In North America there
has been an alarming rise of degenerative disease such as heart disease, cancer
and diabetes in the last one hundred years. Factors that are influencing this
rise include a sedentary lifestyle, stress, environmental toxins and an acidic
diet. Consumption of acidic foods can be healthy when eaten in balance with
alkaline foods.
The problem is that the typical North American diet
consists of mostly acidic foods. Popular acidic foods include alcohol, cheese,
milk chocolate, coffee, dairy products, white flour products, processed and
refined foods, hydrogenated oils, meat, white pasta and sugar. Other major
contributors are drugs and tobacco. Symptoms of acidosis include lack of
energy, headaches and sleeplessness.
The power of hydrogen (pH) scale measures the levelof
acidity of a system. The scale ranges from 1 to 14 with one being highlyacidic
and 14 being highly basic. A perfect balance between acid and base is 7.The
body is designed to be slightly basic with a pH of 7.43. When the body
maintains this pH levelit is able to effectively perform all cellular
activities necessary to keep thebody healthy.
The body has a natural buffering system that prevents it
from becoming to acidic or basic, which would cause it to completely shut down.
If this buffering system becomes overwhelmed from excess acid, the body can
become acidic enough to cause gradualdeterioration of bone and organs which
will lead to numerous diseases and health conditions.
The condition known as
chronic acidosis developswhen the body is no longer
able to dispose of excess acid. The body attempts tomaintain proper pH health
by eliminating excess acid through the lungs, skinand kidneys or through
digestive processes. When the body becomes overwhelmedit attempts to protect
vital organs by transferring acid to joints, bones andtissues.
This leads to numerous skeletal problems such as
rheumatoid andosteoarthritis, tissue problems such as fibromyalgia and chronic
fatigue andskin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. If these conditions
areprolonged, eventually cell walls harden and solidify and organs begin
todeteriorate.
The body’s chronic
state of acidosis is theideal breeding ground for parasites, fungi, molds and
bacteria, which aresustained by feeding off of diseased organs and tissue. The
body attempts toneutralize excess acid by drawing alkalizing minerals from
bones and organs.Bones become brittle, skin begins to age rapidly and the brain
becomesforgetful and begins to lose the ability to learn and reason.
The best way to restore and maintain pH balance is
through a change in diet. A proper balance of 60 to 80 percent alkalizing food
with 20 to 40 percent acid forming foods should be maintained. Fresh fruit and
vegetables should be consumed daily. Although many fruits are acidic in nature,
they become alkaline when digested. Juicing fruit and vegetables is an
excellent way to quickly restore pH balance. Supplements (calcium, potassium,
magnesium and pH formulas) can also help to restore pH balance. Restoring pH
balance will improve and may completely reverse chronic conditions.
The best alkaline forming foods include
blueberries, carrots, fresh coconut, lemons, grapefruit, lettuce, oatmeal,
pineapple, peaches, spinach, sprouts, strawberries, kiwi fruit, apple cider
vinegar, oranges, brown rice, potatoes and most herbal teas. When cooking, it
is important to avoid frying. When exercising, choose alkaline forming, low
impact workouts and avoid over exercising, which can be acid forming.
