Recently I spoke at a health conference. There was one general reaction that came through loud and clear: surprise.
You see, I talked about the
number that is THE most telling indicator about your state of health and is
arguably the most important number to pay attention to if you want a life free
of pain, inflammation and disease. It’s not your weight. Or BMI. Or
cholesterol. Or your triglycerides. It's not even your blood
pressure
It's your pH (pH factor indicates acidic versus alkaline ratio in your body)
In a flashback to high school chemistry, remember that the pH scale goes from 0 to 14. 0 is pure acid, 7 is neutral, and 14 is pure alkaline.
It's your pH (pH factor indicates acidic versus alkaline ratio in your body)
In a flashback to high school chemistry, remember that the pH scale goes from 0 to 14. 0 is pure acid, 7 is neutral, and 14 is pure alkaline.
You came into this world with
an alkaline pH. It's how your body was designed and how you're meant to
stay.
Without exception, ALL of your
organs, tissues, bones and joints work best when your blood pH is slightly
alkaline (around 7.365).
If your pH is even just a little too acidic, that's when your body can begin to literally break down.
If your pH is even just a little too acidic, that's when your body can begin to literally break down.
Aches and pains begin to creep up. Tumours (including
cancer) can flourish. Diseases can rear their ugly heads.
Although a number of factors can contribute to an acid pH, (including stress, environmental toxins, lack of exercise and smoking), far and away the number one factor is your FOOD.
Although a number of factors can contribute to an acid pH, (including stress, environmental toxins, lack of exercise and smoking), far and away the number one factor is your FOOD.
Eating acid-creating foods
(especially fast food, processed food, meat, dairy, refined carbs and hard to
digest meal combinations) pulls your pH down toward the acid range.
On the other hand, when your diet contains many alkaline foods (like fresh fruits and vegetables) and is easy for your body to break down, you encourage a more alkaline pH.
Let's take a look at some examples of how your body can break down when you're acidic:
Your heart pumps an unbelievable 13,000 quarts of blood a day--enough to fill a small swimming pool.
On the other hand, when your diet contains many alkaline foods (like fresh fruits and vegetables) and is easy for your body to break down, you encourage a more alkaline pH.
Let's take a look at some examples of how your body can break down when you're acidic:
Your heart pumps an unbelievable 13,000 quarts of blood a day--enough to fill a small swimming pool.
If there are toxins in your
blood, that puts a huge strain on your heart to do its
job.
Acid wastes in your system also rob your blood of
oxygen, which causes your heart tissue to deteriorate.
Your liver serves over 300
different functions-with two of the most important being to remove acid wastes
from your blood and make alkaline enzymes for your body.
If you're like most people who
live in industrialised countries, your blood resembles a war zone with far too
many toxins floating around, and your liver is constantly being stressed
cleaning them out.
If that goes on long enough, it
can completely shut down.
Your pancreas is super important. In fact, it's responsible for completing digestion in your small intestine.
And it helps regulate blood
sugar by producing insulin. Like I said, super important. Your pancreas is super important. In fact, it's responsible for completing digestion in your small intestine.
More so than any other organ, the pancreas is extremely sensitive to your pH and absolutely CANNOT function when you're acidic -- it MUST have an alkaline environment.
If your pancreas is not working
right, you can be looking at type II diabetes
Your kidneys create urine and help get rid of excess acid from the body. About one litre of blood passes through them every single minute.
Your kidneys create urine and help get rid of excess acid from the body. About one litre of blood passes through them every single minute.
If
your blood has too much acid and toxins, your kidneys are over-stressed and
unable to do their job. Your stomach properly breaks
down your food, the small intestine can finish the job and digestion is
completed like it should be. But foods that are
acid-creating are hard for your stomach to break down, and in its efforts to do
its job, it may overproduce acid.
The result can be poorly
digested food, fewer nutrients being absorbed, and acid rising up into your
throat.
Acid reflux, GERD, IBS, hiatal
hernia and gastritis are all on the rise and this is why.
The typical American diet is
LOADED with hard to digest, acid-creating food.Your colon: Wastes are supposed to easily pass through the colon and "out your back door."
But if digestion has not been
accomplished properly, they don't move through like they
should.
Instead they can clog your
colon walls, become a breeding ground for bacteria and disease and cause you to
put on weight. Plus, the toxins can be reabsorbed into your bloodstream, make you ill and encourage the development of food sensitivities.
It’s no surprise that colon cancer is the number one cancer killer, and that so many people suffer with IBS, diverticulosis/itis and chronic constipation
So how do we get this magic 7.365 pH?
Here are the 4 steps to attaining and maintaining an optimal alkaline pH:
Step 1
Check your pH at regular intervals
You can get a saliva test or urine test kit at most drug stores or health food stores.
The saliva test is the least
accurate and urine is slightly more accurate. You can also have your blood
tested by a doctor.
This is the most accurate
measure but also the most expensive. If you want this done and your doctor
won't do it, find one who will.
The normal pH for urine is
about 6.5-6.8 (it's acidic because urine is an exit for toxins), for saliva
7.0-7.4 and for blood 7.365 is your target.
If you're testing your pH with
saliva or urine, it's important to perform the test several times at different
times of the day, since pH can be affected by what you eat or
drink.
Step 2
Drink pure water
Aim for at least 5-8 glasses per day. Stir in a little fresh-squeezed lemon juice to make it more alkaline if
you'd like.
Step 2
Drink pure water
Aim for at least 5-8 glasses per day. Stir in a little fresh-squeezed lemon juice to make it more alkaline if
you'd like.
Alkalizing drops are also
available at health food stores. Water means water and does not mean coffee,
tea, Gatorade, soda or other sweetened drinks.
But avoid drinking tap water
as it can contain chlorine and/or fluoride. Strive to drink filtered or bottled
water.
Step 3
Eat more alkaline foods
The important thing to note here is you CAN continue to eat some "good" acid foods that have valid nutrients - so if you don't want to give up that juicy steak you love or that roasted chicken, you don't have to.
Step 3
Eat more alkaline foods
The important thing to note here is you CAN continue to eat some "good" acid foods that have valid nutrients - so if you don't want to give up that juicy steak you love or that roasted chicken, you don't have to.
Just make sure that those acid
foods are counterbalanced by a good portion of alkaline
foods.
50/50 is a good place to
start, and the more alkaline, the better. "Good" acid foods include nourishing
things like:
*Eggs,
*Fish
*Brown rice
*Yogurt
* Chicken
*turkey
*Beef (preferably grass fed and organic).
These foods have nutrients that do benefit your body. So it's not necessary to eliminate them.
*Eggs,
*Fish
*Brown rice
*Yogurt
* Chicken
*turkey
*Beef (preferably grass fed and organic).
These foods have nutrients that do benefit your body. So it's not necessary to eliminate them.
You just need to make sure
to keep them under control, and make sure they represent no more than 50% of
your calories.
And remember it's NEVER a good idea to eat processed food, fast food or drink soda.
And remember it's NEVER a good idea to eat processed food, fast food or drink soda.
Keep those to a bare minimum or preferably none at
all.
Step 4
Keep your digestion efficient
In order to keep your digestion humming, it's vital to eat meal combinations that are easily broken down and don't cause your stomach to over produce acid, and make sure you have adequate enzymes to do the job.
Simply put:
Keep your digestion efficient
In order to keep your digestion humming, it's vital to eat meal combinations that are easily broken down and don't cause your stomach to over produce acid, and make sure you have adequate enzymes to do the job.
Simply put:
- Easy digestion= proper elimination of wastes = a more
alkaline pH
- Poor digestion = acid waste build-up = Sickness and a
more acid pH
So remember, while your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. are all very important too, it's vital to keep your eye on the MOST important number - your pH.
Do that and your body will thank you many times over.
