pH Balance

pH stands for power of hydrogen which is a measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in the body. It is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity. It is measured in a range of 1 to 14 and 7 is considered neutral. Anything below seven is acidic and above 7 is alkaline. Our ideal pH should be between 7.3 and 7.45.

Effects of acidity

1. Stomach acidity leads to digestive problems and acid reflux.

2. Acidic environment in the digestive tract encourages proliferation of bad bacteria. This weakens our immune system.

3. Our body puts plaque in the blood vessels to prevent the acids in our body attacking the blood vessels. This leads to a heart attack.

4. When our body is acidic wastes in the form of mucus and bacteria build up in our lungs which results in bronchitis, cold, asthma and other respiratory problems develop.

5. Arthritis is related to acid deposits in the joints. This results in swelling of the joints.

6. Acidity causes skin inflammation and the skin will no longer be able to protect the body from infections.

7. Excess acidity in the body can cause stones in the kidneys.

Our stomach is acidic at a pH level of 3.5 or less. This is because acids are required to break down the food that we consume. Our body also has a regulatory mechanism in which when the acidity increases our body sends out the acid with the urine. When the acidity is low the acids will not be expelled. Therefore it seems reasonable to assume that any alkaline food that we consume will have very little effect on the pH level of our body.

Acid producing food such as meat, cheese, bread and highly processed food can have considerable effect on the pH level of your body in the long run. 

Vegetable and fruits have a tendency to keep the body alkaline and therefore they are beneficial in the long run

vegetables are alkaline               

Vegetables

Asparagus

Greens are alkaline

Parsley

Baby kai-lan

Kale

Some foods like red meat require a large amount of alkaline minerals to complete the digestive process. The body first looks for these alkaline minerals from the food that we have just consumed. If it cannot find any it will take out calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium minerals from our bones and complete the digestive process. In the long run this can lead to complications. Therefore it is important to consume dark greens and nutrient rich food when we are eating meat products.

Mutton (Red meat)

Chlorophyll, the green color pigment in the plants is actually the equivalent of hemoglobin in the blood for the humans. Therefore consuming chlorophyll  rich food will help in keeping the pH level in our body at a healthy level. Increase the consumption of vegetable protein and decrease the consumption of animal protein for a healthier pH balance.

Fruits are alkaline

Lemon

Avocado

Grapes

Orange