Is your body acidic, alkaline or both?
By Dr. Brenda Gill
This is the time of year for seasonal allergies, so, to minimize them, be alkaline!! Alkalinity & acidity is based on the essential metabolic processes in the body. These processes take place at the smallest cellular level. Energy is acquired in humans by the breakdown or oxidation of large carbohydrates into smaller compounds from which the cell draws nutrients for it’s activities.
Through this process, carbonic acid is produced, which may be dangerous for the cells when produced in too great a quantity. When this occurs it makes the system “acidic”. For activities in the cell to function properly, a stable cellular acid concentration is required. This varies between pH 7.3-7.4. When outside of this range, certain enzyme reactions, which regulate the energy being utilized by the body are negatively affected. When the pH lowers, some metabolic processes can stop. This leads to toxicity and eventually the death of the cell.
Therefore, if the system is too acidic, the cells become toxic.
However, this can be avoided through different compensations by the body. The first mechanism is breathing, which releases carbonic acid. Therefore, it is extremely important to breath properly deep into the lower rib cage to flood the body with oxygen. The second mechanism is the minerals, especially potassium and sodium (called bases) that neutralize the acid into a harmless salt and is eliminated through the kidneys. The minerals used up in the process must be replaced or detoxification is compromised.
Therefore, we should eat four times the quantity of “natural” foods (salads, vegetables and fruits) each day, compared to the total quantity of all other foods. Natural foods are rich in the minerals that are needed for optimizing pH. If the base minerals are replaced on an everyday basis, the body will remain healthy and be properly responsive to stressors.
Regulating the proper balance between acids and bases in the body is done by constantly monitoring the proper respiration, circulation, digestion, elimination, hormone production, immune response and other mechanisms. When the level of carbonic acid in the body becomes high, the regulatory mechanism stimulates the respiratory and circulatory system to respond in an attempt to re-balance the system. Tiredness and sleep disturbances are possible early signs of increased acidity. Pain is a signal that indicates the body is even more out of balance.
Typically, most folks have too low pH- too acidic. At the beginning of most diseases, there is an over-acidified system. The regulatory mechanisms attempt to balance the deficit to prevent damage to the cells. When these fail, chronic dis-ease develops. Conversely, an acute disease is often an attempt of the body to mobilize mineral reserves available to try and re-balance the system.
Therefore, it is important to re-establish the body’s pH within the proper range as soon as possible, before disease is established.
Dr, Brenda Gill is a naturopath practising in Rossland. This is an encore presentation of a column from 2010.
