The importance of pH balance

The alkaline state of the body is natural. However, many factors in today's society contribute to an over-acidified body. The body's pH imbalance occurs because we consume processed foods, antibiotics, the natural aging process, and stress contribute to it. It is important to help our body create and maintain a healthy pH balance of 70:30, alkaline to acid.

pH imbalance and symptoms

Most diseases and bad bacteria thrive in an overly acidic environment. When the pH level is out of balance, it is usually too acidic. As a result, the body borrows important minerals from organs, bones and tissues in an attempt to neutralize the acid and remove it from the body. An acidified body can lead to acute symptoms such as yeast/fungal overgrowth (candida..), chronic fatigue, slow elimination, hormonal disturbances, premature aging, free radical damage, weight gain, bladder and kidney damage such as kidney stones , diabetes, joint pain and lactic acid build-up.

What to do about the alkali/acid balance

Fortunately, for most of us, it's not too late to take steps and start making lifestyle changes to reduce acidity and restore and maintain a healthy pH level. Even if we currently have a good pH balance, it can be restored with a quality daily diet and lifestyle. Remember that preventive measures are the best medicine for all diseases!

pH product table

The first step starts with your daily diet. Below is a list of alkaline/acidic food levels. When in doubt about the basic acid/alkaline properties of foods, remember that most vegetables, fruits, and herbs are alkaline. The most acidifying foods are processed flours and sugars, most milk, soda, sugars, coffee, alcohol, and harmful external toxins such as tobacco and over-the-counter drugs and medications.

Alkali/Acid rule

Note that acidifying or alkalizing foods have nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, the pH of a lemon is very acidic, but the final pH after digestion and absorption is very alkaline, so lemons are alkaline in the body. Also, meat is alkaline before digestion, but it leaves a very acidic residue in the body, so like almost all animal products, meat is highly acidifying.

Alkaline minerals help restore pH balance

The main way to restore the body's pH balance is to increase the consumption of alkalizing minerals. Minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium have an alkalizing effect on the body. These minerals have an even more pronounced alkalizing effect if they are bound to a citrate such as potassium citrate or magnesium citrate. This is because citrate binds acidic hydrogen ions in the blood and is then converted to carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide is released through respiration, leaving only water behind.

What the research shows

Research has shown that taking supplements containing alkalizing minerals increases the pH of the blood and urine, meaning they become more alkaline. For example, in one study, urine and blood pH were measured in 25 healthy subjects before, during, and after taking alkalizing minerals. An alkaline mineral drink containing citrate was given every morning at 8:00 AM every morning for 1 week. The results showed that supplementation with alkaline minerals was associated with an increase in blood pH. After 1 week of supplementation, the pH level was even more alkaline.