The letters pH are an abbreviation for potenz or power and hydrogen. The term is a measure of hydrogen ion activity in a litre of water. Water has a neutral pH of 7, which marks the middle of the pH scale. Water is neither acid nor alkaline.
Alkaline solutions have a pH of between 7.1 and 14. Acid solutions have a pH of between 6.9 and 0.
Your Alkaline Body
Overall, the healthy body’s pH is alkaline. James and Phyllis Balch in Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Avery, 1990), note that a number of diseases and conditions are associated with an acidic internal environment. These include: insomnia, water retention, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, difficulty swallowing, and diabetes. Cancer is also associated with very low pH.
Measuring Your Body’s pH
pH strips can be bought at drugstores or online. Simply wet the pH strip with urine or saliva. This should be done first thing in the morning before eating or drinking. Readings taken upon rising are more likely to be an accurate reflection of your body’s ability to neutralize acids produced in the previous day.
Optimal pH
Sam Graci, in his book The Power of Superfoods: 30 Days that Will Change Your Life (Prentice Hall; 1997) explains that good blood has a pH of around 7.35 or 7.4; saliva may range between 6.0 and 7.0, while urine from a healthy person is normally in the range of pH 4.5 -8. 0 (with 6.8 being an ideal first morning reading).
Maintaining Alkalinity
Carolee Bateson-Koch, in Allergies: Disease in Disguise (Alive Books; 2002) says, “Survival depends on the blood remaining at the slightly alkaline pH of 7.4.” In fact, the body goes to great lengths to maintain the ideal pH. For example, calcium may be pulled from the bones in an attempt to neutralize acids in the body. This is why diets high in protein are associated with bone loss. Excess protein is acidifying and calcium is used by the body to buffer the resulting acidity.
Keeping the blood alkaline is extremely important. Simply put, a healthy body is alkaline. A sick body is acidic.
What Causes Low or Acidic pH?
A number of factors cause the body to become acidic. Here are some of the most common causes of low pH:
- Stress
- Dehydration
- Obesity
- Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Standard American Diet (SAD)
What can you do to maintain an alkaline pH?
Steps You Can Take
There are several things that you must do to stay healthy and maintain an alkaline body pH. Here are a few steps you can take:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat lots of raw foods. Raw foods are alkalizing. Ideally, the diet should consist of 75% or more raw foods. Green drinks can be used, as well.
- Take a mineral supplement. Minerals are important in maintaining alkalinity because they are used to neutralize acids. Many people are deficient in one or more minerals. Magnesium is especially important in maintaining pH in the optimal range.
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to your water. Surprisingly, citrus fruits are alkalizing in the body.
- Limit protein intake.
- Limit the use of pharmaceutical drugs.
Disclaimer: This article is for your information only. It is not intended to take the place of professional medical advice or care. Please consult a qualified physician with your health concerns.
