There are countless chemical reactions necessary for life that
can only occur within a very specific pH range, thus the body
has many checks and balances to maintain pH within a narrow range.
Through varied mechanisms alkaline minerals salts of organic anions,
(as potassium citrate or malate), are drawn upon to buffer acids.
When dietary consumption patterns provide insufficient buffering
capacity, body buffering mineral pools can be depleted and the
intracellular environment becomes acidotic.
An underlying metabolic acidity is a common denominator among,
and a likely contributing factor to all degenerative and autoimmune
diseases. An acid condition has several adverse effects on cell
metabolism including: impaired energy production; fluid accumulation
and edema; and a likely increase in free radical production. Interesting
enough kidney specialists working with acid-base balance now recognize
that most Americans as they age live in chronic, low grade metabolic
acidosis. This chronic, low grade condition contributes to a series
of health problems including loss of bone mineral, loss of muscle
mass, a reduction in growth hormone and the development of kidney
stones.
The re-establishment of the health-promoting alkaline state is
essential to the regeneration of bone health, immune competence
and overall well-being.
Acid Alkaline Food Chart
(This is a large file and will take a long time to download, please
be patient).
Extracted from our book, Better
Bones Better Body (Keats 2000) by our Director, Susan E. Brown,
Ph.D., CCN
