Jo's Health Corner: ph balancing

Is Your pH Balanced?

Lemons are acidic, but they neutralize acids once they are consumed and make the body more alkaline.

Have you ever checked to see if your pH is balanced? It took me a while before I realized how important pH balancing is to our health. pH balancing is one thing that is often overlooked in our quest for optimal health. pH balancing is important to achieve optimal health, in fact, it is so important that it can affect all the major body systems if it is out of balance. A pH balanced body allows the body to function properly, and it maintains proper metabolic functions.

Why high acidity is bad for your health

When the body is acidic, it borrows minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium from bones and vital organs to buffer the acid and safely remove it from the body. This will weaken the bones and organs if not corrected. High acidity also prevents the absorption of many vitamins and minerals, which means the body is constant deficient even when taking supplements. This is one reason why supplements don't work as they should sometimes. High acidity level, acidosis, may lead to weight gain, bladder and kidney concerns, immune deficiency, joint discomfort, low energy, cardiovascular weakness, and lower bone density.

What is pH?

Some things we do in our family to balance pH

We try to balance the pH ratio, 80% and 20% acidity with the diet, but we also use supplements that enhance the effect.

Alkaline minerals are essential when acidic, alfalfa has a high amount of minerals and may alkalize the body. We use green powders that are alkalizing, and we add the powder to protein shakes or freshly squeezed juices. We take alfalfa and Spirulina supplements instead of multivitamins.
Freshly squeezed juices is a great way to obtain nutrients that are alkalizing. Juicing makes it easy for the body to absorb the nutrients. It is also a great way to hide not so tasty things from the children. I like to add Swiss chard or kale to my juice. Carrots, beets, celery, and barley grass are other things I like to add. I also add supplements like spirulina and alfalfa. To make it simple, we often make a great alkalizing juice of celery, beets and carrots. Dr.Jensen's Juicing Therapy is a great book that I highly recommend.
Whey protein isolate is alkalizing. We add berries, flax seed oil and banana to increase the alkalizing effect. We add green super food supplements as well.
A lot of enzymes are destroyed in fresh foods due to cold storage, so we supplement with digestive enzymes during times when it is hard to get local and fresh food.
We perform a liver and kidney cleanse twice a year.
We often add colloidal minerals to our drinking water.
Anything green is alkaline, so we aim to include lots of things like dark leafy greens in our salads.
We use a very absorbable herbal calcium/magnesium supplement to buffer pH.
We add fresh lemon juice, or lemon essential oils (therapeutic grade only) to warm water, and we drink this first thing in the morning. I often add raw apple cider vinegar. We add maple syrup sometimes.

Acidic foods

Canned, frozen, and processed foods, and dairy are acidic and should be minimized. Sodas, most grains and nuts, and meat are also acidic. It is also important to avoid refined sugar, rice and flour. Artificial sweeteners are the worse when it comes to acidity. Minimizing the acid forming food and increasing the alkalizing food should be the goal. It is really not that hard, a piece of meat, lots of dark leafy greens, and other alkaline vegetables in a salad is a good balance. Most people load up on acid forming carbs like rice instead of greens during meal time.

Alkalinity

It is fairly uncommon to be alkaline. It causes several of the same kind of mineral problems as acidity. It takes longer for someone who is alkaline to normalize the pH balance than an acidic person. Alkalinity may lead to digestive sluggishness, immune system concerns, urinary weakness, nervous system exhaustion, respiratory concerns and intestinal system concerns.

Here is a Acid and alkaline food list. Most importantly, remember that greens and most fruits are considered alkaline, especially those high in potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium. (Plant based, not salt). Don't forget that processed food is acidic.

Test your own pH

pH test card charts and test strips are available for purchase from many health food stores as well as herbal and supplement companies.

Don't get overwhelmed

I shared a lot of ideas of what we do in our family, so don't get overwhelmed. Start slowly, for example, start the day with a drink made of warm water, fresh lemon juice and perhaps some raw apple cider vinegar. Increase your intakes of greens. Make an effort to decrease at least a couple of acid forming items from your diet while you increase a couple of more alkaline items. Make a green smoothie or a protein shake instead of the regular snack.

Thanks for visiting!

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Why Ph Balancing is Important

What is often overlooked in our quest for health is the importance of pH balancing. When I first became involved in health I had no idea how important the acid-alkaline balance is for the body. I didn't realize the importance it made for someone's health to focus on keeping the pH in balance. pH is an important matter for optimal health, and it can affect the all the major body systems if the body's pH is out of balance. A pH balanced body allows the body to function properly, and maintains proper metabolic functions.

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The body has an acid-alkaline ratio which is an balance between positively charged ions that are acid forming, and negatively charged ions that are alkaline forming. The body uses hydrochloric acid to break down foods and nutrients, so the optimal pH for saliva and urine is slightly acidic, around 6.4-6.5 If your urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0-6.4 in the morning and 6.4 -7.0 in the evening you are within normal range. The best is to test one hour before meal or two hours after a meal.

The body constantly tries to maintain the balance, once there is an imbalance the body systems can become weakened. The body needs to be balanced in order to properly assimilate minerals and nutrients. The ideal ratio is 80% alkaline food and 20% acid forming food in the diet, and this make the strongest resistance against disease.

Acidic

It is more common for people to be acidic than be alkaline today. An acidic condition forces the body to borrow minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium from bones and vital organs in the body to buffer the acid and safely remove it from the body. Over time it weakens the bones and the organs. A high acidity prevents the absorption of many vitamins and minerals, and the body is constant deficient even with supplements. This is one reason why supplements don't work as they should. Acidosis, high acidity level, may lead to cardiovascular weakness, weight gain, bladder and kidney concerns, immune deficiency, joint discomfort, low energy and lower bone density.

Avoid canned, frozen, and processed foods. Dairy, sodas, most grains and nuts are also acidic, and so is meat, It is also important to avoid refined sugar, rice and flour. Artificial sweeteners are the worse by all means.

Alkalinity

How do I deal with an acidic body?

Well, first of all, start focusing on balancing the pH ratio, 80% alkaline* and 20% acidity** by changing your diet. Sometimes the body needs additional supplements in order to restore the balance.

Alkaline minerals are essential when acidic, alfalfa has a high amount of minerals and may alkalize the body. A variety of green powders are available that are alkalizing, and they can be added to protein shakes or freshly squeezed juices.
Freshly squeezed juices are a great way to obtain nutrients that are alkalizing, it is easy for the body to absorb the nutrients. It is also a great way to hide things with less desirable taste. I like to add Swiss chard or kale to my juice. Carrots, beets, celery, and barley grass can easily be added. I also add supplements like spirulina and alfalfa. To make it simple, an great alkalizing juice is a mixture of celery, beets and carrot.
Whey protein isolate is alkalizing, and we use it first thing in the morning. Adding berries, flax seed oil and banana increase the alkalizing effect. We often add green super food supplements as well.
Digestive enzymes can also be added to the daily regimen, especially if the diet consist of mostly cooked food.
It is advisable to perform a liver and kidney cleanse twice a year.
Drinking liquid chlorophyll and colloidal minerals are essential.
Remember anything green is alkaline.
Correct calcium is needed since the minerals work in synergy. We use Skeletal Strength which contains very absorbable calcium/magnesium to buffer ph.
Make a lemon/maple syrup drink. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of maple syrup to 8 oz. of water.
Add 2-3 teaspoons of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar to a glass of water. Or, mix 1-2 tsps of Bragg Organic ACV and pure maple syrup in 8 oz. distilled or purified water. Take glass upon arising, hour before lunch and dinner.
Make an alkalizing bath: Mix 1 cup of Epsom salt, 1 box of baking soda and 10 capsules of ginger. Soak for 20 minutes.

How do I deal with an alkaline body?
- Enzymes are essential.
- Correct calcium is needed. We use NSP Liquid Calcium, Skeletal Strength, or Herbal CA.
- Increase the Vitamin C Ascorbates.
- Cleanse is important
- Eat more acid forming food, especially those that contain phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine, including whole grains, beans and other proteins.
- Eat high fiber food with acidophilus.

*Alkaline foods

Garlic, Asparagus, Fermented Veggies, Watercress, Beets Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Chlorella, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi,Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Dulce, Dandelions Edible Flowers, Onions, Parsnips, (high glycemic)
Peas, Peppers, Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Sea Veggies, Spirulina, Sprouts, Squashes, Alfalfa, Barley Grass,
Wheat Grass, Wild Greens, Nightshade Veggies

Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Currants, Dates/Figs, Grapes,
Grapefruit, Lime, Honeydew, Melon, Nectarine, Orange, Lemon, Peach, Pear ,Pineapple, All Berries, Tangerine, Tomato, Tropical Fruits, Watermelon

Eggs, Whey Protein Powder, Chicken Breast, Yogurt, Almonds, Chestnuts ,
Tofu (fermented), Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Tempeh (fermented), Squash, Seeds, Sunflower Seeds,
Millet ,Sprouted Seed

Apple Cider Vinegar, Bee Pollen, Lecithin Granules, Probiotic Cultures, Green Juices,
Veggies Juices, Fresh Fruit Juice, Organic Milk (unpasteurized), Mineral Water,
Alkaline Antioxidant Water, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, Dandelion Tea, Ginseng Tea,
Stevia
Cinnamon, Curry, Ginger, Mustard, Chili Pepper, Sea Salt, Miso, Tamari , All Herbs

Almonds roasted Chestnuts, dried Coconut, Peanut

Agar, Alfafa products, dried, unsweetend Ginger, Honey, Kelp, UnsweetenedTeas, Yeast Cakes

**Acid forming foods

All fruit that is All preserved or jellied Canned: sugared Dried, sulphured Glazed Fruits Raw with sugar Bananas if green tipped Cranberries Olives, pickled, green

Asparagus tips, white Beans, all dried Brussel Sprouts Garbanzos Lentils Rhubarb

Butter Cheese, all Cottage Cheese, Cream, Custards, Ice Cream, ices
Milk, boiled, cooked, dried

All meats, fowl & fish, Beef Tea, Fish, Shellfish, Gelatine, Gravies

All flour product, Buckwheat, Barley Bread, all kinds Cakes, Corn, Cornmeal, corn flakes
starch and hominy Crackers, all Doughnuts

Because a fruit is "acid" doesn't mean it will be acid in the body, the reaction may be alkaline instead.

Honey and raw sugar shows as alkaline, but in a higher sugar concentration makes it acid. Also, there are several lists and some food are listed as acidic on one but alkaline on another. Just remember that greens and most fruits are considered alkaline, especially those high in potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium. (Plant based, not salt). Processed food is acidic.

Thanks for visiting!

Johanna is an aromatherapist and an independent distributor of Young Living Essential Oils. She is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. She received her aromatherapy education at the American College of Health Care Sciences.

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information. Explore her new aromatherapy new blog and find out how you can get her e-book for free. Johanna is also the founder of the new network blog, Living Well Moms, and her posts are published every Monday.

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