water has a reduced content of free hydrogen ions (pH greater than 7) compared to hydroxide ions [OH-], then the water will have alkaline reaction, and with an increased content of H+ ions (pH less than 7) - acid reaction. In perfectly pure distilled water, these ions will balance each other.
acidic environment: >
neutral environment: =
alkaline environment: >
When the concentrations of both types of ions in a solution are the same, the solution is said to be neutral. In neutral water the pH value is 7.
When various chemicals are dissolved in water, this balance changes, resulting in a change in pH value. When an acid is added to water, the concentration of hydrogen ions increases, and the concentration of hydroxide ions correspondingly decreases; when an alkali is added, on the contrary, the content of hydroxide ions increases, and the concentration of hydrogen ions decreases.
The pH indicator reflects the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the environment, while “acidity” and “alkalinity” characterize the quantitative content of substances in water that can neutralize alkalis and acids, respectively. As an analogy, we can give an example with temperature, which characterizes the degree of heating of a substance, but not the amount of heat. By putting our hand in the water, we can tell whether the water is cool or warm, but we will not be able to determine how much heat is in it (i.e., relatively speaking, how long this water will cool down).
pH is considered one of the most important indicators of drinking water quality. It shows the acid-base balance and influences how chemical and biological processes will proceed. Depending on the pH value, the rate of chemical reactions, the degree of corrosive aggressiveness of water, the toxicity of pollutants, etc. can change. Our well-being, mood and health directly depend on the acid-base balance of our body’s environment.
Modern man lives in a polluted environment. Many people purchase and consume food made from semi-finished products. In addition, almost every person is exposed to stress on a daily basis. All this affects the acid-base balance of the body's environment, shifting it towards acids. Tea, coffee, beer, carbonated drinks reduce pH in the body.
It is believed that an acidic environment is one of the main causes of cell destruction and tissue damage, the development of diseases and aging processes, and the growth of pathogens. In an acidic environment, building material does not reach the cells and the membrane is destroyed.
Externally, the state of the acid-base balance of a person’s blood can be judged by the color of his conjunctiva in the corners of his eyes. With an optimal acid-base balance, the color of the conjunctiva is bright pink, but if a person’s blood alkalinity increases, the conjunctiva becomes dark pink, and with an increase in acidity, the color of the conjunctiva becomes pale pink. Moreover, the color of the conjunctiva changes within 80 seconds after consuming substances that affect the acid-base balance.
The body regulates the pH of internal fluids, maintaining values at a certain level. The body's acid-base balance is a certain ratio of acids and alkalis that contributes to its normal functioning. The acid-base balance depends on maintaining relatively constant proportions between intercellular and intracellular waters in the tissues of the body. If the acid-base balance of fluids in the body is not constantly maintained, normal functioning and preservation of life will be impossible. Therefore, it is important to control what you consume.
Acid-base balance is our indicator of health. The more “sour” we are, the sooner we age and get sick. For the normal functioning of all internal organs, the pH level in the body must be alkaline, in the range from 7 to 9.
The pH inside our body is not always the same - some parts are more alkaline and some are acidic. The body regulates and maintains pH homeostasis only in certain cases, such as blood pH. The pH levels of the kidneys and other organs whose acid-base balance is not regulated by the body are affected by the food and drinks we consume.
Blood pH
The blood pH level is maintained by the body in the range of 7.35-7.45. The normal pH of human blood is considered to be 7.4-7.45. Even a slight deviation in this indicator affects the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. If the blood pH rises to 7.5, it carries 75% more oxygen. When the blood pH drops to 7.3, it is already difficult for a person to get out of bed. At 7.29, he can fall into a coma; if the blood pH drops below 7.1, the person dies.
Blood pH levels must be maintained within a healthy range, so the body uses organs and tissues to maintain a constant pH level. Because of this, the pH level of the blood does not change due to drinking alkaline or acidic water, but the tissues and organs of the body used to regulate the pH of the blood do change their pH.
Kidney pH
The pH parameter of the kidneys is influenced by water, food, and metabolic processes in the body. Acidic foods (such as meat products, dairy products, etc.) and drinks (sweetened drinks, alcoholic drinks, coffee, etc.) lead to low pH levels in the kidneys because the body eliminates excess acidity through urine. The lower the urine pH level, the harder the kidneys have to work. Therefore, the acid load placed on the kidneys from such foods and drinks is called potential acid-renal load.
Drinking alkaline water benefits the kidneys - the urine pH level increases and the acid load on the body decreases. Increasing the pH of urine increases the pH of the body as a whole and rids the kidneys of acidic toxins.
Stomach pH
An empty stomach contains no more than a teaspoon of stomach acid produced at the last meal. The stomach produces acid as needed when eating food. The stomach does not produce acid when a person drinks water.
It is very useful to drink water on an empty stomach. The pH value increases to a level of 5-6. The increased pH will have a mild antacid effect and will lead to an increase in beneficial probiotics (good bacteria). Increasing the pH of the stomach increases the pH of the body, which leads to healthy digestion and relief from the symptoms of indigestion.
pH of subcutaneous fat
The body's fatty tissues have an acidic pH because excess acids are deposited in them. The body must store acid in fatty tissues when it cannot be excreted or neutralized by other means. Therefore, a shift in the body’s pH to the acidic side is one of the factors for excess weight.
The positive effect of alkaline water on body weight is that alkaline water helps remove excess acid from tissues because it helps the kidneys work more efficiently. This helps control weight because the amount of acid the body must “store” is greatly reduced. Alkaline water also improves the results of a healthy diet and exercise by helping the body deal with excess acidity produced by fat tissue during weight loss.
Bones
Bone has an alkaline pH because it is primarily composed of calcium. Their pH is constant, but if the blood needs pH adjustment, calcium is pulled from the bones.
The benefit of alkaline water to the bones is to protect them by reducing the amount of acid that the body has to fight against. Studies have shown that drinking alkaline water reduces bone resorption - osteoporosis.
Liver pH
The liver has a slightly alkaline pH, the level of which is affected by both food and drinks. Sugar and alcohol must be broken down in the liver, which leads to excess acid.
The benefits of alkaline water to the liver include the presence of antioxidants in such water; It has been found that alkaline water enhances the work of two antioxidants found in the liver, which contribute to more effective blood purification.
Body pH and alkaline water
Alkaline water allows the parts of the body that maintain the pH of the blood to function at greater efficiency. Increasing the pH levels in the parts of the body responsible for maintaining blood pH will help these organs stay healthy and functioning efficiently.
Between meals, you can help your body normalize its pH by drinking alkaline water. Even a small increase in pH can have a huge impact on your health.
According to research by Japanese scientists, the pH of drinking water, which is in the range of 7-8, increases the life expectancy of the population by 20-30%.
Depending on the pH level, water can be divided into several groups:
Strongly acidic waters< 3
acidic waters 3 - 5
slightly acidic waters 5 - 6.5
neutral waters 6.5 - 7.5
slightly alkaline waters 7.5 - 8.5
alkaline waters 8.5 – 9.5
highly alkaline waters > 9.5
Typically, the pH level of drinking tap water is within the range where it does not directly affect the consumer quality of water. In river waters the pH is usually in the range of 6.5-8.5, in precipitation 4.6-6.1, in swamps 5.5-6.0, in sea waters 7.9-8.3.
WHO does not offer any medically recommended value for pH. It is known that at low pH water is highly corrosive, and at high levels (pH>11) water acquires a characteristic soapiness, an unpleasant odor, and can cause irritation to the eyes and skin. That is why the optimal pH level for drinking and domestic water is considered to be in the range from 6 to 9.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interesting to know: The German biochemist OTTO WARBURG, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1931, proved that lack of oxygen (acidic pH<7.0) в тканях приводит к изменению нормальных клеток в злокачественные.
The scientist discovered that cancer cells lose the ability to develop in an environment saturated with free oxygen with a pH of 7.5 or higher! This means that when body fluids become acidic, cancer development is stimulated.
His followers in the 60s of the last century proved that any pathogenic flora loses the ability to reproduce at pH = 7.5 and above, and our immune system easily copes with any aggressors!
To preserve and maintain health, we need proper alkaline water (pH=7.5 and above). This will make it possible to better maintain the acid-base balance of body fluids, since the main living environments have a slightly alkaline reaction.
Already in a neutral biological environment, the body can have an amazing ability to self-heal.
Don't know where you can get it the right water ? I'll tell you!
Note:
Clicking the " To know"does not lead to any financial expenses or obligations.
You only get information about the availability of the right water in your region,
and get a unique opportunity to become a member of the healthy people club for free
and get a 20% discount on all offers + cumulative bonus.
Join the international health club Coral Club, receive a FREE discount card, the opportunity to participate in promotions, a cumulative bonus and other privileges!
The health of our body depends on an incredible variety of different factors. And in the modern world, where we have a lot of negative influence from the outside due to poor ecology, various infections and viruses, it is important to help ourselves with all our might to be in shape and monitor the condition of the body. Often, poor health, deterioration of the condition of the skin, nails and hair, exacerbation of allergic reactions, regular seasonal diseases, constant fatigue, depression and malfunction of internal organs are caused by a violation of the acid-base balance. In this material we will take a closer look at what it is, what it affects, and what should be done to restore it.
What is the acid-base balance of the body and what does it affect?
As we said above, the acid-base balance is incredibly important for the normal functioning of all our systems and organs. It is designated pH (the strength of hydrogen) and is the ratio of acid and base. To understand what the current environment is in your body, you can conduct an appropriate test. With the result:
- 7.0 - it is neutral.
- From zero to 6.9 - sour.
- Starting from 7.1 and up to 14.0 - alkaline.
Failure of the acid-base balance leads to disturbances:
- In liver functions. This is especially noticeable if a person drinks a lot of alcohol. Liver cells are destroyed, become fat, dehydration occurs, the blood thickens, its fluidity weakens, and useful minerals are washed out.
- In kidneys, bones and skin. From them the body tries to extract the missing alkali and other minerals, which has a very bad effect on their general condition.
- In the lungs. Carbon dioxide is removed through them, and when acidified, this process is inhibited, which causes even greater oxidation.
- In the intestines. When there is a malfunction, you feel constant heaviness and nausea, since the alkali produced in the intestines is simply not enough to extinguish the acid formed in the stomach. And both of these products are necessary for normal digestion of food.
- Low mobility.
- Regular stressful situations, shocks, depression.
- Obesity.
- Abuse of cigarettes, alcohol, sweets.
- Regular lack of fluid.
- Slow digestion.
- Diseases.
- Medicines.
- Poor nutrition.
Restoring the acid-base balance with food
The diet for an adult should contain at least sixty percent of alkaline-forming foods and, in total, a maximum of forty remaining percent should be allocated to the acid-forming group. Experts often also call the percentage ratio 70/30%, and sometimes even 80/20%. Before deciding how to restore the disturbed balance, let's look at what belongs to which group.
Alkaline environment is:
The acid group includes:
- Peanuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, cashews, walnuts, pecans.
- Beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken.
- Sea and river fish, mussels, clams, crayfish crabs.
- Canned fruit juices, especially those with sweeteners, prunes.
- Blueberries, cranberries, plums.
- Chocolate, cocoa, sugar, especially white sugar, cookies.
- Cheese, pasteurized and raw cow's milk, ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, yogurt.
- Eggs.
- Corn oil.
- Alcohol.
- Carbonated soft drinks.
- Black tea and coffee.
- White beans, cooked spinach, rhubarb.
- White flour, semolina, white rice, pasta.
Once you understand what acidic and alkaline foods are, you can move on to what to do if you have a pH imbalance. Naturally, we change our diet and increase the amount of alkalizing foods as much as possible. There is an opinion that for the first two weeks you should make up your entire diet from them. Next, you can already arrange fasting days for yourself and adjust your diet, based on your general condition and test results. The pH test can be carried out both at home and in the clinic; today, online stores and pharmacies sell test strips that determine the pH level in a liquid medium. You can use urine or saliva for testing, and it is recommended to do it in the morning an hour before a meal or 2 hours after breakfast.
In addition to diet, you need to monitor how you live, how your day goes, drink plenty of fluids, because with high acidity, severe dehydration occurs. Also recommended:
- move more;
- to walk outside;
- do not overeat;
- do not get into stressful situations;
- give up bad habits such as smoking and alcohol;
- treat diseases in a timely manner.
For more information on restoring the body’s acid-base balance, watch the video below:
Not everyone knows that many diseases occur due to one reason - a violation of the acid-base balance of the body. To improve and maintain good health, it is not for nothing that many doctors, nutritionists and traditional healers recommend following a balanced diet and drinking enough water. What is pH balance, which foods are acidic and which are alkaline? More on everything below.
Acid-base balance in the body - what is Ph?
The abbreviation pH comes from the Latin phrase pondus hydrogenii, which means “weight of hydrogen.” pH is an indicator of the acid and alkali content in a solution, or, more simply,expresses the number of hydrogen atoms.
The pH value is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, where the range from 0 to 7 are positive hydrogen ions, the range from 7.1 to 14 are negative hydroxyl ions.
The acid-base balance in the body is also measured by the pH indicator: values more than 7 mean an alkaline reaction, less than 7 - an acidic reaction, pH = 7 means a neutral reaction. Purified water corresponds to this value. If the value is below the norm of 7.4, this indicates acidosis - excessive acidification; if above the value of 7.45, this indicates alkalosis - excess alkali, which is much less common than acidosis.
On a note! pH value of urine, saliva and blood in a healthy person
Urine pH
Urine and saliva values are checked using litmus test strips.
A sign of good health based on urine analysis is the following: in the morning – 6-6.5;in the evening – 6.5-7. These values indicate the degree of absorption of alkaline minerals necessary to neutralize excess acids.
Saliva pH
A good value for saliva analysis is 6.4-7. Testing the pH level of saliva is most reliable in the morning on an empty stomach. This analysis shows the state of the digestive organs and the amount of enzymes in the body. If the value is above 7, you have obvious problems with the functioning of the stomach.
Blood pH
In the blood, the pH value ranges from 7.35 to 7.46. The acidity of arterial blood plasma of a healthy person is on average 7.4 pH, venous blood – 7.35 pH. The pH value of the blood is checked using a finger prick method. If the value is outside the specified norm, this indicates some serious diseases and complications.
Causes of acid-base balance in the body
The acid-base balance of the human body reflects its health. Thus, most diseases arise as a result of an unbalanced diet, when acidic foods predominate in the diet, and the amount of clean water consumed is insufficient.
Our ideal diet should consist of 2/3 alkaline foods and only 1/3 acidic foods. However, with the development of agricultural civilization, and then the modern food industry, the situation gradually changed for the worse, and today many, and perhaps most people, consume, on the contrary, about 1/3-1/4 alkaline foods, while acidic foods make up the majority diet. This leads to an imbalance towards acidification of the body - to acidosis, which results in rapid aging of the entire body.
Research by scientists has shown that in ancient times people ate 1/3 animal food and 2/3 plant food. (of course, this does not apply to the peoples of the North, who even now require more meat). That is, previously our diet was predominantly alkaline. Consequently, the acid-base balance was relatively better. Today, most people's diets are dominated by processed foods, canned food, confectionery, baked goods made from fine flour, saturated fats, refined and dead foods, a huge amount of coffee and pharmaceuticals, add smoking and excessive amounts of alcohol to everything - and we get acidosis. Alkalosis - excessive alkali content is much less common and is most often caused by excessive use of pharmaceutical drugs.
What diseases does acidification lead to and is it necessary to alkalize the body?
Self-regulation of acid-base balance occurs in the human body.
With acidosis, alkali is released to maintain this balance, but at the same time processes occur that lead to a decrease in the well-being of the entire organism:
- Acids are released through the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs, and skin;
- Acids accumulate in muscles and other tissues;
- Acids are neutralized by minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium.
Acidification leads to many diseases:
- Thus, when calcium and magnesium salts leave the bones, osteoporosis is formed, weakness in the muscular system, and joint diseases appear.
- A decrease in alkali reserves in nervous tissue leads to a decrease in intelligence, a high risk of mental disorders or diseases, chronic fatigue, insomnia, self-doubt, depression, and apathy.
- With the loss of potassium, sodium and magnesium, diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidney problems, hemorrhoids, and gout often occur.
- Acidosis often leads to diabetes, heart attack, atherosclerosis, dental disease, and infertility in men and women.
- In addition, acidification leads to a number of gastrointestinal diseases - ulcers, gastritis, constipation, nausea, stomach pain, bitterness in the mouth.
In general, acidification of the body causes more than two hundred diseases, including cancer. It has been proven that cancer cells can only live in an acidic environment! When they are placed in an environment with a pH of 6.5, cancer cells grow before our eyes, while in an environment of 7.4 and higher they do not survive.
That is, it is simply vital for a person to create and maintain an alkaline pH, since any harmful microflora is born and develops only in an acidified environment. If the body is acidified, it is necessary to alkalize the body. How to do this - we will consider further, after the table of acidity of foods, drinks and minerals.
Tables of acidic and alkaline foods, drinks and minerals
These tables categorize the average pH values of foods, drinks, and minerals into alkaline and acidic groups.
Table 1. Acidic foods, drinks and minerals
| Type | Weak acidifying |
Acidifying | Strongly acidifying |
| Fruits, berries | Pomegranate. | Fruit juices with preservatives. | |
| Vegetables, legumes | Beans. | Rhubarb. | Cocoa. |
| Nuts, seeds, oils | Pumpkin seeds and sunflower, sunflower oil. |
Cashew nuts, Pecan. |
Gretsky nut, Hazelnut, Peanut. |
| Cereals | Red rice | Corn, Buckwheat, Oatmeal, Rice, Rye. |
Products made from fine white flour. |
| Meat fish | Sea fish, Cancers, Crabs, shellfish, Wild duck. |
Turkey, Goose, Chicken, Rabbit. |
Pork, Venison, Beef. |
| Dairy products, eggs | Eggs, Dairy products, Cottage cheese, Butter. |
Cow's milk. | Cheese. |
| Beverages | Black tea. | Coffee. | Carbonated drinks,
Alcohol. |
| Minerals | Chlorine, Phosphorus, Sulfur. |
Table 2. Alkaline foods, drinks and minerals
| Type | Weak alkalizing |
Alkalizing | Strongly alkalizing |
| Fruits, berries | Oranges, Peaches, Bananas, Blueberry, Avocado, Plums. |
Pears, Raisin, Grape, Dates, Apples, Cherry. |
Lemon, Mango, Currant, Strawberry, Raspberries, Grapefruit, Watermelon. |
| Vegetables, legumes | Peas, Potato, Tomatoes, Corn, Olives, Soybean, Cabbage. |
Sweet potato, Beet, Salad, Celery, Carrot, Pumpkin. |
Spinach, Onion, Asparagus, Broccoli, Garlic, Vegetable juices. |
| Nuts, seeds, oils | Chestnuts, Rapeseed oil. |
Almond, Linseed oil. |
|
| Cereals | Amaranth. | Lentils. | |
| Dairy products, eggs | Milk and soy cheese
Shubat. |
||
| Beverages | Tea with ginger, ginseng tea. |
Green tea, Chicory. |
Herbal teas. |
| Minerals | Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium. |
How to bring pH back to normal and how to maintain the level of acid-base balance in the body?
So that the pH is always normal and the body does not wear out by fighting excess acidity, A person's diet should consist of 70-80% alkaline foods and only 20-30% acidic foods. Of these, the carbohydrate component should be approximately 50%, fats - 25%, proteins - also 25%.
To bring the acid-base balance in order, you should:
- Eat more different fruits, berries and vegetables, drink alkalizing drinks;
- Reduce the amount of heavy meat consumed (pork, beef, horse meat) and replace it with fish or poultry (chicken, turkey);
- Stop or reduce the consumption of canned, fried, salted and smoked foods;
- Avoid eating foods with artificial additives;
- Give up bad habits, excessive consumption of alcohol and medications (except for the most necessary);
- Use unrefined vegetable oils such as olive, flaxseed, sesame;
- Replace consumed confectionery products and sugar with natural honey, dried fruits, dark chocolate;
- Refuse baking from premium flour, instead use yeast-free or dried bread made from wholemeal flour;
- Avoid eating foods that are too hot or too cold;
- If you are overweight, reduce your caloric intake;
- Among the varieties of tea, preference should be given to green, white and red, but it is advisable to avoid coffee;
- Drink purified, natural, distilled, melted or structured water - you need to drink 1.5-2 liters per day separately from meals (no later than 15 minutes before meals and no earlier than 1.5-2 hours after) .
In addition, it is important to consume foods not only in the correct ratio, but also to combine them correctly, since some combinations are successful, while others are unhealthy:
- Meat, eggs, cheese, mushrooms Fine combined with herbs and vegetables, Badly – with starches, other fats and proteins;
- Starches goes well with vegetable and animal fats, herbs and vegetables, bad – with proteins, sugars, fruits;
- Legumes go well with herbs and vegetables,bad - with other products;
- Fruits go well with other fruits and berries, with some dairy products, with nuts, bad - with starches, proteins, sweets.
Finally
It’s not for nothing that they say: “a man is what he eats.” If you want to restore and maintain your health, adhere to the principles of proper nutrition, giving up foods that are attractive to the eye, but very harmful to the body. And be healthy!
Estimated reading time: 19 min. No time to read?
Most of us will never be interested in the pH balance of our blood, but proper pH balance is an important aspect of overall health. Many doctors emphasize the importance of reducing acidity and increasing alkalinity in the body through an alkaline diet because a balanced pH level helps protect our body from the inside out. Disease and dysfunction of organs, as doctors say, cannot take root for long in an organism whose acid-base balance is in balance.
What does “pH balance” mean? How do you know when your pH levels are off? The fact is that pH values are related to the balance in the human body between acidity and alkalinity. Your body works hard to maintain a balanced pH every day. In most cases, by eating alkaline foods or following a full alkaline diet, you can help your body defend against harmful microbes and organisms, prevent tissue and organ damage, prevent micronutrient depletion, and protect against immune system dysfunction.
Why is this so? To find out more, you should read this article.
In 2012, the journal Ecology and Health published a review on the health effects of an alkaline diet. The main conclusion from this article was:
“Today, modern people who eat food from current agriculture get much less magnesium and potassium in their diet, as well as significantly less fiber. Their current diet contains too much saturated fat, simple sugars, sodium (salt) and chlorides compared to the diet of their ancestors. This means that such a diet can lead to metabolic acidosis, which does not correspond to our genetic code due to the type of diet."
The most effective way to maintain a healthy pH balance is to eat plenty of alkalizing plant foods and greatly limit your intake of processed foods.
In addition, there are many different factors that have a serious impact on the acid-base balance: gut health, psychological stress, taking medications, chronic diseases. All of these factors influence how hard the human body must work to maintain normal pH levels.
What is acid-base pH balance? And why is this the key to good health?
What we call pH balance”, is an indicator of the activity of hydrogen ions in solutions. pH values are a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of fluids in body tissues. pH values range from 0 to 14. The more acidic the solution, the lower the pH values. More alkaline liquids show higher pH values. The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of many liquids, such as the water in the oceans and seas, not just our blood.
What should the ideal acid-base pH balance be? PH=7 is considered neutral, which means the liquid is equally acidic and alkaline. Blood serum pH, as well as the pH of most tissues in our body should remain around 7.365, while in the stomach the pH balance value is determined to be about 2 units. This strong acidity in the stomach is necessary to process food. Our saliva or urine is also slightly acidic and is in the pH range of 6.4-6.8 in healthy people.
If a person practices an alkaline diet, then it helps him restore the correct level of acid-base balance and helps improve health.
An alkaline diet has been shown to help:
[ , , , , ]- Protection from cardiovascular diseases
- Prevention of calcium accumulation in urine
- Prevention urolithiasis, kidney disease or damage
- Decrease general inflammation
- Reducing the risk of developing diabetes
- Maintaining good bone density
- Reducing the likelihood of muscle cramps
- Deficiency protection vitamin D and related consequences
- Reducing lower back pain
What causes acid-base imbalance?
Here's the definition of acidosis, a condition where your pH level shifts toward a more acidic state: "...is the overproduction of acid in the blood or excessive loss of bicarbonate from the blood (metabolic acidosis), or the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood, which results from poor lung function and depressed breathing (respiratory acidosis).”
Your body almost always does an excellent job of maintaining your acid-base balance at an optimal level. Unfortunately, you are given the “key” from birth on how hard your body will work to achieve optimal pH values.
Normally, our kidneys maintain proper pH balance and electrolyte levels, including calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. But when we are exposed to acidic substances, these electrolytes are used (used up) to combat acidity.
The kidneys begin to excrete more minerals from the body through urine. A highly acidic diet or body health condition causes our body to draw minerals (electrolytes) from our bones, cells, organs and tissues. Our cells have a serious need for sufficient minerals to produce their waste products. Therefore, first of all, with an increase in acidity, a loss of minerals occurs in the bone tissue (bones), which contributes to the development of osteoporosis. When cells work hard in an oxidized environment, the process of accumulation of toxins and pathogens can begin that the cells do not have time to eliminate, and this, in turn, can suppress the immune system.
Once you switch your body to an altered acid-base balance with a predominance of acidity, you force your body to work overtime to keep your blood in the neutral pH zone. This type of strenuous work by the body disrupts the levels of various substances that the body uses to perform its task of maintaining pH. These disorders include a decrease in potassium content, an imbalance in the sodium content ratio (our ancestors had a 10:1 ratio of potassium to sodium, and modern humans demonstrate a 1:3 ratio), decreased magnesium levels, very low fiber intake and earlier loss of kidney function, especially with aging. [AND]
You cannot independently bring yourself to an imbalance of blood pH (which is fraught with death), but you can, through your actions, reduce the body's stamina, which will not allow you to be in a state healthy aging. Only helping your body maintain a normal acid-base balance can provide you with healthy years of life.
Types of acidosis
There are five main types of what doctors call "metabolic acidosis." This condition means that the body has a poor acid-base pH balance or is working too hard to maintain a healthy pH.
Diabetic ketoacidosis - sometimes mistakenly confused with the state of ketosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when a person with diabetes's body cannot cope with changes in its condition and the liver produces dangerously high amounts of ketone bodies. This condition is usually diagnosed when blood sugar levels exceed 13 mmol/L.
Hyperchloramic (hhyperchloremic) acidosis– often diagnosed with profuse vomiting or diarrhea. With this form of acidosis, there is a decrease in the level of sodium bicarbonate and an increase in the concentration of chloride in the blood plasma.
Lactic acidosis- Too much lactic acid can lead to acidosis. According to scientific journals, “causes of this condition may include chronic alcohol use (alcoholism), cardiac arrest, cancer, liver failure, decreased oxygen levels in the air, and low blood sugar.” Additionally, prolonged exercise can lead to a buildup of lactic acid in the blood.
Renal tubular acidosis- If your kidneys cannot produce enough acid in your urine, your blood may become acidic.
Dietary acidosis is a recently recognized form of acidosis. Dietary acidosis (or “diet-induced acidosis”) is the consequence of eating highly acidic (not lemon) foods, which places a very high burden on the body, increasing the risk of various diseases and deteriorating overall functioning. body.
The best ways to maintain the correct acid-base pH balance
First, you can reduce your risk of falling out of healthy pH by looking at how your lifestyle and habits may be affecting your nutrient levels, gut function, and immune system.
Below are the main factors that contribute to the growth of acidity (acidosis) in your body
- Alcohol and drug use (including acetazolamide, opioids, tranquilizers, and aspirin)
- Excessive use of antibiotics
- Kidney disease or kidney dysfunction
- Poor digestion and impaired h gut health
- Eating a lot of processed and refined foods containing salt, preservatives, etc.
- Low dietary intake of potassium, calcium and other beneficial minerals
- High consumption of artificial sweeteners, food colors and preservatives
- Pesticides and herbicides that may remain in plant products
- Chronic psychological stress
- Sleep disorders, such as apnea
- Decreased nutritional levels in food due to industrial agriculture and poor topsoil quality
- Low levels of fiber in the diet
- Lack of exercise(sedentary lifestyle)
- Excess animal meat in the diet
- Excessive ingestion of cosmetics and plastic residues into the body
- Exposure to chemicals from household cleaning products, building materials, radiation from computers, cell phones and microwave ovens
- Poor chewing and eating habits (eating quickly without chewing thoroughly)
- Lung disease or damage, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, severe pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and asthma
How can you help your body achieve a neutral pH level?
Below are steps to help you maintain a better acid-base pH balance.
1. Reduce your intake of acidic foods
If you are currently following " standard western diet", then you will probably need to change your diet to be more alkaline. Here is a list of acidic foods that should be limited in your diet or completely excluded from your diet:
- Store-bought processed meats, cold cuts, hot dogs, sausages, salami.
- Foods High in Salt
- Sugar and sugar products
- Processed cereal grains such as corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet and rye (including flour from these cereals)
- Regular meat (beef, chicken and pork)
- Fried foods
- Milk and dairy products
- High glycemic index foods including white rice, white bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, etc.
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
There are some "sour" foods that contain many essential nutrients, so rather than being completely eliminated from your diet, they can be consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
- Most high protein foods such as meat and eggs
- Lentils and other legumes
- Brown rice
- Whole wheat bread
- Walnut
2. Go on an alkaline diet
If you plan to follow an alkaline diet to balance your pH, then your diet should be rich in green plants and other alkaline foods. It is also wise to buy more organically grown food (not from standard farming methods, but from farms or private gardens). These foods are grown in a more organic environment, in soil that is high in minerals, which tend to be more alkalizing and contain more vitamins.
Here is a list of foods that will contribute to an alkaline diet
- Leafy green vegetables- kale, chard, beet greens, dandelion greens, spinach, wheat sprouts, alfalfa, etc.
- Other non-starchy vegetables- mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, radishes, cucumber, broccoli, oregano, garlic, ginger, green beans, endive, cabbage, celery, zucchini and asparagus
- Raw foods- raw fruits and vegetables are biogenic or “life-giving” products for our body. Cooking, especially cooking, can reduce the content of alkali minerals. Increase the amount of raw food in your diet and try lightly steamed vegetables. Ideally, try to consume most of your foods raw, or only lightly cooked (such as steamed).
- Superfoods(healthy foods) - maca root, spirulina, sea vegetables, bone broth and dried greens powder containing chlorophyll
- Healthy fats: coconut oil, olive oil, fish oil, oil from farmed or domestically raised animals (these foods can be good additions to your diet, even if they are not necessarily alkalizing).
- Starchy plants- sweet potatoes, turnips and beets.
- Plant proteins- almonds, beans, beans and most other legumes
- Most fruits- Oddly enough, fruits that taste sour, such as lemon or grapefruit, do not create acidity in the body. They do just the opposite and contribute to alkalization of the body. Citrus fruits, dates and raisins are highly alkalizing and can help prevent acidosis.
- Vegetable juices(green drinks) - drinks made from green vegetables and herbs in powder form. These products are very rich chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is structurally similar to our own blood and alkalinizes the blood.
- Apple vinegarWith– sour in taste, but is able to restore the acid-base pH balance well.
Depending on your current health status and your health goals, you could achieve better acidity status by following an alkaline, very low-carb, ketogenic diet. Keto diet(ketogenic) also maintains pH balance in the body by eating healthy fats, green leafy vegetables, vegetable juices and superfoods (healthy foods). But it’s worth knowing all the pros and cons of the ketogenic diet before you start practicing it.
Most high-protein foods are acid-forming, so if you eat a lot of meat and animal products, it's important to balance out their acidic influences with alkalizing plant-based foods. If you are following a low-carb diet to reduce acidity, then in addition to the foods mentioned above, you can add beans, nuts and some small amounts of starchy foods (they contain a lot of carbohydrates and sugar).
3. Drink alkaline water
According to the US Water Research Center: "...the normal pH range for surface water systems is 6.5 to 8.5, and for groundwater systems is 6 to 8.5...". This means that there are many varieties of water with different pH levels.
When water has a pH level of less than or around 6.5, it can be characterized as “acidic and corrosive.” Such water can leach metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper, lead and zinc from aquifers, faucets and pipes, and may also contain toxic metals and have a sour taste. The Best Way to Change Your Acid Water Problem(low pH) – This is to use a special neutralizer that can increase pH.
Water filtered with reverse osmosis filter is slightly acidic, with a pH of just under 7. Distilled water and filtered water may not become too alkaline, but if you are not too concerned about the acidity of such water, then such waters can be considered a better option compared to tap water, or water in plastic bottles, which is more acidic.
4. Reduce the exposure of drugs, toxins and chemicals to your body
Many different medications, chemicals and toxins can disrupt the acid-base pH balance and contribute to increased acidity in the body. Such products include: alcohol, caffeine, acetazolamide, opioids, sedatives, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) and aspirin .
Important exclude from your life as much as possible all influences that are capable lead to constant use of various medications. For example, lack of sleep, psychological stress, sedentary lifestyle and even allergies can cause problems with your health, which will push you to take various medications.
Try to determine what steps you can take to naturally reduce your need for medications. If you live or work in an environment with large air pollution, then it is worth taking steps to protect yourself as best as possible from such contaminants.
Testing the pH level of acid-base balance
This is how you can check your own pH level
- You can test your pH by purchasing pH test strips from your local health food store or pharmacy.
- pH measurements can be made using saliva or urine. The second morning urination gives the best pH results in terms of accuracy.
- You compare the colors on the test strip to the pH scale chart that comes with this test strip kit.
- During the day, the best time to check pH is one hour before meals and two hours after meals.
- If you are testing your saliva, the ideal pH range for health is between 6.8 and 7.3 (remember, optimal pH is around 7.365).
An acidic environment in the body destroys our health! Here's how to prevent this from happening!
It is well known that an acidic environment in the body is unhealthy because it creates an ideal environment for the development of bacteria, yeast and disease.
In case of an overly acidic environment, the body takes vitamins from the organs to neutralize the acid and get rid of it. Consequently, the body's mineral reserves, including potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium, can become too low and cause serious damage.
Unfortunately, most people regularly consume acid-forming foods such as sugar, grains, meat and dairy products. Given the fact that the body produces acidic waste from metabolism all the time, the waste must be neutralized or removed.
Therefore, providing the body with alkaline foods is the most important thing we can do to neutralize acid generation.
Below is a list of health problems caused by poor pH balance, a condition known as acidosis:
1. Allergies, acne
2. Muscle pain and lactic acid buildup
3. Headaches, confusion, drowsiness
4. Osteoporosis, weak brittle bones, hip fractures, bone spurs
5. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
6. Premature aging
7. Skin diseases
8. Bladder and kidney infections
9. Weight gain, obesity and diabetes
10. Heart problems, arrhythmias, increased heart rate
11. Cardiovascular damage, including narrowing of blood vessels and decreased oxygen levels
12. Low energy and chronic fatigue
13. Yeast Fungal Growth
14. Respiratory problems, shortness of breath, cough
15. Sciatica, lumbago
16. Immune deficiency
17. Inflamed, sensitive gums
The body has the ability to independently adjust its pH. Namely, the pH for all tissues and fluids in the body is alkaline, with the exception of the stomach.
All systems have a wide pH range except blood, and they can shift to maintain blood pH. For example, if the system becomes overly acidic, the blood takes up alkaline elements from the small intestinal digestive system, creating a less optimal environment for digestion.
In other words, even though the body can regulate its pH, it affects another system in the body, creating the perfect breeding ground for additional problems to develop.
A healthy pH value ranges between 6.75 and 7.25, while the optimal pH value is 7.36. It is important to do pH testing to get a numerical representation of the level of acidification in your body.
You can't tell which food is sour or alkaline just by taste.
Although most people think of lemons as acidic, they are actually an alkaline food. Namely, acids are oxidized into carbon dioxide and water during digestion, meaning they do not create an acidic environment in the body.
The main alkalizing minerals include iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium. Thus, foods high in these minerals are alkaline foods.
Most foods contain both acidic and alkaline minerals, and foods are considered acidic or alkaline based on the predominant minerals.
Food intake plays an important role in maintaining acid-base balance because the body has limits on how much it can compensate for acid imbalance. In fact, the body's efforts to restore balance in the internal environment are the cause of many diseases.
In general, if the diet is rich in acid-forming foods such as sugar, meat, grains and dairy, the body becomes more acidic. On the other hand, if the diet is rich in alkaline foods such as vegetables, greens and fruits, the body becomes too alkaline. Therefore balance is key.
