Acid and Alkaline Balance Affects Your Health
Copyright ©Heather Caruso 2008
 Did you know that many foods you eat are acid forming in your body? Some experts claim that an overly acid pH contributes to many diseases such as osteoporosis, premature aging, irritable bowel disease, urinary tract problems, cancer and many infections (such as viral, parasitic, bacterial and fungal). These types of microbes need an acid host to proliferate. Today’s fast paced eating favours acid forming foods that tend to cause many health problems. High investment foods are those that require preparation such as vegetables or fruits. They usually have to be peeled, cooked or cut which takes time. Frozen entrees tend to mostly acid forming, such as lasagne, chilli and fish and chips for example. They are fast and convenient.
I see many diseases in the clinic that are linked to an overly acid system. Live cell and pH testing helps to expose what obstacles need to be removed for better health. I have found that many people are unaware that many healthy foods actually do favour an acidic pH balance. It is good to eat these nutritious foods such as beans, whole grains or fish. However, you must pay attention to the ratio of acid to alkaline foods you consume.
When your body enjoys a good acid balance, you experience radiant health! Becoming alkaline is a goal that all of us should strive for!
How to check your pH:
Measure your urine pH by purchasing some hydrion pH strips. These strips should measure increments from 5.5 to 8.0. You can use your first morning urine for the test. This is a stable measure because throughout the day, your pH can shift. Dip your pH strip quickly into your urine sample. Shake the excess fluid onto a tissue and compare the colour of your strip to the colour on the package. This will give you your pH level. If you wait longer then 10 seconds to test your pH, it will not be accurate because the strips turn different colours, the longer it sits. Compare your strip right away.
Interpreting your results:
Your morning urine pH, should be between 6.0 to 6.5, under 6.0 is very acidic. Your morning saliva should read between 6.6 to 7.0. 7.0 is an ideal pH.
How to positively change your pH:
Food is the foundation of your health. The best way to influence your pH is through eating foods that are alkalinizing. It is a good idea to eat mostly alkaline forming foods, 50 to 70% of your daily intake from that group.
Alkaline Foods
-Fruits: apples, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapefruits, grapes, melon, kiwi, lemon, lime, mangoes, papaya, peach, pears, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries and watermelon
-Grains: wild and japonica rice, quinoa and unsweetened granola
-Vegetables: all vegetables except those on the acid listing
-Nuts: macadamia
-Fats: clarified butter, coconut oil, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil, macadamia nut oil, olive oil and primrose oil
-Drinks: mineral water, all fruit juices except tomato and those with added sugar, apple cider, herbal tea |
Acid Foods
-Fruits: dates, figs, guava, plums, pomegranates, prunes
-Vegetables: corn, Swiss chard, peas, rhubarb, spinach, string, yellow and green beans and tomatoes
-Breads: are all acid forming
-Grains: all except quinoa, rice (wild and japonica) and unsweetened granola
-Cheese
-Meat and Fish
-Nuts: all except macadamia
-Fats: butter, canola oil, cottonseed oil, lard, peanut, safflower, sesame, sunflower and sesame oil
-Drinks: tomato juice and fruit juice with added sugar, all alcoholic drinks, coffee and tea |
Supplements that affect your pH, are calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium bicarbonate. You can take these in a great formula called pH balance by Pascoe which also includes the test strips for pH. Green supplements such as Greens Plus, Chlorella, Barley Greens, Spirulina and Alfalfa also affect your pH positively. Acidophilus helps to replenish the good flora in the intestinal tract. It is a bacteria that is “acid loving” but displaces the bad bacteria that causes more acidity in the gastrointestinal tract. Achieve greater health by eating a healthy balance of alkaline and acid foods!
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