PH Balance

PH (potential of hydrogen) is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution such as bodily fluids or other liquids. The PH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being the most alkaline. Living cells must be charged with the correct proportions of both positive (acidic) and negative (alkaline) energy, or the cells eventually degenerate, mutate and die. Degenerated or mutated cells build up and accumulate over time, which may lead to the development of degenerative diseases, including but not limited to all forms of cancer. Overly acidic or alkaline blood can also result in death, so the body does everything it can to maintain PH balance, even if it means depleting the bones, teeth and other organs of alkalizing minerals to do so. A PH imbalance may result from such factors as stress, nutritional imbalances, food allergies, indigestion or sedentary lifestyles.

Bodily PH Requirements

Acids and bases are used and stored in various parts of the body as electrolytes to help regulate PH balance, increase resistance to infections, and to produce enzymes needed for digestion. Acids help maintain healthy flora in the digestive tract, they are needed for saliva to produce amylase, and for the stomach to produce pepsin, lipase, protease, hydrochloric acid and sodium bicarbonate. Bases are needed by the intestines to produce amylase and protease, and the pancreas needs bases to produce amylase, lipase, protease and trypsin. The stomach requires an acidic medium, some organs and systems including the mouth, the esophagus, pharynx, colon, vagina and urinary tract function better in a slightly acidic state, while most other organs and body systems generally require slightly alkaline mediums (i.e., with a PH of about 7.35-7.45). Saliva should also be slightly alkaline, except during and for about twenty minutes after eating.

Acid and Alkaline Foods

Food is a form of potential energy in that all foods carry either a positive (acidic), negative (alkaline) or neutral charge. Once digested, some acidic foods (such as those containing malic, citric or tartaric acids) produce alkaline effects, so they are considered to be alkaline forming. Likewise, some alkaline foods (such as dairy products) produce acidic effects, so these foods are referred to as acid forming. Excess acidic and acid forming foods can reduce the body's resistance to infections by providing an environment for germs to live and grow in, whereas alkaline and alkaline forming foods inhibit the growth of pathogenic germs. A healthy PH balanced diet should therefore consist of more alkaline and alkaline forming foods than acidic and acid forming foods.

Veggies and chlorophyll (the green pigment in plants like alfalfa, and in the sprouts and grasses of all plant foods) are alkaline and alkaline forming, whereas all cooked, refined and processed foods are acidic and acid forming. Not all animal products are acidic, but they are all acid forming. Grains, beans and legumes are also acidic and acid forming, unless in sprout or grass forms. Nuts, seeds, fruit and foods containing malic, citric or tartaric acids are acidic but alkaline forming. (Malic acid is available in apples, apricots, berries, cherries, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapple, rosehips and other foods. Cherries, grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, raspberries, rosehips and strawberries are a good source of citric acid, and tartaric acid is found in such fruits as grapes and pineapple).

Acid and Alkaline Nutrients (electrolytes)

Electrolytes are simply acidic and alkaline nutrients in the blood and other bodily fluids. Acidic nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, all vitamins, chloride, fluoride, iodine, phosphorus, silicon and sulfur. Calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc are alkaline, while most other nutrients generally have a neutral PH.