pH Balance

Balancing the pH

The term pH stands for “potential” of “Hydrogen”. It is the amount of hydrogen ions in a particular solution. The more ions, the more acidic the solution. The fewer ions the more alkaline (base) the solution. pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 with seven being neutral. The lower the pH number the more acidic it is and the higher the number the more alkaline. For example, a pH of 3 is more acidic than a pH of 5 and a pH of 9 is more alkaline than a pH of 6.

As humans, a normal pH of all tissues and fluids of the body (except the stomach) is slightly alkaline. The most critical pH is in the blood. All other organs and fluids will fluctuate in their range in order to keep the blood at a strict pH between 7.35 and 7.45 (slightly alkaline). This process is called homeostasis. The body makes constant adjustments in tissue and fluid pH to maintain this very narrow pH range in the blood.

Diet is probably the most important change. Avoid the over consumption of meat, alcohol, soft drinks, caffeine, coffee, most nuts, eggs, vinegar, sauerkraut, ascorbic acid, cheese, white sugar and medical drugs. Add more ripe fruits, vegetables, bean sprouts, water, milk, onions, figs, carrots, beets, and miso to your diet.

Testing the pH Level

Testing saliva is the most effective way to gauge the body’s pH. To test saliva: Wait 2 hours after eating. Spit into a spoon. Dip the strip. Read immediately. Use the color chart from the correct indication. An optimal reading is 7.5. This indicates a slightly alkaline body.

To test urine: Test a urine sample first thing in the morning. Fill a small cup with urine, and dip a strip into the cup. Read immediately. Results: 7.0 is neutral. A reading of 6.5 is slightly acidic. A reading below 6.5 is very acidic. Note: A reading of 8.0 or above, while common, indicates a body that is too alkaline. Urine is slightly more acidic than saliva. [from pH strip producer: Phion, Inc.]

About Balancing the pH

People with painful deposits anywhere in their feet may have a morning urine pH of 4.5! At 4.5 it may be safe to guess that a lot has precipitated again in the night. During the day, your body's pH may swings back and forth. The urine gets quite alkaline right after a meal; this is called the alkaline tide. Three meals a day would bring you three alkaline tides. During these periods, lasting about an hour, you have an opportunity to dissolve some of your foot deposits. But if you allow your pH to drop too low in the night you put the deposits back again. The net effect decides whether your deposits grow or shrink.

Items traditionally used to help nutritionally support the normal pH level of the body. The use of these items is a traditional use that is not intended to be prescribed for, to treat or claim to cure any disease, including diseases related to high or low pH levels. To alkalinize yourself at bedtime, choose one of these options:

1. Take calcium (Pure Calcium Citrate)

equaling 750 mg plus 300 mg of magnesium oxide. The magnesium helps the calcium dissolve and stay in solution. Taking more calcium at one time is not advised because it cannot be dissolved and absorbed anyway and might constipate you. For the elderly only one calcium tablet is advised. Take calcium tablets with vitamin C or lemon water to help dissolve (¼ tsp. vitamin C powder; adding honey is fine).

2. One cup of sterilized milk or buttermilk, drunk hot or cold, plus 1 magnesium oxide capsules , 300 mg. (adding cinnamon is fine).

If these two remedies work for you, your morning urinary pH will come up to 6.0 but if for some reason they don't, you may need to take more drastic measures. Take the supplements and milk earlier in the day and reserve bedtime for:

3. Get Balanced Bicarb Antacid (made from two parts baking soda and one part potassium bicarbonate). This potion may also be useful in occasional allergic reactions. Take 1 level tsp. in water at bedtime. If your pH reaches 6 in the morning continue each night at this dose. If it does not, take 1½ tsp. Keep watching your pH, since it will gradually normalize and you will require less and less. Cut back when your pH goes higher than 6.

Warning: Persons with a limit on their daily sodium intake must carefully count the grams of sodium/potassium mixture consumed in this way. Each tsp. weighs about 2 grams, of which half (1/2) gram or 500 milligrams is sodium. By comparison, the usual daily intake of sodium is about 5 gm., although salt eaters consume twice that amount.