THE Ph CONNECTION: IS YOUR BODY ACID EATING YOU ALIVE?

"Let your food be your medicine, let medicine be your food." -Hippocrates

ALL DISEASES THRIVE IN AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Our health depends upon the proper alkaline-acid balance of the blood. Human blood is normally more alkaline than it is acid. Any form of illness indicates a disturbed state of blood chemistry, and acidosis of the system. Many authorities now believe that most disease develops eventually because of a lowering of the function and resistance of the body due to chronic acidosis, which is the reduction of the alkalinity of blood. In this connection Dr. George W. Crile, head of the Crile Clinic in Cleveland, and one of the World's greatest surgeons, says: "There is no natural death. All deaths from so-called natural causes are merely the endpoint of a progressive acid saturation." Therefore, in disease the thing to do is to correct the acid conditions as quickly as possible and place the tissues in a position to restore themselves through proper alkalinity. This, of course, should be done with foods - NOT DRUGS - foods are the only wholesome alkalizers, intended by nature to keep the alkaline reserve of the body at the point which promotes health. One of the least understood concepts of nutrition is an understanding of what acid and alkaline balance is. The cells of the human body depend on a balanced acid-alkaline (pH). If any of the fluids are abnormal, digestive enzymes are rendered inactive, food does not get digested properly, and allergic reactions can result. Not only that, but food-bound microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, parasites, molds, viruses, etc., are liberated in the body, which puts a stress on the immune system.pH is the acronym for "potential hydrogen." By definition, it is the degree of concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance or solution. It is measured on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 14. The body is largely made up of water, a medium which is biologically useful in allowing nutrients, oxygen and biochemicals to be transported from place to place. This water-based medium can have either acid or alkaline properties which are measured by a graduated scale called pH (for "potential hydrogen"), wherein 1.0 to 6.9 is considered acidic, 7.0 is neutral, and 7.1 to 14.0 is alkaline. The lower the pH number, the greater the acidity, and the higher the pH number, the greater the alkalinity.Higher numbers mean a substance is more alkaline in nature and there is a greater potential for absorbing more hydrogen ions. Lower numbers are more acid with less potential for absorbing hydrogen ions. The normal pH of body fluids is: Saliva - pH between 6.8 and 7.4; Urine - pH between 6.2 and 7.4; Blood - pH between 7.2 and 7.4. Any thing above or below these levels can lead to disastrous health conditions.

WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY Ph LEVELS?
Since most of the body is water-based (making up 50-60% of our total body weight), the pH level has profound effects in all body chemistry, health and disease. An imbalanced pH (too acidic or alkaline) for extended periods of time is not well tolerated by the body. Infact, the management of "pH" is so important that the body has developed strict accounting procedures to monitor acid-alkaline balances in every cell. Fundamentally, all regulatory mechanisms (including breathing, circulation, digestion, hormonal production, etc.) serve the purpose of balancing pH, by removing caustic metabolized acid residues from body tissues without damaging living cells. If the pH deviates too far to the acid side or too far to the alkaline side, cells become poisoned by their own toxic waste and die.

IS AN IMBALANCED BODY pH REALLY THAT DANGEROUS?
Yes, indeed it is! Nothing does well in an overly acidic or alkaline pH medium, least of all the human body. Just as acid rain can destroy a forest and alkaline wastes can pollute a lake, an imbalanced pH continuously corrodes all body tissue, slowly eating into the 60,000 miles of our veins and arteries like corrosives eating into marble. If left unchecked, an imbalanced pH will interrupt all cellular activities and functions, from the beating of your heart to the neural firing of your brain. During acidosis the body will buffer the acids with life giving minerals such as potassium, magnesium and finally calcium, taking calcium last from tissues, ligaments and joints before bone. An imbalanced pH interferes with all life itself.

CAN AN IMBALANCED pH CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS?
Yes, especially as a person grows older. Although it may generally go unnoticed and undetected for years, an imbalanced pH (either consistently too acidic or alkaline) leads to the progression of most, if not all, degenerative diseases including cardiovascular disease (the #1 killer in the U.S.), cancer (the #2 killer in the U.S.), and diabetes, as well as the never-ending frustration of excessive systemic weight gain. The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics estimates that if cardiovascular disease alone could be eliminated, it would add an average of 9.78 years to our life span. That's almost 10 years of additional life per person.

WHAT CAUSES IMBALANCED Ph?
Most diets cause an unhealthy acid pH. In fact, diet appears to be the major influence in maintaining appropriate pH levels throughout the body. Research demonstrates that when food is metabolized and broken down, it leaves certain chemical and metallic residues, a noncombustible "ash" which, when combined with our body fluids, yields either acid or alkali potentials of pH. Certain foods are "acid-forming" in nature, whereas others are known to be "alkali-forming."A pH test (potential for hydrogen) will tell you how alkaline or acidic your body fluids are. Scientists have found that healthy people have systems that are alkaline (calcium is high alkaline). Oxygen cannot be absorbed by our cells in a high acidic environment.Almost everything we do - our lifestyles and our diets -pushes us into the acidic range: proteins, carbohydrates and fats are all digested down to acids. Even metabolic functions and exercise create some acids (lactic acid). Keep in mind that a drop in every point on the pH scale is 10x more acid: from a neutral pH of 7 to a pH of 6 is 10x; from 7 to 5 is 100x; and from 7 to 2 is 100,000x more acid.Body fluids range between 4.5 and 7.5 pH (blood must maintain 7.35 to 7.45 pH). Soft drinks such as cola have a pH of about 2.5. It takes 32 glasses of alkaline water to neutralize the acid from one 12 ounce cola. When the pH goes off: microbes in the blood can change shape, mutate, and become pathogenic; enzymes that are constructive can become destructive; oxygen delivery to the cells suffers; organs of the body can become compromised, like the brain, the heart, etc.; and mineral assimilation can get thrown off, hormones, (thyroid, adrenal) become imbalanced.

WHICH FOODS ARE "ACID-FORMING" OR "ALKALINE- FORMING"?
Most high protein foods (such as meat, fish, poultry and eggs), nearly all carbohydrates (including grains, breads and pastas) and fats are "acid-forming." And most fruits and vegetables are "alkaline-forming." Although citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, contain organic acids and may have an acidic taste, they are not acid-forming when metabolized, leaving no acidic residue. Similarly, free form amino acids are not acid-forming, but instead offer unique buffering capabilities to the body to help offset acidic wastes.

10 REASONS TO AVOID AN ACID pH
An acid pH sets us up for a number of degenerative diseases including cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, cardiovascular disease, premature aging, and much more. These dangers include: corroded arteries, veins and heart tissues, accelerates free-radical damage and premature aging, causes weight gain, diabetes and obesity, causes cholesterol plaque to form, disrupts blood pressure,disrupts critical lipid and fatty acid metabolism, inhibits metabolism of stored energy reserves, inhibits cellular regeneration and DNA-RNA synthesis, inhibits oxygen getting to the tissues, inhibits life-giving electrolyte activity

1. ACID CORRODES ARTERIES, VEINS AND HEART TISSUES
Like acid eating into marble, acidosis erodes and eats into cell wall membranes of the heart, arteries and veins, weakening cardiovascular structures and interconnective tissues. All living tissue is sensitive to its chemical environment, and most particularly whether its pH is too acidic or alkaline. The muscle cells of the cardiovascular system are no different.The cardiovascular system may be thought of as one large working "system of tubular muscles" designed to carry blood and nutrients to every living tissue in the body and is directly affected by blood plasma pH. The heart, of course, is the muscular pump at the center of everything, which drives blood through the arteries, veins and capillary beds (a series of complex interconnected tubular tunnels of flexible smooth muscle) and is designed to help regulate the pressure and flow of circulation.Everything in the cardiovascular system works normally when the pH of blood plasma is slightly alkaline, having a pH of 7.35 to 7.41. But when the heart plasma habitually becomes a relatively more acidic pH<7.35, it acts as a chemical irritant which slowly begins to attach and eat away at the smooth muscle tissues of the inner walls of arteries and veins, as well as the heart itself.Again, like acid slowly eating its way into marble, this erosion process begins to weaken the structural composition of the heart, arterial and venous walls, causing lesions and microscopic tearing throughout its framework. Simultaneously, an acid pH also destabilizes free ionic balances within circulation, increasing the populations of positively charged particles (cations - an ion with a positive charge of electricity: H, Ca) which directly interferes with the muscle contractility (contraction and relaxation) of the heart and arteries.Acid pH changes of the circulation, which become habitua,l and the chaotic ionic confusion they cause, are now thought to be those factors which critically precipitate the development of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), an aneurysm (widening and ballooning of artery walls), arrhythmias (abnormal rhythms of the Heart including (tachycardia), myocardial infarction (heart attacks) and strokes (a cardiovascular accident). Moreover, the structural weakening of the cardiovascularity creates irregularities of blood pressure, which further exacerbates those problems.

2. ACCELERATES FREE-RADICAL DAMAGE AND PREMATURE AGING
Acidosis causes partial lipid breakdown and destructive oxidative cascades, accelerating free radical damage of cell walls and intracellular membrane structures, which then unravel, killing cells in the process. Acidosis is thus thought to be the first step toward premature aging, accelerating oxidative cascades of cell wall destruction, creating wrinkling, age spots, dysfunctioning hormonal systems, interfering with eyesight, memory, and a host of other age-related phenomena.

3. CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN, DIABETES AND OBESITY
An acid pH has considerable influence over he majority of weight problems, including diabetes and obesity. It seems that a habitually acid pH can directly cause immediate weight gain. Here's what happens when a system is too acidic: a condition known as insulin sensitivity is produced, which causes too much insulin to be produced, and the body is flooded with insulin.So that it won't waste any calories, it diligently converts every calorie it can into fat. Could it be that an acid pH, from an imbalanced diet, produces a condition which stimulates the predetermined genetic response to starvation and famine as well, and thereafter requires that the body increasingly hoard every calorie consumed and store it as fat? Yes, indeed, it seems that it does.It is thought that an acid pH immediately signals the powerful genetic response to an impending famine, directly interacting with the all important and very sensitive, insulin-glucagon axis. This makes the body produce more insulin than usual, and in turn, produce more fat and store it. In general, the more insulin is available to the body, the higher the probability that fat will be produced and stored, rather than used and burned as energy. Thus, , an acid pH will likely alert the genetic response to famine, directing more insulin to be produced and store more fat than usual. Conversely, a healthy, slightly alkaline pH, will more likely yield normal fat burning metabolic activity, making no demands on the body to overly produce insulin and make fat, allowing fat-weight to be burned and naturally lost.And too, with a healthy pH, there's less likelihood of any yo-yo effect, or rebounding from a diet with additional weight gain. As long as nutritional stores are maintained, a healthy, slightly alkaline pH allows fat to be burned normally for energy, rather than hoarded and stored under the mistaken biochemical belief of an impending famine.Moreover, acidosis disrupts the integrity of insulin producing pancreatic beta cells. Again, when the body is too acid, too much insulin will be produced. Acidosis is thought to be a very dangerous condition because beta cells are especially sensitive to pH, and find it very difficult to function and survive when conditions are acidic.With increased pressure to produce insulin under the worst conditions, beta cells lose phase with one another (cellular communication is thwarted and the immune system begins to over-respond) and stress within the cells increases, making it difficult for them to perform adequately, and further, survive. In a very real sense, they simply bum out. Acidosis is thus thought an important yet often underestimated precursor to diabetes mellitus. Interestingly, before the advent of synthetic insulin, diabetes was treated historically by buffering the system with base or alkaline causing powders.

4. CAUSES CHOLESTEROL PLAQUE TO FORM
LDL-cholesterol is laid down at an accelerated rate within an acid chemical environment of the cardiovascular system, inappropriately lining the vascular network, and clogging up the works. Specifically, an acid pH initiates electrostatic potential, damaging arterial walls, which in turn initiates a PDGF-dependent immune response, causing cholesterol oxidation and the formation of plaque with heavy metals.As research has shown, simply reducing the amount of cholesterol in the diet cannot negate this problem. The amount of cholesterol in the diet has not been found to be a major factor in cholesterol plaque formation. Rather. pH status appears to be the factor more directly involved, binding cholesterol with heavy metals and other cellular debris.

5. DISRUPTS BLOOD PRESSURE
With acidosis, (pH<7.20) arteries become dilated. Yet, severe lowering of blood p1-I also causes persistent venous vasoconstriction (a disease in the caliber of blood vessels). When this happens, peripheral blood is shifted more centrally; the more acidic the patient, the greater the fractional redistribution of blood to the central vessels.This central redistribution of blood adds to the heart's workload when its contractibility is compromised. Interestingly, increased venous pressure occurs in congestive heart failure. This may obviously have potentially lethal cardiovascular effects, making it difficult to control high blood pressure/hypertension, various arrhythmias and the advent of heart attack.

6. DISRUPTS CRITICAL LIPID AND FATTY XCID METABOLISM
Acidosis disrupts general lipid and fatty acid metabolism within the body. Fatty acids are intimately involved in nerve and brain function. When fatty acid metabolism is disturbed, neurological problems may arise including MS, MD and others, as well as problems with hormonal balance within the endocrine system.

7. INHIBITS METABOLISM OF STORED ENERGY RESERVES
An acid pH inhibits efficient celluar and body metabolism. Acidosis causes chemical ionic disturbances, interfering with cellular communications and functions. Acidosis reduces plus Ca binding of plasma proteins, reducing the effectiveness of this intracellular signal. Acidosis also leads to a disease of calcium cations (positive Ca) entry through positive Ca channels, resulting in reduction of cardiac contractibility, or the ability of the heart to pump efficiently and rhythmically.Also, positive Ca and positive H regulate the activity of intracellular proteins and are driven out of cells, because of the "sodium-potassium pump" (Na-K pump), provides a strong incentive for sodium to be driven into cells. There is 10 times the amount of positive Na in extracellular fluids than in cells, thus edema forms when acidosis is present. The sodium-potassium pump regulates the amount of sodium and potassium each cell in the body stores, and uses up as much as 25% of our caloric input per day to run. Positive Ca exchanges the +Na, being forced out of cells, but naturally, the electrochemical gradient for positive Ca favors both positive H and positive Ca entry into cells, as there is less calcium and positive H in cells than in the extracellular fluids.Therefore, in acid solutions, less +Na will be present, slowing down the processing and induction of nutritional items going into cells. Thus, increasing positive H and positive Ca buildup within the plasma, while making it more available to electrostatically bind with LDL-Cholesterol. With free positive Ca populations and channels disrupted, calcium may become inordinately leached from bone mass, causing osteoporosis. An acid pH drains us of energy and disallows stored energy reserves to be used.

8. INHIBITS DNA-RNA SYNTHESIS & CELLULAR REGENERATION
For DNA-RNA synthesis and healthy cell proliferation to occur, cell pH must not be acidic. However, cancerous cells grow well in acidic mediums, therefore an acid pH actually accelerates and increases the possibility of cellular mutations (cancer).Cancerous cells do not contain hydrogen atoms. When healthy cells have plenty of hydrogen they cannot become cancerous. If we can get hydrogen into any unhealthy cells, they can heal. Most people who contract cancer have a pH at 4.6%.

9. INHIBITS OXYGEN GETTING TO THE TISSUE
Acidosis decreases the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in the blood. All biochemical functions are severely compromised if oxygen supplies are decreased to living tissue. Less oxygen to the heart and brain cells means eventual death. An acid pH decreases the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to cells, making normally healthy cells unhealthy; they eventually die.10. INHIBITS LIFE GIVING ELECTROLYTE ACTIVITY - Life-essential functions, like electrolyte potassium (K plus) and sodium (Na plus) channels, are inactivated by acidosis. This has far reaching effects cardiovascularly, since without extended sufficient electrolyte balance, heart attacks are likely to occur. Without appropriate electrolyte management, our heart literally stops beating. Inhibition of electrolyte activity also affects the way we feel and behave, and is intimately involved in the energy levels we experience, because of the nature of the Na-K pump and cellular metabolism. In summary, an acid pH is the seed-bed of degenerative diseases:Heart disease: arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, all forms of cancer, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, obesity, neurological diseases, MS, MD, ALS and Parkinson's Disease, liver and kidney disease, senility, dementia, Alzheimer's, immune deficiencies, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and tooth loss, hormonal imbalances, premature aging and male prostate problems.

THE pH CONNECTION AND OSTEOPOROSIS
pH balance plays an important role in the onset of osteoporosis. As a part of normal metabolism, the body produces acids. When the body has an excess of acid it can't get rid of at the moment (due to acid excess or a lack of alkaline reserve minerals), the acid will get stored for later removal. Where does it get stored? Mostly in the interstitial spaces, also called the extracellular matrix - this is the space around the cells. When the body stores this acid in the extracellular matrix, it believes that one day, the acid is going to be removed. Therefore, in order to be in balance, it knows that for every molecule of acid that gets stored in the tissues, an equal molecule of bicarbonate or base substance needs to be put into the blood because one day it will need to escort the acid out of the body.This is the body's amazing compensatory mechanism at work. What we see here is the pH interplay between the blood and the tissues. If the body has an acid overload, it stores the acid in the tissues (the tissue pH decreases) and the blood compensates and becomes alkaline (the blood pH increases). As the body degenerates further into ill health, the blood pH often will turn from its overly alkaline condition, and then start to move down. When that happens, the body is losing its compensatory mechanisms. If the proper intervention is not engaged, physical death will often ensue. But before that happens... As more acid accumulates in our body, it gets stored and pushed further, and ultimately it can get pushed into the cell. When it gets pushed into the cell, the first thing it does is displace potassium and then magnesium and then sodium.Those are three very critical minerals in our body. The potassium and magnesium will leave the body, but as a preservation mechanism the sodium will be retained. Now remember, the body knows it must place an alkaline molecule in the blood to escort out this increasing acid that is being stored in the tissues and cells. It has to compensate at a biochemical level for the things going on. What it will often do (when mineral reserves are low which is often the case when eating a modem American diet) is draw calcium (the most alkaline mineral) from the bones and put it into the blood.This is something you don't want, and it is a big part of what is behind osteoporosis. arthritic pain. etc. It is brought about by the body compensating for an ever increasing tissue acidosis somewhere in the body. What you don't want to do in this case is take more calcium supplements that won't be utilized down at the cellular level. With that said, you can now understand why most generic calcium products, antacids, etc. are one of the most over-prescribed supplements. In these situations, what the body really needs is more potassium, and magnesium. perhaps organic sodium, and possibly zinc which lends help to the whole proper acid breakdown process.With a good understanding of the pH interplay in the body, natural answers can be derived for good health, including good bone health.pH is not the whole story. As mentioned earlier, this discussion would be very simplistic. Your body has specific homeostatic regulators that keep everything working and in balance. pH is but one - though a most important one. Another would be your sympathetic vs. parasympathetic system in relationship to your oxidative rate (how you metabolize food/nutrients). For some individuals with osteoporosis as mentioned above, calcium would be a secondary concern and more important might be potassium, magnesium, manganese, etc. How one breaks down their nutrients (fast oxidizers vs. slow oxidizers) would give another indication of which mineral supplements might be more important for osteoporosis management

WHAT TO DO TO ACHIEVE BETTER ACID/ALKALINE BALANCE
How can you balance your pH? Watching your diet can help. If you're too acidic, increase the number of fruits and vegetables you eat. If you're too alkaline, increase the amounts of acid-forming food consumed. See the chart on acid and base forming foods. When you drink cola or other high acids, the body will use its own buffers, including calcium from the bones and DNA to raise the body's alkalinity levels, especially to maintain blood pH levels. To generalize, our intake of calcium is far too low to compensate our high acid diets. The result is that calcium is robbed from our bones and DNA to bring back pH balance. Other minerals also have an important part to play in our bodies as well.You can you find out your body pH by testing your urine with pH paper in the privacy of your own home. When urinary pH is continuously between 6.5 in the A.M. and 7.5 by evening, you're functioning in a healthy range. When continuously above this range you're too alkaline, and when continuously below it, you're too acidic. Beware of coffee! It is very acidic and heavy coffee drinking can lead to severe acidosis. Instead drink 3 glasses of distilled water before breakfast. During the balance of the day drink purified water with lime or lemon juice. Eating more alkaline foods is important if you are consistently too acidic However when acidosis is present it is very difficult to alkalize the system through diet alone, here a product called Alkalizer will do wonders. Taking minerals in proper proportions such as Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Betain HCl and other digestive enzymes to aid in absorpton of these minerals is critical to building (alkalizing) elements.

To determine what your pH is litmus paper is used. It turns color with saliva or urine samples. A scale of acid or Alkaline comes with the paper.

But to really know you should do a Hair Analysis Test. If your body is too acid it might be robbing you of calcium, magnesium or potassium causing brittle bones, thyroid dysfunction and inability to detoxify properly and cope with stress.

Call to set up a nutritional consultation so that tests can be performed and a comprehensive strategy of lifestyle, dietary modification and nutrient supplementation can be implemented to aid you in reversing this disorder.

Teresa Rispoli has her Ph.D. in Nutrition, is a licensed Acupuncturist and clinical researcher. She has been in practice for well over 25 years. It is through her clinical practice that she has gained insights into chronic health conditions. If you are suffering from unexplained symptoms that come and go you owe it to yourself to find out why. Find out today call for a Nutritional Consultation with Dr. Rispoli.

Your happiness is a reflection of your health call today For an appointment, contact her office at (800) 956-7083 or (818) 707-3125.

We also offer Functional Laboratory tests that can be done through the mail in the privacy of your home to help determine why you are having these symptoms. For more information on these click on lab tests.

The information herein is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or a cure. Should you have a medical condition please seek the advice of your medical doctor.