The "pH Factor"

Imbalanced "ph" the "silent killer"

What is "pH"?

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.

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 on all body chemistry, health and disease. An imbalanced pH describes the pH level of the body when it becomes too acidic or too alkaline for long periods of time. Extended pH imbalances of any kind are not well tolerated by the body. Indeed, 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... 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 acid 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 pH to become imbalanced?

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."

Which foods are "acid-forming" and which ones are "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 acid 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. How so I rebalance my pH? Watching your diet can help. If you're too acid, increase the number of fruits and vegetables you eat. If you're too alkaline, increase the amounts of acid-forming foods consumed. An easy way is to take Green Dragon and consume 1.5 to 3 liters of water treated with Green Dragon daily! You may want to consider a water system that simultaneously filters your tap water and creates alkaline water. Find out more about Alkaline Water Equipment. Over the long run, using this system is more cost effective and health effective than purchasing bottled waters. (Note: almost ALL bottled waters, and ordinary tap waters have slightly to heavy acidic pH levels and are therefore making your body more acidic instead of less so.)