Re: Re: Milk - Health Benefits?

[Guest guest]

--- derringdoer wrote:

> As I understand it, certain foods cause the blood to

> become more

> acidic (or more basic, depending on the food). For

> instance, meat,

> cheese, and grains (generally) cause the blood to

> become more

> acidic, while fruits and veggies (generally) cause

> the blood to

> become more basic. Milk has a nearly net zero

> effect, however. I

> am led to believe that the body has a couple of

> methods for

> decreasing the acidity of the blood: 1) leaching

> glutamine from the

> muscles to combine with what I assume is some sort

> of positive

> hydrogen ion, or 2) leaching negative calcium ions

> from the bones to

> combine with and neutralize the acidity.

> Crain

> LA, CA

The acid/base balance of the human body is a

fascinating but very complex topic and unfortunately

at the moment I do not have the time to elaborate on

the complex biochemistry of this subject.

The body under normal conditions maintains a pH of

7.4. If you are not familiar with chemistry this an

alkaline solution. This a very precise number

consistent with normal health. In medical and

biochemical terms a pH of 7.39 is considered acidosis

and a pH of 7.41 is considered alkalosis. Both

conditions are considered pathologic.

The body has several buffers which help maintain a

very tight pH. The most important buffer is the

Bicarbonate system. The lungs and the Kidneys are the

important organs that help maintain the proper level

of bicarbonate and pH.

It does not matter what you eat or drink, your body

will still maintain a pH of 7.4.

There are however many disease states which may shift

the pH to either side of 7.4.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington, CT