The food test that doesn’t lie – Acid vs. Alkaline

Death is the worst that can happen.

Bold claim isn’t it? The fact is, an acidic body is a body that is just waiting for diseases to happen.

On the other hand, an alkaline body is a healthy body. The alkaline condition is optimal for your metabolism.

Since your metabolism is critical for your health, weight loss and youngevity, you should know if you are acidic or alkaline.

Your body is maintained just above 7.0 pH for optimum functioning. To be exact, your blood is between pH 7.43 to 7.37[1].  It fluctuates minute by minute due to the oxygen content of your blood. Throughout your body, your cells are using oxygen for metabolic function. When the blood is returned from working tissues via the veins, it will be a little bit more acidic compared to the arteries that pump freshly oxygenated blood from the heart to the body. So, breathing can effect the pH level of your blood; the foods that you consume can change it, too..

To understand the pH level, let’s keep it simple. A pH level 7.00 means neutral—neither acidic or alkaline.  (The pH scale ranges from 1 to 14.)  Above the number 7.00, your body is more alkaline and below 7.00, more acidic.

When you keep this optimum pH, your metabolism, enzymes, immune system and repair mechanisms work most effectively. Needless to say, this is very important during weight loss and to look 10 years younger. Having this pH level is indication that you have enough buffering capacity to balance the acids in your body.

Test your acid pH level

To check your status, simply purchase litmus paper (available at most drug stores; also called nitrazine paper). Make sure that the brand can test a pH of 5.5 to 8.0. You simply place a two to three inch piece of pH paper into your fist morning urine and read what your pH, according to the color chart on the label. Your optimum level will be between 6.5 and 7.5 or fairly neutral.

If your reading falls below 6.5, start to make dietary changes till you reach readings between 6.5 and 7.5.

What causes an acid pH?

Foods that make our blood acid are the usual suspects. Any processed food is the simple answer. In this category belong pudding, jam, jelly, beer, sugar, processed cheese, ice cream, chocolate, soda, alcohol and others.

Keep in mind that your body does anything in order to stay at optimum levels. Hence, when a calcium deficit shows up, it had probably happened many months prior as your body was somewhat out of balance. But since the natural drive of the body is to correct an imbalance, your own body sought to regain balance.. To maintain homoeostasis in your blood, you pull opposing minerals from your blood, to maintain an optimum blood pH, such as potassium from your extra cellular fluid. When potassium is used up, your body pulls calcium, magnesium and other alkalizing minerals from your body. Hence, an acidic body can contribute to osteoporosis as the uses extra calcium to buffer  the acid and to stay in homeostasis.

When you are acidic, your cells become sluggish and cannot function properly. Wastes build up, toxins are not excreted and nutrients are not properly used; in short, you feel less well than you’d like.

Foods that are alkaline forming

When your pH level show up below 6.5 (acidic), you might try implementing the following strategies to bring your body back to an alkaline environment:

Add citrus: Drink the juice of half of a lemon or lime in a glass of water. You might think that lemon is acidic but it is alkaline forming in your body.

Use baking soda: Your skin is the largest organ. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda into your hot bath and soak in it.

Drink fresh juices: Here are two easy recipes: Mix kale with beets and lemon juice. Or try grapefruit with ground flaxseeds and mustard greens.

Eat whole grains: Enjoy oats, quinoa and wild rice.

Oils: Use Primrose oil, cod liver oil or olive oil. Olive oil is fantastic to use in your salads with a little bit of fresh squeezed lemon.

Snack on seeds and nuts: Not all nuts and seeds are alkaline forming. Pumpkin seeds and almonds are. Enjoy them for snacks.

Source: Dr. Russell Jaffe, Fellow, Health Studies Collegium.

Check your acid/alkaline balance. This is another tool that you can use to optimize your metabolism, health and body.

As always,

Stay focused,

Stefan

Europe’s Premier Youngevity Coach

Affa, Ace, Reebok University, Paul Check & Charles Poliquin Coach, Masters in Science in Holistic Nutrition