Is that Sandwich Alkaline or Acidic and Does it Matter?

April 28th, 2011 by admin1

Throughout history physicians have tried balancing their patient’s nutritional intake to treat and prevent disease and general ill health. Before the advent of antibiotics many doctors and health practitioners believed that balancing the body’s acid and base makeup would provide optimal health for their patients. Today many health practitioners are returning to this holistic view of the body to improve their patient’s overall health.
Vital fluids in the human body maintain a delicate balance between acid and alkaline (referred to as a pH balance). This balance is measured by a scale that ranges from 0 – 14, 0 being purely acidic and 14 being purely alkaline, and 7 representing a neutral alkaline-acid balance. For the most part, the human body prefers to maintain a pH balance slightly to the alkaline side (about 7.35 – 7.45), a balance maintained in healthy bodies by the lungs and kidneys. Diet alone cannot really affect the pH balance of key fluids because the lungs and kidneys maintain tight control over this balance. Any disease that compromises the function of either of these organs will also adversely affect the pH balance. An imbalance in blood pH is a sign of metabolic, kidney, or respiratory distress or failure and can be harmful and even fatal.
Urine (a by product of metabolizing food) can have a much larger pH range which can vary throughout the day. Unlike blood, the pH of urine is related to the acid or alkaline forming potential of the subject’s diet. Many health practitioners promote diets that emphasize alkaline producing foods over acid producing foods for their clients. Very simply, the average North American diet is already saturated with acid forming foods. The theory is that in trying to maintain the body’s delicate pH balance, the metabolic organs of the body are taxed or even compromised and the overall health of the subject deteriorates. It is interesting to note that foods long touted for their health benefits tend to be alkaline forming foods (raw fruits and vegetables, leafy greens and citrus fruits, for example), while foods with questionable health benefits (processed, refined sugars and flours, soft drinks, and foods high in animal proteins) tend to be acid forming foods. The idea behind alkaline based diets is that the diet helps restore the body’s natural and optimal pH balance, and makes it easier for the body to maintain good health. Health professionals recommend a diet that is 80% alkaline forming and 20% acid forming
Side effects of a diet saturated with acid producing foods might include:
? Kidney stones
? Acid Reflux Disorders
? Ulcers
? Heartburn
? Weight Gain
? Low Metabolism/ Energy
? Inability to Process Nutrients
? Generally Compromised Health