Acid-Alkaline Diet
Furnished by Derek A. Lagemann, P.T.

       The importance of the body’s acid-alkaline balance is becoming recognized by more practitioners. To enjoy optimum health the body requires balanced quantities of alkaline and acid substances. An imbalance can cause multiple problems ranging from illness to skin rashes.

       Chemically, acids are defined as substances that release hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Acid substances have a harsh taste or can even be corrosive in nature. The degree of acidity of a substance is measured by determining its pH. It is also possible to identify a food as acidic by analyzing its mineral content. The principal acid minerals are sulfur, chlorine, phosphorus, fluoride, iodine, and silicon. When a substance contains more acidic than alkaline minerals it is said to be acidic. Examples of acidic foods are meat, eggs, cheeses, animal fats, vegetable oils, whole grains, bread, pastas, white sugar, sweets, sodas, and coffee.

       On the other end of the spectrum are alkaline substances. Unlike acidic substances, alkaline substances in solution with water give up few or no hydrogen ions. The fewer hydrogen ions released, the less acidic they are, or in other words they are an alkalizing agent. Alkaline substances can counter problems caused by acids. The minerals most often associated with alkaline are calcium, sodium, magnesium, cobalt, and copper. When a substance contains more alkaline minerals than acidic it is said to be alkaline. Examples of alkalizing foods are potatoes, green vegetables, corn, milk, bananas, almonds, dried fruits, and natural sugar.

       The difference between an acid and an alkaline is based more or less on their ability to free hydrogen ions. The unit that measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance is the pH scale. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. The zone of optimal health for pH is from 7.36-7.42. Anything below 7.36-7.0 is considered acidosis whereas anything above 7.42-7.8 is considered alkalosis. The body cannot function when these limits are exceeded.

Acids and alkaline substances possess opposing characteristics. When they combine, their respective properties cancel each other out. The combination of one acid and one alkaline is designated in chemistry as a neutral salt. It is neutral because it possesses neither acidic nor alkaline properties. The alkaline substances used to neutralize strong acids can be found in the body in the blood and the internal organs. When this defense system is used only occasionally the alkaline substances can easily be replaced by the intake of alkaline foods. However when the tissues are regularly depleted of reserves, their overall function decreases and become more susceptible to disease.

        Acidosis can contribute to illness by three methods. The first method is connected by enzymes which are the “work drones” behind all the biochemical transformations that take place in the body and on which the functioning of the organs depends. Enzymes can be disrupted or even completely ceased by acidosis. The second way the body becomes ill is due to the harsh, corrosive nature of acids in excess amounts. The third cause of illness from excessive acid is loss of minerals since the body gives up alkaline minerals to neutralize the acids. This demineralization can cause osteoporosis of bone.
Other symptoms associated with acidosis are: lack of energy, lower body temperature, headaches, mouth ulcers, excessive stomach acid, ulcers, diarrhea, sensitivity of respiratory tract to cold, muscle cramps, thin nails, and circulatory problems.

       Monitoring your pH is easy and imperative in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Your local drugstore should have litmus paper which is a specifically manufactured to give pH levels of urine. By balancing your acid-alkaline diet it becomes easier to maintain a neutral pH level, causing energy levels to increase and helping the body function more efficiently. If you have any more questions regarding this diet consult the book “The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health,” by Christopher Vasey, N.D.