pH BALANCE AND HEALTH

What is pH? pH is a measurement of whether a substance is alkaline or acidic, based on that of water being neutral - 7.0 Anything that falls below 7.0 is considered to be acidic, and that above 7.0 is alkaline. Blood is 7.35 - 7.45 (slightly alkaline) in normal circumstances. Urine is around 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Metabolic acidosis is indicated by a low pH, and low bicarbonate (base). Examples that can cause this are salicylate (aspirin) poisoning, kidney failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, and circulatory failure that causes a buildup of lactic acid. Diarrhea can cause bicarbonate loss. The body responds to the increase in body acids by using bicarbonate as a buffer. Also, to compensate, the respiratory system increases breathing rate, and the kidneys will retain bicarbonate. Clinical signs of acidosis are headache, slowness in responding to questions, hand tremor when extending arms, confusion, drowsiness, nausea and/or vomiting, tremor, fast heart rate, increased breathing, and ultimately coma.

Metabolic alkalosis is indicated in a higher pH. It is caused by an increase in the body's level of bicarbonate. This can occur when a person ingests too much base (bicarbonate), from vomiting, and gastric (stomach) suctioning, diet, and other factors. Breathing will slow to conserve carbon dioxide. The kidneys will increase the removal of bicarbonate from the body to conserve hydrogen ions. Clinical signs of alkalosis are dizziness, tingling of fingers and toes, muscle weakness or spasm, muscle twitching, sweating, heart irregularities, shallow fast breathing, nausea or vomiting, tremor, or convulsions.

Hippocrates is reported to have said "Let medicine be your food, and food be your medicine." Studies currently being conducted are showing that these were wise words indeed, and still apply today. It was Bob Karjala's step-son, Benn, who first introduced me to the concept that the pH balance of the body could play a key role in disease - primarily from the viewpoint of cancer. The further I explored this concept, the more I came to see where what we eat truly can make a difference in how our body responds to illness. Following my conversation with Benn, I was amazed at how many people had read that those with cancer seemed to have a tendency toward acidity in their body. Let's explore that concept!

Acid producing foods are a large portion of the American diet and what we ingest. These include some berries, plums, prunes, sulfured dried fruits, dried beans, lentils, chickpeas, most dairy products, grains and fats, all meats and fish, alcohol, most prescription and non-prescription drugs, egg whites, gelatin, soft drinks, black tea, tobacco, processed and refined vegetable oils, white or processed vinegar, coffee (except organic whole beans). As you can see, that leaves most of us little to eat! The key to all of this is moderation.

Consuming no more than 20% of these items per day will give us an alkaline - or a more stable - body pH. Some foods on their own may be either acidic or alkaline, but in combining certain foods, one can expect a different outcome. Starches and sweets taken together result in acidity. Although citrus fruits alone can be highly alkalizing in the system (surprising!), if taken with starches, they become acid producing. Meats should not be combined with starches that grow above the ground, such as rice, breads, grains - but do well with potatoes, carrots, beets, etc. The regular ingestion of lettuce (darker green varieties - not iceberg), carrots and celery assist with maintaining an alkaline environment. Asparagus was once thought to be acidic based on urine pH after digestion. Now it is understood that asparagus actually detoxifies the body rapidly, as well as "pulls" excess acid from the blood and tissues.

One of the keys in reversing the body from acid to alkaline, lies in not doing it too rapidly, nor in excess. An over alkaline body can be more detrimental in many ways than an overly acidic one. The consumption of protein (considered acidic) is necessary for the maintenance of cells, function of metabolism, certain hormones, and ability to bind toxins. An acidic pH of the body - below 7.4 - interferes with cellular metabolism, reduces body energy, decreases digestion and clearance of toxic waste, and reduces function of the lymphatic system. In turn, this can disrupt immune function. A report by the U.S. Surgeon General's office, indicates that diet plays a major role - directly or indirectly - in more than 2/3 of all deaths in the United States. In theory, one could be exposed to large numbers of varying toxins, yet stay relatively healthy by taking in nourishment which promotes a healthy immune system/body.

The body's form of fuel that we ingest gives us the opportunity to be proactive in our current and future wellbeing. This is where our choices can hinder or help our overall health. Many Americans take more time and energy to research the type of car or home they wish to purchase, than they do in maintaining health. The U.S. spends more money worldwide in healthcare costs for treatment than any other country. It is also the lowest rated in forms of preventative care and actual positive results obtained from "high technology." Sometimes it is the simplest of measures that can create the most dramatic of effects. Diet is one of those. If one is to create an unfriendly overall environment for things such as cancer, colds, flu via a slightly alkaline state, then our body will not succumb to those illnesses as readily.

The mineral calcium plays a vital role in health and body pH. It is the most abundant mineral in the body and is vital to the acid/alkaline balance. When calcium levels drop, the parathyroid gland produces hormones to stimulate a chain reaction where calcium elements are then pulled from the bones. When the diet is deficient in calcium, the calcium from bone will not be replaced, resulting in eventual brittleness and spongey appearance. Foods high in phosporus interfere with calcium absorption. Intake of supplemental calcium must be combined with the standard 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium for proper assimilation. So, as you can see calcium is crucial not only for body pH, but also the incidence of osteoporosis,and other "degenerative bone diseases."

How do you test for your body pH? Your local drugstore, pool suppy, or aquarium shop may carry pH testing strips. These are more accurate than litmus paper. You will want that which gives the greatest sensitivity, ideally with a range of .01-.02 increments, but that is usually not available without special ordering. A company which carries a wide range of options in this regard is Chem Lab Supplies in California. You may wish to test urine and saliva, in which case, you will want to purchase tesing strips, for sanitary reasons, rather than an instrument which needs to be immersed in a liquid for testing and is attached to the testing unit.

Which diet is right for you? This is the million dollar question. Each of us are unique - different than any other human being on the face of the planet. What works for one, will not always work for others. There are more diets than one can count that are claimed to be beneficial in reversing cancer or disease. Be wary. Usually these are very very strict diets with very little room for individual needs, preferences or lifestyle. One size does not fit all. The Gerson diet is one that comes to mind. Also those which advocate a purely vegan diet. Most Americans do not possess the knowledge of how to successfully combine starches or incomplete proteins to obtain the necessary total proteins vital for overall health.

If you are a vegan,or are seriously considering that lifestyle, then please do your body a favor and research thoroughly how to still obtain the proteins vital to your survival and general health. There are also diets advocating a certain diet for specific blood types (with much research being done in this regard), "healthy heart" diets, detoxifying diets (most are too aggressive and can pose health risks from dumping toxins too rapidly into the blood stream), "anti-cancer" diets, weight loss diets, on and on ad nauseum. It is up to each of us to research and determine a diet that gives us the greatest feeling of wellbeing, maintains our overall health, and can be incorporated into our lifestyle with ease. One that we do not view as deprivation, but one we embrace with absolute determination and enthusiasm.

As an aside, I recently spoke with a client who was on a juicing and primarily vegan diet. This person was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is not only considered one of the organs of digestion, but also has cells in it which produce insulin. His diet was very high in natural sugars. He was taking in juices every hour. I grew very concerned. His pancreas was being called on every hour to produce more and more insulin to bind with the sugars (although natural) that were being ingested. This seemed to me to be putting a heavy load on that organ, which is already compromised. We discussed the need for a variety of carbohydrates and proteins to help stabilize his demand on the pancreas, along with re-evaluating his need to not take in juices every hour. In the case of pancreatic cancer, one may be prudent to study diabetes, how sugar and insulin are utilized or metabolized, their roles, actions and diet considerations

Chemotherapy presents a unique challenge. One of the possible side effects of this treatment is an altered sensation of taste. In Ayurvedic medicine, along with some research studies done, there is a clear correlation between the sense of taste and clinical malnutrition. Even when nutritious foods are eaten, the saliva and beginning actions of digestion are altered. Also inherent in chemo treatment, is the potential of nausea, altered bowel function (chemo affects EVERY body system), and resulting malnutrition. A body starved, can not heal.

Recommended reading:

Alkalize or Die - Dr. Theodore A. Baroody - Eclectic Press

Enzyme Nutrition: The Food Enzyme Concept - Dr. Edward Howell - Avery Publishing

Foods That Heal - Dr. Bernard Jensen - Avery Publishing

How to Fight Cancer and Win - William L. Fischer - Fischer Publishing

Nourishing the Body Temple - Simone Gabbay - ARE Press

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

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