Whether your body is in an acid or alkaline state will determine the quality of life you will experience.  You may have heard the term “Acidosis”.  This refers to the condition of your blood and having a PH that is too acidic.  Acidosis is not one specific disease; it is the breeding ground for other diseases to develop and be nurtured, such as cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, obesity, diabetes, allergies, kidney stones, premature aging, and many other degenerative diseases.  It is possible to have Alkalosis (too much alkaline), however it is not very common.  Over 90% of the population today is too acidic and has Acidosis.  It is important to have a complete understanding about Acidosis and develop an intense desire to change your lifestyle to become more alkaline and enjoy the benefits.  The following topics will help you understand what is going on inside your body and how you can transform your quality of life.  Let’s explore:

• What does acid, alkaline and PH mean regarding my blood?
• Why is achieving and maintaining this balance important?
• How does your blood become acidic?
• How does the body deal with too much acidity (Acidosis)?
• How do you reach a healthy balance of being more alkaline?

PH is a measure of how much acid is in the blood.  The PH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 (0 = pure acid and 14 = pure alkaline).  Our body strives to be more alkaline, about 7.3 – 7.4.  A variant of as little as 2 full points towards acidity, such as 5.3, could be fatal. 

There are two different types of acidic foods & alkaline foods.  Most people are familiar with acid or alkaline foods, which means how much acid or alkaline the food contains.  The second and more important is acid or alkaline forming foods, which means the PH condition which foods create in the body/blood after being digested and reabsorbed into the blood stream.  This is what changes the body’s blood PH levels.  Acid-forming foods create an acid ash when completely burnt, while Alkaline-forming foods leave an alkaline ash when completely burnt. 

The importance of reaching a balanced PH state in the body cannot be emphasized enough.  If one truly cares about their quality of life, body, and spirit, then this should be taken very seriously.  As mentioned previously, the acidic state is the root of most disease, sickness, and emotional/mental problems. 

Scientists have found that cancer thrives in an acidic solution, while it is unable to survive in alkalinity.  Just as an embryo grows rapidly and flourishes in the mother’s womb surrounded by amniotic fluid, a germ grows quickly and strongly in an acidic environment.  By creating an acidic state in our bodies, we are therefore encouraging disease and chaos to be created within.  The truth is that germs are not the source of disease.  We create our own harmful & polluted inner environment, which in turn allows the germs to multiply, feed and create their own pollution. 

There are a few simple and common factors, which disrupt the alkaline balance: 

• Our thoughts, emotions and stress-levels are very strong factors that are often overlooked when trying to reach alkalinity.  They physically create large amounts of acid in our blood when being experienced.  Your thoughts are creative and will have a physical manifestation.  This is a saying that is very true.  Stress can cause serious breakdowns and problems within your body no matter how healthy you are eating.  That is why stress-management and deep-breathing exercises are so important and can change the state of your body.
• All natural foods contain both acid and alkaline forming elements.  In some foods, acid-forming elements dominate and vice versa.  Such acid-forming foods include animal proteins, cooked oils, alcohol, pasteurized dairy, caffeine, refined/processed grains & carbohydrates, most cooked grains that haven’t been soaked/and or sprouted first, and all cooked nuts & legumes that have not been soaked and/or sprouted first.
• Other prevalent factors induce an acidic state within us are: smog, radiation, pesticides,chemical preservatives, food dye, and additives.
• Lastly, over-exercising your body can actually create an acid state in the body.  When people are so concerned about losing weight and go to the gym 2-3 hours daily and are not losing the weight, they get frustrated and stressed.  This state of being can create too much acid (lactic acid) in the body.  Exercise regularly but moderately.When the blood is overwhelmed with acid ash from foods and stressful emotions, the body relies on a few keys to neutralize acid:

• When acid is present; the body must then absorb and neutralize it to become more alkaline.  Luckily our bodies are designed with alkaline cell storages, which can soak up the acid to neutralize it.  Unfortunately these cells can mutate and become abnormal cells because the acid, during the neutralization process, actually strips the negative charge surrounding the cells.  This causes the cells to “glue” together and possibly form malignant/cancerous cells. Simply put, acid could be referred to as glue.  Since there are only so many alkaline storages available at a time, the body must use other tactics.
• Another tactic is for the body to produce fat cells, which absorb the acid and neutralize it.  The unfortunate result creates many unwanted fat cells roaming the body.  These cells eventually will loose their +/- charges, clump together, and move sluggishly, until they are stored in pockets.  This creates excess body fat and lowered energy. 
• The veins and arteries are defenseless culprits of acidic blood.  They are the transport system for the blood to flow throughout the entire body.  If the blood running through a vein is highly acidic, a hole could be burned through the vein, allowing the acid to invade the rest of the body.  To prevent this, the veins and arteries create and form plaque surrounding the inside walls.  This plaque buffers the wall, not allowing the acid to burn a hole.  Consequently this self-defense mechanism can be detrimental to one’s health.  Clogged veins and arteries are precursors to heart attacks, high blood pressure, and many other heart-degenerative diseases.
• One last common method of protection is the muscles.  Muscle tissues will also absorb and neutralize acid when there is excess for a long period of time.  The unfortunate consequence here is that the muscles eventually become “flabby” because the muscle tissues are breaking down.  People eating a very acidic diet to lose weight (high animal protein) are very likely to lose more muscle tone quickly than one who is eating a balanced diet.

There are important steps one can take to reverse the acidic state: 

• First, purchase PH strips, which can be found at pharmacies or health food stores.  It will have a chart to show you your PH number. Check your PH in the morning before eating.  Normal is considered 7.3-7.4, however, above 7 is still considered healthy.  The main concern is when your number shows 6.5 and below. 
• It is important to cleanse the body of toxins that have developed and taken residence over the years.  Drink lots of pure water to hydrate your system.  Also drinking a “green drink” daily will add to your alkalinity and aid in the cleansing process, including, wheat grass, sea vegetables, chlorophyll, green grasses, spirulina, etc.  These greens are one of the most alkaline foods.  Kombucha Tea is very alkaline and is ideal for obtaining that ideal PH.
• The target balance is to eat about 65%-80% alkaline-forming foods and 20%-35% acidic.  Some alkaline-forming foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, raw soaked/sprouted nuts & seeds (almonds are the most alkaline), raw/un-pasteurized goat/dairy products, sprouted whole grains, tempeh, sea vegetables, etc. 
• Practice proper food combining.  When you combine properly you reduce purifications in the body, thus creating a more alkaline condition. 
• Find the disruptive pattern or emotion that is creating stress in your body and work on reversing it.  Try yoga, a walk, deep breathing exercises, meditation, or simply being aware of acid-causing emotions as they arise.

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