Understanding pH and its effect on our health.

The universe seems to operate by keeping opposites in balance. When things get out of balance, a sign usually appears to make it known. One of the best examples of this principle at work is health. Health is a measurement of balance in the systems of the human body.

Imagine your bloodstream and the inside of your body as a landscape or terrain. As in external Nature, the body tries to maintain a balance of influences in this inner terrain. Many things come into play, but most important is the chemical balance between acid and alkaline conditions in blood and tissues. You don’t need to understand chemistry here. Just know that these two kinds of chemicals are opposites. When they meet in equal amounts, they cancel each other out. However, it is easy and common for body tissues to become too acid. This imbalance sets the stage for chaos.

In science, the acid/alkaline relationship is known as "pH" (pronounced like the two letters). pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14: the lower the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more alkaline (or base) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7, which is neutral.

Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, comprising 70% of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is compromised the body fights to re-establish this relationship. It is important to understand that we are not talking about stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of the body's fluids and tissues which is an entirely different matter.

Test Your Body's Acidity or Alkalinity with pH Sticks

It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if your body's pH needs immediate attention. By using pH Stix™, you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. If you?re urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 and 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening, your body is functioning within a healthy range. If your saliva stays between 6.5 and 7.5 all day, your body is functioning within a healthy range. The best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal. Test your pH two days a week.

Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition forces the body to borrow minerals—including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium—from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity—a condition that may go undetected for years called acidosis.

Mild acidosis can cause such problems as:

Urine pH

The results of urine testing indicate how well your body is assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These are called the "acid buffers" because they are used by the body to control the acid level. If acid levels are too high, the body will not be able to excrete acid. It must either store the acid in body tissues (autotoxication) or buffer it—that is, borrow minerals from organs, bones, etc. in order to neutralize acidity.

Saliva pH

You'll also want to test the pH of your saliva. The results of saliva testing indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in your body, especially the activity of the liver and stomach. This reveals the flow of enzymes running through your body and shows their effect on all the body systems. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and saliva—this is referred to as "double acid."

Keeping the Balance Right for Excellent Health

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance.