Part 13 (1/2)
Optimal pH Function Indicators.
Good energy.
A calm nervous and muscle system.
Bowels are moving regularly and the digestion is effective.
Doesn't catch colds and flus.
General feeling of physical, mental, and spiritual vitality and clarity.
How to Balance pH.
OUR BODIES ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY BOTH ALKALINE AND ACID. These two tendencies become one in a dynamic equilibrium. Striving to give the body the optimal percentage of acid- or alkaline-forming foods helps to maintain this balance. One can check the pH of one's 24-hour urine. Based on the results, one can begin to organize one's diet toward an alkaline-acid balance of foods that brings the pH to normal. At the same time, I suggest that there are some individual variations. I also try to explore whether the pH changes before, during, and after menses, as well as pre-ovulatory Men may have monthly cycles with their pH, but the times to check are not so obvious. If the body tends to s.h.i.+ft toward more alkaline or acid on certain days, then the appropriate approach is to adjust one's acid-alkaline food intake on those days to compensate for the body's own s.h.i.+fting. For example, if during premenstrual time one becomes acidic, then it's appropriate to eat more alkalinizing foods during this time, depending on your const.i.tution.
At the normal range of pH, all the enzymes and electrolytes of the different digestive systems, organ systems, and glandular systems function optimally When the enzymes and electrolytes are optimally functioning, the cells of all the glands and organs also begin to work at maximum function. Consequently, the body begins to reorganize back into a stable, healthy homeostasis. I am not saying this is a cure for all diseases. Bringing the urine pH back into the normal range is a preventative measure. It is an attempt to reestablish homeostasis. When the body has become so deranged that the blood pH is no longer at 7.4, usually deeper structural levels of pathology have been reached that take a lot more skill in reversing. The urine pH imbalances tell more about the body on a preventative level. Blood pH abnormalities reflect body pathology.
There are two primary and complementary approaches to balancing the pH. One is eating foods and herbs that keep one healthy and help one reestablish a correct acid-base balance. This, of course, a.s.sumes that one is digesting the foods one is eating. The second major approach is to use live plant digestive enzymes to help digest the foods that are not being digested. For example, if one is too alkaline and is ANS dominant, it is beneficial to eat more protein because when protein is fully digested, it brings acid elements into the system. This only works when one is able to properly digest protein. Without full digestion there is not an acidifying effect from eating the protein. Plant protein digestive enzymes are indicated for solving this problem. The same issue exists if one is too acid and unable to fully digest complex carbohydrates. The appropriate plant enzymes are needed to activate full complex-carbohydrate digestion so that the alkalinizing minerals of these foods can be released fully into the system to build up the alkaline reserve and alkalinize the system.
Incomplete digestion of fats tends to release acid by-products, such as ketones, into the system. Enzymes are needed that will give us a complete digestion of fat so there will not be a metabolic acid build-up.
There are other factors which tend to make the body system acidic. One is poor breathing habits. The deeper and better one breathes, the easier it is to remove acid from the system by blowing off carbon dioxide and thus decreasing the carbonic acid in the blood. One reason most people are slightly acidic in the morning is that during sleep our breathing decreases in depth and rate. This results in the retention of carbon dioxide and hence the buildup of carbonic acid in the blood. Heavy exercise without proper breathing or ventilation builds up both lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Poor oxygenation of the cells creates poor cellular oxidative metabolism and eventually cellular death. Ninety percent of our oxidative metabolism is supplied by the oxygen we breathe. Deep breathing exercises in the morning, throughout the day and before and after exercise will reduce acid build-up. Repressed emotions, excessive anger, ”acid” thoughts, and other emotions can also increase acidity. I've doc.u.mented that people with normally balanced pHs become acidic after negative ”acidic” thoughts. In the Ayurvedic system, the pitta const.i.tutional type tends to be acid. They become particularly acid with anger. The stress of an excessive lifestyle also contributes to acidity.
The converse can happen as well. For instance, in one case, when a client of mine let go of her ”acid” negativities without any dietary change, her urine pH, which previously had been acid, became balanced. One patient, after a major psychological breakthrough from negativity, had her acid urine go to an alkaline pH of 7.5.
Ways to Alkalinize the System for the Autonomic-Dominant Person.
Decrease or stop the intake of flesh food if you are ANS-dominant.
Decrease protein intake in general if you are ANS-dominant, and increase protein if you are oxidative-dominant.
Decrease the intake of fat.
Decrease intake of pasteurized dairy.
Minimize yin acid foods such as white sugar.
Eat more raw fruits and vegetables and their juices if you are ANS dominant.
Eat more raw, biogenic foods, such as sprouted greens, gra.s.ses, and certain alkaline-forming nuts, seeds, and grains. All sprouted nuts, seeds, beans, and grains s.h.i.+ft from their acidic-forming tendencies to either neutral or slightly alkaline-forming. Protein taken in this sprouted form is an excellent way to fulfill one's dietary requirements without making the system excessively acidic.
Take specific alkalinizing foods and herbs that have been proven clinically to alkalinize the body, which are: juice of fresh lemon at least two times per day, chaparral tea or herbal extract, apricots, and vitamin K foods. The outer leaf of cabbage is high in vitamin K. Wheat-gra.s.s juice is an excellent alkalinizer.
Use vegetarian digestive enzymes to improve poor digestion of complex carbohydrates. The most concentrated sources of these are high in amylase and extracted from vegetarian sources.
Use plant enzymes to improve poor fat digestion and therefore prevent the production of extra acids from incomplete metabolic breakdown.
Keep emotionally balanced and avoid creating acid emotions.
Live a balanced, low-stress lifestyle.
Detox and heal the kidneys, liver, and bowel.
Breathe deeply all day long.
Avoid heavy, prolonged, and strenuous exercise.
Ways to Acidify the System for the Autonomic-Dominant Person.
My first choice in balancing the tendency to become alkaline is the use of raw, organic, apple cider vinegar. In addition to its pH-bal-ancing effect, I agree with Dr. Paul Bragg, who espoused the use of vinegar many years ago as a great tonic. Use only apple cider vinegar that is organic and has not been pasteurized or filtered. It is a real food ”with a mother lode” still in it. If the apple cider is clear, it is probably acetic acid, synthetically produced from coal tar, or distilled apple cider vinegar. This type should not be used. The truly ”living” apple cider vinegar comes directly from the juice of fermented apples. It has many enzymes in it and is extremely high in pota.s.sium, as well as phosphorus, chlorine, natural organic sodium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, copper, silicon, and other minerals. It also contains the organic acid called malic acid which is helpful in dissolving body toxins. Paul Bragg has found that apple cider vinegar is beneficial for ”softening the arteries,” clearing crystal deposits out of the muscle tissue, supplying much-needed pota.s.sium to the body, and helping to heal a variety of ailments, such as sore throats, bladder infections, and prostate disorders. Apple cider vinegar stimulates digestion if taken five minutes before meals. If held in the mouth for thirty seconds, it stimulates ptyalin secretion for starch digestion as well as stimulates gastric enzyme secretion. The amount may vary from a few drops in water before meals to two tablespoons with meals or in salad dressings. Although often recommended to be taken with honey in a ratio of two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with one of honey in a gla.s.s of water before meals, according to Patricia Bragg, and in my own experience, using honey is not necessary to produce the beneficial effects.
Improve protein digestion with plant enzymes.
For ANS-dominant people, increase protein intake with nuts, seeds, and grains; walnuts are particularly acidifying, as is corn. I have one client who is able to regulate her acid-alkaline balance by eating varying quant.i.ties of walnuts and adjusting the percentage of the soaked nuts and seeds she takes in.
The herb yellow dock is another excellent acidifier.
Watermelon seeds also have an enzyme that is very acidifying.
Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, which is high in lactic acid, support the growth of healthy intestinal flora and are also good acid-ifiers.
Cranberry juice is also good. Onions and garlic have been cited as acidifying as well.