Why are Alkaline Foods and pH Balance Important?

By Cliff Smith

While all the benefits of using alkaline foods to keep a healthy pH balance may not yet be fully studied, there is certainly enough anecdotal (and scientific) evidence to make the topic one worth considering.  Some of the diseases and disorders that have suspected links to the acidification of blood and tissues include:

•    Cancer
•    Chronic fatigue syndrome
•    Fibromyalgia
•    Lupus
•    Multiple sclerosis
•    Rheumatoid arthritis

Even susceptibility to something as simple as the common cold may be attributed to the pH balance of the body.  Direct links to these illnesses may have yet to be determined, but for those suffering from their effects, the hope of relief is enough to get them looking at a variety of alternatives.  One such possibility is to use alkaline foods to maintain a healthy pH balance.

What Causes Acidification?

The biggest culprit in the acidification of our body fluids and tissues is simply the fact that we don’t eat enough alkaline foods.  The Western diet relies heavily upon animal proteins in the form of meat and dairy products.  Another dietary favorite—sugar—is also to blame, whether it comes from fructose, glucose, or sucrose.

Sugar, unfortunately, is the fuel source for many unhealthy invaders in the body, such as yeast and bacteria.  These organisms, along with fungi, feed off of the sugars and proteins we ingest.  As a result of the process, they excrete a variety of toxins, many of which are acidic.  This lowers the body’s pH balance, causing our internal systems to exist in an acid state instead of the alkaline state that is required for optimal health.

Food is not the only cause of acidification, however.  An overabundance of stress can trigger the release of toxins in the body, too.  Environmental pollution can also be blamed for a portion of the acidification of many people’s bodies.

Adding Alkaline Foods to the Diet

By adjusting our diets to include more alkaline foods, we can help to realign the body’s pH balance.  When we replace those acidic foods with alkaline ones, we allow the body to work in a far more natural state of being. 

Many of the bacteria, fungi, and yeast mentioned above cannot even survive in an alkaline environment.  The same can be said for many molds and viruses.  When they can’t get a foothold for survival, they can’t go about damaging the body with their lifecycles.

While the idea of completely overhauling one’s diet is intimidating, it may very well be the best way to improve overall health.  On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with slowly but steadily introducing more alkaline foods while removing the acidic ones. 

Some changes are far easier than one might even expect.  For example, rather than using eggs when baking, many goodies will turn out just as well by substituting applesauce.  Eggs are acidic, while apples are an alkaline food.  Just making simple changes like this can be a great start in restoring the body’s natural pH balance.

* One important thing to remember is that a balanced diet should include about 20% acid foods, as an overly alkaline diet is not healthy, either.

Author profile
Cliff Smith helps consumers to see how their alkaline and acid food choices impact pH balance. Learn more and discover alkaline foods and drinks for a healthy body at our online health food store.

More information:

10 Alkaline Foods and 10 Acid Foods for pH Balance

How Alkaline Foods and Acid Foods Affect Your pH Balance

How Alkaline Foods and pH Balance Affect Your Health

Alkaline Foods and Health Drinks Not Sold in Stores
Shopping Secrets of the Rich and Famous and Healthy