Herbalist.com

&nbsp;
<h1>The Acid Alkaline Balance</h1>
By Anika Logan<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Doctors, nutritionists and herbalists often do not agree on all aspects regarding health but one thing they are able to reach a consensus on is that they believe that many illnesses and diseases in our modern day society are related to an acid alkaline imbalance in the body. Let us take a closer look at this concept. 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Having too much acidity in the body, otherwise known as over acidity can be very dangerous to the human body as it is capable of weakening any number of the body&rsquo;s systems and inviting in illnesses and a myriad of health problems. Unfortunately over acidity is a very common problem for many people, even though they may not be aware that they suffer from it.
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;Having too much acid in the body can lead to many different kinds of diseases which is in direct contrast to a pH-balanced internal environment which supports the normal healthy functioning of the body and can encourage the immune system in warding off diseases. A body that is in top notch health has plenty of alkalines in a reserve much like an alkaline savings account for those times when an emergency arises and it is needed right away. When it becomes necessary for excess acids to be neutralized in the body that is when the reserves of alkalines then become depleted and therefore cause the body to become weakened.
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
The idea that an acid alkaline imbalance is the root of many health problems is not a brand new concept. In fact it was a doctor from New York by the name of William Howard Hay who published a book in 1933 that was deemed as ground breaking for its look at acid and alkaline imbalances. The book was called &ldquo;A New Health Era&rdquo; and the premise of the book was that all diseases of the human body come about as a result of self-poisoning or autotoxication was is in turn caused by an unhealthy build up of acid in the human body. 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
These same ideas about the acid alkaline imbalance have found their way into a more recent book called &ldquo;Alkalize or Die&rdquo; which was written by Dr. Theodore A. Baroody who echoed the sentiments of Dr. William Howard Hay when he said that all illnesses are the result of &ldquo;too much tissue acid waste accumulating in the human body.&rdquo; 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h1>What is pH Anyway?</h1>
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
To understand acid alkaline balance it is important to understand what pH is. In a nutshell pH stands for potential of hydrogen and it is a measure of the alkalinity or the acidity of any particular solution. The pH is measured by way of a scale that is from 0 to 14. The lower the pH level is the more acid is a part of the solution and the higher it is, the more alkaline (or alkaline base) is a part of the solution. When a solution contains neither alkaline nor acid then it is considered neutral and contains a pH of 7 or thereabouts. 
It is water (H2O) that is the most common substance to be found in the human body as it makes up 70 percent of the body. The pH of the body is referred to as its acid-base ratio or its acid-alkaline ratio and what this is is simply a balance between the acid-forming or positively charged ions and the alkaline-forming or negatively charged ions. The body works hard all of the time to balance out the pH level but it is when the pH gets out of control and is compromised that health problems show themselves. The pH level we are talking about here is not the same as the acid or pH that is found in the stomach. This type of pH is the pH that takes care of the body tissues and body fluids.
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
The Acidity Problem in Our Society&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Too much acid in the system is called acidosis and it is extremely prevalent in society because the average American&rsquo;s diet is very high in foods that produce a lot of acid such as animal products and animal by-products, which include dairy, meat and eggs while it is lacking in foods that produce plenty of alkaline such as fresh vegetables. Many popular processed foods such as sugar and white flour produce a lot of acid in the body while many Americans are likely to consume far too many drinks that produce acid such as sodas and coffee. Many types of drugs lead to an overabundance of acid in the body while many artificial chemical sweeteners are very likely to form plenty of acid. Some of the most commonly used sweeteners include aspartame, Equal and NutraSweet. To rid yourself of too much acid it is best to pay close attention to your daily diet. 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
When a person has unbalanced pH this means that they are acidic and this can lead to a host of health problems. Unbalanced pH can mean that the body finds it necessary to take minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium from as many bones and organs as it requires in order to neutralize the build up of acid and eliminate it as safely as possible from the body. This can cause undue damage to the human body and the body can suffer tremendously on a long-term basis. Often high acidity levels can remain undetected for many years and by then the damage is already done. 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Problems Acidosis can Bring About<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Acidosis does not have to be severe to wreck havoc in the body as mild acidosis can caused plenty of problems as well. Some of these problems include but are not limited to:
-Weight gain leading to obesity and in some cases, diabetes
-Damage to the heart, including a decrease in oxygen and the constricting of blood vessels
-Immune deficiency problems
-Conditions affecting the bladder and kidneys such as kidney stones fro instance
-Aging that is premature in nature
-An increase in the speed and frequency of free radical damage in the body, which can lead to mutations of precancerous cells
-Muscles that ache as well as pain in the joints and the build-up of lactic acid
-Weak and brittle bones that can lead to osteoporosis, bone spurs or hip fractures
-Chronic levels of fatigue and/or a lack of energy 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;