Balancing Your Body's pH Levels
By Liz Barrington, Natural Body Healing

Homeostatic imbalances within the body generally occur due to our diet, dehydration and/or the quality of water we drink, little or no exercise, exposure to toxicity and 'electro smog' and pollution, plus psychological stresses.  These factors often lead to imbalances of water and blood sugar levels, hormonal levels and our bodily pH levels.

In recent years, more and more health professionals firmly believe that we must look at the importance of pH balance as the first line of defence against sickness and disease.

Take our diet, for instance, and how changes to what we now eat have greatly impacted our body's general state of well-being. 

Back in prehistoric times, we used to eat primarily an 'alkalising' vegetarian diet comprising of berries, shrubs, algae, sea vegetables, roots and leaves which are fabulous for keeping the right bodily pH levels required by our bodies to function properly. 

Yet, through the domestication of our livestock, mass production and through industrialisation, our diets have dramatically changed over the last several hundred years.  During this time, we've been heavily consuming meat, grains, sugar, salt, alcohol and dairy, which are hugely acidic.  As a result, the body struggles to adjust to such extreme amounts of acidity that have continuously been consumed on a daily basis ever since. 

In more recent years, our bodies have also been bombarded with processed, ready-made foods that contain even greater amounts of sugar, salt, dairy and unhealthy fats, all of which cause many of the health problems that we see today.

Why Does Our Body Need To Be More Alkaline Than Acidic?

Well, an imbalance of acidity/alkalinity creates a favourable condition for bacteria growth, yeast and other harmful organisms. All cells that make up the human body are slightly alkaline, and therefore they must maintain some alkalinity to function and remain healthy.  

We rely on absorbed nutrients to build our body's tissues, fluids and other substances and to breakdown substances that are used as energy, or to form waste by-products.

These ongoing processes are generically known as the body's 'metabolism', which heavily relies on the actions of enzymes, hormones and other biochemical reactions every second of the day and night. 

However, as each alkaline cell performs its task of respiration, it secretes metabolic wastes, which are acid in nature.  This cellular activity in itself creates acid which gives the cell energy and function.  Although these wastes are used for cellular energy and function, they mustn't be allowed to build up, which they can often do especially around joints and in muscles.

One example is the often painful lactic acid, created through exercise, which is often experienced in the form of 'cramps'.  The body goes to great lengths to neutralise and detoxify these acids before they become toxins within and around the cell, changing the cell environment.  

Body metabolism therefore depends on the body being in equilibrium and operate at the right pH level, so that every function can work harmoniously.

An imbalance in the body's pH levels can affect all major body systems - especially the digestive (liver, gall bladder), intestinal (colon and small intestine), circulatory and immune systems in particular, which each depend upon pH balance to function well. 

Also, many vital bodily functions, including enzyme activity and hormone balance are completely dependent upon the body maintaining healthy pH levels that should range from between 6.4 to 6.8 for saliva, and 6.0 to 7.5 for urine.

pH imbalance disturbs the oxygen affinity of haemoglobin in the blood. The more acidic we become, the harder it is for oxygen to be present and biological terrain becomes more anaerobic.  Without adequate oxygenation, unfriendly bacteria, viruses, moulds and fungus can flourish.  

Unfortunately, a state of 'acidosis' forces the body to borrow minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from vital organs and bones to buffer the acid and safely remove it from the body.  This process can severely weaken these organs and bones over time, and further stresses the body by utilising its vital energy sources.

Once it has begun, the condition of acidosis within the body is like a 'descending spiral of stress'.  Acidity causes inflammation.  Inflammation causes pain.  Pain causes stress.  Stress causes acidity.  In fact, EVERY disease in the body actually turns the body even more acidic.  Stress, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, high protein diets, excessive exercise and medication also create greater acidity levels within our bodies. 

Such is the state of our diets and lifestyles, according to the latest research, the body now stores huge amounts of acidity in our fat cells, just to protect our kidneys from overworking and to prevent kidney failure.  Therefore body acidity levels also play a major factor in putting on weight and increasing body cellulite.

As mentioned, body acidity also weakens the immune system which can lead to an overgrowth of fungal or yeast infections such as thrush and athletes foot, viruses, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDs and even cancers. 

The modern diet contributes to a low pH level hence the value of pH balancing nutritional supplementation.   If you do suffer with an entrenched yeast or fungal infection, it is strongly recommended that you take the following supplements: Pau d'Arco, Bifidophilus, Caprylic Acid Combination and Garlic as these powerful supplements all fight yeasts and fungus, replenish the beneficial organisms in the bowel, and so help strengthen the immune system.

How Can We Reverse This 'Descending Spiral of Stress'?

A correctly pH-balanced body is essential as it enables proper metabolic function and allows the body to function optimally. 
 

'Alkalising' dietary changes made to your body's pH levels can lead to weight loss, a reduction in joint inflammation, reduced gastric problems, increased energy levels, reduced arthritic symptoms, better sleep patterns, improved youthful looking skin, faster healing of the body, stronger hairs, bones and teeth, and much more.

Simple lifestyle changes can also help contribute to a balance in homeostasis and to correct pH levels, keeping your body in harmony.

To summarise the dietary changes, it's important to reduce your intake of sugars, dairy, meat, refined and processed foods, caffeine intake and alcohol, and eat PLENTY of green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits throughout the day to help your body get back into balance again. 

Despite following these recommendations, if you do find that your body is still overly acidic, you perhaps should consider strengthening your urinary system.  Some of the many functions of the urinary system (kidneys, urethra and bladder) include producing and removing waste  in the form of urine, and regulating the amount, alkalinity or acidity and consistency of body fluids. 

Symptoms of a weakened urinary system include aching teeth, brittle bones and joints (primarily lower back, knees and ankles), hair loss, poor circulation, fluid retention, swollen tongue, dark circles around eyes, puffy eyes and frequent urination.  Nature's Sunshine's Juniper and Parsley Combination is the key product for strengthening the urinary system.   However, for chronic kidney weakness, you should also consider taking Eucommia and Achyranthes Combination.

In addition to strengthening the urinary system, you may want to consider some further important points in your quest for balancing your body's pH levels. 

• First thing in the morning, BEFORE anything else, drink a cup of hot water and lemon - it helps alkalise the body and kick-start the liver for the day ahead!  Continue drinking this throughout the day if you can.

• Exercising produces more acid in the body, so you should always avoid undertaking excessive exercise for long periods. 

• Deep-breathing and yoga are great for your body because deep-breathing is more alkaline-forming, which is also good for restoring relaxation, balance and harmony to your body.

• Regularly test your body's pH levels to ensure you are within the healthy limits.  You can have a go at testing your own body's pH levels several times throughout the day, by ordering our pH Testing Strips.  

• Drinking magnetised filtered water and then add Liquid Chlorophyll which are so much better for you and can help establish pH balance and harmony in the body and encourage healthy bowel flora.

The most accurate time to test the saliva and urine samples is first thing in the morning, before the teeth are brushed or any food or fluid is consumed. 

However, if you do decide to check the pH level in your urine, please do not test the very first urine of the day, as this is a lot more acidic than normal; test the next urine sample, to be taken during mid-flow.  Please bear in mind that your body changes every second of the day, depending on what you've eaten, your activity, what energies are around you and the levels of toxins that you're being exposed to. 

Similarly, your pH levels will fluctuate during the course of the day, so you'll need to take an 'average' reading which should be maintained around an average pH level of 6.5 for both urine and saliva readings.

If you do suffer with your health, the chances are that your pH levels are imbalanced so you should seriously consider adjusting your diet, strengthening your urinary system and by following the recommendations listed above.  By focusing on alkalising your body from now on to maintain correct bodily pH levels, you'll be able to regain much improved health, with greater energy and harmony.

The product links stated in this article can only be purchased from this website in UK and in Europe.  Furthermore, because of strict regulations in the sale of nutritional products in Australia, our range of NSP products there are rather limited, so we have a separate section on our website for you.  Therefore, if you live in Australia, please click here.

The above information should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.

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