Skip to content 
In the previous article, we figured out what pH is, what is the normal range for the body, and what risks are associated with high acidity. Today, we continue to consider this topical issue. Nutritionists directly study the effects of food on humans, so it’s important to know how certain eating habits can cause serious problems.
The pH level of biological fluids: why is it important?
Assessing the results of the urine acidity level allows the nutritionist to find out how effectively the body absorbs magnesium, potassium, calcium and other minerals. They are also called “acid shock absorbers” due to their ability to regulate the body’s acidity level.
The principle is simple: if the acidity is too high, the body will not produce acid but will neutralize it. To do this, it will start taking minerals from internal organs, muscles, and bones. If it does not, excess acid will accumulate in the tissues. Therefore, acidity is regulated by “leaching” minerals.
A professional nutritionist or dietitian may also ask about the pH level of their client’s saliva. The test results indicate the activity of enzymes in the digestive system, including the stomach and liver. The pH of saliva gives an idea of the functioning of the body and some of its systems. If a person has an increased level of acid in both urine and saliva, nutritionists advise talking about “double acidity.”
Speaking of biological fluids, the most important one is blood. The pH value of blood is the most informative indicator of the body’s condition. Normally (as mentioned in the previous article), a value between 7.36 and 7.42 is considered normal.
If the indicator changes by even one tenth, this can cause a serious pathological condition. You can see this for yourself by asking any ambulance doctor: in emergency cases, patients are first injected with a slightly alkaline solution (saline). This is very important, because when the pH of the blood changes by two tenths, a coma occurs, and by three tenths, a person dies.
How to maintain a healthy pH level in the body?
A nutritionist is not a doctor or a nutritionist, but in the case of acid balance, a specialist can give the right advice. The human body is able to absorb and accumulate nutrients and minerals if the level of acid and alkali is balanced. At the same time, a person is able to help the body receive nutrients rather than lose them. To do this, you need to have a balanced pH.
Want some examples? Here’s one: for the full absorption of iron, the pH should be 6.0-7.0, and iodine – 6.3-6.6.
So what then? Give up all “sour” foods? It’s not that simple.
The human body uses hydrochloric acid to break down food. For normal life, we need both acidic and alkaline decomposition products. It is worth noting that acidic ones are formed 20 times more. Therefore, the body’s defense systems responsible for the pH level primarily work to neutralize and eliminate acidic waste products.
To maintain normal levels in the future, the body uses the blood buffer systems (hemoglobin, protein, phosphate, etc.), the pulmonary regulatory system, and the renal system.
How does the body control acidity?
Every experienced nutritionist in Ukraine knows these processes well. The body:
- releases acids through the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and lungs;
- neutralizes them by attracting minerals from internal reserves;
- accumulates in muscle and other tissues.
It took the German biochemist Otto Warburg almost a quarter of a century to prove that in an oxygenated environment with a pH of 7.43 (i.e., a slightly alkaline environment), the growth of cancer cells stops. In 1932, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this discovery. The scientist’s followers later proved that viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria do not develop in such an environment.
My pH is normal. What should I do next? Advice from a nutritionist
In the practice of a nutritionist in Ukraine, there are situations when the patient’s acidity level is within the normal range. This is a great result! However, it is very important to maintain a balance. To do this, you need:
- pure water in a daily amount of about 30 ml per 1 kg of body weight (in hot weather, the norms should be doubled or tripled);
- Food. It is necessary to regulate the amount of foods with a high level of acidity. These are meat and milk, sweets, sodas, and all products artificially created by humans;
- enzymes. They are needed to effectively regulate the pH level. They can improve health, improve food digestion, and increase the efficiency of mineral absorption (especially calcium). To get the required amount of enzymes, you should eat flower pollen.
- normal mineral metabolism. The most important mineral for regulating the pH balance is calcium. But magnesium, potassium, boron, zinc, and phosphorus are also important. In fact, humans consume very little of these substances due to the purification of food raw materials, too much culinary processing of food, and growing fruits and vegetables on weakened soil (which also lacks minerals).
A slightly acidic environment in the human body triggers various chemical processes. For example, in the stomach, the acidity of the environment is elevated, which is normal for this organ. However, an increase in the acidity of the blood pH will lead to a change in natural processes.
This can be explained by the fact that the blood contains the “building blocks” that the liver transmits: proteins, leukocytes, antibodies, and much more. They are able to work effectively in the pH range of 7.35-7.45. Given that an average adult has about 5 liters of blood and 85 thousand kilometers of blood vessels, you can imagine how important this is. Therefore, all the body’s regulatory systems (metabolism, respiration, hormone production) regulate pH most of the time, removing caustic acid residues from tissues (without affecting living cells). If the pH level becomes too low (i.e., acidic) or too high (alkaline), the cells are poisoned by their own toxic waste and die.
In the next article, a nutritionist will provide effective tips for maintaining a healthy pH level in the body.
