Acid-Alkaline Balance and it’s Role in Health

Creating an acid-alkaline balance in the body is fundamental in creating and maintaining a high state of health.  Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things in dieting and exercising yet you weren’t feeling better? The following information can make a huge difference in your state of health and overall wellbeing.

In 1931, a German cell biologist Dr. Otto Warburg discovered that cancer cells thrive in a high-acid, low oxygen environment.  Since then,  it is now realized that most, if not all, diseases thrive in this acidic environment.  For example, bacteria, fungus, yeast (candida) and viruses.  In fact, if you are suffering with a problem, most likely you are acidic. On the other hand, these same diseases cannot live, and will die, in an alkaline environment.  That means that as long as we maintain an (alkaline) environment that is not conducive to disease we should have optimal health with lots of energy, a strong immune system and good digestion, etc..

What is Our Body’s Ideal PH level?

pH is a scale that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is.  On the pH scale of  0-14 seven is neutral.  Anything over seven is alkaline and anything under seven is acidic.  In a natural state, the body is slightly alkaline.  The ideal pH for blood is 7.4 and the body must maintain this state to survive.  In fact, slightly above or below  this, creates symptoms of disease.  It is this imbalanced pH that leads to the progression of most degenerative diseases, digestive problems, kidney stones, obesity, and diabetes just to name a few.

What Causes the Body to Become Acidic?

There are several factors that can contribute to acidity.  One of the biggest culprits being the typical American diet.  Most foods that make up the Standard American Diet (SAD) have an acidic effect on the body.  When food is digested and broken down they leave behind a residue called ash.  The ash can either have an acidic or an alkaline effect on the body.  When we eat too much food that leaves an acidic ash, the body leaches alkaline minerals from the bones such as magnesium, calcium and sodium in attempts to neutralize the acidic condition.  This is why an acidic diet can lead to arthritis and osteoporosis.  Which foods are acidic? Foods high in protein such as meat products, fish, and eggs, dairy products, grains and legumes.  Also, fats such as oils, butters and margarines; alcohol, chocolate, coffee, teas, sodas and artificial sweeteners.  Nuts and seeds are acidic unless soaked first.

Other factors that create acidity are drugs, tobacco, air pollution, even excess emotions such as: stress, fear, grief, worry and anger.  These cause an increase in  hormones to be released to cope with the stress, which create acidity.  Anything that deprives cells of oxygen creates acidity, such as not breathing properly (i.e. not deep breathing).

What Contributes to an Alkaline Environment?

Alkaline foods are mostly all fruits and vegetables.  Of course, to gain the greatest benefit from these they are best eaten raw. Ideally, all foods should be raw, organic, whole and unrefined.  Exercising and deep breathing are very important in saturating the cells with oxygen, which as I mentioned earlier is important because lack of oxygen is one of two main factors present for cancer and disease to develop.  Positive thinking, sunlight and fresh air all contribute to an increase in alkalinity.

How Can You Maintain Balance?

One of the best things we can do is to change our diet.  The ideal ratio of alkaline foods is 80% and acidic foods 20%.  By building your meals around fresh fruits and vegetables, with smaller portions of nuts, seeds, legumes or grains you will be able to maintain that 80/20 ratio.  Keeping adequately hydrated with good quality water is also important.  Modifying lifestyle factors are important such as regular aerobic exercising  and deep, abdominal breathing which helps pump alkaline forming oxygen into the body. Getting enough restful sleep, keeping in control our emotions and keeping positive.  Believe it or not we could be eating right but if we have negative, draining emotions that we don’t address that alone can hinder our health.

What are the Health Benefits?

The result will be that of great health! Most people find that very quickly they notice an increase in energy, their skin starts to look healthier, allergies disappear, weight loss becomes easier.  I can attest to the fact that when I started making these changes in my diet and lifestyle that I felt an immediate decrease in the level of pain I had suffered as a result of my fibromyalgia and I felt way more energy, and mental clarity!  I urge you to try it and see for yourself.  Give yourself one month time as a trial and see how you feel at the end of that month.  I guarantee it will be worth your while!