The pH level of our interior fluids has a big impact on how well our body operates. The human body contains about 42 liters of fluid leaving our cells immersed in an ocean that is alkaline, acid or neutral.
Extended pH imbalances are not well tolerated by the body. If pH becomes too acid, oxygen levels in the cells decrease causing the metabolism of our cells to slow down and eventually leading to cell death.
Fortunately, all regulatory mechanisms, including breathing, circulation, digestion and hormonal production all help to serve the purpose of balancing pH levels in our bodies.
The North American diet is largely acid-forming (refined flour and sugar products, meats, dairy, fried food, coffee, soft drinks, alcohol, etc.) and is a major source of acid residues. Research has shown that acid-forming diets produce a low-grade systemic metabolic acidosis and inflammation and that the severity of the acidosis and inflammation increases with time.
Both mental and physical stress will also create acid deposits in the body by burning more nutrients in less time leaving an excess amount of acid waste that needs to be rid of. In addition, chronic over-exercise is a physical stress that produces an over-abundance of lactic acid.
When acid deposits build up, the body tries to buffer them with alkaline minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium so that they can be converted into weak acids and excreted as urine.
However, if a person’s alkaline mineral reserves are depleted, the body is forced to “borrow” minerals from whatever source it can find, which is usually from bones, muscles and other vital organs. This will in turn, weaken the organs, muscles and bones.
When the amount of acid entering the body exceeds the body’s ability to neutralize and eliminate it, “acidification” begins. This process will occur when sufficient acid deposits have built up to cause disruption to the body’s normal processes, leading to
chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue and cancer.
Reversing Acidosis?
Fortunately, there are alkalizing minerals in the market, such as ph-Pro from CanPrev that are effective in addressing the excess acidity while replenishing the low levels of alkaline minerals used. One good way to measure the level of acidity in your body is by using litmus paper and comparing it to the acid/base values that come with it and retesting your levels of acid/base balance every so often to gauge your progress.
Dietary factors such as eating sufficient vegetables and drinking plenty of mineral water while consuming less acid-forming foods like meats and dairy will also assist in the acid-base balance of the body.
