Your pH Balance

What we call “pH” is short for the “potential of hydrogen,” or the measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution. pH is also a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of our body’s fluids and tissues. It is measured on a pH scale that ranges from 0 to 14. The more acidic a solution is, the lower its pH value. The more alkaline it is, the higher the pH number is. The acidity or alkalinity of different solutions, including human blood but also many others found outside the body (such as the ocean), are indicated on the pH scale.

https://www.miamiobgyns.com/blog/how-ph-levels-affect-you/

What should the body’s pH level be ideally? Here is a basic ph balance info  that shows you the ideal pH level of the human body:

• A pH of 7 is considered neutral. “Neutral” means it is equally acidic as alkaline.
• The healthiest pH level for the human body is one that is slightly more alkaline than acidic.
• How alkaline should your body be? Optimally, we want to keep our bodies at a pH of 7.365 to 7.45.
• Your pH level will fluctuate throughout the day depending on many factors (more on these below), but the normal range is between 6 and 7.5.

Alkaline diets (sometimes also called alkaline ash diets) that help restore proper pH levels have been associated with health improvements including:

• Protection against plaque formation in blood vessels
• Prevention of calcium accumulating in urine
• Prevention of kidney stones, kidney disease and damage
• Reduced inflammation and chronic pain
• Maintaining stronger bones/better bone mineral density
• Reductions in muscle wasting or spasms
• Increased protection against chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes and arthritis
• Better protection against vitamin D and related consequences

The Causes of pH Imbalance & Acidity:

The Merck Manual’s definition of acidosis is “An overproduction of acid in the blood or an excessive loss of bicarbonate from the blood (metabolic acidosis), or a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood that results from poor lung function or depressed breathing (respiratory acidosis).”

What can cause your pH level to shift towards a more acidic state, thereby causing imbalance?

An increase in acid overwhelms the body’s acid-base control systems, causing the blood to become overly acidic. Normally, the kidneys maintain proper balance of pH and electrolyte levels, including calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. But when we are exposed to acidic substances, these electrolytes are used to combat acidity.

https://www.healthline.com/health/acidosis

The kidneys start to excrete more minerals out of the body via the urine. High degrees of acidity force our bodies to rob minerals from our bones, cells, organs and tissues. Cells end up lacking enough minerals to properly dispose of waste or oxygenate the body completely. Vitamin absorption is then compromised by mineral loss. Toxins and pathogens can start to accumulate in the body, and this can suppress the immune system.

These are some of ill effects that too much acidity can contribute to:

• Allergies, asthma and congestion
• Fatigue
• Frequent colds
• Headaches
• Inflammation
• Joint and muscle pain
• Skin problems
• Ulcers
• Weight gain
• Nausea and vomiting (due to metabolic acidosis)

When it becomes more severe, or over the long term, acidosis can lead to more serious health problems, including:

• Asthma
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalia
• Heart disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Stroke
• Cognitive changes including confusion

primary factors that contribute to acidity (acidosis) and pH imbalance in your body:

• Alcohol and drug use (including acetazolamide, opioids, sedatives and aspirin)
• Antibiotic overuse
• Kidney disease or kidney malfunction
• Poor digestion and gut health
• Eating lots of processed and refined foods that are high in sodium, added sugar, refined grains, preservatives, etc.
• Low intake of potassium, calcium and other minerals
• High consumption of artificial sweeteners, food coloring and preservatives
• Pesticides and herbicides that can remain on non-organic foods
• Chronic stress
• Sleep-created disorders, such as sleep apnea
• Declining nutrient levels in foods due to industrial farming and poor quality topsoil
• Low levels of fiber in the diet
• Lack of exercise/sedentary lifestyle
• Excess animal meats in the diet (from non-grass fed sources)
• Excess hormones from processed foods, health and beauty products, and plastics
• Exposure to chemicals and radiation from household cleansers, building materials, computers, cell phones and microwaves
• Overexercising
• Pollution
• Poor chewing and eating habits
• Lung diseases or damage, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, severe pneumonia, pulmonary edema and asthma

How do you raise your body’s pH level, in order to make it more slightly more alkaline rather than acidic?

steps you can take to to help restore pH balance:

 Reduce Intake of Acidic Foods

If you currently eat a “Standard American Diet,” you’ll likely need to give certain things up in order to eat a diet that’s lower in acidic foods. Acidic foods to limit or eliminate from your diet include:

• Processed meats such as deli meats, cold cuts, hot dogs, salami and cured meats, etc.
• Foods high in sodium
• Added sugar
• Processed cereal grains, such as corn flakes, etc.
• Conventional meats: beef, chicken and pork
• Fried foods
• Milk and dairy procused
• Peanuts
• Refined grains including white rice, white bread, pasta, cereals, etc.
• Caffeine and alcohol

There are also some otherwise healthy foods that contribute to acidity, but still don’t need to be completed avoided. These foods can still contribute many nutrients to your diet, so continue to eat them in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet.

• Most high-protein foods, such as meat and eggs
• Lentils and other legumes
• Oats
• Brown rice
• Whole grain bread (I recommend sprouted bread)
• Walnuts

The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice .All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.

Thank you …If there’s such thing as a pH balance diet, it’s one that includes lots of green plants and other alkalizing foods. It’s also smart to purchase as much organic food as possible, since crops that are grown in organic, mineral-dense soil tend to be more alkalizing and have higher vitamin and mineral content. 

Depending on your current state of health and your goals, you might have even better success with reversing acidity by adhering to an alkalizing, very low-carb ketogenic diet. The Keto diet and its foods are also supportive of pH balance include: healthy fats and oils, all types of leafy greens, powdered greens and drink mixes, and superfoods.

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