The body is either healthy or it’s not. The pH condition in one’s body determines susceptibility to illness. Introduction to what pH is, food lists, and suggestions for discussions with one’s health care provider form the basis of understanding how pH relates to our health. References and links are listed throughout and at the end of this discourse.
pH refers to the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid (aqueous) substance. Substances most people are familiar with include soil, pool water and a person’s blood.
Specifically, pH is shorthand for Hydrogen potential (concentration/power of hydroxyl ions or the concentration of hydronium ions H3O+). http://www.coastwidelabs.com/Technical%20Articles/ph__the_power_of_hydrogen.htm
Thus, a very low pH score is said to be Acidic and a high score is said to be Alkaline. Too low is called acidosis and too high is called alkalosis. (Same website as the last one.) Both extremes are unhealthy.
A low (acidic) pH level contributes to any number of health problems. Those problems can range anywhere from constipation, gout, Kidney stones, diabetes and cancer. In the human body, the fluid inside and outside of our cells is what’s measured for Alkalinity or Acidity. The full pH scale range is from 0 to 14 where 7.35 to 7.45 is ideal for the human body. http://drbenkim.com/ph-body-blood-foods-acid-alkaline.htm
A chronic condition of acidity tends to leach the bones and teeth of what they need to be healthy. Osteoporosis, for example, isn’t about getting enough calcium when there is a chronic condition of acidity because the low pH steals every bit it can get it’s ‘hands’ on and then some.
Type 2 diabetes is a complication of chronic low pH. And, it further promotes bone and tooth loss by interfering with the digestive process where mal-absorption is often present.
A pH level is produced by the ingestion of food or prescription medication as well as being produced by the body. The body influences pH level via the normal metabolic (bodily) process, and our emotional state of mind. This is one way that stress or chronic stress can cause illness.
The metabolic process is about how our bodies convert food into energy. “Human beings are heterotrophs, which means that humans are dependent on organic molecules that have been ingested to meet energy needs. Organic molecules are the building blocks that meet anabolic needs as well. Metabolic activity begins with ingestion, when food is taken into the body. Metabolic enzymes come into play during digestion, when food is broken down in the body through a process called hydrolysis. During hydrolysis, starches become sugars, proteins become amino acids, fats become fatty acids and glycerol, and nucleic acids become nucleotides.” http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-metabolic-activity.htm
Enzymes come in all whole (raw produce and meats) foods and are rarely ever found in pre-packaged or processed foods. Some supplements, such as those by the Enzymatic brand, might contain enzymes as claimed by that company.
“When you ingest foods and liquids, the end products of digestion and assimilation of nutrients often results in an acid or alkaline-forming effect - the end products are sometimes called acid ash or alkaline ash.”
MEASUREMENT OF pH:
There are basically three ways to measure one’s pH level. The two most common are Litmus paper and liquid acid-base (base is also a word used to mean alkaline) indicators. Indicators are plastic strips with a substance at the tip of it. These are used on either saliva or urine in much the same way as Keto-Diastix applicators that test for Ketones and sugar in the urine. An additional testing tool sometimes used by doctors and pharmacists is a pH meter. http://www.coastwidelabs.com/Technical%20Articles/ph__the_power_of_hydrogen.htm
One website that sells pH meters is: http://www.jencostore.com/ph-meters?gclid=CLTt07q236YCFQTNKgodzVQL2w
The cost is about $40 with shipping for the in-home model.
There’s an additional measurement tool for acidity that’s available that can be used for immediate repair. It’s called the Tennant Biomodulator. It appears to be a combination of a voltameter and some type of Tesla technology. A low pH is also low voltage in our bodies. Here is a video introduction for the biomodulator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPtP5KWkNOg&feature=related
DIET:
In terms of the basic science about what pH is, most websites are fairly accurate. Clarity as it relates to acidosis or food choices is not so good.
A good guide to how much intake of alkaline and acidic foods is “To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods. To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods.” This is according to: http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm
At a basic level, most kinds of fresh produce is alkaline forming. Meats, dairy, processed foods (including flour and sugar), and artificial sweeteners, MSG are acid producing.
Many of the ingredients listed on the side of a packaged product will contain hidden sources of MSG. Further reading on that can be found on http://www.rense.com/general52/msg.htm
FOOD LISTS:
Specific food lists can be found on the following sites. Please exercise serious caution however. For example, while eggs are acid forming, they also help keep the liver healthy.
Also, one site lists potatoes (a nightshade plant that’s not good for arthritis) as an alkaline forming food but does not specify the effects of different cooking processes. Microwaving a potato robs it of all it’s fiber content and makes it strictly a starch like processed wheat (flour).
Additional info on nightshade foods can be found at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KWZ/is_5_4/ai_111734421/?tag=content;col1
FOOD LIST SITES:
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