Understanding pH: How It Affects Your Body
How to Regulate Your pH: What You Eat, Drink, and Do Matters
Mouth:
Sugary or acidic foods and drinks can lower the pH in your mouth, leading to tooth decay. When the pH drops below 5.5, tooth enamel begins to break down, increasing the risk of cavities.
Stomach:
The stomach has the lowest pH in the body (1.5 to 3.5) to digest food properly. However, excessive alcohol can raise your stomach’s pH, disrupting digestion.
10 Tips to Keep Your pH in Balance
Lungs: Practice Deep Breathing
Engage in deep breathing or meditation for 5-10 minutes daily to lower carbon dioxide and reduce acidity.Kidneys: Stay Hydrated
Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily to help your kidneys flush out excess acids.Stomach: Limit Acidic Foods
Cut back on processed foods, sugary drinks, and red meat, which can increase stomach acidity.Liver: Eat Alkaline Vegetables
Incorporate leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli to support liver detoxification and balance pH.Pancreas: Eat Lean Proteins
Choose lean proteins like fish or chicken over red meat to reduce acid production and support digestion through pancreatic enzymes.Adrenal Glands: Manage Stress
Practice stress-relief techniques like yoga, journaling, or mindfulness to reduce acid-forming stress hormones produced by the adrenal glands.Bladder: Include Potassium-Rich Foods
Eat bananas, avocados, and sweet potatoes to maintain electrolyte balance and prevent bladder irritation caused by excess acidity.Muscles: Exercise Regularly
Engage in 30 minutes of physical activity (walking, jogging, or yoga) to eliminate lactic acid buildup.Heart: Reduce Caffeine and Alcohol
Limit coffee, energy drinks, and alcohol, which can increase acidity and strain your heart.Teeth: Protect Tooth Enamel
Avoid sugary and acidic foods that lower pH in your mouth, leading to enamel breakdown and cavities.
This might sound technical, but it's actually simple and important for anyone looking to optimize their performance in any area of life.
What is pH, and Why Does It Matter?
pH measures how acidic or basic (alkaline) a substance is. On a scale from 0 to 14, a pH of 7 is neutral, anything below is acidic (think lemon juice), and anything above is basic (like baking soda).
Since your body is about 60% water, pH plays a crucial role in how your organs function. Different organs need different pH levels to perform specific tasks. Maintaining proper pH balance can help prevent various diseases. Here’s a quick look at the pH levels of different parts of the body:
Brain: 7.1 - 7.2
Mouth: 6.8 - 7.4
Heart: 7.1 - 7.2
Pancreas: 7.5 - 8.0
Urine: 4.5 - 8.0
Large Intestine: 6.8 - 7.2
Stomach: 1.5 - 3.5
Blood: 7.3 - 7.45
Even a small change in pH can have a big impact. For example, going from a pH of 7 to 8 is a significant shift.
