ACID-ALKALINE BALANCE IN THE BODY
How does the acidification and alkalization of the body occur?
We evaluate food from the perspectives of:
caloric content,
protein content,
carbohydrates,
fats,
vitamins.
It turns out that food has another important property. It can either acidify or alkalize. When food enters the body, is digested, and absorbed, each of its components represents either an acid-forming or an alkali-forming compound. This was shown by American scientists in the early 21st century. A computer analysis conducted by the researchers calculated the acid load of most products. Along the way, they proved that constant acidification of the body is one of the reasons for the leaching of calcium from the bones. The result is bone destruction and kidney stones.
If we sum up all the acid-forming and alkali-forming micro- and macroelements (at the end of a meal or at the end of the day), we can determine the acid-alkaline load of food. If acidic components (organic acids, sulfur-containing amino acids) prevail in the diet, they acidify the body. If alkaline components (organic salts of magnesium and potassium) prevail, the body remains in a more alkaline state.
Products that alkalize and acidify the body
The acid load of the main alkalizing and acidifying food products in milliequivalents per 240 kilocalories.
Eggs, meat, and cheese are acidifying foods.
List of acid-forming products:
meat - 67.9;
grains - 13.8;
cheese - 4.2;
yogurt and milk - 2.8;
eggs - 2.5.
Nuts are neutral products. List of neutral products:
legumes - 0.8;
nuts - 0.1.
Fruits and greens are alkali-forming products.
List of alkaline products:
leafy greens - 59.1;
tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplants, watermelons, melons, pumpkins - 46.5;
roots - 26.4;
vegetables - 14.3;
tubers - 10.6;
fruits - 5.8.
Acidified state of the body harms health
So, why is a purely acidic state, also known as acidosis, harmful to the human body? Let's take a closer look.
Each cell in your body optimally functions within a certain pH range (pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the environment). In different cells, this optimal range varies, but the overall pH level of the body must remain tightly regulated.
Blood, the most important tissue of the body, must have a pH within the range of 7.35-7.45, making it slightly alkaline. If the blood pH even slightly drops, the body will perish!
In the stomach, on the other hand, an acidic environment must be maintained, which is necessary for the complete breakdown and digestion of proteins. The pH of the stomach is primarily around 2.0, indicating a strongly acidic environment. One of the reasons why antacids (drugs that neutralize stomach acid) are not recommended unless prescribed by a doctor is that they impair digestion.
As a result of their intake, stomach function is disrupted, making it harder to digest protein-rich foods. Ultimately, this leads to incomplete digestion! Low acidity in the stomach also weakens the absorption of some important minerals, especially iron and calcium.
Therefore, remember: blood must be alkaline, while the stomach must maintain an acidic environment.
One of the biggest problems we face today is that our diet contains so many products made from refined grains, animal products, and just overly processed foods that a large part of the population is in a state of constant acidosis!
And this is bad news because when your body is acidified, diseases thrive in it! Also, the more acidic you are, the easier it is to gain excess fat (more on this below).
In short: acidic food = acidified body = diseases and obesity!
What else does acidosis threaten your health with?
Since your body must maintain the necessary pH level at all costs, it will do anything to achieve this goal. Therefore, any food acid must be neutralized using one of the acidity-lowering mechanisms.
And one of the most severe consequences of your body's attempts to maintain a constant pH level in an acidic environment is increased fat accumulation.
Increased fat accumulation
When your blood becomes highly acidified, the body starts looking for ways to protect itself from the harmful effects of this acid. Just imagine acid flowing through your arteries and veins. Imagine how it can affect the health of your blood vessels. Of course, not in a good way!
Therefore, the body sends this excess acid for storage in fat cells. When this happens, it becomes much harder for you to lose weight, as your body will hold onto this fat because it serves as a reservoir for all this acid. Get rid of the acid, and you will get rid of the excess fat!
Increased cortisol levels - retain fat reserves
Moreover, acidosis leads to increased cortisol levels (which regulates carbohydrate metabolism), which in turn disrupts insulin regulation, again forcing the body to retain fat reserves.
Acidosis can disrupt the functioning of the thyroid gland, which is responsible for metabolism. This can lead to hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function), resulting in a slowed metabolism at rest.
The bottom line: you find it harder to burn calories and easier to gain excess weight!
Why it is necessary to maintain the correct pH balance
To have strong health, it is necessary to maintain the correct pH balance, and here’s why: the body can fully accumulate and absorb nutrients and minerals only by maintaining the necessary acid-alkaline balance. Even the best health diet or herbal remedy program will not work fully if the pH balance is disrupted.
Our ancestors consumed a significant amount of vegetables and fruits, the carbohydrates from which balanced the acid load from meat consumption. Today, pasta and baked goods make up the bulk of our diet, and they produce a lot of acid due to the phosphorus they contain, which turns into phosphoric acid. This situation is exacerbated by the consumption of proteins, which also turn into acid.
Over the last 50 years, the consumption of protein-rich foods has increased by more than 50%. And if we do not neutralize fish and meat with greens, the protein from our own tissues cannot help us.
As a result, the acid load of food:
was negative (-78) for ancient people;
has become excessive (+48) for modern humans.
Smoking, stress, excessive coffee consumption, animal fats, sweets, and alcoholic beverages "over-acidify" the body. Acidic metabolic products are retained in the form of salts in the intercellular fluid and are not completely eliminated from the tissues, provoking the development of diseases.
How to know how acidified the body is
It is important to pay attention to changes in the acid-alkaline balance and, if necessary, take timely measures. The acidification of the body can be checked using litmus test strips. With their help, you can determine the pH level without leaving home.
Using litmus strips, you can check the acidification of the body.
Normal pH levels of urine and saliva:
The optimal pH level of urine and saliva is slightly acidic - 6.4-6.5.
If the pH of urine is within 6.0-6.4 in the morning and 6.4-7.0 in the evening, this indicates the health of your body.
If during the day the pH level of saliva remains within 6.4-6.8, there is no need to worry.
Important: check the pH twice a week, 2-3 times a day, and it should be determined one hour before meals or two hours after.
How to lower acidity in the body
Due to poor nutrition, the acid-alkaline balance of the blood is shifted towards acidity for the overwhelming majority of urban residents. Therefore, most of us need to lower its acidity.
How the body manages acidity:
excretes acids through the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, and skin;
neutralizes acids using minerals: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium;
accumulates acids in tissues, primarily in muscles.
It is in your power to help the body. Cleansing procedures and proper nutrition will help normalize the acid-alkaline balance and thus protect against diseases.
Include more alkalizing foods in your diet:
leafy salads;
almost all types of vegetables;
sprouted grains;
potatoes;
nuts, almonds;
dried fruits;
whey;
green tea;
still water.
Reduce the consumption of acidifying foods:
meat and fish;
black tea;
coffee;
sugary carbonated drinks;
products made from white flour;
confectionery.
It is important to remember: not everything acidic turns into acid in the body! For example, an acidic apple primarily forms alkaline compounds during digestion!
How can you lower acidity in the body? Try eating mainly unprocessed vegetables and fruits for at least one month! This way, you will restore the acid-alkaline balance of the body, strengthen your immune system, and your energy level will simply soar to the skies.