Diet and PH balance

PACO1481
PACO1481 Posts: 29 Member
edited November 19 in Food and Nutrition
I did a questionaire that said my body probably had very high acidity. I'm going to buy PH strips today to find out for sure, but if I am I need help with how to fix this. I saw Energize Greens that seem to fix everything (LOL) but very expensive. Whole Foods has similiar product a little bit cheaper, but still like $40 and you mix with juice which I never drink. Also, I was trying to do more of a high protein diet but read that meat was very acidic. Has anyone been through this already who can offer some suggestions??

Replies

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    The idea that health and disease is linked to body acidity/alkalinity is very old and very wrong.

    http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral2.html
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    edited June 2015
    pH strips measure the acidity/alkalinity of your urine. That's a waste product. The pH of your body is constant within a certain range. That questionnaire was bogus, and just something to make you buy money.

    When you eat something, it hits your stomach, and then it takes on the pH balance of your stomach acid. From there, it goes into your small intestine where that acidity is neutralized. Your body is in a constant state of homeostasis, tightly regulated by your kidneys. Were it not? You'd be really sick.

    You cannot alter the pH balance of your body beyond its homeostatic balance with anything you ingest.
  • PACO1481
    PACO1481 Posts: 29 Member
    Hmmm...I guess I should have left out the "questionaire" part as that is not the only thing that got me interested in this. And maybe should have mentioned I will be testing my saliva, not urine...althought not sure that would make a difference to those who have responded so far.
    Question...do you have an opinion on PH imbalance in general (causes/fixes?) or do you not believe there is any such issue?

  • PACO1481
    PACO1481 Posts: 29 Member
    Adding....was really hoping for some positive feedback
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    Trust me, you wouldn't be here right now if your body's pH dropped to below its normal buffered range(7.35-7.45). I nearly died a few years ago and spent a few days in ICU after experiencing ketoacidosis (excessive production of ketone bodies that lead to my blood's pH dropping to below 7.35).
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Don't fall for this pseudoscience. It's a nothing but a ploy to get you to purchase product that you don't really need.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    It would be wrong for me to perpetuate the woo. So I dare not. I can positively say that whatever you eat or drink to modify it, acidic or not, will not affect the acidity of your body.

    Is your goal overall health or weight loss? Those things we can discuss positively. As in things that work.
  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Adding....was really hoping for some positive feedback

    It may not sound like it, but you are getting positive feedback :).

  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Hmmm...I guess I should have left out the "questionaire" part as that is not the only thing that got me interested in this. And maybe should have mentioned I will be testing my saliva, not urine...althought not sure that would make a difference to those who have responded so far.
    Question...do you have an opinion on PH imbalance in general (causes/fixes?) or do you not believe there is any such issue?

    I echo the info earlier...and add that breathing off carbon dioxide (we're such *kitten* to the environment) is also a way the body neutralizes acidity and keeps the pH of your blood tightly regulated.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    You can't change your body's pH value by food. Your body always stays within a certain range of pH unless something is seriously wrong.
    Anyone claiming something different is trying to sell you crap. Save your money.
  • PACO1481
    PACO1481 Posts: 29 Member
    Wow....such support here
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    This IS support. We're telling you not to waste your money on something that doesn't work.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    edited June 2015
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Adding....was really hoping for some positive feedback

    First of all before I reply to this it's important to me that you realize that I'm not judging you or being malicious with this reply. My intent here is to help you.

    Regarding the above quote, you got accurate feedback. It just wasn't feedback that confirmed the idea you had in your head about something and it sounds to me that you then took this as being "not positive feedback".

    If you come here and say "Hey I heard that I should go in a diet composed of only water and celery for two weeks" and people replied with "You know you really shouldn't do this, it's dangerous and not necessary at all" you would also be getting good advice in that case even though it wasn't what you were anticipating.

    In most cases it's significantly more important to get answers that are actually true rather than answers that confirm the biases you held when you originally asked. Because there are other people reading these questions who are influenced by the responses.

    Having said all of that, the advice you got earlier was solid. Your body tightly regulates your PH and there's really no need to manipulate this via dietary means.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    If hubby were trying to start the lawn mower and I noticed it was out of fuel, would it be unsupportive of me to point out that all his whaling away on the starter wasn't going to do a thing?

    Sifting through what works from what doesn't can save people worlds of pain, anguish, false starts, money, guilt, embarrassment....
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Wow....such support here
    Pacification isn't support though. It's nice to hear, but how does that support the person if it's just words and holds no truth?
    You don't have to agree and can go buy whatever product you think will help you. Hopefully any one else just lurking with the same question reads the responses.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Your urine changes pH based on what you eat, but it does not change the pH of your blood. Your body works hard to make sure that your pH doesn't change. There is a very narrow range that is acceptable and attempting to move outside of that range could kill you. The normal blood pH is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Wow....such support here

    Would you like people to lie to you so that you get the support you need? People are telling you facts. Facts are facts.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    In before the first accusations of mfp meanies and first white knight saving op from "attacks"

    To OP: same answer as everyone else. You can't change your body's pH... In either direction....by the food you eat
  • Mccmack
    Mccmack Posts: 195 Member
    Can someone tell me what will happen if I stick a needle in my finger and test a drop of blood for the ph level? I don't have ph strips, but if ph in the blood does not change, I would think it could be measured. I'm going to try this as soon as I get some strips.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    edited June 2015
    When we breathe out carbon dioxide we are regulating our pH levels.
  • KNoceros
    KNoceros Posts: 326 Member
    By all means test the pH of your blood. The result will be between 7.35 and 7.45 unless you are hospital/ICU level sick.

    This you can't change by altering your diet.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    I did a questionaire that said my body probably had very high acidity. I'm going to buy PH strips today to find out for sure, but if I am I need help with how to fix this. I saw Energize Greens that seem to fix everything (LOL) but very expensive. Whole Foods has similiar product a little bit cheaper, but still like $40 and you mix with juice which I never drink. Also, I was trying to do more of a high protein diet but read that meat was very acidic. Has anyone been through this already who can offer some suggestions??

    You cannot fix your body's PH, because this is all nonsese, sorry. If you could manage to change your body's PH you would be dead.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    edited June 2015
    Mccmack wrote: »
    Can someone tell me what will happen if I stick a needle in my finger and test a drop of blood for the ph level? I don't have ph strips, but if ph in the blood does not change, I would think it could be measured. I'm going to try this as soon as I get some strips.
    You probably could, but since blood is very red and pH measurements work by changing their color it would be hard to see.
    Come to think about it, that may be how the ph diet people trick people into thinking they're acidic.
    "Look, the ph strip is red! Red means acidic!!"
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    I agree with all of the above replies.
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Wow....such support here

    I only see a lot of helpful information.

    What questionnaire did you complete? Do you have a link?

    Kind regards.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Your body is multi compartment and hence has multiple pH values. Your blood pH is tightly regulated and slightly alkaline, your stomach is acid to digest food, your urine pH varies with the acid/alkali balance of your food and drink.

    Foods high in natural alkalinity ( high sodium or potassium content) will tend to increase your urine pH. Even a lemon, which is itself acidic, contributes alkaline elements.

    I have no idea what regulates salivary pH.
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    Your body is multi compartment and hence has multiple pH values. Your blood pH is tightly regulated and slightly alkaline, your stomach is acid to digest food, your urine pH varies with the acid/alkali balance of your food and drink.

    Foods high in natural alkalinity ( high sodium or potassium content) will tend to increase your urine pH. Even a lemon, which is itself acidic, contributes alkaline elements.

    I have no idea what regulates salivary pH.

    I was going to write something similar to this, but it's already been said very eloquently. Pretty much the only time your body isn't going to regulate it's own pH properly is if you're severely dehydrated (i'm talking not far away from kicking the bucket) or have major kidney problems.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    edited June 2015
    PACO1481 wrote: »
    Hmmm...I guess I should have left out the "questionaire" part as that is not the only thing that got me interested in this. And maybe should have mentioned I will be testing my saliva, not urine...althought not sure that would make a difference to those who have responded so far.
    Question...do you have an opinion on PH imbalance in general (causes/fixes?) or do you not believe there is any such issue?

    You can't change your body's pH by consuming any food or supplement. Can't do it unless you inject large amount of acidic or basic liquid directly into your veins, and even then the change doesn't last longer than a few minutes. Why? Because your body rigidly controls your pH through breathing and will immediately alter your breathing pattern to correct any problem. If your body's pH was really outside the normal range, you'd be quite ill and already in a hospital. Anyone trying to tell you that your problems are because of a pH imbalance is just trying to rip you off.

    ETA: yes, there really are pH imbalances, but as I said previously, you'd be gravely ill as your body does everything it can to maintain a normal pH. People dying from end-stage kidney disease are acidotic. People dying from end-stage lung disease are acidotic. People dying from end-stage liver disease are acidotic. This is the kind of stuff that makes your pH out of whack, and as I said before, if you WERE acidotic, you'd be very ill. Twenty-five years ICU experience talking here.
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