Are you Balanced?
by Jason Mould, MCPT
Unusual title I know, but I’m referring to the pH level in your body. Over the past few years there has been a lot of attention on how an elevated pH level can increase the potential of certain diseases in the body. So why do you think it is important to know your ph level? In this article I will help you understand what the pH level is, and what the healthy ranges are. I will discuss some health risks related to an elevated acid level in the body, and outline some tips to help you become more proactive in balancing your diet.
by Jason Mould, MCPT
Unusual title I know, but I’m referring to the pH level in your body. Over the past few years there has been a lot of attention on how an elevated pH level can increase the potential of certain diseases in the body. So why do you think it is important to know your ph level? In this article I will help you understand what the pH level is, and what the healthy ranges are. I will discuss some health risks related to an elevated acid level in the body, and outline some tips to help you become more proactive in balancing your diet.
Let’s get started by explaining the pH scale and its importance. The term pH stands for “power of hydrogen”. The pH scale is a measure of acidity and alkalinity that runs from 0, for pure acid, to 14, for pure alkali. Neutral is at pH 7. Blood pH must always be between pH 7.35 and 7.45 but the pH of our urine can vary over a broader pH range without being lethal. We are all born with a very high alkaline blood pH of 7.4. As we age this pH level gets more acidic. Our diet and the different foods we eat leave an ash or residue in our system. The residue can be acid, alkaline or neutral. Animal proteins and other sources of protein are the main foods that leave acid residues and most fruits and vegetables leave an alkaline residue. Most water is neutral.
In general the rule of thumb for an alkaline diet ratio is 75-80% alkaline and 20-25% acidic. The large base of your diet should be raw fruits and vegetables, with some exceptions. One of the more difficult things for people to hear is that 20-25% acidic. This means less protein, for most of us. I have found it to be more of a challenge to break my clients of high protein intake. Too much protein will raise your pH to an acidic state. It’s a fact that our muscles need protein to help rebuild, but our bodies only use 1.6 grams per kg of body weight for muscle repair. Remember that proteins are necessary and should not be avoided, just limited. Basically, alkaline diets recommend we eat whole, unprocessed foods with lots of raw fruits and vegetables, mostly the green ones. As always, you should be drinking at least 8 oz of water every two hours you’re awake and trying to consume less preservatives and toxins that are found in many processed foods. No real big news flashes here, yet today, most of us still struggle with these concepts.
Some examples of alkaline and acidic foods are: Alkaline - avocados, broccoli, garlic, brussels sprouts, potatoes, spinach, corn, oranges, bananas (the riper they get the more acidic they become), buckwheat, etc. Acidic – beef, pork, brown rice, wheat, wine/beer, liquor, tuna(canned), peanuts, etc. For a more complete list, there are a lot of great sites online.
An important point to note, because I found it to be one of the most frequently asked questions, is that we base what foods are acidic or alkaline on the metabolized byproducts, not what they are outside of the body. The question that was most asked was, are oranges acidic or alkaline? One might think that they are acidic, so they probably lower the pH level, but the opposite is true. Once the body metabolizes the citric acid, it becomes alkaline. This is because the weak acids (i.e. citric acid) convert to water and carbon dioxide in your body. The carbon dioxide is expelled through your breath.
One of the biggest reasons for keeping our pH levels at a slightly alkaline state is that it’s important to our health. An acidic environment allows the body to become more susceptible to certain types of diseases. If our bodies become too acidic, the body takes alkaline minerals, like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, in order to maintain balance. These minerals are taken from the vital organs of the body and the bones in order to neutralize the acid and safely remove it from the body. When the blood pH level drops below normal range, and becomes more acidic, the body goes into a state called acidosis. When the blood pH rises, in bases, this is called alkalosis. If you have a health problem, it is likely that you are suffering from acidosis. Acidosis is much more common than alkalosis. Acidosis decreases the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, and decreases energy production in the cells. Acidosis also hinders the body’s ability to repair damaged cells and detoxify heavy metals. Acidosis could cause or contribute to such problems as: cardiovascular damage, weight gain or obesity, diabetes, bladder conditions, kidney stones, hormonal problems, osteoporosis, low energy or chronic fatigue, digestive problems, headaches, and increased susceptibility to infections.
It is not a good idea to assume that your diet is too acidic. There are many factors that can influence the human body's pH levels. In general most grains, dairy products, meats, seeds, legumes and nuts tend to leave an acid ash. Most fruits and vegetables leave an alkaline ash. Cooked foods tend to be more alkaline than raw foods. It's a good idea to consult your doctor before trying any new diet. The only way to directly measure the body's pH is by testing your blood. Testing your urine only tells the pH of your urine. The same goes for saliva test strips. They only measure the pH of your saliva, not the pH of your blood. People with acute or chronic kidney failure should not use an alkaline diet, unless under a doctor's supervision. People with pre-existing heart disease and those on medications that affect potassium levels in the body should check with their doctor first.
In general the rule of thumb for an alkaline diet ratio is 75-80% alkaline and 20-25% acidic. The large base of your diet should be raw fruits and vegetables, with some exceptions. One of the more difficult things for people to hear is that 20-25% acidic. This means less protein, for most of us. I have found it to be more of a challenge to break my clients of high protein intake. Too much protein will raise your pH to an acidic state. It’s a fact that our muscles need protein to help rebuild, but our bodies only use 1.6 grams per kg of body weight for muscle repair. Remember that proteins are necessary and should not be avoided, just limited. Basically, alkaline diets recommend we eat whole, unprocessed foods with lots of raw fruits and vegetables, mostly the green ones. As always, you should be drinking at least 8 oz of water every two hours you’re awake and trying to consume less preservatives and toxins that are found in many processed foods. No real big news flashes here, yet today, most of us still struggle with these concepts.
Some examples of alkaline and acidic foods are: Alkaline - avocados, broccoli, garlic, brussels sprouts, potatoes, spinach, corn, oranges, bananas (the riper they get the more acidic they become), buckwheat, etc. Acidic – beef, pork, brown rice, wheat, wine/beer, liquor, tuna(canned), peanuts, etc. For a more complete list, there are a lot of great sites online.
An important point to note, because I found it to be one of the most frequently asked questions, is that we base what foods are acidic or alkaline on the metabolized byproducts, not what they are outside of the body. The question that was most asked was, are oranges acidic or alkaline? One might think that they are acidic, so they probably lower the pH level, but the opposite is true. Once the body metabolizes the citric acid, it becomes alkaline. This is because the weak acids (i.e. citric acid) convert to water and carbon dioxide in your body. The carbon dioxide is expelled through your breath.
One of the biggest reasons for keeping our pH levels at a slightly alkaline state is that it’s important to our health. An acidic environment allows the body to become more susceptible to certain types of diseases. If our bodies become too acidic, the body takes alkaline minerals, like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, in order to maintain balance. These minerals are taken from the vital organs of the body and the bones in order to neutralize the acid and safely remove it from the body. When the blood pH level drops below normal range, and becomes more acidic, the body goes into a state called acidosis. When the blood pH rises, in bases, this is called alkalosis. If you have a health problem, it is likely that you are suffering from acidosis. Acidosis is much more common than alkalosis. Acidosis decreases the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, and decreases energy production in the cells. Acidosis also hinders the body’s ability to repair damaged cells and detoxify heavy metals. Acidosis could cause or contribute to such problems as: cardiovascular damage, weight gain or obesity, diabetes, bladder conditions, kidney stones, hormonal problems, osteoporosis, low energy or chronic fatigue, digestive problems, headaches, and increased susceptibility to infections.
It is not a good idea to assume that your diet is too acidic. There are many factors that can influence the human body's pH levels. In general most grains, dairy products, meats, seeds, legumes and nuts tend to leave an acid ash. Most fruits and vegetables leave an alkaline ash. Cooked foods tend to be more alkaline than raw foods. It's a good idea to consult your doctor before trying any new diet. The only way to directly measure the body's pH is by testing your blood. Testing your urine only tells the pH of your urine. The same goes for saliva test strips. They only measure the pH of your saliva, not the pH of your blood. People with acute or chronic kidney failure should not use an alkaline diet, unless under a doctor's supervision. People with pre-existing heart disease and those on medications that affect potassium levels in the body should check with their doctor first.
