Balanced pH
BALANCED pH CONTRIBUTES TO ENERGETIC LIFESTYLES
Hi this is Lucero and what is the topic for today?
Would you like to learn the secret to awesome energy and vibrant health?
My pH is about 7.5, pretty good and pretty balanced and, what does this mean?
Well, what do I eat? Green and red smoothies, vegetables, avocado, red berries, sprouting beans and seeds, fermented vegetables, these are all alkaline forming food in the body. I only have healthy food in my pantry. And, I feel like I have a lab in my pantry, let’s take a look.
ALL WHOLE GRAIN MY KITCHEN LAB
Kefir made with raw milk, sprouting organic broccoli seeds, organic sprouting mung beans and jars of organic fermenting vegetables. I make my own probiotics at home; how cool is this? And you can too, if you wish to learn.
I consume all healthy food, but what about my environment? Do I use toxic chemicals, like anything that can harm my lungs and internal organs? No. I said goodbye to caustic chemicals years ago. And, I enjoy peace of mind instead as I fill my shelves’ pantry with the full line of safer eco-friendly cleaning products.
Would you like to know more?
Lifestyle choices affect our health and the environment and proper pH balance for both is critical to achieve optimal health.
How do you feel regularly? Full of energy, happy, on the go, and unstoppable? Or do you feel tired, with fatigue, and with low energy to even do minor daily activities?
Do you know that our blood pH (acid/alkaline blood balance) can influence how well or bad we feel? Most of us never consider the acid/alkaline balance of our blood, but a proper pH is a crucial aspect to health. Most holistic doctors stress the importance of pH because a balanced pH protects us from the inside out. Disease and disorder, they say, cannot take root in a body whose pH is in balance.
Why pH is Crucial to Health?
According to Dr. Axe “It is an imbalance of acidity and alkalinity that allows unhealthy organisms to flourish, damages tissues and organs and compromises the immune system”.
So what is proper pH? What we call pH is short for the potential of hydrogen. It is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of our body’s fluids and tissues. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 14. The more acidic a solution is, the lower its pH. The more alkaline, the higher the number is.
A pH of 7 is perfectly neutral. The healthiest pH is one that is slightly alkaline. Optimally, we want a pH between 7 and 8 for both our food and our environment. Our blood pH is between 7.35 and 7.45.
What affects pH?
Dr. Axe’s explains that normally, “the kidneys maintain our electrolyte levels, those of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. When we are exposed to acidic substances, these electrolytes are used to combat acidity. High degrees of acidity force our bodies to rob minerals from the bones, cells, organs and tissues. Cells end up lacking enough minerals to properly dispose of waste or to oxygenate it completely. Vitamin absorption is compromised by mineral loss. Toxins and pathogens accumulate in the body and the immune system becomes suppressed”.
The following chart illustrates the impact of acidosis and alkalosis in our body via food, emotions, and environment
Therefore, a pH balanced refers to FOOD, EXERCISE, ENVIRONMENT, and EMOTIONS.
FOOD: In regards to food we have two choices: acid forming foods (low oxygen) and alkaline forming foods (high oxygen).
Acid forming foods are equal to junk, processed, fast food, and man-made food which contain tons of sodium chloride–table salt–which constricts blood vessels and creates acidity. Eating too much animal protein causes sulfuric acid to build up in the blood as amino acids are broken down. And, calcium-rich dairy products cause some of the highest rates of osteoporosis. That’s because they create acidity in the body! When your blood stream becomes too acidic, it will steal calcium (a more alkaline substance) from the bones to try to balance out the pH level says Dr. Axe. Therefore, the best way to prevent osteoporosis is to eat lots of alkaline green leafy veggies! And what is the impact of eating acidic forming food? All kind of conditions, just to name a few: low energy, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, allergies, asthma, fatigue, frequent colds, headaches, inflammation, joint and muscle pain, skin problems, ulcers, and weight gain.
Alkaline forming foods refers to fruits and vegetables which contain potassium, a natural buffer to acidity. Drinks made from green vegetables and grasses in powder form are loaded with alkaline-forming foods and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is structurally similar to our own blood and alkalizes the blood, says Dr. Axe. Fruits, mushrooms and vegetables (especially citrus, dates, raisins and spinach) promote an alkaline pH. Raw foods and uncooked fruits and vegetables are said to be biogenic or “life-giving.” Cooking foods depletes alkalinizing minerals. Therefore, Increase your intake of raw foods, and try juicing or lightly steaming vegetables.
EMOTIONS: Anger, chronic stress, tiredness, fear, depression, promotes a lower pH. On the contrary, love, happiness, joy, peace encourage a higher and balanced pH.
EXERCISE: Sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise take years of your life and negatively lowers pH levels, reduces oxygen to lungs and internal organs. On the other hand, an active lifestyle is the way to add years to your life, energy and vitality.
ENVIRONMENT: beauty products, exposure to chemicals and radiation, chemicals from household cleansers, building materials, computers, cell phones and microwaves, pesticides and herbicides and pollution, all of these factors affect the pH in the body.
Let’s Stop Poisoning Our Children!
Many scientists and doctors are discovering that there is a connection between our increased use of household chemicals and the increased incidence of chronic illnesses in children like cancer, asthma, ADD, birth defects, and a host of other problems. In this booklet, author and toxics expert Debra Lynn Dadd discusses the scientific evidence linking chemical-laden household products to these diseases in children.
How to test your own pH
You can test your pH by purchasing strips at your local health foods store or pharmacy. You can measure your pH with saliva or urine. Your second urination of the morning will give you the best results. You compare the colors on your test strip to a chart that comes with your test strip kit.
During the day, the best time to test your pH is one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal.
If you test with your saliva, you want to try to stay between 6.8 and 7.2.
Dr. Joseph Mercola has created a Health website very useful for alternative information. Click on this site and the page will open for you to research most foods from A to Z. Nutritional awareness made easy http://foodfacts.mercola.com/.
Chart: courtesy of Dr. Mercola.
Keep in mind, the more Alkaline (and the less Acidic) the food source, the better for your overall health and well-being. According to health experts, 75% of your foods should come from Alkaline sources and 25% from Acidic sources. Tip: Try pairing foods for easier digestion and to promote a healthier balance. For example, consume beans (acid) with broccoli (alkaline).
How to make this lifestyle work for you? The perfect way to balance alkaline-forming and acid-forming foods, if you are someone who eats chicken, fish or meat, is to follow the 80/20 rule: have plenty of vegetables, served on a base of grains, with your protein perched on top. This way you can ensure that the majority of your meal is alkaline, without having to sacrifice those foods that you really enjoy.
Creating a healthy balanced life physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually is essential. A great place to begin is in your “gut.” Then follow other areas in your life that need to be addressed. By investing in healthier options by being selective when choosing the right foods you empower yourself. And this is how you discover awesome energy and vibrant health!
If you have questions and do not know how to start to change or improve your lifestyle, just contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
REFERENCES:
https://www.drdavidwilliams.com/proper-ph-balance
https://draxe.com/balancing-act-why-ph-is-crucial-to-health/
https://www.hunker.com/12606599/what-are-high-alkaline-cleaners