Excess Acidity health problems
Acidity Health Problems
• What
happens when the body is too acidic?
• Symptoms
that may indicate excess body acidity
• Health
Problems that can result from mild acidosis
What happens when the body is too acidic?
Depletes body's alkaline reserves
The ongoing buffering mechanisms use
alkaline mineral bicarbonate and ammonia to correct an overly acidic pH due to
strong acid presence. Alkalizing minerals include sodium, potassium, calcium
and magnesium .
Decreases cellular energy production
Oxygen levels decrease - Partial oxygen pressure (PO2 )
expresses amount of O2 that can
react/combine with hemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin, the form in which
O2 is transported
through body. This reaction rate decreases as blood plasma becomes more acidic,
which decreases the amount of oxygen that can
be delivered to cells, and thus decreases cellular energy production.
Cellular Sodium /Potassium Pumps are Compromised -
Na+ /K+
pumps in the cell membrane are central to cellular energy production of all
cells.
- To function correctly
these pumps must maintain the cell membrane potential, by keeping a low sodium /
high potassium concentration of ions inside the cell -
When hydrogen (H+ ) ions move into cells to
compensate for an overly acidic blood plasma pH, they exchange places with
potassium ions inside the cell (to maintain
electrical equilibrium inside cell),
and thus disturb Na/K pump function.
Malfunctioning pumps leave us feeling tired and burning less fat and causes a
sodium and calcium buildup within the plasma.
Acid build-up in tissues
Continual acid production can deplete the
chemical buffers in the blood plasma, such that a healthy pH can no longer be
maintained -
To deal with this problem, excess acid is
stored in the connective tissue and joints,
including ligaments, tendons and
muscles . As these acid stores build up, they can cause
pain and inflammation in the
storage areas.This may manifest as
arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Overly Acidic blood plasma is an arterial irritant
(may lead to atherosclerosis)
If blood plasma pH is consistently on the acidic
end of the required 7.36 -7.42 range, then the blood plasma's acidity acts as a
chemical irritant, slowly "eating away"at the inner linings of the artery, vein
and heart - This weakens their structures and sets the stage for the need to lay down
arterial plaque to repair the damage.
Accelerates free radical damage
Acidosis causes partial lipid breakdown and
destructive oxidative cascades, accelerating free radical damage of cell walls
and intracellular membrane structures -
Acidosis is a
stepping stone towards premature aging, deterioration of eyesight and memory,
creating skin wrinkles / age spots, dysfunctional hormonal systems, other
age-related phenomena.
More Mucus
Acid-producing foods create mucus, which congests
and retards oxygen
entry
MORE Chloride Ions
In normal pH, 99% of chloride ions are
reabsorbed, less are reabsorbed in acidosis
Symptoms that may indicate excess body acidity
• Low energy, chronic fatigue
• Excess mucous production
• Nasal congestion
• Frequent colds/flus and infections
• Nervous, stressed, irritable,
anxious, agitated
• Weak nails, dry hair, dry skin
• Formation of cysts, such as ovarian
cysts, polycystic ovaries, benign breast cysts
(i.e. fibrocystic breasts)
• Headaches
• Joint pain or arthritis
• Neuritis
• Muscle pain
• Feeling better after a detoxification
diet
• Hives
• Leg cramps and spasms
• Gastritis, acid indigestion
(incl. GERD)
• Kidney stones
(uric acid stones)
Health Problems that can result from mild acidosis
Cardiovascular Damage
Reduction in cardiac muscle contractility
Sympathetic overactivity E.g. tachycardia, vasoconstriction,
decreased arrhythmia threshold
Peripheral arteriolar vasodilatation
Vasoconstriction of peripheral veins
Effects of increased potassium on heart
Respiratory Problems
Hyperventilation (as compensatory response)
Decreased affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen (i.e. less oxygen in
blood)
Other Health Problems
Increased bone resorption(in chronic acidosis) -bones are broken down and its
minerals released
Bladder and kidney conditions E.g.
kidney stones
Weight gain, obesity and diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia
Gout
Immune deficiency
Low energy and chronic fatigue
Premature aging
Cancer
Osteoporosis
Weight gain, Obesity, Diabetes
Excess acid triggers
INSULIN sensitivity -
resulting in
excess INSULIN production and high blood
sugar, with INSULIN promoting fat storage.
Also, continual INSULIN production wears out
the pancreatic beta cells. Diabetes used to be treated by buffering the system
with alkaline-promoting powders.
Fasting or dieting -
produces acid that triggers genetic response to starvation, causing
INSULIN to flood the body to promote fat
storage for future needs .
pH must be balanced to override this fat-storing mechanism, or dieting is to no
avail
Bone Disease
(E.g. Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia, rickets)
-
Estimated that at least 40% of the buffering
minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, needed for an acute acid load are drawn
from bone - This can lead to osteomalacia, osteoporosis,
rickets etc.
- Bones and teeth are made from calcium phosphate
• The positively charged H+ ion in acid saliva will
pull the negatively charged phosphate ion out of the tooth -
Drink acidic liquids (eg. Apple Cider Vinegar,
lemonade) through a straw to minimize
contact with the teeth .
Cancer
Cells become cancerous and thrive in an acid pH - Eventually, as oxygen levels
continue to decrease, normally aerobic cellular
energy production converts to anaerobic
fermentation (possibly involves microorganisms, that thrive in lower
oxygen environment,
entering and hijacking cells), creating
lactic acid as a byproduct -making the body even more acidic . Lactic
acid is associated with fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, and energy
loss.
CANCER
Kidney Stones
Uric acid stones are
formed in overly-acidic conditions -
composed of uric acid and crystine. A more
alkaline diet would make the urine less acidic.
Kidney Stones
References
http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/salivaphtest.htm