Are
You Overly Acidic?

We
are alkaline bodies by design, but acid generating by function.
Acid is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach to aid
in digestion, and acid is consumed in organic form in fruit.
However, other than the stomach, no part of the body should
be acid.
Despite this, one of the most widespread and insidious causes
of illness that plague our society is acidosis - an accumulation
of more acid than the body can effectively process. Patients
often initially consult a doctor seeking relief from symptoms
of a chronic condition - arthritis, diabetes, emphysema, arteriosclerosis,
or cancer. Regardless of the particular symptomatology, all
of these conditions originate with an increase in the amount
of acid in the body.
Acidosis is generally seen by medical science as a part of the
pathology of several different diseases including impaired liver
function. It is encountered often enough to be assumed to be
normal, however, acidosis is definitely not normal. It is the
forerunner of most, if not all, chronic degenerative diseases
including cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. These
diseases are rampant enough to be considered epidemic in our
country.
Acidosis is often a covert condition in that the patient feels
good in the early stages of acid accumulation. In fact, he may
boast of an exaggerated feeling of well-being and an unusually
high level of energy. Unfortunately, this is an inaccurate perception
resulting from the "stimulatory" reaction of the body's regulatory
systems that are operating in high gear to process the excess
acid. Both the good feeling and high energy level will disappear
as more acid accumulates. In a continued effort to maintain
alkalinity, the neutralizing alkaline reserves are depleted
and the liver becomes increasingly congested and is unable to
perform its function of detoxification. When the extra cellular
and intracellular fluids lose their alkalinity, the person is
considered to be in a condition of acidosis.
ATTITUDE AND ACIDOSIS
Prolonged periods of acidosis affect not
only the physical condition but also the mental and emotional
states of patients. Similarly, mental attitude can affect the
physical state. It is possible for a person to maintain a diet
high in fruits and vegetables and still be acid. Regardless
of the diet followed, the person who is negative in his outlook
on life is acid.
Negative thoughts act to stimulate the action of the adrenal
glands that in turn speed up the body's metabolic activity.
As this occurs, more acid is produced and since the process
is continuous, the amount of acid overpowers the alkaline from
the good food and the net result is acid. And the cycle can
be perpetuated; the more acid we become, the more negative,
defensive, argumentative and unpleasant we become. The pessimist
who can find nothing good about anything is almost certainly
in some degree of acidosis.
SYMPTOMS OF ACIDOSIS
Symptoms of prolonged acidosis that are caused by the consumption
of excess protein can easily be mistaken for individual character
or personality traits. However, definite attitudes and mannerisms
develop as a result of the super-charged internal activity of
the body as it works toward ridding itself of the damaging excess
acid. The person who is on a high-protein diet moves through
a progression of symptoms.
Initially, he . . .
-
Has
an exaggerated sense of well-being
-
Is
a high achiever, a "mover and shaker"
-
Believes
himself to be perfectly well
-
Is
overly ambitious and restless due to the irritation of the
nerves.
Later he……
-
Sees
only the pessimistic side of issues and life
-
Can't
sleep restfully
-
Wakes
up as tired in the morning as he was when he went to bed
-
Constantly
finds fault with everyone and everything
-
Is
tired and experiences generalized aches and pains
-
Becomes
irritable, ill tempered, and difficult to please
-
Shows
signs of "aging" as the body removes alkalising substances
from the muscles then calcium from the bones
Although everyone who is suffering from acidosis does not experience
all of these symptoms, it is helpful for the practitioner to be
able to correlate some "personality traits" with clinical findings
and to recognize indications that the patient's body is over taxed
and headed toward chronic degenerative disease.
10 Reasons To Avoid Acidosis
-
Corrodes
Arteries, Veins and Heart Tissues
Like acid eating into marble, acidosis erodes and eats
into cell wall membranes of the heart, arteries and veins,
weakening cardiovascular structures and inter connective tissues.
-
Accelerates
Free-Radical Damage and Premature Aging
Acidosis causes partial lipid breakdown and destructive
oxidative cascades. This accelerates Free Radical Damage
of cell walls and intracellular membrane structures, which
then unravel, killing cells in the process. Acidosis is
thus thought to be the first step toward premature aging,
accelerating oxidative cascades of cell wall destruction,
creating wrinkling, age spots, dysfunctional hormonal systems,
interfering with eyesight, memory, and a host of other age-related
phenomena.
-
Causes
Weight Gain, Diabetes and Obesity
An acid pH has considerable influence over the majority
of weight problems, including Diabetes and Obesity.
It seems that a habitually acid pH can directly cause immediate
weight gain. Here's what happens when a system is too acid.
A condition known as Insulin Sensitivity or Syndrome X
results, which forces too much insulin to be produced, and
the body is flooded with insulin so that it won't waste any
calories, it diligently converts every calorie it can into
fat.
It is thought that an acid pH immediately signals the powerful
genetic response to an impending famine, directly interacting
with the all important and very sensitive, Insulin- Glucagon
Axis. This makes the body produce more insulin than usual,
and in turn, produce more fat and store it. In general, the
more insulin is available to the body, the higher the probability
that fat will be produced and stored, rather than used and
burned as energy.
Thus, an acid pH will probably alert the genetic response
to famine, directing more insulin to be produced and storing
more fat than usual. Conversely, a healthy, slightly alkaline
pH, will be more likely to yield normal fat burning metabolic
activity, making no demands on the body to overly produce
insulin and make fat, allowing fat-weight to be burned and
naturally lost. And, with a healthy pH, there's less likely
to be any yo-yo effect, or rebounding from a diet with additional
weight gain. As long as nutritional stores are maintained,
a healthy, slightly alkaline pH allows fat to burn normally
for energy, rather than being hoarded under the mistaken biochemical
belief of an impending famine.
With increased pressure to produce insulin under the worst
conditions, beta cells lose phase with one another, ellular
communication is thwarted and the Immune System begins to
over- respond. Stress within the cells increases, making
it difficult for them to perform adequately, and further,
survive. In a very real sense, they simply burn out! Acidosis
is thus thought an important yet often underestimated precursor
to Diabetes Mellitus. Interestingly, before the advent
of synthetic insulin, diabetes was treated historically by
buffering the system with base or alkaline causing powders.
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Causes
Cholesterol Plaque to Form
LDL-Cholesterol is laid down at an accelerated rate within
an acid chemical environment of the cardiovascular system,
inappropriately lining the vascular network, and clogging
up the works! The amount of cholesterol in the diet has
not been found to be a major factor in cholesterol plaque
formation. Rather, pH status appears to be the factor
more directly involved, binding cholesterol with heavy metals
and other cellular debris.
-
Disrupts
Blood Pressure
With acidosis, (pH<7.20) arteries become dilated. Yet,
severe lowering of blood pH also causes persistent venous
vasoconstriction (a disease in the calibre of blood vessels).
When this happens, peripheral blood is shifted more centrally:
the more acidic the patient, the greater the fractional redistribution
of blood to the central vessels. This central redistribution
of blood adds to the heart's workload when its contractibility
is compromised
-
Disrupts
Critical Lipid and Fatty Acid Metabolism
Acidosis disrupts general lipid and fatty acid metabolism
within the body. Fatty acids are intimately involved in nerve
and brain function. When fatty acid metabolism is disturbed,
neurological problems may arise including Multiple Sclerosis,
Macular Degeneration and others, as well as problems with
hormonal balance within the endocrine system.
-
Inhibits
Metabolism of Stored Energy Reserves
An acid pH inhibits efficient cellular and body metabolism.
Acidosis causes chemical ionic disturbances, interfering with
cellular communications and functions. Acidosis reduces Ca
(calcium) binding of plasma proteins, reducing the effectiveness
of this intracellular signal. Acidosis also leads to a
disease of calcium cations (positive Ca) entry through
positive Ca channels, resulting in reduction of cardiac
contractibility, or the ability of the heart to pump efficiently
and rhythmically.
Also, positive Ca and positive H (Hydrogen) regulate the activity
of intracellular proteins and are driven out of cells, because
of the "Sodium-Potassium pump" (Na-K pump), which provides
a strong incentive for sodium to be driven into cells. There
are some 10 times the amount of positive Na in extra cellular
fluids than in cells. The Sodium-Potassium pump regulates
the amount of sodium and potassium each cell in the body stores,
and uses up as much as 25% of our caloric input per day to
run. Positive Ca exchanges the positive Na, being forced out
of cells, but naturally, the electrochemical gradient for
positive Ca favours both positive H and positive Ca entry
into cells, as there is less calcium and positive H in cells
than in the extra cellular fluids.
Therefore, in acid solutions, less sodium will be present,
slowing down the processing and induction of nutritional items
going into cells. (Calcium may become inordinately leached
from bone mass, causing osteoporosis.) An acid pH drains us
of energy and disallows stored energy reserves to be used.
Furthermore calcium may become inordinately leached from bone
mass, causing osteoporosis.
-
Inhibits
Cellular Regeneration & DNA-RNA Synthesis
For DNA-RNA synthesis and healthy cell proliferation to occur,
cell pH must not be acidic. However, cancerous cells
grow well in acidic mediums, therefore an acid pH actually
accelerates and increases the possibility of cellular mutations
(Cancer).
CANCEROUS CELLS DO NOT CONTAIN HYDROGEN ATOMS. WHEN HEALTHY
CELLS HAVE PLENTY OF HYDROGEN THEY CANNOT BECOME CANCEROUS.
IF WE CAN GET HYDROGEN INTO ANY UNHEALTHY CELLS, THEY CAN
HEAL.
-
Inhibits
Oxygen Getting to the Tissue
Acidosis or an acid pH decreases the amount of oxygen that
can be delivered to cells, making normally healthy cells unhealthy
so eventually they die.
-
Inhibits
Life Giving Electrolyte Activity
Life-essential functions, like electrolyte Potassium
(K plus) and Sodium (Na plus) channels, are inactivated
by acidosis. This has far reaching effects cardiovascularly,
since without sufficient electrolyte management, heart attacks
are likely to occur. Without appropriate electrolyte management,
our heart literally stops beating. Inhibition of electrolyte
activity also affects the way we feel and behave, and is intimately
involved in the energy levels we experience, because of the
nature of the Na-K Pump and cellular metabolism.
An
Acid pH Is The Seed-Bed Of Degenerative Diseases
- Cardiovascular
Disease: Arteriosclerosis, Heart Attacks, Stroke, High Cholesterol,
and High Blood Pressure
- All Forms
of Cancer
- Diabetes,
Insulin Sensitivity, Obesity
- Neurological
Diseases, MS, MD, ALS and Parkinson's disease
- Liver
& Kidney Disease
- Senility,
Dementia, Alzheimer's
- Immune
Deficiencies
- Osteoporosis,
Osteoarthritis & Tooth Loss
- Hormonal
Imbalances
- Premature
Aging, Male Prostate Problems
Understanding
pH Level and Why Many People Have Disease / Cancer
According to the research of Dr. Enderlein, total healing of chronic
illness only takes place when and if the blood is restored to
a normal, slightly alkaline pH. In case you missed it, let me
say it again...
Total healing of chronic illness only takes place when and
if the blood is restored to a normal, slightly alkaline pH.
pH: What does it mean? pH is the abbreviation for potential
hydrogen. The pH of any solution is the measure of its hydrogen-ion
concentration. The higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and
oxygen rich the fluid is. The lower the pH reading, the more acidic
and oxygen deprived the fluid is. The pH range is from 0 to
14, with 7.0 being neutral. Anything above 7.0 is alkaline, anything
below 7.0 is considered acidic.
Human blood
stays in a very narrow pH range around 7.35 - 7.45. Below or
above this range means symptoms and disease. If blood pH moves
too much below 6.8 or above 7.8, cells stop functioning and
the patient dies. The ideal pH balance for blood is 7.4
A
healthy blood pH without cancer has acid / alkaline balance
almost equal. Actually a healthy body is slightly
alkaline measuring approximately 7.4. This ideal blood 7.4 pH
measurement means it is just slightly more alkaline than acid.
If
you have a health problem, most likely you are acidic.
We have seen that research shows that unless the body's pH level
is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. So, no matter
what type of modality you choose to use to take care of your
health problem, it won't be effective until the pH level is
up. If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively
assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Your body
pH affects everything.
Like most living things on earth the body has to have a balanced
pH like most living things on earth or it does not function
correctly. The alkaline level is very important because research
has already proven that
disease cannot survive in an alkaline state and yet thrives
in an acidic environment.
FACT:
An acidic balance will: decrease the body's ability
to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the
energy production in the cells, decrease its ability
to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify
heavy metals, make tumour cells thrive, and make it
more susceptible to fatigue and illness.
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An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional
stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process
that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The
body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals.
If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a
build up of acids in the cells will occur.
There are two factors that are ALWAYS present with cancer
no matter what else may be present. Those two factors are Acid
pH and Lack of Oxygen. Can we manipulate those two factors
that always have to be present for cancer to develop and by doing
so will that help reverse the cancer? If so, we need to learn
how to manipulate those two factors.
Cancer needs an acid and low oxygen environment to survive and
flourish within. Terminal cancer patients are around 1000 times
more acidic than normal healthy people. The vast majority
of terminal cancer patients possess a very low body pH. Why?
In the absence of oxygen, glucose undergoes fermentation to lactic
acid. This causes the pH of the cell to drop from between 7.3
to 7.2 down to 7 and later to 6.5 in more advanced stages of cancer
and in metastases the pH drops to 6.0 and even 5.7 or lower. Our
bodies simply cannot fight disease if our body pH is not properly
balanced.
The normal human cell has a lot of molecular oxygen and a slightly
alkaline pH. The cancer cell has an acid pH and lack of oxygen.
Cancer cells cannot survive in an oxygen rich environment.
Again, the higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen
rich the fluid is. Cancer and all diseases hate oxygen / pH
balance. pH balance is very important for one's health.
FACT:
If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively
assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements.
Also, mucus on the small intestine can block your body
from vitamin and mineral absorption. |
How
To Test Your pH Level
Test your pH level... If you are sick or have cancer simply
wet a piece of Litmus Paper with your saliva 2 hours after a
meal. This will give a reflection of your state of health.
Salivary pH Test:
While generally more acidic than blood, salivary pH mirrors
the blood (if not around meals) and is also a fairly good indicator
of health. It tells us what the body retains. Salivary pH is
a fair indicator of the health of the extra cellular fluids
and their alkaline mineral reserves.
Optimal pH for saliva is 6.4 to 6.8. Spit upon arising before
anything is put into the mouth. A reading lower than 6.4 is
indicative of insufficient alkaline reserves. Two hours after
eating, on testing - the saliva pH should rise to 7.8 or higher.
Unless this occurs, the body has alkaline mineral deficiencies
(mainly Calcium and Magnesium) and will not assimilate food
very well. To deviate from ideal salivary pH for an extended
time invites illness.
Acidosis, an extended time in the acid pH state, can result
in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, tuberculosis, osteoporosis,
high blood pressure, most cancers and many more heakth problems.
If salivary pH stays too low, the diet should focus on fruit,
vegetables and still mineral water as well as removing strong
acidifiers such as sodas, whole wheat and red meat.
Urinary pH Test:
The pH of the urine indicates how the body is working to maintain
the proper pH of the blood. The urine reveals the alkaline building
(anabolic) and acid tearing down (catabolic) cycles. The pH
of urine indicates the efforts of the body via the kidneys,
adrenals, lungs and gonads to regulate pH through the buffer
salts and hormones. Urine can provide a fairly accurate picture
of body chemistry, because the kidneys filter out the buffer
salts of pH regulation and provide values based on what the
body is eliminating. Urine pH can vary from around 4.5 to 9.0
for its extremes, but the ideal range is 5.8 to 6.8.
Foods considered to be alkaline-forming and thus helpful to
people with consistently acid pH include: almonds, aloe vera,
apples, apricots, bee pollen, buckwheat, cabbage, cantaloupe,
celery, carrots, cucumbers, dates, dulse, poached eggs, figs, grapefruit, honey, lettuce,
millet, parsley, raisins, peaches, fresh red potatoes, pineapple,
soy products, sprouted seeds, cooked spinach, turnip tops, wakame
miso soup, azuki beans, rice, mineral water.
People who remain too acid often display symptoms such as: anxiety,
diarrhea, dilated pupils, extroverted behavior, fatigue in early
morning, headaches, hyperactivity, hypersexuality, insomnia,
nervousness, rapid heartbeat, restless legs, shortness of breath,
strong appetite, high blood pressure, warm dry hands and feet.
Acidosis (overly acidic body) is the primary indicator of Calcium
Deficiency Disease.
Balancing
the pH is a major step toward well-being and greater health.
Scientists have discovered that the body fluids of healthy people
are alkaline (high pH) whereas the body fluids of sick people
are acidic (low pH). Balancing the pH is a major step towards
well-being and greater health.
Eating the
proper foods and getting the best nutrients, in balance, will
help you avoid all that - along with the misery and quality
of life that so often precedes death, sometimes by decades.
The simple secrets to finding the right combinations of diet
and lifestyle is what the pH Miracle program is all about.
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