Most people have never considered their pH level and may not even know what it is. The pH scale ranges from 0(strongly acidic) to 14 (strongly alkaline). A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Our bloods normal range is 7.35 to 7.45 but hangs out close to 7.40. The pH of urine ranges from 4.5 to 7.8. Very alkaline urine, above 7.0 is suggestive of infection. Blood levels below 7.35.is considered acidosis, a serious medical condition. Our bodies are designed to maintain a balanced environment of being not too alkaline or not too acidic.
Another problem with being overly acidic is your body may become deficit in essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and sodium and turn to taking them from your bones to neutralize the acid. That can put your body under a lot of strain and stress.
In our world of processed and fast foods, combined with an inactive lifestyle, many people are somewhat acidic. With extreme acidity you develop a condition known as acidosis which requires urgent medical treatment. Mild acidity may not be noticeable until you find yourself feeling worse and worse unexpectedly. There are signs and symptoms your body may be too acidic some of them are listed below.
- You feel fatigued, even after you’ve had enough sleep
- You feel depressed or have a difficult time enjoying things that you used to
- You find yourself irritable for no reason
- You are unable to focus or have “brain fog” often
- You develop infections, colds, and flus frequently
- Your skin is dry, even in warmer months
- You have acne or other skin problems
- You have hormonal imbalance issues
- You frequently develop yeast infections
- You feel your digestion is sluggish, or experience constipation or diarrhea frequently
- You often find yourself short of breath
- You experience frequent joint pain
- You have frequent headaches
- You experience chronic allergy or sinus pain
- You suffer chronic pain not due to an injury or medical condition
- Your neck often feels stiff or sore
- You have sensitive gums and teeth
If you experience multiple symptoms on the this list,( with no medical conditions that would cause them), it would be a good idea to have your pH level tested. Test strips available at local pharmacies allow you to do so in your home. Of course consult your doctor for any abnormal results. The other option is to see your doctor for further evaluation.
For a reading slightly below normal there are ways to combat the problem at home using the following suggestions to get your body back in balance.
Start eliminating processed foods from your diet, these are often acidic and destroy the body’s systems. Examples of processed foods are fast food, boxed meals and many packaged products. If there are more than five ingredients listed on the label, leave it on the shelf. Plan your meals for the week and cook at home using fresh ingredients. Every Thursday I post recipes that are easy to make, most with every day ingredients, and some under 30 minutes.
It would be best to totally eliminate refined sugar from your diet. Aside from sodas which are super acidic and sugary, stay away from artificial sweeteners. Last year I posted a blog titled Pink, Yellow, Blue, or Something Else? I was referring to artificial sweeteners. These lab made products are 200 times, in the case of aspartame, to 600 times, as with sucralose, sweeter than sugar. Use coconut crystals, unprocessed stevia leaves, raw honey, or raw brown sugar to sweeten your meals and beverages.
Coffee, which I love, can be very acidic on your system. When struggling with mild acidosis quit coffee for awhile or at least cut down. Drink herbal teas to instead. Green tea has many health benefits and red rooibos tea is a delicious choice that does not contain caffeine. You may want to add energy boosting smoothies. I purchase fruits and veggies in medium to large bags because it is cheaper. I freeze some of the fruit and produce and add it to smoothies using with almond milk as a base.
Get white flour out of your diet. White flour is processed and stripped of its nutrients. Try whole grain bread, do not fall prey to the multi grain breads. These contain partial grains. Try wheat rice, brown rice, red, and black rice.
Although dairy and meat products can be healthy (especially when organic and grass-fed), they can also be acidic. Choose to eliminate them for awhile or cut down your consumption for a healthy pH. Double down on fresh fruits and vegetables, which have an alkaline effect on your body instead. These include dark green leafy vegetables like kale, arugula, spinach, Swiss chard and collard greens. Don’t forget to include lemons, carrots, beets, turnips, cayenne peppers and garlic.
Make sure to drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses per day. Hydration is key to getting your body back into balance. You also need to take time to reduce your stress. Our world as we know it has changed, especially over the last two years with the Covid 19 virus. With the confusion regarding the virus and loss of family members, friends, and co-workers our stress levels have greatly increased. Take time to give yourself some self love. Get a soothing massage. I go to the local beauty school where I can get one for a reasonable price. Spend 10 minutes a day doing a short meditation, or simply take a walk in nature.
Cigarettes are indeed toxic to our bodies and being an ex smoker I know how difficult it is to quit. At least cut down on how much you smoke. Also consult your pharmacist about adding magnesium or calcium supplements. I say your pharmacist because they will be able to determine any possible interactions with current medications you are taking.
As I always say, take care of your body and it will take care of you. Our bodies are built to challenge and fight off diseases and toxins not normal to it. However it has to be in a healthy state to do so. I am not saying you have to be perfect and give up everything at once, but small steps make giant strides.
Until next time,
Peace, Love, and Blessings
