You know that nutrition is very important for your health, and also for maintaining a perfect balance within your body. This means you need to choose your foods carefully and monitor them to avoid illness and preserve your health. However, do you know what acid-base balance is? If so, this article is a quick reminder; if not, here's a short guide on the subject.
Excess acidity
We often hear the terms "acidity level" or "excess acidity," but what does that really mean? When we talk about acidity in the body, we're referring to the acid present in the human body. Our bodies need acid for digestion, for example. However, when the level of acid in the body is excessive, it can damage the body. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a healthy balance to keep the body fit and healthy.
Furthermore, if your acidity level drops, you can develop a condition called acidosis. Conversely, when it increases, it's called alkalosis. Both acid levels are very bad for your health. You could, for example, develop osteoporosis or other bone diseases. You could also suffer from demineralization and lose essential minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
However, is there a way to know if you have excess acidity? If that's your question, we have the answer for you. You can determine or measure your pH using urine test strips, which you can find in pharmacies. To help you understand, it's similar to a pregnancy test, and the equipment and application are almost the same. Simply purchase the test strip and use it at home. Ideally, you should perform the test for a week. To do this, collect your second urine of the day, as the first is always very acidic. Then, place a small drop on the test strip and wait a few seconds.
Here are the useful details you need to know:
- If the pH is equal to 7, the test is neutral.
- If the pH is below 7, the test is positive. A positive result does not necessarily mean you are pregnant, but rather that your body is acidic, and the further the number is from 7, the more acidic your body is.
- If the pH is above 7, the test is alkaline or negative. This means that you are healthy and there is no excess acidity.
Food choices
As you already know, your diet is the primary cause of increased acidity levels. Therefore, it's crucial to make informed food choices. But what are some of the best foods for the human body?
To answer this pertinent question, we must tell you that if you are someone who enjoys foods higher in salt, your acid-base balance is likely to be off. Indeed, if you love eating bread, processed meats, cheeses, and various industrially produced foods like sodas and meats—in short, all foods that aren't organic and natural (fruits and vegetables)—an acid-base imbalance is already at risk.
Therefore, to achieve this acid-base balance, you should favor whole foods that have not undergone industrial processing. For example:
- Morning: fresh fruit with a little natural juice, no additives
- Lunch: broccoli salad with a little meat, no oil
- Evening: green beans, carrots and steamed potatoes
It might be an exaggeration, but you can eat whatever you like as long as you don't eat just anything. Adopt a healthy lifestyle and you'll see that your body will be in excellent health.
Tips
To help you eat better and therefore adopt a healthy diet that is good for your health, here are some tips:
- You need to reduce your consumption of sodium chloride or salt. Don't eat too many foods that are high in table salt, such as bread, cheeses, processed foods, and deli meats.
- It is important to prioritize fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium, such as bananas, prunes, or potatoes.
- Avoid eating too many acidic foods; instead, choose foods with a more neutral or negative pH.
- It is more sensible to steam food instead of boiling it, or to cook canned food.
- You must stop drinking Coca-Cola or other drinks high in sodium; therefore, you must drink at least 1,5 liters of water per day (mineral water or sparkling water with bicarbonate).
- Also help your liver by avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and pesticides.
- It is also necessary to balance the intestinal flora
- Don't forget to do some exercise.
- Avoid being too stressed all the time, as it's really not good for your health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, remember that acid-base balance is your body's ability to maintain good health and fitness. Excess acidity in the body can lead to various health problems, such as osteoporosis and other bone diseases. To prevent this, carefully choose your food and drink plenty of water to maintain this balance. Also, avoid consuming sugary drinks like cola and foods high in sodium.
