Alkalinity for Health

Highlights

Regulation of body pH plays a significant role in health and disease.

A plant based alkaline diet reduces the risk of many chronic diseases.

What is Acidosis?

When I speak about Alkalinity in relation to the physical body, I am referring to the body’s ability to neutralize metabolic acidity. The level of acidification is measured with the pH scale, or Power of Hydrogen, as it is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions [H+] in a solution expressed in negative powers of ten [H+]=10-pH. pH also expresses the balance between the hydrogen (H+) and the hydroxide (OH–) ions in a solution. In pure water (H2O), the hydrogen ion (H+) and the hydroxide ion (OH–) exist in balance (H+ + OH– <--> H2O) and we say that the pH is neutral. The pH scale goes from 0 to less than 7 for acidic solutions which means that there is excess hydrogen ions with respect to hydroxide ions, 7 for neutral solutions which means there are equal number of hydrogen and hydroxide ions and from 7 to 14 for a alkaline solution which means that there is an excess of hydroxide ions with respect to hydrogen ions.

For the human body to work properly, the pH in the blood has to be maintained within the narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45 pH making it slightly alkaline. If the pH is lower than 7.35 it is called acidemia and if the pH is higher than 7.45 it is called alkalemia. The pH range from 7.35 to 7.45 is ideal for biological processes, optimal blood oxygenation and also prevents the formation of intermediates of biochemical reactions that would render body tissues and fluid too acidic. Metabolic process inside the cells will produce organic acids that will need to be neutralized. Neutralization is achieve by certain molecules called acid buffers that accept the excess hydrogen ions. The more the buffering capacity of the cell, fluid or blood, the more alkaline it is and the more capacity to neutralize metabolic acids.

What cannot be neutralized inside the cell by its buffers, is shuttled outside the cell to the interstitial fluid where there is reduced buffering activity and can lead to slight or intermittent acidification in normal people. The blood stream will take from the interstitial fluid any excess acidity and neutralize it. What the blood cannot neutralize, is excreted in the urine through the kidneys or renal system. Hence the urine pH is typically from 6.0 to 7.5 but can vary from 4.5 to 8.0 in a healthy person. The human body also uses the lungs as a mechanism of pH control because accumulation of CO2 from metabolic processes leads to carbonic acid formation. Where the renal system takes days to take effect controlling pH, the respiratory system takes minutes to hours. If the renal system is not capable of maintaining pH then the respiratory system will try to compensate and the person will take faster and long deep breaths and this will be a sign of metabolic acidosis.

Alkalinity Health and Acidic Disease

Disease processes in the body are characterized by acidification inside the cell when it cannot excrete excess acidity or have reduced buffering capacity as in tumor acidity, the hallmark of cancer, and acidification of the interstitial fluids that shows chronically in the blood stream when advanced as it is found in diabetic patients. As we can see regulation of body pH plays a significant role in health and disease.

When it comes to health, the foods we eat affects the buffers the body uses to maintain pH control in the blood, tissues and fluids. Depending on the amino acids and mineral content of foods we can determine their Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) or how much excess acid from diet the body will not be able to handle and will need to released in the urine. If the dietary PRAL value is positive it means these foods are acid forming and show up as an acidic urine pH. If the dietary PRAL value is negative it means that these foods are alkaline forming (buffer forming) and may show up as basic urine pH. The PRAL values for different foods are available in tabulated form. Foods high in proteins containing Methionine and Cysteine amino acids and minerals Phosphate and Chlorine will be acid forming (PRAL positive), this includes meat, meat products, grain products and dairy products. Foods high in Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium are alkaline forming (PRAL negative), this includes fruits and vegetables. Fats and oils have a neutral effect (PRAL=0). The daily dietary PRAL value is obtained by adding the individual food PRAL values. It can yield a positive value meaning that there will be a positive acid excretion load or a negative value meaning that there will be a negative acid excretion. The other determinant of acidity in the body as we mentioned earlier is the metabolic formation of organic acids. The Organic Acid Excretion Load (OAEL) can be estimated based on height and weight of the person. In order to determine the Net Acid Excretion Load (NAEL), the diet PRAL value is added to the metabolic OAEL value (NAEL = Diet PRAL + OAL). Again NAEL can yield a positive or negative value. A positive value means that there is an excess of hydrogen ions that the buffer systems in the body could not neutralize and needed to be excreted. A negative value means that the buffer systems in the body exceed the acid forming loads from diet and metabolic process. In order to prevent disease processes from progressing in the body, it is important to maintain a negative NAEL as much as it is possible. Among the researched consequences of having a diet with high PRAL values, we can find, osteoporosis, renal calculus, non-alcoholic fatty liver, muscle loss, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, and increase in mortality rates.

Although the evidence for osteoporosis has not shown a clear relationship between dietary PRAL and bone mineral density (BMD) used to measure the level of osteoporotic disease, it is known that metabolic acidosis causes a reduction in the activity of osteoblast, the cells in charge of building the bone matrix, and an increase in the activity of osteoclast, the cells in charge of bone resorption, such that calcium is mobilized towards the blood stream to maintain blood pH. Here other factors such as calcium intake, Vitamin D status that affects calcium absorption and Vitamin K status that affects deposition of calcium in the bones from the blood stream, can alter the balance of bone calcium and must be considered. For example one investigation has shown a statistically significant (p=0.02) inverse association between diet PRAL and proximal femur BMD among men with less than 800 mg/d dietary calcium. Another piece of evidence shows that high PRAL diets correlated with deterioration of the bone microstructure in women 45 years of age and older.

Low grade acidosis (a lesser form of metabolic acidosis) can increase the secretion of cortisol, the stress hormone and a reduction of its inactivation. This can lead to diverse metabolic alterations such as loss of muscle mass, insulin resistance, diabetes type 2, and cardiovascular diseases. Higher cortisol levels also cause more vasoconstriction and more excretion of calcium and magnesium, both which can lead to hypertension. Also low grade acidosis causes increase in uric acid excretion, an independent risk factor for hypertension. Insulin resistance with the increase in blood glucose levels can increase inflammation in the liver and lead to non-alcoholic liver disease. A diet high in PRAL will also cause an increase in ammonia excretion which in the long run causes glomerular hypertrophy and hyper-filtration rate, considered an early stage kidney disease. Finally a diet high in PRAL has been shown to increase the risk of renal calculus.

The New Alkaline Diet?

As we have seen dietary alkalization requires proper mineral content in our diet which comes from fruit and veggies. A factor that must be taken into account is soil mineral depletion. A 2015 report by The Economics of Land Degradation Initiative highlights that 10 to 20 percent of land globally is already degraded and that 52% of agricultural land worldwide is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation. Studies have shown sharp decreases in mineral content on different fruits and veggies, for example a recent study asserts a figure of 80% loss of magnesium in fruits and veggies. Given that soil mineral depletion is affecting the mineral content in fruits and vegetables, either new or alternative growing strategies that can boost mineral content will be needed and mineral supplementation will be necessary.

The New Alkaline Diet can be defined as a diet with a negative PRAL value, a balanced caloric and protein intake and a negative NEAL value. In order to offset the acid forming potential of proteins, a plant based diet will be necessary. If you look at current dietary guidelines that require 5 to 7 portions of fruit and veggies, calculations show that these quantities may fall short from achieving the required urinary alkalization.

Although more studies are required to establish the risk reduction in disease processes such as diabetes, metabolic disorder, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc., it is my opinion that an alkaline diet will help to reduce the risk of many of the chronic diseases affecting our society. Although not discussed in this article, urinary alkalization can increase the excretion of toxins. This is an additional benefit that is worth taking in consideration when supporting detoxification.

My experience in implementing the New Alkaline Diet has been that it requires a programmed effort in order to achieve the urinary alkalization goals. An alkaline diet also requires careful guidance from a qualified professional. Supplements that aid in urinary alkalization may be necessary as well as daily monitoring of urinary pH. If you have questions about how to change your dietary lifestyle to an alkaline diet, consult your Naturopathic Doctor.

References

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Author: Dr. Jorge R. Lopez, ND

The journey towards wholeness begins by recognizing the interconnections that exist between our inner body, mind, emotions, and spirit aspects and outer social, cultural and environmental paradigms and committing to reestablishing the balance among them. My purpose is to guide and support your journey towards that state of wholeness and wellbeing using different healing modalities. Through acupuncture, meridian-muscle testing, and Reiki, I aim to help you become aware of energy unbalances that need to be addressed and support you regain the integrity of your energy body. Based on my training as a naturopathic doctor I use Clinical Nutrition, Botanical Medicine, Homeopathic Medicine, and Asian medicine, to allow your body detoxify contaminants and re-balance your psycho-neuro-immuno-hormonal-digestive systems. The focus of my practice is in preventing and addressing the root causes of Chronic Diseases such as Cardiovascular, Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis, Dementia, Mental disorders, Respiratory conditions and Digestive Inflammatory Disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I am a Heartmath® Practitioner and hold training in The Clinical Interventions Program for Health Professionals, The Stress, Anxiety and Emotional Regulation Program and The Resilient Heart™: Trauma-Sensitive Program. I make use of Heartmath® heart rhythm biofeedback and breathing techniques to reprogram your nervous system to a state of heart centered, coherent awareness that allows you to repair, restore and return to your natural state of total health and balance. I make use Non-invasive technology such as Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (pEMF) Vascular Therapy (BEMER) and Photobiomodulation (VieLight) to promote the health and well-being of my patients and also to support athletic performance. I practice Ashtanga Yoga and hold training as a yoga teacher from Ashtanga Yoga Puerto Rico. I will be teaching at Yoga Circle Collective Healing Lab in Vancouver, BC starting on February 2024. I promote and teach the practice of yoga to support a healthy lifestyle that allows one to develop strength, flexibility and balance in the body, mind, emotions and spirit. I am part of the Mantra Teacher Program from Sanatana Dharma Satsang and I am able to counsel on the use of mantras for spiritual and everyday concerns. I invite you to take conscious ownership of your own life and health. It will be my honor to accompany you and be your guide along the way.

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