The body puts a large emphasis on maintaining the proper acid/base balance within the blood serum. The appropriate blood pH balance is slightly alkaline at 7.365. A small drop in pH (only a 0.1 to 0.2 drop) can promote negative consequences. The pH scale has a range from 1 through 14. Neutral is 7, below 7 is acidic(-) and above 7 is alkaline(+).
THE BODY’S REACTION TO AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
When the bloodstream becomes tilted towards an acidic state, cells will give up their own alkaline substances like magnesium and potassium to help balance the blood. As cells give up their own alkaline producing minerals or “buffers,” they become acidic and nutrient depleted.
Consequence of an acidic bloodstream:
An acidic bloodstream compromises oxygen transfer into cells, enzyme levels decrease and there will be less metabolic activity inside of cells.
The liver, lungs and kidneys become overworked when struggling to detoxify the body.
An acid environment increases bone breakdown activity and causes bone marrow loss.
Microorganisms like yeasts, fungus, molds, bacterial, viruses thrive in an acidic environment.
ACID BASE BALANCE AND BONE HEALTH
Bone health is directly dependent on maintaining the proper acid/base balance because calcium promotes alkalinity. The greater the acid load of the diet, the more calcium must be extracted from the bones to maintain a constant blood pH. As acid levels go up in the blood, the blood becomes acidic and the body turns to the bones to get calcium. 99% of the calcium in the body is stored within bone and that is where most of it should stay. The countries with the highest osteoporosis rates also have the greatest dairy intake, most likely because dairy products have an acid forming effect. For healthy maintenance the average person should be eating about 60% alkaline foods to 40% acid producing foods and a therapeutic range of 80% alkaline foods to 20% acid is used to deal with an extreme acidotic state.
ACID PRODUCING FOODS
Soft drinks (both regular and diet) and alcohol.
A poor diet with too many concentrated or refined sugars, syrups, doughnuts, bagels, and white flour products like white rice and potatoes.
Too much protein (i.e. high protein, low carbohydrate diet).
Drugs (street drugs and pharmaceutical drugs).
Dairy (milk, butter and cheese).
Caffeine (tea, chocolate, coffee and decaf coffee)
Refined oils (oils that have their beneficial nutrients removed during processing).
Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sweet and low, sucralose, acesulfame potassium).
Stress causes a drop in pH because cortisol and epinephrine increase acid levels.
ALKALINE FORMING FOODS
Nearly all fresh fruits, vegetables and most nuts are alkaline forming foods.
Leafy vegetables like kale and broccoli are extreme alkaline forming foods.
The acidity of a food doesn’t necessarily mean there will be an acidic effect in the body. Although oranges, grapefruits, tomato and lemon are considered acidic foods, they have an alkalinizing effect in the body.
Water is important for acid base balance.