Lower Acidity Through Diet

• What are the symptoms of over -acidity
• Factors which increase body acidification
• How to test your pH
• How do I lower acidity through diet?
• Additional measures to promote alkalization
• Meal suggestions

What are the symptoms of over-acidity

• General exhaustion, touchy, sensitive.
• Muscle aches and pains, ‘heaviness’ in the limbs
• Migraines/headaches, poor sleep.
• Indigestion, ulcers, frequent sighing.
• Water retention, low immune system.
• Very low blood pressure, low blood sugar episodes.
• span perspiration, foul-smelling stools.
• Burning sensation in the anus or mouth.
• Teeth sensitivity to acidic, hot or cold foods.

Factors which increase body acidification

• High protein diets
• Poor food digestion
• Constipation
• Tobacco smoking
• Stress, noise, nervous tension
• Excessive exercise
• Low alkaline mineral intake
• Acidic minerals, e.g. chlorine, phosphorus, sulphur
• Medications and drugs function best in an alkaline state. Acids have a corrosive nature and can irritate tissues which they come in contact with, causing inflammation, burning, tissue hardening or redness. For example, skin irritations form acidic sweat, urinary burning, arthritis and colitis (bowel).

How to test your pH

This can be done by measuring your urinary pH with litmus paper, purchased form chemist. Keep a record for four to five consecutive days of four pH readings.. the first urination on waking, the second urination in the morning, before lunch and before dinner. The day’s first urination should be acidic with all the acids accumulated overnight being eliminated, but the other three readings are representative of your body’s pH.

• A pH between 7-7.5 is normal and what you are aiming for.
• A reading for 6-6.5 indicates a slight degree of acidification.
• A pH of below 6 indicates extreme acidity of the internal environment. Consistent readings of this range, require immediate measures to reduce your acid intake and to eliminate excess acids. See below.
• A pH above 7.5 usually occurs when someone’s diet is particularly alkaline.

What about alkalines?

They are ‘gentle’, non-corrosive elements. Alkaline minerals include calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium and iron, which are used to neutralise acids in the body and found particularly in most vegetables, fruits, sprouts and almonds. Eating predominantly alkaline foods has been shown to help decrease the craving for cigarettes, alcohol and sugar, and hence make it easier to give up addictive substances.

How do I lower acidity through diet?

• Start the day with fresh lemon juice in a full glass of warm water.
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of unchlorinated water each day.
• Ensure that each meal and snack contains alkaline forming foods – never just acidifying foods.
• Ideally work on a 70 to 30 percent rule, so that you are including more alkaline than acid-forming foods at each meal or snack.
• If your pH test shows that you have a very acidic internal environment, this percentage of alkaline foods should be higher. However, do not eliminate protein completely.

Additional measures to promote alkalization

• Teas of kidney supporting herbs or plants, e.g. black currant, artichoke, cranberry and golden rod. Artemis have a ‘Kidney Tea’ sold in health food stores.
• Saunas, hot thermal baths or a weekly hot Epsoms salts (1 cup) a sea salt (1/2 cup) bath, for 20-30 minutes.
• Do not use antiperspirants which block acid elimination in sweat. Use natural deodorants from health stores.
• Aerobic exercise to stimulate deeper breathing and promote sweating. A daily 30-minutes walk outdoors is ideal.
• Promote good bowel movements (at least twice a day) with high fibre foods and plenty of pure water.
• If your urine pH is consistently below 6, you should accompany a highly alkaline diet with a course of an alkaline supplement treatment. Products available at health food stores, include barley grass, alfalfa, Nat Phos. Tissue Salts No 10. for other suggestion see your natural health practitioner.
• Chew food thoroughly and if you have been experiencing poor digestion (e.g. indigestion, bloating, stomach heaviness after me you should take a digestive support supplement.
• Multivitamin and mineral supplements are helpful to provide nutrients important for detoxification and to replace minerals use for acid buffering.
• Vitamin C should be taken in a buffered form (an ascorbate not ascorbic acid).
• Depending on the individual and level of acidity, it can take six months to two years to be alkalized. The urine test can be used assess progress.

Meal suggestions

Use the food chart to help create well-balanced meals. Here are some suggestions:

NB When you change the diet to more alkaline-forming foods and supplements, tissue acid wastes start to mobilize into the general circulation to be eliminated. This may cause hot and cold fluctuations, sweating, diarrhoea, diarrhea and body aching. It is important to keep up good water.