Why so many Nutritional Programs fail!

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Why so many Nutritional Programs fail!

Mar 28, 2007 11:12 PST

 

Notes:

 

A food's acid or alkaline forming tendency in the body has nothing

to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are

very acidic, however, the end product they produce after digestion

and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are alkaline forming in

the body.

Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it leaves

very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products,

meat is very acid forming. Have you ever started an herbal or

nutritional program and failed to achieve satisfactory results?

 

There could have been several reasons. This article will explore one

of the most common reasons: an overly acid body system.

 

http://www.greatestherbsonearth.com/nsparticles/ph.htm

 

Have you ever wondered if many of the diseases raging through our

society have a common cause? Many doctors, herbalists and

nutritionists believe that the explanation may come down to three

words?

 

Acid Alkaline Imbalance.

 

Over acidity, which can become a dangerous condition that weakens

all body systems, is very common today. It gives rise to an internal

enviroment conducive to disease, as opposed to a pH-balanced

enviroment, which allows normal body function necessaary for the

body to resist disease.

 

A healthy body maintains adequate alkaline reserves to meet

emergency demands. When excess acids must be neutralized our

alkaline reserves are depleted leaving the body in a weakened

condition.

 

The concept of acid alkaline imbalance as the cause of disease is

not new. In 1933 a New York doctor named William Howard Hay

published a ground-breaking book, 'A New Health Era' in which he

maintains that all disease is caused by autotoxication (or " self-

poisoning " ) due to acid accumulation in the body. William Howard Hay

wrote:

 

" Now we depart from health in just the proportion to which we have

allowed our alkalies to be dissipated by introduction of acid-

forming food in too great amount. It may seem strange to say that

all disease is the same thing, no matter what it's myriad modes of

expression, but it is verily so "

 

More recently, in his remarkable book 'Alkalize or Die', Dr.

Theodore A. Baroody, N. D., D. C., Ph.D. says essentially the same thing:

" The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What does

matter is that they all come from the same root cause...too much tissue acid

waste in the body!'

 

Understanding pH

 

pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity

of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 - the lower the pH the more

acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more alkaline (or base) the solution.

When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7, which is neutral.

 

Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, composing 70%

of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH,

which is a balance between positively charged ions (acid-forming) and negatively

charged ions (alkaline-forming).

 

The body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is compromised

many problems can occur. It is important at this point to understand that we are

not talking about stomach acid or the pH of the stomach.

 

We are talking about the pH of the body's fluids and tissues, which is an

entirely different matter.

 

Test Your Body's Acidity or Alkalinity

 

It is strongly recommended that you test your pH levels to determine

if your body's pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips

(see bottom of article) you can determine your pH factor quickly and

easily in the privacy of your own home. If your urinary pH fluctuates between

6.0 to 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening, your body is

functioning within a healthy range. If your saliva stays between 6.5 and 7.5 all

day, your body is functioning within a healthy range.

 

The best time to test your pH is first thing in the morning before

drinking or eating anything. And next best is about one hour before

a meal and two hours after a meal. Many nutritionists say the absolute best time

to test your pH is in the morning after a 12 hour fast.

 

Test your urine first thing in the morning when you get up and test the saliva

before putting anything in the mouth. (Do not put the test strip on your

tongue). Testing during the day results in testing what you ate in the previous

meal and it's temporary effect on the body.

 

Acidic pH

 

Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition

forces the body to borrow minerals - including calcium, potassium

and magnesium - from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and

safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer

severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity, a condition that may go

undetected for years (without pH testing!).

 

Even mild acidosis (acid pH) can cause such problems as:

 

Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood vessels

and the reduction of oxygen flow

Weight gain, obesity and diabetes

Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones

Immune deficiency

Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to

cancerous

mutations

Premature aging

Weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs

Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup

Low energy and chronic fatigue

pH and Bone Loss

 

A recent seven-year study conducted at the University of California

at San Francisco on 9,000 women showed that those who have chronic

acidosis are at greater risk for bone loww than those who have normal pH levels,

 

The scientists who carried out this experiment believe that many of

the hip fractures prevalent among middle-aged women are connected to

high acidity caused by a diet righ in animal foods and low in vegetables.

 

This is because the body borrows calcium from the bones in order to

balance pH - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Urine pH Testing

 

The results of urine testing indicate how well your body is

assimilating minerals, expecially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.

 

These are called the " acid buffers " because they are used by the body to control

the acid level.

 

If acid levels are too high, the body will not be

able to excrete acid. It must either store the acid in body tissues

(autotoxication) or buffer it - that is, borrow minerals from

organs, bones, etc. in order to neutralize acidity.

 

Saliva pH Testing

 

You'll also want to test the pH of your saliva. The results of

saliva testing indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in your body,

especially the activity of the liver and stomach. This reveals the flow of

enzymes running through your body and shows their effect on all the body

systems. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both uring and saliva -

this is referred to as " double acid " .

 

Keeping the Balance Right for Excellent Health or Why So Many

Nutritional Programs Fail

 

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only

when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be

taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them.

 

If you are not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal

program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. Even the right herbal program may

not work if your body's pH is out of balance.

 

What if Your Acidic?

 

By far the most common imbalance seen in our society is over

acidity. If your urine and/or saliva tests below 6.5 pH we suggest the pH

balancing program at the bottom of this article. As with any program, make sure

you monitor your progress daily.

 

What Causes A Body To Become Acidic?

 

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to

the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid producing

animal products like meat and dairy, and far too low in alkaline

producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat acid

producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid

producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks.

 

We use too many prescriiption and over the counter drugs which are acid

forming; and we use artificial chemical sweeteners like Nutrasweet, Equal or

aspartame, which are extremely acid forming. One of the best things we can do to

correct an overly acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.

 

What If Your Overly Alkaline?

 

Alkalinity is relatively rare, but if your urine and/or saliva

consistently test above 7.0 pH, start with steps 1, 2, 3 below and

continue adding steps until the desired results are achieved. Be

sure to monitor your progress with easy-to-use pH test strips. You will notice

that some of these steps are the same as those recommended above for an overly

acidic condition. This is because such steps are balancing, tending to bring the

pH back toward normal no matter which direction it has gone.

 

Steps to Balance Your pH:

 

1. Enzymes are essential. We recommend using 1-2 capsules with each meal. For

stronger enzymatic action in difficult cases add 1-2 capsules of Protease

between meals on an empty stomach.

 

2. Correct calcium is vital.

 

3. Use Vitamin C Ascorbates. Use 3,000

mg. or more, to maximum bowel tolerance. (If diarrhea occurs, reduce

intake.)

 

4. Flax Seed: Use Flax Seed 3 times a day or 2

tablespoons of oil daily.

 

5. Green drink

 

6. Cleanse as needed: Take a psyllium hulls supplement at bedtime to maintain

regular bowel movements.

 

7. Try to avoid soft drinks and using artificial sweeteners and

refined sugar. We recommend Stevia Powder. An extremely sweet natural product

that has no aftertaste. This is an extremely sweet and safe product!

 

Notes:

 

A food's acid or alkaline forming tendency in the body has nothing

to do

with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very

acidic, however, the end product they produce after digestion and

assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are alkaline forming in the

body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it

leaves

very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products,

meat is very acid forming.

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets