What is acidification?
Our body (blood, cells, tissue) should have a good balance between acid and neutral (basic or alkaline). Not too acid and not too alkaline. An overly acidic environment in our body is a good breeding ground for disease. It is therefore important to have an optimal acid-base balance.
Our acidity is measured by the pH value
The pH is a measure of the acidity (also called degree of acidity) of moisture. 0 = extremely acidic – 7 = pH neutral – 14 = extremely basic (alkaline). Nowadays it is possible to measure your own pH value from your urine with a pH strip (not morning urine). You can buy these strips from the chemist’s. For optimal acidity, these values are between 6.5 and 7 pH.
Get the right balance
It is necessary to have the right balance of pH degree for the metabolic processes in your body. Nutrition, stress, medicines or excessive muscle strain, but also acid thoughts produce acidic waste after combustion. In order to keep the body’s acidity level in balance, these acidic waste products must be removed and excreted by the body via the kidneys, lungs and skin.
Normally, your body can regulate this itself very well, but if there is too much acidification and the pH of your body becomes unbalanced, you can become ill and this can then considerably lower your immune system. Unfortunately, in this day and age, most people are a little too acidic, as our diet is 80% acidic and we have too much (chronic) stress.
When the pH level of your body becomes
unbalanced and acidic, you can become ill
Adjust your lifestyle: diet, stress, lifestyle
What are the consequences of acidosis?
Characteristics and symptoms of acidosis include headaches, stiff muscles and stiff joints, cellulite, skin complaints and candida infections. Fatigue, foul breath, an unpleasant smell of sweat and weight gain or water retention can also be caused by acidification. Chronic acidification can lead to osteoporosis, rheumatism, gout and kidney stones. Where is your weak spot? That is where it will first reveal itself.
What can you do to combat acidosis?
You can do quite a lot to counteract or reduce acidification. Lifestyle and diet play a major role in acidification so the following things may already help you on your way:
- Start your morning with a glass of water with lemon (or apple cider vinegar) instead of coffee or black tea.
- Eat lots of alkaline foods such as vegetables, fruit, seeds, and herbal teas.
- Limit acid forming foods processed foods, cheese, alcohol and coffee, sugar, too much meat, wheat, gluten, soy, dairy products, soft drinks
- Proteins are also acidifying, so always take vegetables with your meat or fish cheese, alcohol and coffee
- Take a sip of water before each meal with a spoonful of apple vinegar for example from Bragg (see article) (this also reduces a spike in insulin)
- Drink enough (pure) water to get rid of acid and other waste products. Bone broth, unsweetened coconut water and lavender tea are also good forms of alkalising fluids.
- Reduce stress to reduce acidity.
- Try to think less acidic thoughts (like I’m not good enough, I can’t do this…) thoughts can be very acidic!
- Move enough to get rid of acidity but not too much like Hiit (high intensity interval Training) or crossfit too often. Moving too much or too often is acidifying. Walking and strength training are the best.
There are numerous products on the market that can support you with alkalising the body. There are alkaline tablets, alkaline teas, alkaline creams etc. Of course the above list is a better start.
If you want to know what your level of acidity is, we can help. An EMB blood test or a body scan will tell you a lot about your health. Book an appointment via our appointments page or widget.
