Following digestion and absorption of the available nutrients in the foods and beverages you eat and drink, a residue remains known as ash. The residue can be acid, alkaline or neutral, based on the mineral content of your diet. Usually, ash is either alkaline or acid, but some foods produce neutral ash.
Significance
William McGlynn of Oklahoma State University explains that the pH value of a food or beverage is directly related to the free hydrogen ions present. Acid-based foods release hydrogen ions that result in their sour flavor; pH is a measure of the available acidity, or lack thereof, in the foods you eat.
Considerations
The pH of water is 7 and is considered neutral because it does not release hydrogen ions. Foods and beverages with a pH of less than 7 are considered acid-based foods. Alkaline foods have a pH greater than 7. Protein, some fruits and grains are acid-based, while many vegetables and some dairy products are more alkaline.
Much has been written regarding the need to balance your diet so the nutrients you are eating help contribute to good health. In a study published by the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism" titled "Treatment with Potassium Bicarbonate Lowers Calcium Excretion and Bone Reabsorption in Older Men and Women," it was determined that a less acidic diet reduced the amount of calcium lost from the bones of the study participants. Knowing your body pH and the foods that are either alkaline or acidic can help you choose foods than can reduce your acid levels to a more neutral or alkaline state.
Theories/Speculation
Some believe that an overly acidic diet can contribute to health problems and a reduction in energy. Dr. Paavo Airola suggests that the proper ratio between acid and alkaline foods in your diet should be four parts alkaline ash food to one part acid ash food. Airola believes that the consumption of 80 percent alkaline foods and 20 percent acid foods is ideal and is associated with improved health.
It is suggested by some that balancing your intake of acid and alkaline ash foods can bring you closer to neutral ash status. If you are interested in pursuing this type of diet, you will need to know your pH level to know which foods might be useful. Some believe you can manage your pH by eating or avoiding certain foods, Each diet is customized based on your body chemistry.
Before embarking on any dietary changes, check with your health care provider, who can help you determine what is right for you.
pH Balance
The actual pH of a specific food tends to correlate with its assignment to either the alkaline forming or acid forming foods. Foods that are considered to be neutral ash foods include milk, vegetable oil, corn oil, olive oil, butter and white sugar because the ash they form is neither acid nor alkaline.
If you are interested in learning what your urine pH value is, you can purchase test strips over the counter. According to the experts at the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, your normal urine pH usually ranges from 4.6 to 8.0. If your diet is high in citrus fruits, vegetables or dairy, your urine may have a high pH, or alkaline level. Conversely, if your diet consists of more meat, protein and cranberries, you are likely to have a low urine pH, or acid level.
Before embarking on any dietary changes, check with your health care provider, who can help you determine what is right for you.
Warning
If you are monitoring your urine pH in an effort to maintain a neutral ash diet, it is important to know that in addition to diet, medically related issues such as kidney disease, dehydration and diabetes can directly affect your urine pH. The experts at NIH warn that if your pH ranges outside the usual normal limits of 6.4 to 8, you may also be at risk for the formation of kidney stones. If your diet and urine are too acidic, you may get xanthine, cystine, uric acid and calcium oxalate stones. Alkaline kidney stones, including calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and magnesium phosphate stones, are the result of a highly alkaline diet.
Before embarking on any dietary changes, check with your health care provider, who can help you determine what is right for you.
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