What is pH Level and Why is it Important?
pH level is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. Acids have a pH less than 7, while alkalis have a pH greater than 7.
pH Level and Human Body
The pH balance in the human body plays an important role in maintaining its health. pH stands for "potential of hydrogen" and it is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Anything with a pH level lower than 7 is called an acid and has acidic properties. A pH greater than 7 is called a base and has alkaline properties. The human body has a natural pH level of 7.3, which is slightly alkaline. A pH level below 7.3 can lead to acidosis, which, over time,can cause health problems, such as heart problems, breathing problems and coma. A high-acidic diet could lead to a high-acidity level in the body. Here are some foods you can add to your diet to help raise your body pH level to a more alkaline level:
- Lemon Water - Lemons are rich in vitamin C which is known to help boost your immune system, cleanse your liver and aid in digestion. Lemons are also high in electrolytes and magnesium, along with calcium and potassium, which are both helpful for heart health. Lemon water "cleanses" because it helps to flush out toxins and other impurities from the body. It also helps to balance pH levels in the body.
- Almond Milk
- Fruit (Lemons, Limes, Grapefruit, Coconut, Avocados, Tomatoes, Pomegranates)
- Oatmeal
- Green Vegetables (Brussel Sprouts, Carrots, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Leaf Lettuce, Cucumbers, Onions and many more)
Acidity Level and Gout Attacks
"According to Chen Junxu, a physician and director of the DCNHC, the key to gout attacks is the deposition of uric
acid. Some people’s uric acid will not precipitate and crystallize, so
it will not cause gout. He explained that this is related to
the principle of acid-base neutralization. Acidic substances easily
crystallize in an acidic solution, but will be neutralized in an
alkaline solution and will not form crystals. A review by the NYU School
of Medicine pointed out that the crystallization of uric acid involves a
variety of factors, including an acidic environment.[2] However, blood is slightly alkaline,
with a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. If it is below 7.35 (acidosis) or above
7.45 (alkalosis), the person would have been sent to the ER. Cells are
usually weakly alkaline. So where does the acidic environment come from?
Chen explained that it is the acidity and alkalinity of the joint tissue fluid. When the tissue fluid in the joint is
acidic, even if the uric acid level is not high, the uric acid easily
precipitates and crystallizes here, causing gout attacks. If the tissue
fluid is slightly alkaline, even if the uric acid is a little high, it
will not precipitate because it will be neutralized."
Thank you to Camille Su for this excerpt from her article in The Epoch Times.