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Acidity and alkalinity are measured according to pH (potential of hydrogen)
scale. Water, with a pH of 7.0, is considered neutral - neither acid nor
alkaline. Any substance with a pH below 7.0 is acid, while anything with
a pH above 7.0 is alkaline.
The ideal pH range for the human body is between 6.0 and 6.8 (the human
body is naturally mildly acidic). For the body, values below pH 6.3
are considered on the acidic side. Values above pH 6.8 are on the alkaline
side.
ACID AND ALKALINE SELF-TEST
This test will determine whether your body fluids are either too acidic
or too alkaline. Purchase litmus paper, and apply saliva and / or urine
to the paper. The paper will change colour to indicate if your system
is overly acidic or alkaline. Red litmus paper turns blue in an alkaline
medium and blue litmus paper turns red in an acid medium. Always perform
the test either before eating or at least one hour after eating. If
your test indicates that your body is too acidic, consult the recommendations
under Acidosis, below. If your body is too alkaline, see Alkalosis.
ACIDOSIS
Acidosis is a condition in which body chemistry becomes imbalanced and
overly acidic. Symptoms associated with acidosis include frequent sighing,
insomnia, water retention, recessed eyes, arthritis, migraine headaches,
abnormally low blood pressure, acid or strong perspiration, dry hard
stools, foul-smelling stools accompanied by a burning sensation in the
anus, alternating constipation and diarrhoea, difficulty swallowing,
halitosis, a burning sensation in the mouth and / or under the tongue,
sensitivity of the teeth to vinegar and acidic fruits, and bumps on
the tongue or the roof of the mouth.
There are two classifications of acidosis: respiratory and metabolic.
Respiratory acidosis is caused by an interruption of the acid control
of the body, resulting in an overabundance of acidic fluids or the depletion
of alkali (base). Simply, it occurs if the lungs are unable to remove
carbon dioxide. Respiratory acidosis can be a result of asthma, bronchitis,
or obstruction of the airway. It can be either mild or severe.
Metabolic acidosis occurs when chemical changes in the body disturb
the body's acid-base balance, creating an excessive amount of acid in
the body fluids. Diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, the use of unusually
large amounts of aspirin, and metabolic diseases are some of the conditions
that can deplete the body's alkaline base. Other contributing factors
can include liver and adrenal disorders, stomach ulcers, improper diet,
malnutrition, obesity, ketosis, anger, stress, fear, anorexia, toxaemia,
fever, and the consumption of excessive amounts of niacin and vitamin
C.
HERBS
- Use elder bark, hops and willow for acidosis.
- Externally, apply ginger compresses to the kidney area.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Eat a diet of 50 percent raw foods. Raw foods not only maintain the
correct acid/alkaline balance within the body, but they are also richer
in nutrients that are easily assimilated into the body. Recommended
foods include apples, avocados, bananas, bilberries, blackberries, grapefruit,
grapes, lemons, pears, pineapples, strawberries, and all vegetables.
Fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits and vegetables reduce acidosis.
Start with small amounts of citrus fruits and gradually add larger amounts.
- Chew your food slowly, and do not overindulge. Make sure food is mixed
well with saliva to form a liquid consistency before swallowing. Do
not drink fluids during meals.
- Prepare cooked foods with care. Maintain clean working surfaces and
wash vegetables and fruit. Keep meat and vegetables separate - you can
contaminate vegetables with bacteria from raw meat. Do not overcook
vegetables, as this makes them lose not only their flavour, but also
their nutritional value. Eat processed foods in moderation only. They
are low in nutrients and overexert the digestive system. Both cooked
and processed foods tend to make the body more acidic. Also avoid eating
late at night, as this makes the body work more on digestion and less
on restoration.
- Drink potato broth every day.
- Avoid beans, cereal, crackers, eggs, flour products, grains, oily
foods, macaroni, and sugar. Plums, prunes, and cranberries do not oxidize
and therefore remain acid to the body. Avoid these until the situation
improves.
- Since excess vitamin C may lead to acidosis, reduce your intake of
vitamin C for a few weeks. When taking vitamin C, use a non-acid-forming
(buffered) variety.
- Heartburn and indigestion can be the result of food digesting poorly.
If you suffer from heartburn, taking small swallows of a teaspoon or
two of natural cider vinegar in a glass of water may be of some help.
It may cause a burning sensation when you swallow it, but then, in approximately
twenty minutes, you should feel relief. If the cider vinegar method
works, this may indicate that you lack sufficient acid in your stomach
and the cider vinegar compensated for this insufficiency. In this case,
consider taking digestive enzyme supplements containing hydrochloric
acid (HCI). Stomach acid is important for breaking down food, and also
prevents germs from irritating the intestines.
- Practice deep breathing.
- Check your urine pH daily using pH paper. See the inset further down
"Acid and Alkaline Forming Foods", for a list of acid-forming
foods to avoid until your pH is corrected.
CONSIDERATIONS
Phosphorus and sulphur act as buffers to maintain pH. Sulphur can
be taken in supplement form.
Umeboshi plums contain many alkaline minerals that aid in treating
acidosis. You can eat one plum every four hours (four plums per day)
for three days, then reduce your intake to one per day.
ALKALOSIS
Alkalosis is the inverse of acidosis - it is a condition in which the
body is too alkaline. Alkalosis is less common than acidosis and produces
over excitability of the nervous system. The peripheral nerves are affected
first. The symptoms may be manifested as a highly nervous condition,
including hyperventilation and even seizures. Other symptoms can include
sore muscles, creaking joints, bursitis, drowsiness, protruding eyes,
hypertension, hypothermia, seizures, edema, allergies, night cramps,
asthma, chronic indigestion, night coughs, vomiting, too-rapid blood
clotting and thick blood, menstrual problems, hard dry stools, prostatitis,
and thickening of the skin, with burning, itching sensations. Alkalosis
may cause calcium to build up in the body, as in bone or heel spurs.
Alkalosis is often the result of excessive intake of alkaline drugs
such as sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of gastritis or peptic
ulcers. It can also result from excessive vomiting, high cholesterol,
endocrine imbalance, poor diet, diarrhoea, and osteoarthritis.
HERBS
- Alfalfa is beneficial for the digestive tract. It is a good source
of vitamin K and other nutrients. Use supplements plus natural sources,
such as alfalfa sprouts.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Adopt a diet that consists of 80 percent grains and includes beans,
breads, brown rice, crackers, lentils, macaroni, nuts, soy sauce, and
whole-grain cereals. The other 20 percent of the diet should include
fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, eggs, and natural cheese.
- Do not use antacids or mineral supplements, except those mentioned
above, for two weeks.
- Avoid sodium.
- Cut back on mega doses of vitamins and minerals for two weeks.
- Check your urine pH daily using litmus paper. See the inset further
down "Acid and Alkaline Forming Foods", for a list of alkaline-forming
foods to avoid until your pH is corrected.
CONSIDERATIONS
Your breathing can affect the acid-alkali balance of your body. Prolonged
hyperventilation may cause temporary alkalosis, resulting in anxiety
and a feeling that one cannot get enough air, despite the fact that
breathing itself is not actually restricted in any way. If this happens,
breathe into a paper bag and rebreathe the air from the bag. This often
helps to correct the chemical imbalance.
ACID AND ALKALINE FORMING FOODS
A basic rule of thumb to follow to achieve and maintain pH balance is
to eat 80 percent alkaline-forming foods and drinks and 20 percent acid-forming
foods and drinks each day. If a pH test indicates that your body is
too acidic, you should eat more alkaline-forming foods and omit acid
forming foods from your diet until another pH test shows you have returned
to normal. Conversely, if your body is too alkaline, eat more acid-forming
foods and omit alkaline-forming foods. Use the list below as a guide
to which foods are acid-forming and which are alkaline-forming. Low-level
acid-forming and low-level alkaline-forming foods are almost neutral.
Litmus paper may also be called nitrazine paper. It can be purchased
at most local pharmacies. If your local pharmacy does not carry it or
urine test trips for pH, check with a hospital pharmacy. Or contact
Winning.
Acid-Forming Foods
Alcohol
Asparagus
Beans
Brussel sprouts
Buckwheat
Ketchup
Chickpeas
Chocolate
Cocoa
Coffee
Confectionary
Cornstarch
Cranberries
Eggs
Fish
Flour, flour based products
Legumes
Lentils
Meat
Milk
Mustard
Noodles
Oatmeal
Olives
Organ meats
Pasta
Pepper
Plums
Poultry
Prunes
Sauerkraut
Shellfish
Soft drinks
Sugar, all foods with sugar added
Tea
Vinegar
Aspirin, tobacco, and most drugs are also acid forming.
Low-Level Acid-Forming Foods
Butter
Canned or glazed fruit
Cereals
Cheeses
Dried coconut
Dried or sulphured fruit (most)
Grains (most)
Ice cream
Ice milk
Lamb's quarters
Nuts and seeds (most)
Parsley
Alkaline-Forming Foods
Avocados
Bananas
Buttermilk
Carrots
Corn
Cucumbers
Dates
Fresh coconut
Fresh Fruits (most)
Fresh Vegetables (most especially kudzu, onions, potatoes, rutabagas)
Grapefruit
Honey
Horseradish
Maple syrup
Molasses
Mushrooms
Onions
Oranges
Pears
Raisins
Soy products
Sprouts
Umeboshi plums
Watercress
All vegetables, especially raw vegetables, balance the acidity and alkali
levels in the blood. Although it might seem that citrus fruits would
have an acidifying effect on the body, the citric acid they contain
actually has an alkalinising effect in the system.
Low Level Alkaline-Forming Foods
Almonds
Blackstrap molasses
Brasil nuts
Chestnuts
Lima beans
Millet
Soured dairy products
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