5 Best Ways to Restoring pH Balance in the Body

pH stands for ‘potential of Hydrogen’. pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your body fluids and tissues. It is measured on a pH scale that ranges from0 to 14.Neutral pH is 7. The higher the (greater than 7), the more alkaline while the lower the (pH less than 7), the more acidic. The healthiest pH level for the human body is one that is slightly more alkaline than acidic.

Alkaline vs Acidic

Optimally we want to keep our bodies at a pH of 7.36 to 7.45. When you are stressed, when you make poor lifestyle choices or when you are exposed to a toxic environment, your body is constantly trying to bring you back to a more alkaline state. For this reason, the body starts pulling minerals like magnesium and calcium from your bones, teeth, and organs to neutralize this acid.

Blood pressure, insulin levels cholesterol, body weight, and immune system function are all influenced by changes in pH levels. When the body pH level becomes too acidic, your body is more vulnerable to different diseases like slow metabolism, obesity, and inability to lose weight, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, kidney and bladder conditions such as kidney stones or weight gain and diabetes, premature aging, weak bone osteoporosis,  bones spurs, fractures acting muscles, joint pain, mood swings, low energy levels, slow digestion and elimination, fungal or yeast infections, chronic fatigue are all because of lowpH levels.

When the body pH falls below 6.4, the enzymes are deactivated.

The minerals vitamins and food supplements cannot be properly assimilated and the digestion cannot function in the right manner.

Diseases can survive in an alkaline environment. So, bacteria, virus, mold, yeast, candida, fungus and also cancer cells prosper in an acidic, low pH environment. Here are five ways to balance your pH.

Reduce the intake of acidic foods.

Reduce the intake of acidic foods
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Eat a diet that is lower in acidic foods or eliminates that from your diet. These foods include processed meats, foods high in sodium, processed grains, fried foods, refined grains, which include white rice, white bread, pasta, caffeine, and alcohol.

Eat an alkaline diet.

alkaline diet
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The foods which are alkaline in nature are leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, and wheat bread. Other-starchy vegetables such as mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, radishes, cucumber, garlic, ginger, green beans, and cabbage. Consider raw foods. Uncooked fruits and vegetables are said to be biogenic or life-giving.

Cooking foods deplete their alkalizing minerals. Increase your intake of raw foods and try juicing or lightly steaming fruits and vegetables. Ideally, try to consume a good portion of your raw or only lightly cooked foods as these foods can help supply high levels of alkalizing minerals. Also include superfoods like barley, wheat, grass and maca root along with healthy fats like coconut oil, virgin olive oil and starchy plants like sweet potato, turnips, and beets.

The plant source of protein such as almonds, beans is good choices to be included in an alkaline diet. More citrus fruits, dates, and raisins which are also very alkalizing help prevent acidosis. Apple cider vinegar, it may taste acidic but helps restore pH balance.

Drink Alkaline Water

Home made healthy vitamin-fortified water
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According to the Water Research Centre, there is a lot of variation when it comes to pH levels between different sources of water. When the water has a pH level less than 6.5, it is considered acidic, soft and corrosive which means it may potentially contain metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper, lead and zinc from aquifers, plumbing, fixtures, and piping. So, they contain some toxic metals and also have a sour taste. The ideal pH for alkaline ionized water for long-term consumption is between 8.5 and 9.5.

Adding pH drops, lemon or lime or baking soda to your water also boost alkalinity. Distilled water is neutral with a pH of 7.Filtered water using reverse osmosis filter is slightly acidic with a pH level slightly lower than 7. Distilled water and filtered water may not be too alkaline but as far as pH balance is concerned, there’s still a better option than tap water or purified bottled water that are more acidic.

Maintain good levels of calcium and magnesium.

Maintain good levels of calcium and magnesium
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These two minerals are of crucial importance for all the organs in the body. They are needed in the bones, nervous system, teeth, muscles and in the heart as well. Low pH level causes the body to get the calcium from these organs to maintain the alkaline state which leaves your body in lack of these minerals.

Dark green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of both of these minerals. Other sources include dry fruits, seafood, and whole grain cereals. If you want, you can start taking supplements to increase your levels.

Exercise, manage stress, reduce exposure to drugs, toxins, and chemicals.

Exercise, manage stress, reduce exposure to drugs, toxins, and chemicals
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It’s not just diet that affects your pH. Lack of exercise, drugs, and stress can create inflammation and acidity in the body. Emotional stress releases acid-forming hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Many drugs, chemicals, pollutants, alcohol, products containing caffeine, sedatives, anesthetists, and toxins can disturb pH balance and contribute to acidity.

Meditation, breathing exercises, avoiding unnecessary pain medications are good ways to improve your cellular health. You can measure your pH with saliva or urine. Your urine sample of the morning will give you the best results. Compare the colors on your test strip to a chart that comes with the test strip kit. During the day the best time to test your pH is one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal. If you test with your saliva, you want to try to stay between apH of 6.8 and 7.2.

We hope you can start checking your pH levels and incorporate some of these ways into your daily life.