Be Clean…Be Lean…

What’s that got to do with my liver, you ask? Everything!

Our liver is exposed to deterioration by acids that cause a rustic effect in the body. We can measure this effect by checking our pH balance. An ideal pH to aim for is 6.4 for both urine and saliva.

Here’s why.

If our body is too acidic, it will draw on body fluid, lymph, intracellular and extra-cellular fluids to re-establish the balance. These fluids also have a limit that needs to be respected. That’s why drinking water is so important. When very out of balance, the body will even draw from the bones, teeth and cartilage.

Excessive acidity attacks the body and causes irritation. If sweat is too acidic, it can inflame tissues and irritate the skin. Perfect examples are cases of eczema and hives.

Do you suffer from burning urine, joint pain or hemorrhoids? Do you find your skin aging rapidly, your hair no longer shiny and that your nails more brittle? Do you notice irregular sleep patterns, increased occurrence of colds, flu episodes, infections and headaches and decreased physical and mental energy, leg cramps, arthritis or osteoporosis?

Virtually all degenerative diseases including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones, and tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body.

Acids contained in foods are released during the digestive process or used by the body. These acids release hydrogen ions at varying rates. The greater the potential is for releasing hydrogen ions the lower the pH on a scale of 0-7.

Of course there are exceptions to everything. Strong acids such as animal proteins are difficult to neutralize and eliminate. If ingested in large quantities, they force the liver and kidney to work harder. Weak acids such as vegetable proteins and carbohydrates are volatile and eliminated in the form of gas through the lungs. The body normally expels weak acids quite easily but if your metabolism is weak this won’t happen efficiently.

That’s why we are told to cut back from eating meat and up out intake of vegetables and legumes.

Here’s what you can do to help return your body pH be more alkaline.

• part of renewing your pH balance starts with your diet that should include the three food groups. If you eat properly, eliminating excess acid should not be a problem. However, it will need help from:

• supplements. One of the most important is calcium. Now there are many forms of calcium. Some are acid forming and some are alkaline forming. And another question is how much do you need to take?

One way to find out is by testing your urine and saliva on a daily basis. This can be done very easily with a pH tester. You can use the pH litmus strips but these aren’t as accurate. What you want to get is a pH tester such as one that is used in an aquarium or for water testing. The aquarium one is quite inexpensive, under $20.00. I found one on Ebay.

So now what do you do. Well you record your urine and saliva and look at the results.

On a chart, anything above 6.4 is alkaline and below is acidic. Of course there are varying degrees from the best to the worse as one gets away from the 6.4 ideal number.

So, if the urine is below, it is acidic. How much below is another question?. Usually where very acidic urine is found, then so will the saliva be.

To regain some balance and alkalinize you need to take a calcium supplement, preferably liquid carbonate as it is the best absorbed.

If you are too alkaline, then look at taking calcium lactate which will acidify the urine and blood and bring you closer to that perfect number of 6.4.

This testing should be done daily if you want to keep on top of too much acidity or alkalinity.

This link will take you to a food pH chart items with their respective pH values so you can see for yourself where the food you eat is categorized at. Another interesting chart is the pH one sectioned off to show you how certain foods affect the pH.

Other foods such as green tea, spirulina, chlorophyll, chlorella, goat’s milk, whey and especially a dose of alkaline citrates measured to your metabolism by a professional can ensure proper balance and well being.

Of course the whole pH issue is way more complicated than what I can address here, but this gives you some idea on how you can change your pH to a more balanced level that will help your body and especially your liver to do a better job of keeping you healthy.