Acid and alkaline refer to your body's pH level. On a scale of 1 to 14, 7 is a neutral pH; 1 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline. Your blood should have a pH between 7.35 and 7.45 for optimal health. If your body is too acidic, your central nervous system can shut down, leading to a coma and death. If your body becomes too alkaline, your nervous system becomes overstimulated and you may suffer from muscle spasms and convulsions. A typical Western diet is very acidic -- animal proteins, dairy products, sugar, alcohol and processed foods have an acidic effect and can lower your body's pH.
Step 1
Use a saliva pH test kit to check your acid/alkaline balance. Test kits are available without a prescription and are easy to use at home. Test your saliva one hour before eating or two hours after eating. You'll put the special pH paper into your mouth; a short time later the paper will change color. Your kit will include a color key -- simply compare your saliva sample color to the key -- the closest matching color will tell you your pH level. Saliva levels are more acidic than blood levels. Aim for a pH between 6.5 and 6.8.
Step 2
Check for any of the symptoms of having an internal acidic environment. Weight gain, fatigue, allergies, premature aging, or nervous and muscular system problems can be caused by over-acidification in your body. According to a 2008 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," metabolic acidosis can cause a loss of lean muscle mass, resulting in falls and fractures in older adults. An alkalizing diet may help people preserve lean muscle mass as they age.
Step 3
Eat a diet that is 75 percent alkalizing foods and 25 percent acidic foods. The basis of your diet should be plant-based -- vegetables, fruits, legumes nuts, seeds and whole grains. Use meat and dairy products sparingly. Limit sugar, refined or processed grains, alcohol, soda, caffeine and artificial sweeteners. If you're extremely acidic, you may need a calcium supplement, because an acidic environment leaches minerals from your bones, which can lead to osteoporosis.
Tips and Warnings
- Changing your diet can affect your pH level, but it must be a long-term change -- don't expect dramatic results right away.
- You can also test your pH balance using a urine test kit; but urine pH levels fluctuate more than saliva. Expect a pH reading between 6 and 6.5 in the morning, and between 6.5 and 7 in the evening using a urine test. The urine specimen must be fresh; the longer urine sits, the more acidic it becomes, according to MedlinePlus.
References
- Dr. Ben Kim; Essential Details on Acid and Alkaline-Forming Effects of Food and How Your Body Maintains a Healthy pH; Ben Kim; September 27, 2010
- Natural Health School: pH Balance
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Alkaline Diets Favor Lean Tissue Mass in Older Adults; B. Dawson-Hughes, et al.; March 2008
- Medline Plus: Urine pH
- Every Diet:: Acid Alkaline Diet
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