Our body uses many substances, amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, vitamins, minerals, trace elements to function. These substances are classified into two main families: acids and bases, which have antagonistic characteristics.
The balance between the two is essential. For optimal health, the body needs both acids and bases. But considering the current lifestyle and modern diet, a large part of the population is acidified.
What is an acid?
We all generally know how to recognize an acidic taste: lemon, vinegar or rhubarb all evoke this corrosive and aggressive characteristic. However, this is not the only way to determine if a food is acidic.
Indeed, meats and cereals are acidifying for the body, while they are not to taste. It is actually chemistry that determines whether a food is acidic or not. When acidic minerals are more numerous than basic minerals, then the substance is classified as acidic. The main acid minerals are: phosphorus, sulfur, iodine, chlorine, silica or fluorine.
What is a base?
Unlike aggressive acids, they are sweet substances, but again, taste is not the only indicator, in fact white bread and white sugar, which are rather mild in flavor, are acidifying foods for the body. These substances are also said to be alkaline. Bananas, potatoes or almonds are basic.
When basic minerals are more numerous than acidic minerals, then the substance is basic. The main basic minerals are: calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, sodium, manganese and cobalt.
The basic substances make it possible to decrease the acidity of the organism. For example, an avocado reduces the acidity of the tomato and thus helps to maintain the acid-base balance of a dish.
How do you measure the degree of acidity?
We measure the acidity, alkalinity or neutrality of a food thanks to the pH, or potential hydrogen, which is measured on a scale which goes from 0 to 14. 7 represents the neutrality, 0 the extreme acidity and 14 l absolute alkalinity. These pH measurements are made using a reagent paper which changes colors depending on the acidity or alkalinity.
The body must constantly maintain the acid-base balance, for this it has two solutions, either to reject the excess of acids outside the body, or to neutralize them by making neutral salts, this is the “buffer system “.
When there is too much acid, the body will have to provide bases to “buffer” them. It will only be found in small amounts in the blood, because the pH of the blood can only be changed very little. Consequently, he will have to look for it elsewhere, in the tissues of the organs. If this action occurs only from time to time, there will be no damage, on the other hand if it occurs chronically, the tissues will be demineralized. The consequences may be more or less serious depending on the degree of demineralization and therefore of acidification.
Elimination by emunctories
This is the second solution the body has for eliminating acids. An emunctory is an organ responsible for elimination. The lungs will be able to eliminate weak or volatile acids, in gaseous form, with each exhalation. Strong acids will be eliminated by the kidneys, but not more than a certain amount on a daily basis.
The liver also plays an important role in the acid-base balance, it is in particular in load of bile acids, provided that there is no hepatic problem. Finally, the skin is essential to eliminate acids thanks to its sweat glands.
How to avoid acidification of the body?
- By increasing the consumption of alkalizing foodss and by reducing acidifying foods. The main alkalizing foods are vegetables and aromatic herbs, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes and chestnuts, bananas, avocados, almonds, good oils first cold pressed. The main acidifying foods are proteins, cereals and refined foods, sugar, saturated fat, legumes, coffee, nuts except almonds.
- We can also supplement with basic minerals.
- It is essential to learn to manage your stress, indeed stress is very acidifying. Limit any acid intake such as coffee, tobacco, alcohol and tea. Be careful, the drugs are acidifying.
- Exercise in a balanced way because too much sport is acidifying like a sedentary lifestyle is too.
Thanks to Laurence Guillon, Naturopath contributor at Therapeutesmagazine.com
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