Nutrition Counseling
pH Balancing
In the scientific world, pH stands for “potential of Hydrogen.” Or, you could be really scientific about it and say that pH represents the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. Wow! Instead, let’s just say that, in your body, pH stands for your potential for Health.
Specifically, pH is a value given to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It’s a value – an intangible, not a thing. pH values are to acid and alkaline what temperature degrees are to heat and cold.
The pH scale of values runs from 0 to 14. At the low end, 0 indicates really strong, complete acidity. At the high end, 14 indicates really strong, complete alkalinity. In the middle, pH 7.0 indicates that the substance is neither acid nor alkaline – it’s neutral. Very few substances are completely neutral – most test out on either side of it.
All of the fluids of your body operate best at particular levels of pH ranging between slightly acid and slightly alkaline. Simple tests of your saliva and urine that you can perform yourself can give you a good idea of the pH levels of your body. If you are truly healthy, both your saliva and urine should register around pH 7.0 the first thing in the morning (as soon as you get up after at least five hours sleep). However, even though you usually feel good, if your diet consists mostly of meat, pasta, convenience foods, starches, and coffee or cola drinks, your early morning urine will probably register as low as pH 5, or possibly as high as pH 8.
Testing urine and saliva after sleeping at least five hours gives you an idea of how your body is really operating. Urine pH tells you how your body is responding to the food you ate the day before. Saliva pH tells you how your body has adapted to your thinking and the stresses of your life.
If you have not been eating foods that contain alkalizing minerals (fruits and vegetables), or, if you have a lot of stress in your life, your body has adapted its functions to keep the pH of your blood and other vital fluids as correct as possible under these circumstances. But, these adaptations can cause your potential for Health to suffer, eventually leading to symptoms of chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, emphysema, or even cancer.
Call us for information on how you can get a pH testing kit to evaluate you pH levels and monitor your health!
Detoxification
The primary goal of detoxing is to improve the function of the organs of elimination-the liver, kidneys, colon and lymphatic. When these body systems are working properly, detoxification occurs on going; however if the liver, for example, is overloaded with toxins, its ability to detoxify the body is diminished resulting in systemic toxicity, a compromised immune system, and possibly disease.
What to Expect When Detoxifying
Keep in mind we are all individuals and react differently to each experience including detoxifying. Some people may have a difficult time during the cleansing process while others barely notice it. It depends on the level of toxicity, type of toxicity, organ involved, diet, compliance with instructions on dosing of remedies, etc. It is not uncommon, however, for the patient to experience fatigue, irritability, digestive changes, or shin rashes. These aggravations are actually a positive sign that detoxifying is occurring. If any of these become too overwhelming, simply reduce the frequency of the remedies, and you will cleanse a little bit slower. Drink plenty of water and try to eat healthy during the detoxification process. This will help alleviate some of the discomforts and may speed the process.
Other Suggestions For Helping to Detox: 2-3 cups apple cider vinegar in bath water as warm as possible.
Soak for 15-30 minutes. Rinse off when done. The skin is the largest exit route for the body to detoxify or excrete toxins. The combination of the apple cider vinegar and warm water simply enhances that process. 1 cup baking soda will do the same thing and is not as drying to the skin.
