Managing Your Body's pH Perhaps you’re old enough to remember the Alka-Seltzer jingle, "Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz. Oh, What a Relief It Is!" Once upon a time, if you had acid reflux, Alka-Seltzer was the over-the-counter medication of choice to relieve your discomfort. What magical ingredient did Alka-Seltzer contain to relieve your stomach discomfort? Sodium bicarbonate! Sodium bicarbonate is extremely alkaline and bubbly, hence the name Alka-Seltzer. Every food and beverage has an acid or alkaline characteristic and is measured on a pH scale of zero to fourteen, with zero being the most acidic and fourteen the most alkaline. For example, the pH of stomach acid is 1, diet soda is 2.5, coffee is 3, water is 7 (neutral), broccoli is 8, mineral water 8.5 and baking soda is 12 (similar to Alka-Seltzer). You can monitor the pH of your saliva or urine on a regular basis though the use of litmus strip testing, and litmus strips may be purchased at most health food stores or pharmacies. Thehuman body is amazing. One thing I find particularly fascinating is its ability to mend itself through endless checks and balances. This is especially evident with blood pH. When the pH of the blood starts to become unbalanced in either direction by the smallest of margins, the body quickly brings it back into balance through a number of buffering systems. These buffering systems include the lungs, blood, kidneys, and minerals. As the blood becomes too acidic, mechanisms kick in to bring blood pH back to balance. When your body struggles and works overtime to maintain a balanced pH, trouble begins! Health problems related to an acid-forming diet and high levels of stress include: acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, headaches, fatigue, osteoporosis, inflammation, thyroid dysfunction and weight gain. These health problems are primarily linked to the over consumption of acid-forming foods and beverages, coupled with unhealthy stress. We consume too much coffee, caffeine, sodapop, beer, alcohol, processed foods, fried foods, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, artificial sweeteners and animal proteins, just to name a few. On top of the unhealthy food and beverage choices we make each day, we live in a world that just keeps speeding up. The non-stop pace at which some "live" their lives often leads to high levels of unhealthy stress. Okay, enough of the doom and gloom! What are three simple steps you can take to help balance your body's pH? Consume foods that have high alkaline levels: Most fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, flaxseeds, almonds, organic extra virgin coconut oil, cod liver oil, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sweet potato, lemon, lime, garlic, cinnamon and sea salt are all alkaline forming foods, condiments, and spices. Consume beverages that have high alkaline levels: Coffee is usually acidic. However, consuming a higher-quality coffee, such as an organic coffee, or better yet, moving to a healthier beverage choice such as green tea, can improve pH.Drinking 12-24 ounces of mineral water each day with a shot of juice, or adding a lemon or lime to your water, are easy ways to help balance your pH. Non-dairy milk choices such as almond milk are alkaline options versus the more acidic cow's milk. Rest and Recovery: Take time for yourself! Get more sleep. Take regular vacations. Try to get a little "down time" each day. Change your breathing patterns. Take deep, slow breaths for a count of ten, and do this a few times over your day. Proper and deep breathing can help to reduce stress. Any one of these three steps will improve your health and help restore the pH balance in your body. Balancing your pH is one element of a total health and nutrition plan. If you'd like more information about how to obtain and maintain personal wellness, or a complete discussion of pH balance, On Target Living® publishes 'Nutrition' and other publications that can further your understanding. Health & Happiness!CJ
