The pH Balance of Water Versus Blood

One of the most important processes in your body is the process by which the pH balance is maintained. Decades ago, scientists in the chemistry lab established the pH scale from 0-14 to measure the number of hydrogen ions in any solution. Some solutions carry more hydrogen ions than others, and the pH scale is an easy way of measuring this.

Hydrogen is involved in nutrition, so having a solution with a pH of 0 has a low ability to attract hydrogen ions, while a solution with a pH of 14 has a high ability to attract hydrogen ions. "p" stands for potential and "H" stands for hydrogen - the potential of a solution to attract hydrogen ions. But, no one has considered the fact that this pH scale varies between lakes and ponds, boiling beakers of experimental solutions, and your body's fluids. There IS a
difference.

The pH scale runs from 0-14; 7.0 being the midpoint for fresh water lakes and ponds, and in the chemistry lab (which secures unwanted "chemical" reactions occurring during experiments). So, a pH above 7.0 is alkaline in nature and a pH below 7.0 is acid. Nonetheless, taking into consideration the various acids involved in the human body systems (stomach acids, lactic acids and other acids from waste, i.e.), and the fact that we are actually salt water beings, the pH midpoint of the body fluids averages a bit lower at a pH of 6.4. Therefore, above 6.4 is more accurately considered alkaline, and below 6.4 acidic for the average human body pH.

When the body is too acidic as a result of acid forming foods, high fat intake (processed fat and oils), mucus production, and toxic chemical food residues, disease and infections can proliferate. Regulating your diet, getting plenty of rest, drinking sufficient amounts of water, and maintaining your body pH can prevent unnecessary health issues.

The human body should be slightly alkaline in order to build an alkaline reserve for acid-forming conditions such as stress, lack of exercise, or poor dietary habits, but not too alkaline or the blood begins to thicken and harden, kidney
and gall stones can form and mineralization takes place within the body tissues. This is comparable to a highly alkaline environment in nature where sediments "suffocate" the oxygen and water stores, resulting in dehydration,
sedimentation and mineral deposits. Such deposits are also found in dried stream beds, caves, or salt flats. These processes can also occur in the human body.

Therefore, a balanced body pH is 6.4 and normal blood pH is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45, while pH for a body of fresh water or a freshwater aquarium is 7.0. So why the difference in pH between fresh water and human blood?

The acidity or alkalinity of blood is slightly different from the "body's water" because these are two entirely different fluid systems. The blood is a very protected and "exceptional" body system. It must remain isolated from body
wastes, toxic by-products, bacteria and microorganisms, manmade chemicals, processed fats and the like. The water in your body will be slightly acidic because it keeps your cells hydrated but transports all wastes, including acids leaving the body.

A variety of factors affect blood and body pH including what is ingested, vomiting, diarrhea, lung function, endocrine function, kidney function, urinary tract infection and exercise. Under normal conditions, these acids should not enter the bloodstream.

The pH (acidity level) of the blood monitors the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) within the blood. Many physical processes influence your pH levels, but one of the largest contributors is the CO2 content of the blood. As CO2 levels increase, the concentration of H+ ions also increases, and more H+ means more acid and a lower blood pH. This acidic state signals your brain that you need to breathe faster or deeper. Under prolonged oxygen deprivation conditions such as heavy air pollution and ozone warnings, lung illnesses, or extended periods at high elevations, your body balances its blood pH by increasing the bicarbonate level (alkaline HCO3-).

Many of the chemical reactions that occur in the body, especially those involving proteins, are pH-dependent. Fortunately, we have buffers in the blood to protect against large changes in pH to maintain the blood remains alkaline at 7.4. There are a series of "natural buffers" which help the blood resist any changes in pH. These include hemoglobin in the red blood cells, plasma proteins, the bicarbonate buffer and the phosphate buffer. Meanwhile your body's water helps eliminate blood toxins, also keeping your blood pH in balance, but temporarily lowering its fluid pH as toxins excrete.

So, the blood remains more alkaline while the water is slightly more acidic.

This is where my 75/25 Plan comes into play. If you try to eat 75% alkaline foods and 25% acidic foods with each meal, no matter what your activity level or daily stresses may be, your body pH should average 6.4 both morning and night, while maintaining a more slightly alkaline pH in the blood.

In a healthy person, the saliva pH may be slow to change. When it does change, it can be equally as difficult to bring it back to normal. The saliva pH can be indicative of the pH of the blood, liver bile, pancreatic fluids, and the
intestinal tract. For example, if your saliva pH is highly alkaline, it may be a sign that the digestive enzymes in the lower intestinal tract digestive are too alkaline. This can create an issue with keeping weight under control, lower
bowel gas, inefficient metabolism and internal energy loss. A large spread between your saliva and urine pH can create even more intestinal gas, energy loss, and stress.

If your urine and saliva pH is acid you may have fast digestive action. This can create the tendency toward gastric or duodenal ulcers, colitis and loose stools. Research indicates a correlation between degenerative diseases and an acid saliva pH.

An acid body pH can mean the food you eat may be passed through the digestive tract very quickly to keep from irritating the walls of the intestines. The time normally allotted for the absorption of minerals and vitamins may be
greatly decreased. As a result, you may not get the proper energy out of the food you eat. This can create the need to eat more, which can result in weight gain.

The more alkaline your pH travels, the weaker the digestive juices become. You may not be getting the proper energy from the foods you eat because your body's digestive enzymes are too inefficient to break down the food for easy assimilation. This can be the beginning of nutritional problems. People with a high (alkaline) pH can experience:

1. Increased respiration
2. Stiff joints
3. Muscle cramps
4. Calcium precipitating, moving out of the bone and into the tissues
5. Discomfort eating due to a lack of acidity in the stomach
6. A sudden rush of sugars into the bloodstream
7. Insulin stress
8. Lowered resistance to disease
9. Slow digestion
10. An environment for yeast, viruses, bacteria, fungus, parasites and other microorganisms that thrive in an alkaline medium

High (alkaline) pH environments encourage upper body issues such as asthma, allergies and sinus problems. Colon problems such as chronic constipation also occur in alkaline environments.

If you desire perfect health, a strong immune system and proper weight, then the pH of your body is something you can't ignore. If the pH of both your saliva and urine average between 6.4 to 6.7, it may indicate the secretions of
your digestive system are operating at peak efficiency. It also indicates you are obtaining maximum nutrition from the foods you eat and your blood is at a proper pH.

For more information about pH and my pH Test Kit visit:

http://www.janethull.com/ph-balance-testing/

Posted August 2005 | Permanent Link

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