What does pH mean?
pH is the abbreviation for potential hydrogen. The pH of any solution is the measure of its hydrogen ion concentration. The higher the pH reading; the more alkaline, the lower the pH reading; the more acidic. The pH range is from 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. Anything above 7.0 is alkaline, anything below 7.0 is considered acidic.
Normal cellular metabolism and function require that blood pH be maintained within narrow limits, 7.35-7.45. Even mild excursion outside this range has deleterious health effects. pH of less than 6.8 or greater than 7.8 is considered – according to medical and physiology texts – incompatible with life.
Similarity specific the pH of gastric acid in the stomach is 1.5-3.5. An elevation of this pH results in mal-absorption and thereby nutritional deficiencies.
Research shows that unless the body’s pH level is correctly modulated, the body cannot regain proper homeostasis and therefore begin healing processes. Enzymes are the catalysts for all bodily reactions. These enzymes are specific proteins that function for individualized purposes. The optimal function of these enzymes relies heavily on the pH. Environmental toxins, malnutrition, stress, oxygen deprivation and dietary additives/toxins generally result in a decrease in the body’s pH. Thereby making the body acidic. This change directly affects enzymatic function. Further research has shown that the enzymatic function increases towards the higher end of an enzymes pH range (more alkaline).
The body’s has an innate ability to correct the pH. The kidney is the primary organ that regulates blood pH as it controls the levels of minerals and urea in the blood. The concentration of mineral buffers such as phosphate, bicarbonate, magnesium, sulfur and sodium are used to ensure that pH is maintained. A deficiency in any of these minerals will lead to a dis-regulation in pH and kidney function.
True healing can only occur when the body has the potential and ability to heal itself. Therefore ensuring pH homeostasis is a pinnacle step in achieving this.
An Imbalance In the body’s pH will result in a gross change in metabolic function and can lead to serious health concerns and/or death.
In regards to small changes of pH which may occur due to: Acute or chronic inflammation, high amount of acidic food ingredients, mainly sugar and protein and low amount of alkaline foods (vegetables, fruits), environmental toxins, malnutrition, stress, oxygen deprivation, dietary additives/toxins….. severe health concerns may occur such as:
- Hormone dis-regulation
- Cardiovascular weakness
- Weight gain/loss
- Bladder and kidney dysfunction
- Immune deficiency
- Acceleration of free radical damage
- Structural system weakness, including brittle bones, hip fractures and joint discomfort
- Compromised liver function
- Low energy
- Slow digestion and elimination
- Yeast/fungal overgrowth
- Tumour growth.
In regards to cancer, these malignant cells create an environment around themselves that prevents immune system detection and increases their potential for growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Therefore any person that is suffering from cancer is liable to be suffering from a more acidic milieu. The correction of this acidity will be an uphill battle as cancer cells are constantly creating more acidity around themselves (by product of glycolysis). Therefore aiding the natural buffers is a key step to maintaining pH homeostasis.
The kidneys are very efficient and the blood pH rarely ever changes (except for extreme disease conditions), similarly the pH of urine changes constantly as the kidney functions to maintain the internal pH. Salivary pH is varying variable to the many impacting factors such as; food, drink, breathing, oral health, hydration, lung health, stomach hypo/hyper-chlorhydria…..
So considering that blood pH does not commonly change. Why are people raving on about the pH? Firstly let us clarify that the degree of acidity being talked about is very small. Secondly the location of the pH changes is only in the interstitial and intercellular environments. Severe acidosis may begin affecting the pH within the blood, however this is less common.
As an example of this, patients with arthritis in their knee had the pH of their synovial fluid measured. The study found that people with osteoarthritis showed statistically significant lower pH values (7.1) than healthy individuals (7.4-7.9). Secondly the study found that the lowered pH was closely linked with inflammation and pain. Supplementation of buffering minerals such as potassium citrate, calcium bicarbonate and magnesium citrate resulted in a reduction in arthritis symptoms.
When identifying the pH equilibrium in a person it can be identified via a number of methods. Firstly and most simply it is important to look at their life and circumstances, seeing if there are factors that would encourage an acidic environment. Then a close look at symptoms to see if there are any that may be attributed to pH imbalances. Finally there are some tests that may be utilized to directly measure the pH of certain areas in the body.
Evaluation of acid- alkalinity status
Saliva pH
Saliva pH between 5.6-6.9 is desired for optimal amylase function. Salivary pH is varying variable to the many impacting factors such as; food, drink, breathing, oral health, hydration, lung health, stomach hypo/hyper-chlorhydria….. Therefore this is not a reliable source to measure metabolic latent acidosis.
Urine pH
The pH of the urine indicates how the body is working to maintain the proper pH of the blood, it reveals the alkaline building (anabolic) and acid tearing down (catabolic) cycles.
The pH of urine can vary widely because 99% of excreted acid is in bound form. It tends to be lower though in the morning and higher in the evening.
Therefore as with saliva this is not a clear understanding of acidosis.
In combination salivary and urine pH can be monitored over a longer period of time and to determine an understanding of the bodies core buffering processes. However this is in no way an accurate science.
Calculating Anion Gap
Anion Gap is the difference between the concentration of measured cations and Anions in blood plasma. To calculate the Anion Gap level we have to test for Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl) and Bicarbonate (HCO3).
The formula is (Na+K) - (Cl+HCO3) = Anion Gap
Reference Range: 12-20mEq/L Optimal Range: 10-12mEq/L
Increased levels of Anion Gap:
- Acidogenic lifestyle and diet
- Lactic acidosis
- Diabetic or alcoholic acidosis
- Increased HCO3 losses from GIT for example diarrhoea, IBD
- Impaired ability to produce HCO3
- Renal impairment and renal failure
Estimation of dietary acid load
An evaluation of acid -alkalinity is achieved with the relative bioavailability of acid or alkaline food constituents. PRAL-values of foods (potential renal acid load) can be very helpful to estimate the total dietary acid load.
PRAL value (Potential renal acid load in mEq /100g) charts
Foods with a negative PRAL value exert an alkaline effect; Food with a positive PRAL value an acidic effect – It is the sulphur in the concentrated protein of meat, fish, eggs and hard cheese, and phosphorous in meat and soft drinks that makes these foods so acidic. Foods with a 0.0 PRAL value have a neutral effect.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, has an alkaline pH. It is a natural antacid and is a cheap but very effective way of balancing the pH.
Oral NaHCO3 selectively increased the pH of tumours and reduced the formation of spontaneous metastases of breast cancer in experimental mice. NaHCO3 therapy also reduced the rate of lymph node involvement and significantly reduced the formation of hepatic metastases.
At the University of Arizona, Robert J. Gillies and his colleagues have demonstrated that sodium bicarbonate increases tumour pH (i.e., makes it more alkaline) and also inhibits spontaneous metastases (Robey 2009). They showed that oral sodium bicarbonate increased the pH of tumors and also reduced the formation of spontaneous metastases in mice with breast cancer. It also reduced the rate of lymph node involvement.
At a pH slightly above 7.4, cancer cells become dormant and at a pH level of 8.5, cancer cells will die while healthy cells will live. This has given rise to a variety of treatments based on increasing the alkalinity of the tissues such as a vegetarian diet, the drinking of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, and dietary supplementation with alkaline minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, cesium and rubidium. But nothing can compare to the instant alkalising power of sodium bicarbonate for safe and effective treatment of cancer.
Dr. Simoncini, an oncologist in Rome, Italy, has pioneered sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) therapy as a means to treat cancer. The theory behind his treatment is that the formation and spreading of tumours is simply the result of the presence of a fungus.
The basic concept is the administration of a solution with a high content of sodium bicarbonate directly into the tumours. These are susceptible to regression only if one destroys the fungal colonies. If it is not possible to get the injection directly into the tumour, Dr. Simoncini places a small catheter directly into the artery that nourishes the tumour and administers high doses of sodium bicarbonate to the deepest recesses of the tumour.
Sodium bicarbonate, unlike other anti-fungal remedies to which the fungus can become immune, is extremely diffusible and retains its ability to penetrate the tumour, due to the speed at which the sodium bicarbonate disintegrates the tumor. This speed makes the fungi’s adaptability impossible, rendering it defenseless.
Dr.Simoncini says that almost all organs can be treated and can benefit from bicarbonate salts therapy, which is harmless, fast and effective – with the exception of some bone areas such as vertebrae and ribs, where the scarce arterial irrigation does not allow sufficient dosage to reach the targets.
Treatments for Acidosis:
Alkaline minerals
Organic bound mineral citrates breakdown to form organic anions. These organic anions consume acidic H+ ions forming water and carbon dioxide. The lungs exhale Co2 and leaving only water behind. Water has a neutral pH and therefore reduces the body’s acid load. Mineral citrates provide long lasting pH balance and bicarbonate sparing in the body.
- Potassium citrate
- Magnesium citrate
- Sodium citrate
- Zinc citrate
- Calcium citrate
Green powders / Chlorophyll
Green powders primarily made from spirulina or chlorella algae and the juices of various types of grasses: barley, wheat, or alfalfa help the body to alkalize. Likewise chlorophyll one of the active constituents in all greens can be taken as a liquid to support alkalization.
Diet
Diet high in alkalising foods such as vegetables and fruits. A reduction in all kind of meats and protein as well as flours and sugar helps the body to alkalize.
Combining highly alkaline foods in a meal with foods that are acidic to create better balance and maintain a balanced pH. Organic apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are both alkalizing the body. A diet that is modeled after Potential Renal Load will ensure a balanced pH. Please note that when designed a diet with this, the aim is to reach a PRAL value of zero (or close).
Digestive Enzymes
Supplementation with digestive enzymes helps to balance the body's pH and overcome acidosis. The pancreas is responsible for producing most digestive enzymes and it also produces bicarbonate. If your pancreas is not functioning properly, the quantities of natural enzymes can be less than optimal.
Sodium bicarbonate
High quality baking soda from the health food store is mixed with water and taken on an empty stomach. After a few days a more alkaline pH is achieved.
Sodium bicarbonate should not be considered as a stand-alone treatment; it should be used in conjunction with a full protocol. One of the primary limitations is that it does not cause a permanent change in the pH and only results in a symptomatic effect.
Alkaline water
Similarly to bicarbonate, alkaline water can result in an overall alkalization of the body. This water should be drunk on an empty stomach so that it does not affect digestive function. Furthermore this therapy like bicarbonate does not address the root cause. However as there is often a complex combination of alkalizing minerals in this water it may support the bodies innate buffering system.
Further reading but not required:
Book: The Alkaline Solution by Professor Juergen Vorman