pH

There is a lot of talk about pH nowadays. More specifically, there is a lot of talk about alkalinity. The alkaline diet, alkaline water etc. So, let’s break this down.

What is pH?

Well, pH is the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution or environment. Have you ever seen a pool kit? You dump a few chemicals into a few tubes and see what color it turns. That’s testing the pH of the pool water.

Why is the pH important?

Ok, let’s go back to the pool analogy. When the pool is too alkaline (6.5 or higher on a scale of 0-14), it starts to turn green or brown or even black, and algae begin to grow. That’s because when the pH is too alkaline, things are moving too slow. There is not enough acidity in the water to kill off bacteria and keep the water clean and free of harmful overgrowth. Now, think of that same pool with far too many chemicals in it. It will appear clear, but the water will burn your eyes and maybe your skin if you were to get in the pool, right? These same concepts apply to our microbiome (gut). If our microbiome is too alkaline, things will move sluggishly. Food will pass through our digestive tract very slowly, which means bacteria (the bad kind) will have ample opportunity to grow and cause problems. If the microbiome is too acidic, things are moving too quickly, which is equally harmful. Nutrients do not have time to be absorbed, the lining of the gut may be damaged and chaos ensues.

What is pH balance?

A balanced pH or healing range is 6.2-6.4 on a pH strip test. This means your microbiome is functioning at the appropriate rate to take food in, absorb nutrients and water, and eliminate waste before bacteria or other harmful issues can happen.

How do I achieve pH balance?

This is where a Health/Wellness coach comes in! Foods are broken down into 2 categories: Alkaline and acidic. Eating 80% of your diet from the alkaline food lists and only 20% from the acidic list will help maintain pH balance, along with daily physical activity, healthy elimination, plenty of water and sleep. It’s a balancing act!

Naturopaths believe that when the body is in balance, disease cannot survive, inflammation cannot exist and dysfunction does not occur. Of course, there is an exception to every rule, but keeping the body in a balanced pH range is a great way to eliminate a wide range of issues that occur within the body.