Acidosis: Causes, Symptoms And How To Balance Your pH Naturally

Learn How An Imbalance Of Your PH Affects Your Energy And Overall Health

When we study the relationship between the sun, moon, and the earth, we are amazed at the precision of these three bodies and how they work together to support all life on our planet.

Our bodies are also created based upon precise laws. The difference is we have free will and can choose to operate outside of the laws of nature, but if we get too far off course, consequences can result in pain and disease.

In this article, you will learn how to improve your acid-base balance and why it's critical for your health.

pH is the figure for the chemical expression of acidity or basicity of liquids. So, whether it's a swimming pool or your body, the pH in the environment is either clean and pure or toxic.

The Importance Of Environment For Gene Expression:

Epigenetics is the science of how the genetic code is expressed in the phenotype, or body or more precisely how behaviors and environments surrounding the genes influence their expression. Epigenetics is becoming a dominant force in understanding the normal and abnormal development of organs and cells in the body.

Learn more about how to influence your environments for improved living (epigenetics - link to article)

In this article, we'll discuss homeostasis or the ideal pH for improved vitality and youthful longevity. Blood is the fluid that delivers nutrients throughout our bodies. The normal range for homeostasis of blood pH is between 7.35 to 7.45.

The Problem

Modern diets have become more processed and acidic. High levels of acid in your body can negatively impact everything from your mood and your nails to more serious complications like organ failure.

The Solution

Fortunately, we have the ability to balance our pH through nutrition and daily practices. Below, we'll share the best Alkaline-based foods, which have a pH greater than 7, because of their alkali minerals such as potassium, calcium, or sodium. As a bonus, they also tend to be high in antioxidants.

Next, we'll discuss acidosis, its symptoms, and prevention measures you can take to quickly improve energy and the overall function of your body.

What Is Acidosis?

Metabolic acidosis is a condition that occurs when acid builds up in the body. When the body's pH falls below normal (a pH level of less than seven), it is said to be in a state of acidosis.

The acidity of the blood and other body fluids can interfere with the body's ability to function properly.

What Are Some Common Causes Of Acidosis?

There are many different causes of acidosis, but some of the most common include:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Liver cirrhosis
• Severe dehydration
• Certain medications

A few of the most common ‘causes' may beg the question, ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg?'. Did an overly acidic environment create the diseases to begin with? Studies show that's likely, however, trauma or injury to organs can also result in an acidic state.

Metabolic acidosis results from too much acid in the body. Our kidneys are responsible for removing waste and extra fluid. They are also tasked with removing acid. If the kidneys are overwhelmed with too much processing of this waste, they may not be able to handle the excessive labor and begin to weaken. The kidneys also regulate salts, minerals, and water in the blood.

The primary cause of metabolic acidosis is a deficiency in respiration, which prevents the lungs from taking in enough oxygen and releasing enough carbon dioxide.

It is important to note that acidosis is most commonly caused by the build-up of lactic acid due to an increased rate of glycolysis in cells, so it can be treated with alkaline-rich foods!

When your pH gets out of balance and is too acidic, it impairs mental function and more serious problems including kidney failure or death may occur if untreated for long enough.

Metabolic acidosis has been linked to such health conditions as, acid reflux disease (also known as GERD), chronic pain, asthma, allergies, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.

The onset of metabolic acidosis is typically gradual but can occur more suddenly in some cases due to trauma or severe infection.

There are three major forms of metabolic acidosis:

• Diabetic acidosis: a complication of diabetes that occurs when the body produces too much acid. This is caused by a lack of insulin or by the body not responding to insulin.
• Hyperchloremic acidosis: acidosis caused by excessive acid secretion in the stomach or diarrhea. This is generally caused by a loss of bicarbonate in the stool or vomit.
• Lactic acidosis: acidosis caused by the build-up of lactic acid in the body. This can be caused by an infection, liver disease, heart attack, or stroke.

Symptoms & Prevention

The primary symptoms of Metabolic acidosis include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing

There are several ways to prevent acidosis, including:

• Eating a balanced diet that includes alkaline foods. This will help to balance your pH and keep your body functioning at its best.
• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
• Avoid foods high in acidities, such as processed sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• Consuming alkaline supplements. Alkalizers such as potassium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate can be taken to help acidosis in emergency situations, or when acidosis is chronic and the body cannot produce enough alkaline buffers on its own.

Bicarbonate is produced naturally by the stomach and the pancreas and is a form of carbon dioxide, which is critical for cellular function.

You can have too much bicarbonate in your blood, which results in too little carbon dioxide and can result in alkalosis, which is the other end of the spectrum from acidosis.

Many of the causes of alkalosis, ironically, are similar to acidosis and even many symptoms are mimicking. If you test for too much alkaline, be sure to include more potassium-rich foods like bananas, lentils, beans, and spinach in your diet.

Stress is also a continuing factor in acidosis. Stress results in the production of acid in the body, as well as other issues like an unhealthy diet and binge drinking, so finding ways to reduce stress levels is crucial for acid-alkaline balance.

If you are experiencing acidosis symptoms, seek medical attention immediately to prevent further complications from the condition.

A qualified professional can help you determine what is causing acidosis and recommend a treatment plan that will work best for your unique needs.

Respiratory Acidosis

Respiratory acidosis is a form of acidosis that results when the lungs cannot appropriately eliminate carbon dioxide gas. This is most commonly caused by a lung infection, such as pneumonia, or by problems with the respiratory muscles.

There are two types of respiratory acidosis: acute respiratory acidosis and chronic respiratory acidosis.

Acute respiratory acidosis is a rapid buildup of carbon dioxide before the kidneys have the time or ability to re-balance.

Chronic respiratory acidosis is when the lungs aren't able to eliminate carbon dioxide regularly from the body.

You can see that this becomes circular and can spiral out of control in a hurry. If you already are short of breath caused by acidosis, then you're not able to expel carbon dioxide effectively, which then creates more carbon dioxide, which leads to greater acidosis.

Symptoms & Prevention

The symptoms of respiratory acidosis include:

• Difficulty breathing and feeling short of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• A rapid heart rate - also called tachycardia
• Confusion and drowsiness

The best way to prevent respiratory acidosis is to maintain good lung health by avoiding smoking, getting regular exercise, and eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.

If you do develop a lung infection, be sure to seek medical attention right away.

Uric Acid

High levels of uric acid can accumulate when your kidneys are not able to eliminate properly. These high levels of uric acid may be caused by the following:

• Too much alcohol
• Antibiotics and other immune-suppressing drugs
• Foods high in purines - meat, fish, yeast, beer
• Obesity

Your liver metabolizes uric acid into allantoin and carbon dioxide. Allantoin is excreted by the kidneys through urine, and the carbon dioxide that is produced is exhaled through your lungs as expired air.

Simple diet changes can quickly improve the levels of uric acid and these foods also contribute to supplying higher amounts of nutrients for the overall benefit of your cells, and thus your body.

How Does Your Diet Affect Acidity?

Your food choices have a major impact on the acidity or alkalinity of your body. The average American diet is high in acid-producing foods like processed meats, fast food, and sugary drinks. These foods can cause your pH to become acidic, leading to health problems like respiratory acidosis.

An alkaline diet, on the other hand, is rich in fruits and vegetables which help to balance your pH and promote optimal health.

By incorporating more alkaline foods into your diet you can lower your risk of developing respiratory acidosis and other health problems related to acidity. Some good examples of alkaline-rich foods include:

• Leafy greens like kale, spinach, celery, Swiss chard, and dandelion greens
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage
• Vegetables like cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, zucchini, and squash
• Fruits like apples, grapes, watermelon, mango, pears, citrus, figs, apricots, and avocado
• Herbs like parsley, basil, and cilantro
• Nuts like almonds and cashews
• Legumes like lentils, black beans, peas, mung beans. And pinto beans
• Seeds including pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, hempseed, and cocoa nibs

If you're looking to improve your overall health, consider implementing an alkaline diet into your lifestyle. By doing so you can help to balance your pH and reduce your risk of developing acid-related health problems.

What About Citrus? Is Citrus Acidic or Alkaline?

Citrus are acidic fruits, however, since designated pH levels are determined by the reaction in the digestive system, citrus produce alkalinity in the body.

Acidic Foods To Avoid

Just as Alkaline Rich Foods can help balance your pH, there are foods and drinks that can increase your chances of developing acidosis. To avoid acidosis and maintain a healthy pH balance, it's important to steer clear of the following:

Processed Foods

Processed foods are high in acid-forming toxins that your body has to work hard to digest. These foods can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients, leading to nutritional deficiencies.

Sugar

Sugar is one of the most acid-forming substances there is. Not only does sugar overload your system with unnecessary calories, it also taxes your liver and pancreas.

Alcohol

Alcohol is another major acid-forming substance that can wreak havoc on your pH balance. It not only taxes your liver but also dehydrates you, leading to further acidification.

Caffeine

Like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic and can dehydrate you, making it more difficult for your body to maintain its acid-alkaline balance. It also stimulates the release of stress hormones like cortisol which can wreak havoc on your pH levels.

Meat

The toxins stored in animal fat are extremely acidifying; meat is loaded with pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals that you don't want circulating through your system. Not only does meat acidify your body, but it's also difficult to digest, leading to putrefaction and the release of toxins in your gut.

Diary

Like meat, dairy products are packed with hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals that can throw off your pH balance. They're also high in acid-forming cholesterol and saturated fat which can cause inflammation and weight gain.

Grains

Grains are acid-forming, and most of them are also high in gluten which can cause inflammation and gut problems. Even whole grains are best limited to a few servings per week.

What Are The Benefits Of An Alkaline pH Diet?

There are a number of health benefits associated with an Alkaline pH diet.

The acidity of our bodies is optimal when we are consuming alkaline-rich foods. When you eat an acid-forming diet, your body will gradually lose its ability to maintain this balance by producing more acid and robbing the bones and other organs of minerals needed to neutralize it.

This leads to a myriad of health problems including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis & heart disease; which can all be prevented or reversed with an Alkaline pH diet.

There are a number of benefits associated with eating alkaline-rich foods that help us maintain our optimal acid/alkaline levels.

A healthy pH for humans necessarily need to maintain between 7.35 to 7.45 in the serum of the body - anything below this will be considered acidic whereas above it will be alkali or basic.

Most people, however, are living in an acidic state and don't even know it! This is because we eat too many acid-forming foods such as meat, dairy, processed foods, and sugar. Another contributing factor is emotional stress.

This leads to a myriad of health problems including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis & heart disease; which can all be prevented or reversed with an alkaline diet.

When the blood becomes acidic, it leaches calcium from the bones to balance the pH, which leads to osteoporosis.

Tips For Starting An Alkaline pH Diet

If you want to gain the health benefits of an alkaline diet, you have to be dedicated.

Start by being aware of acidifying foods and reducing the amount you eat them in your everyday life. We all know that too much sugar isn't good for us so cut down on sweet treats.

If eating acid-forming meats, opt instead for fish or plant-based proteins like beans & legumes. Foods high in saturated fat are also acidogenic, which is why it's important to stick with leaner cuts of meat when possible - another reason to reduce overall consumption!

Lastly, since grains can acidify our bodies as well; swap out bread and pasta for vegetables instead... there's no need to go 'low carb' because even though carbohydrates turn into glucose (which is acidifying), vegetables have a much more alkaline-forming effect on the body.

So there you have it! Just by making some small tweaks to your diet, you can help bring your body back into balance and improve your overall health. Alkaline-rich foods are key for optimal health - so get eating!

Is there Anything Outside Of My Diet I Can Use To Combat Adicosis?

As we mentioned earlier, stress is a significant contributor to acidosis.

Stress management is definitely an important step in the acidosis journey. Some steps you can take to reduce stress alongside your alkaline diet include:

Yoga

Yoga has been shown to be an effective way to reduce stress levels as well as improve overall health because of its mind-body connection.

Meditation

Another great way to reduce stress is through meditation. There are many different types of meditation, so you can find one that best suits your needs and preferences.

Exercise

Regular exercise is another excellent way to manage stress levels. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects and help to counteract the negative effects of stress.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Going outdoors several times a day and filling your lungs and belly with fresh air through the nostrils and expelling the air completely through your mouth will push toxic carbon dioxide out of your body.

Acupuncture

This traditional Chinese medicine involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture has been found to be an effective way to relieve stress and tension headaches.

Massage

Massage therapy has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety. Studies have demonstrated that massage therapy can lower cortisol levels, improve moods, reduce pain and ease depression symptoms.

Get Enough Sleep

One last thing - make sure you're getting enough sleep! Lack of sleep has been linked with increased levels of stress, so aim for at least seven hours per night.

If you're looking for some additional support on your journey to optimal health, consider working with a holistic health expert who can help guide you in the right.

So there are definitely some things you can do outside of your diet to help combat acidosis! Just by incorporating a few of these practices into your life, you'll start to feel better both mentally and physically.

Experience The Health Benefits Of Alkaline-Rich Foods!

By embracing a diet rich in alkaline foods you can improve your energy levels, increase your overall health, avoid acidosis, and feel more vibrant.

You might not even realize how much better you'll start to feel after just a few short weeks of eating primarily alkaline foods. This is why so many people are choosing an alkaline diet to balance pH, increase energy, detox, and lose weight!

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