PH balance

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http://www.moldacrossamerica.org Alkaline balance is very important for bone health.We evolved in an alkaline ocean environment and even today our body's internal environment remains alkaline, with a pH just above 7.0. Our enzymatic, immunologic, and repair mechanisms all function their best in an alkaline environment. While an internal alkaline balance is optimal, our biochemical functioning, the processes of living and the metabolism of food, produce a great deal of acid. For example, when we exercise or move we produce lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Lactic acid is by its nature acid and the carbon dioxide represents an excretion of acids. When we eat, we generate acids. For example, sulfuric acid can be produced from the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids and we consume phosphoric acid as a food additive. Long chain fatty acids also produce

excess acids when metabolized. Further, immune responses, manifest as allergies and hypersensitivity, and even stress generates substantial amounts of acidic by-products. To regain the life-supporting alkaline state, metabolic acids from all sources must be buffered or neutralized through combination with salts of alkaline minerals. For example, potassium citrate and potassium malate are salts of organic anions commonly found in vegetables and fruits. These organic anions when metabolized have the ability to accept hydrogen ions and thus reduce the acid load and create an alkaline balance.There are countless chemical reactions necessary for life that can only occur within a very specific pH range, thus the body has many checks and balances to maintain pH within a narrow range. Through varied mechanisms alkaline minerals salts of organic anions, (as potassium citrate or malate), are drawn upon to buffer acids. When

dietary consumption patterns provide insufficient buffering capacity, body buffering mineral pools can be depleted and the intracellular environment becomes acidotic.An underlying metabolic acidity is a common denominator among, and a likely contributing factor to all degenerative and autoimmune diseases. An acid condition has several adverse effects on cell metabolism including: impaired energy production; fluid accumulation and edema; and a likely increase in free radical production. Interesting enough kidney specialists working with acid-base balance now recognize that most Americans as they age live in chronic, low grade metabolic acidosis. This chronic, low grade condition contributes to a series of health problems including loss of bone mineral, loss of muscle mass, a reduction in growth hormone and the development of kidney stones.The re-establishment of the health-promoting alkaline state is essential to

the regeneration of bone health, immune competence and overall well-being.Many organs and systems, especially the kidneys and lungs, play important roles in maintaining proper pH. The lungs excrete acids as carbon dioxide and they do this without much effort or input from us. Diet plays no direct role in lung excretion of volatile acids. The kidney's ability and need to excrete acids, however, is directly influenced by what we eat. On a balanced whole foods diet which includes many fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, the body is provided with the anonic mineral salts it needs for buffering excess acids. Under these ideal circumstances the kidney is able to maintain the net acid/alkaline balance in proper proportion. An imbalanced diet high in animal protein, sugar, caffeine and processed foods, however, can force us into mild acidosis. As acidity rises the kidney must compensate seeking and using the body's precious alkali

reserves. As the alkali reserves become depleted the body becomes compromised and forced into sub optimal functioning.Overall, in our society we consume a very imbalanced diet high in acid-forming foods. This imbalanced diet pushes us towards low grade metabolic acidosis, the response to which is a withdrawal of calcium salts and other alkalinizing mineral salts from the blood and tissues. The majority of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and spices have an alkalizing effect. Most grains are somewhat acid forming as are high protein foods. Refined sugar is acid-forming, while natural sea salt is alkaline-forming. Generally our diet should be composed of about 35 percent acid-forming foods and 65 percent alkaline-forming foods.A good approximation of tissue pH is easily obtained by assessing the pH of your first morning urine. When the first morning urine is between 6.5 (slightly acidic) and 7.5 (slightly alkaline), it

indicates that the overall cellular pH is appropriately alkaline. some more info ::: http://www.betterbones.com/alkaline/articles/bjaffe.PDFhttp://www.betterbones.com/alkaline/abstracts.htmhttp://www.acid-base.de/sbf1.htm