acid alkaline balence linked with osteoporosis/arthrits/infections

July 26, 2008

Acid/Alkaline Balance

There are indications over acidity is linked with arthritis and

osteoporosis and a tendency to get more infections read on

Edgar Cayce consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining

a proper acid/alkaline balance in the body. Commonly referred to as

" pH " (potential for hydrogen), the acid/alkaline continuum ranges from

0 - 14 with 7 as neutral. The lower end of the scale (below 7) is

acid and above 7 is alkaline. Generally speaking, the Cayce readings

maintain that a balanced pH with a slight alkaline tendency would be

beneficial for most individuals.

Alkalinity can be increased by consuming less meat and sweets and

more vegetables and fruits. Although eating fruit to increase

alkalinity may seem to be a contradiction because some fruits

(especially citrus) are acidic outside the body, digestion uses up

their acidic components, leaving an alkaline residue (ash). Thus the

net effect is alkaline-producing within the system. For most

individuals, Cayce noted that " a normal diet is about twenty percent

acid to eighty percent alkaline-producing. "

According to Cayce, numerous factors can increase acidity

including negative emotional states, inadequate mastication of food,

and poor eliminations. Perhaps the most common factor cited by Cayce

is diet. Eating acid-producing foods or combining foods improperly

(even akaline-producing foods) is said to lead to hyperacidity, even

to " superacidity " in some instances.

Cayce sometimes observed that infectious agents (such as virus and

bacteria) do not thrive in an alkaline environment: " cold CANNOT -

DOES NOT - exist in alkalines. " Thus, consuming alkaline-producing

foods (such as orange juice and lemon juice) was recommended to

prevent colds.

As a practical preventive measure, Cayce's suggestions for alkalizing

the body emphasized eating an abundance of fresh fruits and

vegetables, especially salads: " ... if an alkalinity is maintained

in the system - especially with lettuce, carrots and celery, these in

the blood supply will maintain such a condition as to immunize a

person. " (480-19) Consuming citrus fruit and juices was also a

common alkalizing suggestion in the readings that addressed concerns

about cold and flu infections.

The antimicrobial influence of alkalinity is supported by

research on goldenseal, a well-known antibacterial herb. Berberine

sulfate, the most active antibacterial alkaloid in goldenseal, is more

effective in an alkaline than an acid environment. At a pH of 8.0

(alkaline), its antimicrobial activity in vitro is about 2 to 4 times

greater than at 7.0 (neutral). At an acid pH of 6.0, the

antimicrobial activity is only 1/4 as strong as at a neutral pH.1

Acid/alkaline balance is extremely important to normal physiology.

For example, the blood will maintain a slightly alkaline range of

7.35 to 7.45. Extended pH imbalances of any kind are not well

tolerated by the body. The management of the pH factor is so

important that the body has developed strict accounting procedures to

monitor acid-alkaline balances in every cell and system. The

fundamental regulatory systems of the body (including breathing,

circulation, elimination, etc.) affect pH balance.

Acid/alkaline balance is a complex and controversial subject.

Views on this subject range from an almost total disbelief that pH is

a significant factor in disease to the opposite extreme as exemplified

by the book " Alkalize or Die. " 2 Even the experts who acknowledge

that a neutral or slightly alkaline pH is good, disagree on what this

means with regard to body fluids. For example, some researchers

consider a slightly acid urine pH to be normal (healthy) because it

might indicate that the body is eliminating acids which are a natural

product of metabolism. Other experts maintain that the urine should

be close to neutral or slightly alkaline. Cousens M.D. takes

a relatively moderate position, stating that a pH range of 6.3 to 7.2

is " healthy. " 3

Edgar Cayce insisted that acid/alkaline balance could be easily

checked. Numerous readings encourage the measurement of pH balance in

saliva and urine as an objective means of monitoring this crucial

aspect of physiology.

There are five alkaline-forming minerals, also known as acid-binding

minerals. These minerals are: calcium, potassium,sodium, magnesium,

and iron. Each of these are important for creating

a healthy alkaline environment. These minerals bind with acid minerals

and evacuate those acidic and toxic substances.

Consuming more alkaline foods allows for a mucousless body. A vision

of a mucous-free body is no sinus congestion, chronic lymphatic

congestion or swelling, fluid accumulation in the lungs, joint

calcification, calcium deficiency, etc.

A person who has properly balanced pH will be happy, content, free of

body aches, and muscle cramps. They will enjoy being emotionally

stable and mentally clear. The result are extraordinary because the

tissues will exist in their natural and optimal alkaline

environment,conducive for health.

We have yet to determine what are the long term health effects of

keeping an acid/alkaline balance with a tendency toward alkalinity.

High systemic acidity was consistently noted by Cayce in conditions

such as arthritis. Presumably, maintaining pH balance (which for most

people means increasing alkalinity) will have a therapeutic effect.

REFERENCES

1. Pizzorno, J. (1996). Total Wellness. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing.

2. Barooty, T. Alkalize or Die, Waynesville, NC: Eclectic Press.

3. Cousins, G. (1992). Conscious Eating. Santa , CA: Vision

Books International.

And more

The Cause of Disease

Have you ever wondered if many of the diseases raging through our

society have a common cause? Many doctors, herbalists and

nutritionists believe that the explanation may come down to three words:

Acid Alkaline Imbalance

Over acidity, which can become a dangerous condition that weakens

all body systems, is very common today. It gives rise to an internal

environment conducive to disease, as opposed to a pH-balanced

environment which allows normal body function necessary for the body

to resist disease. A healthy body maintains adequate alkaline reserves

to meet emergency demands. When excess acids must be neutralized our

alkaline reserves are depleted leaving the body in a weakened

condition. An Acid Alkaline Balanced diet, according to many experts,

is a vital key to health maintenance.

The concept of acid alkaline imbalance as the cause of disease is

not new. In 1933 a New York doctor named Hay published

a ground-breaking book, A New Health Era in which he maintains that

all disease is caused by autotoxication (or " self-poisoning " ) due to

acid accumulation in the body:

Now we depart from health in just the proportion to which we have

allowed our alkalies to be dissipated by introduction of acid-forming

food in too great amount... It may seem strange to say that all

disease is the same thing, no matter what its myriad modes of

expression, but it is verily so.

Hay, M.D.

More recently, in his remarkable book Alkalize or Die (see

recommended reading), Dr. Theodore A. Baroody says essentially the

same thing:

The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What

does matter is that they all come from the same root cause...too much

tissue acid waste in the body!

Theodore A. Baroody, N.D., D.C., Ph.D.

Understanding pH

pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or

alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14—the

lower the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more

alkaline (or base) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor

alkaline it has a pH of 7 which is neutral.

Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, comprising

70% of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio

called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions

(acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The

body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is

compromised many problems can occur.

It is important to understand that we are not talking about

stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of

the body's fluids and tissues which is an entirely different matter.

Test Your Body's Acidity or Alkalinity with pH Strips:

It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if

your body's pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips, you

can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your

own home. If your urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 to 6.5 in the

morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening, your body is

functioning within a healthy range. If your saliva stays between 6.5

and 7.5 all day, your body is functioning within a healthy range. The

best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two

hours after a meal. Test your pH two days a week.

Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition

forces the body to borrow minerals—including calcium, sodium,

potassium and magnesium—from vital organs and bones to buffer

(neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of

this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to

high acidity—a condition that may go undetected for years.

Mild acidosis can cause such problems as:

* Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood

vessels and the reduction of oxygen.

* Weight gain, obesity and diabetes.

* Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.

* Immune deficiency.

* Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to

cancerous mutations.

* Hormone concerns.

* Premature aging.

* Osteoporosis; weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs.

* Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup.

* Low energy and chronic fatigue.

* Slow digestion and elimination.

* Yeast/fungal overgrowth.

pH and Bone Loss:

A recent seven-year study conducted at the University of

California, San Francisco, on 9,000 women showed that those who have

chronic acidosis are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have

normal pH levels. The scientists who carried out this experiment

believe that many of the hip fractures prevalent among middle-aged

women are connected to high acidity caused by a diet rich in animal

foods and low in vegetables. This is because the body borrows calcium

from the bones in order to balance pH. — American Journal of Clinical

Nutrition

Urine pH

Urine testing may indicate how well your body is excreting acids and

assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and

potassium. These minerals function as " buffers. " Buffers are

substances that help maintain and balance the body against the

introduction of too much acidity or too much alkalinity. Even with the

proper amounts of buffers, acid or alkaline levels can become extreme.

When the body ingests or produces too many of these acids or alkalis,

it must excrete the excess. The urine is the perfect way for the body

to remove any excess acids or alkaline substances that cannot be

buffered. If the average urine pH is below 6.5 the body's buffering

system is overwhelmed, a state of " autotoxication " exists, and

attention should be given to lowering acid levels.

Saliva pH

The results of saliva testing may indicate the activity of digestive

enzymes in the body. These enzymes are primarily manufactured by the

stomach, liver and pancreas. While the saliva also utilizes buffers

just like the urine, it relies on this process to a much lesser

degree. If the saliva pH is too low (below 6.5), the body may be

producing too many acids or may be overwhelmed by acids because it has

lost the ability to adequately remove them through the urine. If the

saliva pH is too high (over 6.8), the body may suffer greatly, e.g.

excess gas, constipation and production of yeast, mold and fungus.

Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and

saliva—this is referred to as " double acid. "

Keeping the Balance Right for Excellent Health

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only

when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking

healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are

not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal

program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. Even the right herbal

program may not work if your body's pH is out of balance.

What if I'm Acidic?

By far the most common imbalance seen in our society is over acidity.

If your urine and/or saliva test below 6.5 pH start with steps 1, 2

and 3 below and continue adding steps until desired results are

achieved. Be sure to monitor your progress with easy-to-use pH test

strips:

1. Enzymes are essential: Take 1-2 capsules of Food Enzymes or

Proactazyme Plus with every meal. Also take 1-2 capsules of High

Potency Protease and Nature's Noni between meals on an empty stomach.

2. Correct easily absorbable magnesium is needed: Take 2 Magnesium

Complex with each meal which provides highly absorbable magnesium to

help build necessary buffers. Magnesium is often lost in urine as a

consequence of too much acid in the body. If your urine is 5.8-7.2

take Skeletal Strength as directed to support healthy bones.

3. Alkaline minerals are essential: Take 1 ounce of either

Colloidal Minerals or Mineral Chi Tonic once daily.

4. Alkalize with Green Food: Take 1 teaspoon of Liquid Chlorophyll

in water up to eight times daily.

5. Vitamin A & D hold calcium in the body. Taking NSP's Vitamin A &

D will help the body buffer acid.

6. What if my pH is still too acidic? Use Coral Calcium according

to label instructions if saliva pH is 5.8-6.5. Use Coral Calcium

cautiously if pH is below 5.8. Monitor your pH daily.

7. Cleanse as needed: Take a psyllium hulls supplement such as

Psyllium Hulls Combination at bedtime to maintain regular bowel

movements. Use CleanStart twice a year for liver, bowel and kidney

detoxification.

Get the book! Get a copy of the book Alkalize or Die by Dr.

Baroody (see recommended reading below) and carefully follow his

dietary recommendations choosing more foods that are alkaline-forming

and less that are acid-forming. The food chart below briefly

summarizes this information for some of the more common foods. A

healthy diet should consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20%

acid-forming foods.

What Causes Me to be Acidic?

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the

typical American diet, which is far too high in acid-producing animal

products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in

alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat

acid-producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink

acid-producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks. We use too many

drugs, which are acid-forming; and we use artificial chemical

sweetners like NutraSweet, Equal, or aspartame, which are extremely

acid-forming. One of the best things we can do to correct an

overly-acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle. Refer to the

recommended reading for specific help with diet and lifestyle.

Understanding Viruses

A wide variety of diseases are caused by viruses including the common

cold, flu, warts, measles, hepatitis, herpes, smallpox, and AIDS. SARS

is just the latest in a long list of viral parasites.

Unlike bacteria that can usually be effectively treated with

antibiotics, viral infections are often unresponsive to modern medical

treatment

Viral pH Dependency

Laboratory experiments (in vitro) have confirmed that many viruses

require a mildly acidic environment to attack host cells.

Understanding the role of pH balance in viral infections may provide

preventive and therapeutic breakthroughs for dealing with epidemics

including the recent outbreak of SARS.

..Certain viruses (including the rhinoviruses and coronaviruses that

are most often responsible for the common cold and influenza viruses

that produce flu) infect host cells by fusion with cellular membranes

at low pH. Thus they are classified as " pH-dependent viruses. "

Drugs that increase pH (have been shown to decrease infectivity of

pH-dependent viruses.

..

Possible Relevance to SARS

The World Health Organization has concluded that SARS is produced by a

new virulent strain of coronavirus. Specific research on the possible

pH dependency of the SARS virus has not yet been done. It is well

known that coronavirus infectivity is exquisitely sensitive to pH. For

example, the MHV-A59 strain of coronavirus is quite stable at pH 6.0

(acidic) but becomes rapidly and irreversibly inactivated by brief

treatment at pH 8.0 (alkaline). Human coronavirus strain 229E is

maximally infective at pH 6.0. Infection of cells by murine

coronavirus A59 at pH 6.0 (acidic) rather than pH 7.0 (neutral) yields

a tenfold increase in the infectivity of the virus.

If the strain of coronavirus responsible for SARS shares the pH

characteristics of these other coronaviruses that are pH-dependent,

this could be a valuable clue to effective prevention and treatment

strategies for this frightening epidemic. Perhaps keeping a balanced

or slightly alkaline pH environment for the body's tissues can provide

viral protection or enhanced healing for SARS and common viral agents

that cause respiratory infections.

Acid Alkaline forming Diet

FOOD CATEGORY

SWEETENERS

Alkaline forming Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup Raw Honey, Raw Sugar

Acid forming Processed Honey, Molasses White Sugar, Brown Sugar

NutraSweet, Equal, Aspartame, Sweet 'N Low

FRUITS

Alkaline forming Lemons, Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes,

Papayas Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi, Blueberries,

Apples, Pears, Raisins Oranges, Bananas, Cherries, Pineapple,

Peaches, Avocados

Acid forming Plums, Processed Fruit Juices Sour Cherries, Rhubarb

Blackberries, Cranberries, Prunes

BEANS VEGETABLES LEGUMES

Alkaline forming Asparagus, Onions, Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw

Spinach, Broccoli, Garlic Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery,

Lettuce, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Carob Carrots, Tomatoes, Fresh Corn,

Mushrooms, Cabbage, Peas, Potato Skins, Olives, Soybeans, Tofu

Acid forming Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans, String Beans Potatoes

(without skins), Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Lima Beans Chocolate

NUTS SEEDS

Alkaline forming Almonds Chestnuts

Acid forming Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds Pecans, Cashews Peanuts,

Walnuts

OILS

Alkaline forming Olive Oil Flax Seed Oil Canola Oil

Acid forming Corn Oil

GRAINS CEREALS

Alkaline forming Amaranth, Millet, Wild Rice, Quinoa

Acid forming Sprouted Wheat Bread, Spelt, Brown Rice White Rice,

Corn, Buckwheat, Oats, Rye Wheat, White Flour, Pastries, Pasta

MEATS

All acid forming Venison, Cold Water Fish Turkey, Chicken, Lamb

Beef, Pork, Shellfish

EGGS DAIRY

Alkaline forming Breast Milk Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Goat Milk, Goat

Cheese, Whey

Acid foming Eggs, Butter, Yogurt, Buttermilk, Cottage Cheese Raw

Milk Cheese, Homogenized Milk, Ice Cream

Herb Teas, Lemon Water Green Tea Ginger Tea BEVERAGES Tea

Coffee Beer, Soft Drinks

Note that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body

has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example,

lemons are very acidic, however the end-products they produce after

digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are

alkaline-forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before

digestion but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like

nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-forming

Recommended Reading:

Alkalize or Die by Theodore A. Baroody:

And the video at the bottom of this site

http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/acid-alkaline.html

July 27, 2008

This is so interesting, especially in how each different disease process and

body system all are so networked or overlapping rach other. I find it more and

more true in my own life. I get a urinary tract infection and find the PH is

acidic, so the Dr puts me on Vit C 2000 mg daily. He says " better to be slightly

acidic " so they do recognize the importance. I have developed a type of

arthritis recently that is also affecting my heart, connective tissue and

stomach PH... sound familiar? lol... I think I better go back to more salads and

my Vit C lol. Thanks for this info!

Ramona

July 27, 2008

Hol, dont kno if you will read the entire post I just sent but this is a

protocol down toward the bottom -- you need to try and get on this protocolÂ --

it will help you immensely!!!

xxx