There’s no question that the modern diet largely comprises of carbohydrates and caffeine, both of which are highly acidic and inflammatory foods affecting the natural acid-base balance in the body. As a result, you often feel tired, sick and bloated.
What Is The Acid-Alkaline Balance ?
The pH scale starts with 0 as the most acidic, 7 – the neutral and 14 – the most alkaline part. Health experts advise that maintaining a slightly alkaline pH balance creates a healthier environment for life-sustaining bacteria and enzymes. In fact, every process in the body depends on this balance for proper function. And, it’s the kidneys and lungs that are mostly in charge of this balance.
Respiratory acidosis is a result of poor lung function, which leaves blood over-saturated with carbon dioxide. On the other hand, metabolic acidosis results from kidneys inability to excrete enough uric acid to maintain balance. On top of this, a diet rich in acidic foods only further aggravates these natural processes.
Chronic acidosis has been linked to a number of health issues including cholesterol, immunodeficiency disorders, joint pain, multiple sclerosis, arrhythmia, lethargy, diabetes, chronic illness, heart disease, etc. It also increases the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, liver problems and ketoacidosis.
How Your Body Fights Acidosis
What the acidic body does to fight acidity is take essential minerals like calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from the bones. If the diet is low in nutrients important for proper body function, this causes serious medical conditions such as osteoporosis.
Moreover, lack of alkalizing minerals in the body creates favorable conditions for acidic toxins to accumulate in the fat cells seriously affecting overall health.
The Cancer Question
In recent years, there’s mounting evidence proving that an alkaline diet can reverse cancer. In fact, alkaline foods have been found beneficial for overall health.
It was in 1931 that Dr. Otto Warburg discovered that 90-95% cancer cells can’t survive in an alkaline environment. He even won the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his discovery. What he found was that having a blood pH of 7.36 rather than the previous ideal of 7 can inhibit cancer growth and development.
Even modern medicine has proved him right. Because of this, many cancer patients today are advised to follow a diet comprising 80% alkaline foods and 20% acidic foods for a full recovery.
5 Ways To Reverse Acidosis
There are 5 simple lifestyle changes that can significantly improve overall health and fight disease.
- Lemon water for the start of the day
Start by changing your routine first. Instead of coffee or green tea, opt for lemon water; this will alkalize your blood, boost your digestion and cleanse your liver.
It’s also important to eat homemade meals rich in alkaline and anti-inflammatory foods. Drinking plenty of water is important to support proper kidney function including elimination of toxins from the system.
- Give smoothies a chance
As opposed to juices, smoothies are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. These easy-to-make drinks are a great way to include more alkaline greens into your diet and to increase your intake of nutrients and antioxidants. Health experts recommend drinking at least one green smoothie a day.
- Eliminate bad habits
Some pro-acidic habits include smoking, drinking alcohol, inactivity and eating processed foods, all of which promote inflammation in the body. In other words, they increase the risk of developing cancer or other serious conditions.
- Build a routine
Start by making small changes towards a healthier lifestyle until you build a lasting routine that will keep your overall health top notch. Don’t try to change everything at once; instead introduce one new habit at a time.
- Cut down stress
Excessive exposure to stress is a major culprit for chronic illnesses. In other words, the stress hormone, cortisol, make blood more acidic. Getting enough sleep is important for body detoxification.
source: dailyhealthpost.com