PH in the body is extremely important. When the body is in good health the pH is balanced (around a pH of 6.4 or very slightly acidic). The only area of the body which needs a more acidic environment is the digestive system which is required to be acidic in order to digest proteins. PH is the abbreviation for potenz (potential/power) and hydrogen. It has to do with hydrogen ion and hydrogen atom exchange. Hydrogen ions have a positive electrical charge and hydroxide ions are negatively charged. If there are roughly as many hydrogen ions as there are hydroxide then the solution will have a balanced pH. Or, if the hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions pair up and share an electron they form water with a neutral pH of 7.0.
Today's diet often produces far too many hydrogen ions making the body's fluids acidic.
Fruits and vegetables are alkaline and should comprise about 50-70% of the diet in order to keep the pH level with in normal limits.
Remember that all proteins (meats, cheese, eggs, fish, nuts, beans and whole grains) are all acidic.
If the diet is too acidic the body will try to adjust its pH level by drawing on alkaline buffers, such as alkaline minerals such as magnesium and calcium. This is one reason why the body can become deficient in these minerals even when the diet is high in dairy products containing calcium or nuts and seeds containing magnesium. Both these dietary (dairy products and nuts/seeds) sources are acidic and if not balanced with sufficient fruit and veges the body will need even more minerals to keep the pH balanced.
Remember that anything green is alkaline, Colloidal minerals are alkaline. Magnesium is alkaline and therefore Epsom salt (Magnesium sulphate) baths are alkaline.
 |
|
ALKALINE FORMING FOODS Green and salad vegetables - lettuce, celery, watercress, spring onions, cabbage, spinach, silver beet, cucumber, alfalfa, green peas, beans, radishes, tomatoes, parsley, mint etc. Root vegetables - carrots, turnips, parsnips, beetroot, swedes, potatoes as well as other vegetables such as pumpkin, marrow, onions, cauliflower, asparagus, leeks etc. Sweet fruits - apples, pears, peaches, apricots, melon, paw paw, mango, nectarines, figs, grapes, bananas, plums, persimmons, figs etc Acid fruits - oranges, lemons, limes, mandarin, grape-fruit, pineapple, and all berries.
 |
|
ACID FORMING FOODS - should form about 20 -30% of the diet Eat moderately - meat, fish, eggs, nuts, breads, whole grains, natural sugars, unsaturated fats, butter and cream. Dried peas and beans also tend to be acidic as does bread and cereal products. Carefully avoid - White flour and all products made from it, white sugar, sweets, pickles, jams, sauces, animal fats, alcohol, tea, coffee, cocoa and soft drinks. DIGESTION It is very important that the body can digest efficiently. It this is not the case then foods will not be broken down and processed sufficiently and poor health will result. Poor digestion can come about by faulty eating habits, not taking time to eat and eating too quickly, stress, illness and age. See page on 'Heartburn' for information on how to correct poor digestion. All information on this page has been compiled by Alison Odey from personal research and from results seen and experienced over 20 years in private practice. It is not intended to diagnose or to be construed as medical advice, but to inform the reader of alternative options that may be available to them. Any remedy mentioned in the text can be obtained by contacting the writer:
Contacts: Phone -64 7 5721147 Website www.alisonodey.com
(Permission to copy this page in any form must be obtained from the said person). Click here to return to Index
|
