Acid-Alkaline Secrets

That most people don't know or talk about

You've probably heard about the importance of an alkaline diet somewhere along the way. There is a huge corner of the health and wellness world that is downright obsessed with alkalinizing.

However, I have found that, as with most things, people have a tendency to take a good idea and carry it to an illogical extreme. More does not always equal better. Sometimes, it can make things worse.

This isn't a comprehensive treatise on acid-alkaline chemistry in biological systems. This is a practical guide to how to view your diet and lifestyle through the lens of acid-alkaline balance.

Maintaining the proper balance of acid and alkaline substrates in the body is vital to good health and longevity. When we look at the list of things that generally make you sick, fat, and dead in short order, they all tend to acidify the body. They are:

• Heavy metals

• Toxins of any kind (petroleum, mold, industrial chemicals, etc)

• Excess caloric intake

• Processed food, particularly processed meats

• A sedentary lifestyle

• Lack of red, infrared, and UV light

• Artificial light at night

This is why I am serious about sauna, red and infrared light, vitamin D optimization, blue blockers, and optimizing your indoor light environment.

Why do these things tend to acidify the body?

Because they oxidize it.

Acidity is the degree to which free protons (H+) outnumber hydroxide ions (OH-) within a solution. Oxidative stress, in excess, is synonymous with aging. The old mnemonic for remembering the difference between oxidation and reduction is, OIL RIG, which stands for, "oxidation is loss" and "reduction is gain."

Oxidation is the loss of electrons. What is a free proton? It is a hydrogen atom that has lost its electron.

If that makes little to no sense to you, fear not, you do not need to completely understand the chemistry to make better decisions about your diet and lifestyle based on your acid-alkaline balance. I am just including this here for the chemistry geeks who care to contemplate it.

Here is how I view acid-base balance, and how I use it in my practice every day.