Acid vs Alkaline

Remember High School chemistry? You would have learnt about pH: acids had low numbers, alkalines had high numbers and a pH of 7.0 was neutral- and it all meant absolutely nothing!!! However, it’s in the news a lot lately that we need to get our acid levels down and get our bodies into an alkaline state. When we tilt more towards acidity we have a greater likelihood of developing:

• Osteoporosis,
• Arthritis,
• Gout,
• Heart,
• Kidney disease,
• Diabetes,
• Cancer,
• Lupus,
• Tuberculosis,
• High blood pressure,
• Weight gain,
• Bladder conditions,
• Immune deficiency,
• Hormone disruptions,
• Chronic fatigue,
• Slow digestion and fungal overgrowths

and a host of other diseases.

Low-grade acidosis increases insulin resistance, which is the precursor to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It also increases the risk of kidney stones and kidney failure. One study actually suggests that it may alter gene activity and raise the risk of breast cancer. Talking of cancer, people who have been diagnosed with any form of cancer, should be encouraged to get their bodies into an alkaline state as soon as possible since studies have shown that cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment.

The body is amazing in that it continually strives to balance pH levels in the body. When the balance is compromised many problems can occur as already mentioned, the main problem being that acid-forming foods deplete the body of all-important minerals. An acid condition forces the body to borrow minerals- including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium- from vital organs and bones to neutralize the acid and safely remove it from the body. This causes strain and can result in severe and prolonged damage, which can go undetected for years. After digestion, all foods report to the kidneys as being either acid or alkaline- the kidneys are responsible for fluid balance and maintaining relative neutral pH in the body.

Here’s where it gets interesting; we erroneously believe that acidic foods will also result in an acid yield- however, this is not always the case. For example, citrus fruits and tomatoes are acidic and yet they have a net alkaline yield once they reach the kidneys. Milk and other dairy products, while alkaline at first, become acidic once their constituents reach the kidneys, so the overall effect of dairy results in an acidic yield.

Vegetables and, to a lesser degree fruits, are rich in minerals and in particular potassium salts, which is a natural acid buffer. Eating few of these foods deprives us of vital minerals and even more so when we eat a diet high in salted, processed and fast foods. Sugar is one of the main contributors to high acid levels in the body and should be avoided at all costs. The other acid contributors include coffee, alcohol, animal protein and grains and…let’s not forget…. stress.

Eating large amounts of animal protein releases sulphuric acid, also contributing to acidity. This can be offset with a greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, but again, most people eat these foods sparingly. We are not against eating animal protein as long as there is a balance of healthy vegetables and fruit. Grains such as wheat, rye and corn have a net acid yield, regardless of whether they are in the form of white bread, pasta, breakfast cereals or whole grains.

Actually, the problem is more of alkaline deficiency rather than one of too much acid. The missing piece in this puzzle is …you guessed it….adding a greater amount of vegetables and fruits to our diet. Studies have shown that people just don’t eat the recommended servings of these foods on a daily basis. The other often overlooked fact is the importance of drinking water- drinking 6 to 8 glasses of pure water is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy acid alkaline balance. Remember that the kidneys are the pivotal organ in acid/alkaline balance and water helps to flush the kidneys, hence the importance of drinking enough water(and no, this cannot be substituted with other fluids). Drat.

Can supplements help? The short answer is yes! Bearing in mind that the acid-alkaline imbalance is related to mineral imbalances, the important fact is taking the right minerals- firstly from food(and we always encourage organic food, with emphasis on green foods) or alternatively from a green food powder such as Green Vibrance or Barley Life- there are a couple of other good ones, just pop in to your local health shop and explore your options.

Millions of women dutifully take calcium supplements to help maintain bone mass and to reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis. If you take supplements, opt for the citrate form such as calcium citrate, as it has been shown to be better absorbed than the less expensive forms of calcium such as coral calcium or calcium carbonate.

So here’s the thing: it’s 2012, a new year which presents the opportunity to start afresh. Make every effort to get your body into a healthy alkaline state and you will have started on the right foot towards a healthy year.