An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.
An acidic balance will: decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it’s ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it’s ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness. A blood pH of 6.9, which is only slightly acidic, can induce coma and death. When we test our urine or saliva pH with pH test strips, we are NOT testing blood pH. This type of testing is done by your health practioner as it involves the drawing of blood in order to do the test.
The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat acid producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid producingoverly acid body beverages like coffee and soft drinks. We use too many drugs, which are acid forming; and we use artificial chemical sweetners like NutraSweet, Spoonful, Sweet ‘N Low, Equal, or Splenda. One of the best things we can do to correct a low pH is to clean up the diet and lifestyle…this includes our additudes and how we treat others.
To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods. To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods.
Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts.
Also, generally, acid forming foods include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.
Remember, the key here is BALANCE. Work towards a balance of about 60% Alkaline and about 40% Acid …or if you are already on the acid side and would like to restore your balance then try consuming about 80% Alkaline and 20% Acid until the balance is restored.
Testing your ph is done with what is called a pH strip. The proper strip to purchase for testing both saliva and urine is one that is a “NARROW ” or “SHORT” range pH strip. This means that the calibration on the strip goes from about 4 to 9. A Strip that has a calibration from say 1 to 14 is considered to be a “WIDE” or “LONG” range strip. This type of pH strip is used primarily for testing water from aquariums to pools. Do not use these types of strips for testing saliva or urine as the reading will not be accurate. Above is a visual of what we are talking about here. The pH scale is from 0-14 but the highlighted area in Pink is the area of the proper strip range for testing urine and saliva pH levels. If the strips you purchase do not indicate what range they are, NARROW/SHORT or WIDE/LONG, then look at the number of calibrations on the color chart that comes with the strips. If it is WIDER than 4 – 9 than do not buy it.
Source: http://www.greathealth247.com/ph-acid-alkaline-food-chart.html
The easiest method for restoring balance is to add more alkaline foods to your diet and let them slowly replace your acidic intake until you reach the restorative ratio of 80% alkaline.
Consider this combination:
-
Variety of 6 vegetables (4 raw, 2 cooked)= 60% Alkaline
-
2 Fruits (must be ripe or tree ripened) = 20 % Alkaline
-
1 Good starch (as listed below) = 10 % Acidic
-
1 Good protein (as listed below) = 10 % Acidic
Select your food choices accordingly from the list of foods below.
ACID / ALKALINE FOOD LIST
NON-STARCHY FOODS
(ALKALINE):
Alfalfa, Artichokes, Asparagus, Beans (string),Beans (wax), Beets and
their leaves, Bok choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots and their tops,
Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Coconut, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants,
Dandelions, Eggplant, Endive, Garlic, Horse‑radish, Kale, Kohlrabi,
Leek, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Ripe Olives, Onions, Oyster plant,
Parsley, Parsnips, Fresh Peas, Sweet Peppers, Swiss Chard, Radishes,
Rutabagas, Savory, Sea lettuce, Sorrel, Spinach, Soybean Products,
Sprouts, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Watercress
FRUITS (ALKALINE):
All Berries, Apples, Apricots, Avocados, Cantaloupes, Cranberries,
Currants, Dates, Figs, Grapes, Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges,
Peaches, Pears, Raisins, Persimmons, Pineapple, Plums, Prunes, Rhubarb,
Tomatoes
Citrus fruits (called Acid Fruits) when broken down in
the body, develops an alkaline condition which is good, however, citrus
fruits sometimes stir up acids so rapidly in the body that the effect
may be interpreted as a bad one. If eating fruits causes distress it is
best to use sub-acid or sweet / dried fruits.
ACID FRUITS: Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruit, Limes
SUB‑ACID FRUITS: Apples, pears, Plums, Peaches, Grapes, Apricots
SWEET OR DRIED FRUITS: Dates, figs, Raisins
Do
not combine acid and sweet fruits. It is best to eat melons and berries
alone. As the saying goes…”Eat it alone or leave it alone”.
PROTEINS (ACID):
Beef, Buttermilk, Chicken, Clams, Cottage cheese, Crab, Duck, Eggs,
Fish, Goose, Lamb, Lobster, Mutton, Nuts, Oyster, Pork, Rabbit, Raw
sugar, Turkey, Veal
STARCHY FOODS ( ACID):
Barley, Beans (lima, white), Bread, Cereals, Chestnuts, Corn, Cornmeal,
Crackers, Cornstarch, Grapenuts, gluten flour, Lentils, Macaroni,
Millet, Oatmeal, Peanuts, Peas(dried), Sweet potatoes, Rice (brown or
polished), Rye flour, Sauerkraut, Tapioca
STARCHY FOODS (ALKALINE): Almonds, White potatoes, Pumpkin, Squash
NEUTRAL FOODS:
(Oils), Avocado oil, olive, Sesame, Coconut, Soy, Sunflower, Safflower,
Cottonseed, Almond, Linseed; (Fats), Butter, Cream, Margarine
Read this guide to understanding and controlling your pH:
First, you will understand the impact of your body’s pH on your health. Then you will learn how to adjust your diet in order to maintain a optimal balance.
pH & Your Health
pH Monitoring
pH & Your Diet
pH Testing
pH Food Charts
Learn more about the impact of your body’s pH:
pH Therapy & Cancer
Coming soon:
pH Diet for Weight-Loss
pH Cure for Diabetes