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Acid-Alkaline
Balance and What it Really Means
by Rick Wagner, CN
Acid-alkaline balance is a popular subject these days
and one I am asked about frequently. The theory is that
if we can maintain a good balance between these two states,
with a slight leaning towards the alkaline side, we will
be in optimal health.
While
I firmly believe the theory of a proper balance is correct,
I disagree with the concept that testing your Ph on litmus
paper via saliva or urine can easily monitor one’s
alkaline state. A Ph test of saliva or urine is simply
that-- a reflection of the parts hydrogen (Ph), of your
saliva or urine at that point in time. I do not believe
this approach accurately reflects the intricacies of Ph
balance within all parts of the body.
This
concept is not new and was actually being addressed as
long ago as 1935 by Dr. Weston A. Price. I have included
an article by Dr. Price addressing this very issue from
the perspective I believe is most important--one’s
mineral balance. The topic is discussed around the framework
of primitive societies and their dental health, which
Dr. Price spent many years studying. Before jumping into
his timely article I do feel it is important to explain
the variability of acid and alkaline states within our
body.
This is easy to describe by following the path of a food
particle from your mouth to the inside of a cell. I will
use a molecule of carbohydrate. Upon putting such a molecule
into your mouth, it enters an environment of between 5
and 8 Ph with 7 being neutral.
An
interesting point here is that you can increase the Ph
of your mouth making it more alkaline by eating something
acidic, such as a lemon or lime. The digestion of this
carbohydrate molecule begins in your mouth. When you swallow
this carbohydrate molecule it falls into your stomach
and into a Ph environment of about 1.5. This is extremely
acidic. Here, carbohydrate digestion stops for between
one half and 2 hours. When your mouthful of food passes
into your small intestine, it leaves a Ph of about 1.5
and enters a Ph of over 7. In this alkaline state, the
digestion of the carbohydrate is completed over a period
of hours where simple sugar molecules are created by the
breakdown of the carbohydrate. These sugars are absorbed
into the blood stream with a closely monitored Ph of 7.35
to 7.45. As these sugars pass into interstitial tissue,
they again enter into a slightly acidic state of between
6 and 7 Ph. When they are absorbed into the cell they
are entering into an alkaline state again as the Ph environment
of a healthy cell is alkaline. As you can see, there are
several different states of acidity and alkalinity within
our bodies. The ultimate controlling factor in an optimal
Ph level in each of these different areas of the body
is a proper mineral balance.
Please
read Acid-Base
Balance of Diets Which Produce Immunity
for an excellent synopsis of this theory.
