The human body is sensitive, and any changes can throw off the pH balance in your body. Everybody’s alkaline and acid balance is different, but should generally be balanced. Without a healthy balance, your body can be too acidic or too alkaline, causing health problems that develop both quickly and over time.
What is Alkaline in Our Bodies?
Before diving into how to balance the pH in our bodies to live a long and healthy life, it is important to define what alkaline is. Alkaline is a ph level of above 7. When looking at a scale of ph levels, it is pretty straightforward. Acidic bodies have a ph level below 7. A normal ph level for a human body that is balanced and healthy is between 6.5 and 7.5. As the number rises or dips below these numbers, it can get dangerous.
Technically, our bodies are slightly alkaline as opposed to acidic. To raise the acidity so your body is not too alkaline, it is important to eat foods that lower acidity. These foods are high in vitamins and minerals, like potassium, sodium, iron, and calcium. There are alkaline benefits as well, but we can only achieve them with the right ph level. Some foods that we can consume to lower increase acidity and balance alkaline bodies are:
- Spinach
- Seaweed
- Lentils
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Broccoli
- Avocado
- Kiwis
- Peaches
What Alkaline Body Benefits Are There?
When our bodies are alkaline, that means we are eating and drinking the right foods. For example, the foods listed above to lower acidity and increase alkaline levels are nutritious and high in vitamins and minerals. These minerals strengthen our systems and bring lasting benefits! Some alkaline body benefits you should strive for are:
- An Increase in Energy
- Slower Aging Process on Your Skin
- Decreased Risk of Cancer
- Less stress
- Increase in Immunity Strength and Response
What Is Acidity in Our Bodies?
Our bodies should naturally be slightly alkaline, as opposed to acidic. Acidity in our bodies, as tested by ph levels, can lead to problems! Acidity is the pH level of anything under the number 7, which is neutral. Acidity in our bodies depletes the minerals and vitamins we need to grow and develop. When our bodies are more acidic, they will begin taking vitamins and minerals from organs and other systems to naturally balance out their ph levels. This means we are missing important nutrients and vitamins.
It is also important to note, however, that our body parts have different ph levels. While urine samples should not be under a ph level of 7, our stomachs do have high acidity. The acid in our stomach that helps us digest food and move bowels healthily is approximately at 3.5 or lower. While this is the case, the main bulk of our diet should not come from acidic foods as the alkaline body benefits would decrease.
What Foods Increase Acidity in Our Bodies?
Just like some foods increase the alkaline ph levels in our bodies, there are also acidic foods that you should lower in consumption. The amount of alkaline in our diet should be between 60-80%. Any lower, and there is a risk for developing problems instead of alkaline body benefits. Foods that should be controlled and limited for acidity are:
- Eggs
- Cow Meat
- Pig Meat
- Milk
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Oil
- Butter
What Dangers Rise from an Increase in Acidity in Our Bodies?
Some dangers arise when we consume too many acidic foods and not enough foods that increase our alkaline levels. When our bodies are too acidic, for example, we lack vitamins and minerals that strengthen our systems. People are more likely to develop cavities and weak and brittle teeth because of the lack of calcium and magnesium levels.
Although cavities are uncomfortable, they are the least of your worries. Another danger that arises from an increase in acidity in our bodies is an increased risk of Osteoporosis, which is the weakening and breaking of bones. This is especially dangerous for vulnerable age groups like the elderly, who may take medications that deplete vitamins like calcium.
Our immune system is also weaker when our bodies are more acidic than alkaline. When this occurs, it can become dangerous. A common cold can place someone in the hospital if they do not have enough nutrients in their system to fight off the illness or virus. Watch out for these symptoms to let you know if your body is more acidic than alkaline:
- Frequent Headaches
- Uncomfortable Diarrhea
- Constant Indigestion
- Dehydration
- Abnormal Acne
- Weight Gain
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