WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ACID & ALKALINE FOR OUR HEALTH?PRANAYAMA-25

THE ROLE OF ACIDS & ALKALINE;- 09 FACTS;- 1-Acids and alkaline are two terms often found in aquatic chemistry. Acids are chemical species that show acidic characteristics. Alkaline is a type of base. Therefore, alkaline solutions show basic properties. The main difference between Acid and Alkaline is that the pH of acids lies below pH 7 whereas the pH of alkaline is above pH 7. 2-Foods can be classified into two groups namely the acidic food group and the alkaline food group. These foods are categorized as such because they affect the urine pH level when they are consumed. Hence, taking in too much acidic food will lead to systemic acidosis whereas too much ingestion of alkaline foods may also lead to severe alkalosis. Nevertheless, the proper balance of acidic and alkaline food intake is required for various purposes. 3-To understand more about this concept, it is important to know about the pH scale. This scale runs from 0 to 14 with the bottom half (0 to 7) belonging to the acidic range and the upper half (7.1 to 14) belonging to the alkaline range. Under normal circumstances, the human body tries to maintain a slightly alkaline pH of 7.4 through mineral deposition and withdrawal from bones and soft tissues. 4- It is said that 50%-80% of the daily food intake must come from alkaline foods to retain the body’s acid-base equilibrium. 5-Alkaline foods include fruits (citrus, watermelons, papaya, mango, grapes, melons, pears, apples, banana, kiwis, peaches, pineapples, cherries, avocados), a range of vegetables (parsley, spinach, okra, broccoli, squash, celery, green beans, carrots, beets, lentils, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips), oils (grape seed oil, olive oil, canola oil) and other food products like goat cheese, hazelnuts, chestnuts, raw sugar and wild rice among others. 6-Popular examples of acidic foods are blueberries, prunes, cranberries, white bread, prunes, pasta, wheat, pork, beef, shellfish, ice cream, peanuts, beer, alcohol, string beans, kidney beans, walnuts, plums, store-bought juices, rye bread, brown rice, organ meats, eggs, cold water fish, pumpkin, eggs, sesame seeds, corn oil, sunflower seeds, fatty dairy products, honey, margarine, lima beans, skinless potatoes, navy beans, pinto beans, canned fruits, oats, white rice, cashews, coffee, pistachios, wine, turkey, chicken, lamb and majority of condiments. 7-There are many health conscious folks that believe that an alkaline rich diet is better than its acidic counterpart. Having such will prevent too much acid from accumulating in the bloodstream as well as reduce the risk of degenerative disorders such as osteoporosis, heart disease and cancers to name a few. 8-Basically, majority of fruits, grains and vegetables are alkaline foods while meat products are usually acidic in nature.Because the body is slightly alkaline in nature, you must make sure to eat enough alkaline-rich foods because it is a lot healthier compared to eating too much acidic foods. 9-Your body’s alkaline and acid balance, also known as pH, can affect your overall well being. What affects body pH? All foods have the ability to change your body’s normal pH. The fluids and tissues do not stay in these fluctuating states of “too acidic” or “too alkaline” because the body is always striving toward balance. However, imbalance and disease can set in when the body is daily dealing with too many acid-forming foods and too much stress. IMPORTANCE OF PH;- Water has a neutral pH of 7. Blood has a pH of 7.35 to 7.45, slightly alkaline. Your body fights hard to neutralize acids and maintain the proper pH in organs, tissues and body fluids. But it can only do that for so long before a condition known as acidosis occurs. You have to give the body what it needs, in the form of alkalizing fruits and vegetables, so that it can properly maintain the delicate acid base balance. STRESS & PH;- Stress plays a role in altering the body’s pH as well. When you're stressed, you breathe shallowly, failing to blow off carbon dioxide and allowing it to build up in your systems. The body must deal with this build-up, so it starts the process of balancing by breaking down the extra carbon dioxide. This is great, except if you eat a double-cheeseburger with fries and a soda for lunch. The body is so busy dealing with the acidic food load that the built-up carbon dioxide may have to wait. The result: an acidic internal environment. EATING FOR BALANCE;- Maintaining a balance of 75 percent alkaline foods and 25 percent acidic foods is ideal. An easy way to accomplish this is to make fruits and vegetables the main part of each meal. Most fruits and vegetables are alkaline in nature. Some fruits, such as citrus, have an acidic pH outside of the body, but when consumed, leave an alkaline residue in the body after being metabolized. DE-STRESSING FOR BALANCE;- Eating the right foods is not the only way to maintain balance.Deep breathing has a vital impact on the body’s pH.Oxygen rids our body of stale, acidic carbon dioxide.Massage, meditation and yoga as well can control this. Finding balance in the areas of diet and lifestyle is critical to our body’s overall health.A properly alkalized body plays a significant role in restoring and maintaining health. Our glands and organs function properly in exact proportion to the amount of alkaline and acid levels in our system. Finding the balance between too acidic and too alkaline can be a challenge in today’s stressful, fast-food society but not impossible. .....SHIVOHAM......