Acid Vs Alkaline And The Effects On The Body

Almost everything we are eating these days promotes an acidic environment in our bodies. Foods such as processed meats like salami, grains such as wheat, coffee (nooo!!!), alcohol and sugar. When our diet is high in processed and refined foods our body becomes over acidic. But whats the problem with an acidic environment?

Well, acid is fine in the right places. We want our stomachs to be acid to help our bodies break down the yummy food that we eat, but when our body as a whole becomes acidic, inflammation occurs.

The pH of the body changes depending on where you are.

Saliva: 7-7.5

Stomach: 1.3-3.5

Small intestine: 7-8

Large intestine: 5-5.7

Skin: 4-6.5

Inflammation is a little bit like salty sea air on our cars, to much and our cars will start to rust. Same with our bodies and acid forming foods, if we keep eating all of these foods that cause acid in our body for extended periods of time then our body starts to wear away. A great example of how our bodies are effected by this prolonged inflammation and acidic environment is conditions of the bones, whether it be osteoarthritis or osteoporosis.

In osteoarthritis the joint capsules is broken down, and when there is an acid environment this disintegration is accelerated. In osteoporosis calcium is drawn from the bone in order to try and buffer the acid in the surrounding tissues, reducing a persons bone density more so than if the environment was neutral. High acidity in the body also contributes to ageing and reduced muscle mass as the years go on, which opens the body up to more injuries duet to reduced stability and strength.

Its not just conditions of the bones that could benefit from having an alkaline diet, almost every disease state has some sort of inflammation occurring within it. By eating an alkaline diet you are already fighting half of the battle, by limiting the inflammation that may be driving the condition.

Foods such as animal proteins increase acid in the body as they contain acid forming compounds, these compounds are absorbed and converted into acid within the body. Fresh fruits and vegetables in particular contribute to the alkalinity of the body as hey contain more alkaline forming compounds. It is important to maintain a balance between the acid and the alkaline foods by having a varied diet, to much of one thing can throw out the balance, but if anything, we want alkaline to be consumed over acid wherever possible.

It is often thought that acid foods like lemons will also increase acid in the body. Wrong. It may be acid when it hits the stomach, which is fine, as the stomach acid is just that, acid. However once lemon has been fully metabolised and its vitamins and minerals have been assimilated, its effect is very alkalising on the body.

Acid is excreted through the urine. Making sure we are using our kidneys daily will help to maintain a healthy pH balance within the body, as the excess acid/alkalinity is cleared in the bodies urine. This is why you will often test for the bodies pH levels through testing the urine.

Some people do take supplements for maintaining a healthy pH in the body, but a healthy diet, exercise and plenty of stress management techniques should help to maintain the pH balance all on its own. Stress can be a big trigger for inflammation.

So when looking at the alkalinity/acidity of your body, take into consideration your diet and your lifestyle as they have to both work together. Balance is the key :)