|
•
PH Scale
Everything we ingest will fall somewhere in
the PH scale which will measure how acid or alkaline a food
is. The term PH stands for potential hydrogen. It is the degree
of concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance such as water,
blood and food. PH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14. A
lower PH reading will mean a more acidic substance. The higher
the PH reading the more alkaline a substance will be. A PH
of 7 is neutral and pure water would be the only substance
to fall into this category.
The PH balance is the balance of acid and alkaline in all
fluids and cells in the body, as it is alkaline by design
and acid by function. This means that our bodies are alkaline
and function more efficiently when slightly alkaline. The
digestive system however is acid producing. The human body's
metabolic processes are naturally acid producing. However,
this waste needs to be neutralized or balanced so it can be
safely eliminated from the body without damaging tissues and
organs that are responsible for detoxifying the body. True
health is an alkaline state.
For the body to function properly it is necessary to maintain
the balance of acid to alkaline in our cells and our body
fluids. When the body is alkaline, colds, flu and mucus cannot
survive. When the body has a balanced PH disease is avoided,
there is more energy, better sleep, and easier to maintain
proper body weight and metabolism. Digestion will improve
and vitamins and nutrients will be assimilated more efficiently.
•
Acid and Alkaline diet
Diet is a major influence in maintaining proper PH levels
throughout our bodies. When food is broken down, it leaves
chemical and metallic residues called ash, which when combined
with our body fluids, either yield acid or alkaline substances
with a PH value. Foods can be acid forming or alkaline forming.
Eating a high protein diet will create excessive acid levels
in the body. By eating a diet of meats, grains and breads,
eggs, cheese, sugar, overcooked, refined, processed and fast
food, beverages and alcohol one can end up with an extremely
acidic PH balance. The average diet in the UK consistently
indulges in the over-consumption of acid-forming foods. The
long term result of this type of diet will eventually drain
the body's reserve of electrolyte minerals, leaving it out
of balance.
Before food can be used by the body, it must neutralize the
acids in it. This is done by combining sodium with bicarbonate
which will raise the PH value. This will help acids to be
removed safely from the body. Sodium chloride (table salt)
is the wrong type of sodium for this. Digestive processes
need an organic form of sodium found only in plants.
To properly reduce acidity levels in the body sufficient
amounts of raw vegetables and fruits every day and a minimum
of 2 litres of pure fresh water should be drunk between meals
in addition to other fluids.
•
How an acid PH can be corrected
The amount of vegetables and fruit eaten (alkaline foods)
should be substantially increased while the amount of acid-forming
foods should be decreased. The ratio should be 80% alkaline
and neutral foods, to 20% acid forming foods. Alkaline forming
foods are most fruit and vegetables with the exception of
spinach and cooked tomatoes, plums, prunes, cranberries, rhubarb
and gooseberries.
Some good sources of non-animal proteins that are neutral
are soy beans and soy products, some raw nuts are alkali forming,
almonds, brazils, chestnuts hazelnuts, and pine kernels, and
most unprocessed dairy products and oils are neural or alkaline
forming with the exception of cheese and eggs. Millet and
rice are neutral foods, but any other grains and cereals are
acid forming.
However, if alkaline forming carbohydrates are deficient
in the diet, the fats that are consumed will not be completely
assimilated and will become acid forming.
Citrus diets should be avoided when trying to reduce acidity
in the body as there is a potential for the reabsorbance of
toxins in the colon. Following a raw food diet for 3 days
would be possible providing this was followed with rice or
alternated. If toxicity became a problem, which would be signified
by a patient feeling worse, enemas could be used to speed
up the elimination of toxins from the colon.
•
How reducing body acidity influences bowel flora
The ideal situation in the bowel for optimum health should
be an acidic environment. This is because there are basically
2 types of bacteria, friendly and unfriendly. The friendly
bacteria are lactose fermenting, and the unfriendly bacterial
are non lactose fermenting. Friendly bacteria create a naturally
antibiotic environment in the colon, this helps to keep the
numbers of bad bacteria down.
In order to create these ideal conditions, a diet needs to
be followed as already described in the previous section containing
mostly alkaline producing or neutral swollen foods and plenty
of pure water.
Food should leave the stomach acidic and fairly sterile,
there are many factors that will influence this, the quality
of the food and alkaline content and whether it is already
contaminated with microbes before ingestion. Food also needs
to be properly masticated and there needs to be plenty of
digestive juices available for proper breakdown. A lack of
acid in the digestive process will result in a build up of
bacteria in the small intestines, and this will adversely
affect assimilation, and cause bloating and an increase in
bad bacteria, and perhaps and increase in candida.
Reduced acidity in the body will help to improve liver function
by decreasing the workload. By ensuring plenty of bulk fibre
is taken in the diet, an increase of short chain fatty acids
will be achieved in the bowel. This will help to improve liver
and bile function and reduce toxicity.
Reduced acidity in the body will help redress the electrolyte
balance, by putting potassium and magnesium back into the
cells, and ensuring sodium and calcium remain extracellular.
Hydration will also be improved, increasing the lymph flow
and improving elimination of waste products and toxins.
The mucus layer will improve on the walls of the intestines
and bowel, allowing better absorption of vitamins, minerals
and fatty acids. This will also allow natural antibodies to
be produced which will kill off unfriendly bacteria and also
discourage them from clinging to the mucus layer in the first
place. Also, good bacteria help to decompose the mucus layer
when it needs to be regenerated thus keeping a clean fertile
surface for good bacteria to flourish on.
By reducing the acidity in the body, levels of candida albicans
will be substantially reduced and will remain in it's none
invasive form. This will help to minimise or eliminate fungal
infections, PMT, bloating and many other conditions that can
be related to yeast invasion.
|
