Acid overload is silently eroding your health, and you may not even be aware of it!
Everything we eat, drink, breathe and consume, as well as everything that we think, say or do has an effect on the biochemical composition of our bodies. This effect can either be beneficial to our health and assist healing or it can damage our health and be to our detriment. A diet rich in protein, dairy products, alcohol, coffee, tea, sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed and fast foods and lacking in vegetables, fresh fruit, and water, cause an acid overload that needs to be neutralised. If the body is unable to neutralise the acid overload, the acidity accumulates and develops into a compensated chronic low-grade acidotic state which could be detrimental to health. When there is an overload of the compensating mechanisms of the body to restore the acid-base balance, metabolic acidosis may develop. This is a serious and life-threatening condition if left untreated and can lead to negative consequences for just about every part of the body.
Acidity in the body may contribute to, or aggravate the following conditions:
- Pain in the body and joints
- Inflammatory conditions
- Poor quality skin, hair and nails
- Reduced immune response
- Kidney and gall stones
- Weight fluctuations
- Low vitality and energy
- Indigestion, constipation and flatulence
- Water retention
- Lower back ache
- Gout
- Osteoporosis
- Promoting cancer
The physiology underpinning the acid-alkaline balance in the body is complex and not fully understood by medical practitioners. There are new developments on the terrain of integrated medical science, which challenges Western-based concepts of overemphasizing diagnostic and curative medicine. A growing number of medical practitioners are becoming aware that disturbances in the fine balance of the blood and intracellular fluids may contribute to the development of many diseases.
Bacteria thrive in an acidic environment
The famous scientific chemist, Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), is regarded as the founding father of the science of bacteriology, which includes studying the relation between germs and certain diseases. Shortly before his death he made the following important statement: “The germ is nothing. The inner terrain is everything” (this is better known as the milieu intérieur). Germs do indeed require an acidic environment to flourish. Several other diseases can also be connected to an acid overload. These include gout, arthritis, rheumatism, skin rashes, psoriasis, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, headaches, body aches, premature ageing, bad breath and even cancer.
There is a paradigm-shift amongst medical scientists towards the stimulation of the natural healing potential of the body, rather than merely treating the symptoms and signs of established disease with potentially harmful drugs. This is especially true in the management of the chronic and degenerative lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and cancer. These conditions are usually based on specific genetic susceptibility where there is an initial asymptomatic phase of dysfunction disturbing the equilibrium (balance) before the disease manifests. People with a latent genetic susceptibility for certain diseases may develop these diseases if there is an environmental stimulus or trigger such as an unhealthy diet or being overweight. Supporting the natural healing potential of the body through lifestyle interventions such as diet, exercise, stress management and smoking cessation is becoming the norm. Dietary supplements to restore dysfunction in the body may play a role in this regard.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published details on a seven-year study in which 9,000 women participated at the University of California, San Francisco. The study showed that women with a chronic excessive intake of acid suffered a higher risk of loss of bone mass than women with a more alkaline diet. The researchers were of the opinion that many fractures suffered by older women may be connected to high acid levels resulting from diets rich in animal protein and artificial foods, and low in vegetable and fruit intake. In order to keep its pH in balance, the body extracts calcium and other alkaline salts from the bones, leaving the bone structure more fragile (pH refers to the acid-alkali-ratio in the body).
Many studies showed the important influence that nutrition has on the occurrence of several degenerative illnesses. It is generally accepted that the Western diet, with its high levels of animal protein and low levels of fruit and vegetables, raises the acid level in the body. Such a diet is high in acid-forming ingredients and low in alkaline-forming minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. The Western diet is seen as a contributing factor to a chronic mild form of compensated metabolic acidosis, which drains the body of calcium in an attempt to neutralise the high acid levels. It is well known that vegetables and fruits are alkali-forming because they contain sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, all alkali-forming elements, whereas animal protein contains acid-forming elements such as phosphates and sulphates.
The release of alkaline calcium salts from the skeleton to maintain the acid-alkaline balance may cause osteoporosis, kidney stones or loss of muscle tisssue4,5,6. These conditions have serious health consequences and is difficult to manage with traditional Western medicine but have the potential to be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes, including consumption of alkaline salt supplements such as Dr A.Vogel’s Multiforce Alkaline Powder.
Let’s consider the acid-alkaline balance in the body a little more. It’s a state which fluctuates constantly in the blood and body fluids and develops as a normal by-product of metabolism that is influenced by eating, drinking and breathing. From our first to our last breath, our bodies are constantly trying to regulate our blood pH to a slightly alkaline level. Studies suggest that disturbance of the acid-alkaline balance in the body may occur without any significant changes in the pH of the blood. It is therefore possible that, as a result of unbalanced nutrition, one can suffer from a compensated low grade chronic metabolic acidosis without it being reflected in the pH of the blood.
The observed decrease in the urine pH (the urine becomes more acidic) of people on a Western-type diet is a confirmation that urine pH is a reflection of the acid-alkaline balance in the body. This proves that the body is in a state of compensated subclinical low-grade chronic metabolic acidosis7. It is important to note that the blood pH remains within normal limits because of the full compensation by the blood and tissue buffering systems, excretion of CO2 by the lungs, and renal excretion of H+ and the regeneration of HCO3-. The acidic urine is an indication that the body’s compensatory systems are under considerable strain.
One can continue digressing on the negative impact of excessive acid in the body. The question is how the formation of this excessive acidity can be neutralised. Any method that can help our wonderfully intelligent body to maintain a healthy balance should be embraced. The body uses the kidneys, lungs, skin and colon to maintain an acid-alkali balance. Of these four organs, the kidneys are the most important. Kidneys require water and minerals to correct the pH balance of the whole body, so drink enough water and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.
It has already been mentioned that animal proteins in the diet increase acid levels in the body, while vegetables and fruits make the body fluids more alkaline. A Mediterranean-like diet which is low in animal protein and high in vegetables and fruits, preferably organically produced, is therefore the preferred option.
What about supplements?
A recent study completed by König et al describes how supplements of alkaline minerals go hand in hand with a drastic increase in the pH levels of blood and urine. A week’s consumption of such supplements resulted in a long-term increase in the pH of the urine (a higher pH reading means less acid).
This is where A.Vogel Multiforce may play an important role in maintaining the balance.
Multiforce is a natural mineral supplement that contains the macro-minerals that the body requires daily to stay healthy. It consists of a mix of calcium, magnesium and potassium, as well as plant-calcium and acerola vitamin C to promote absorption in the body and enhance the potential to maintain homeostasis (balance) in the body.
We are convinced that Multiforce could be an important supplement to balance the modern lifestyle. Regular usage will ensure that you wear the essential mineral armour. Take one teaspoon in a glass of water every day in the evenings and support your body in its quest to rid itself of acid attacks and chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis.
It was Easter Sunday 2007 when our first story about overcoming acid overload appeared in the Sunday papers, and what a response we had. We never anticipated how many people would relate to the problems associated with acidity and wanted help to overcome them.
Soon after the feature appeared, anecdotal stories from the public started flooding in.
Multiforce is my friend! My fingers are no longer stiff after a morning of cycling and I can play the piano again. My acid attacks are something of the past. Back ache and pain has disappeared. My sugar craving is under control and I am not binging anymore. My tummy has never felt so good. Constipation is a distant memory. My headaches have gone. My sore neck is better. The burning sensation in my bladder is gone since using Multiforce. For years I struggled with bad breath and no doctor or dentist could help me, after a week on Multiforce my breath is so much better… The list goes on and on.
References
- Barzel US, Massey LK: Excess dietary protein can adversely affect bone. J Nutr 1998, 128: 1051-3.
- Bushinsky DA: Acid base imbalance and the skeleton. Eur J Nutr 2001,40:238-44.
- Manz F: History of nutrition and acid-base physiology. Eur J Nutr 2001, 40:189-199.
- Frassetto L, Morris RC Jr, Sellmeyer DE, Sebastian A. Adverse effects of sodium chloride on bone in the aging human population resulting from habitual consumption of typical American diets. J Nutr 2008, 138:419S-22S.
- Marangella M, Di StefaanoM, Casalis S, Berutti S,D’Amello P,Issai GC: Effects of potassium citrate supplementation on bone metabolism. Calcif Tissue Int 2004, 74:330-5.
- Frassetto L, Morris RC Jr , Sellmeyer DE, Sebastian A: Diet evolution and aging – the pathophysiologic effects of the post-agricultural inversion of the potassium-t-sodium and base-to-chloride ratios in the human diet. Eur J Nutr 2001, 40:200-13.
- Ails A, Welch, Angela M, Sheila A, Bingham and Kay-tee Khaw. Urine pH is an indicator of dietary acid-base load, fruit and vegetables and meat intakes: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk population study. Br J Nutr 2008, 99, 1335-1343.
- König D, Muser K, Dickhuth H, Berg A, Deibert P: Effect of a supplement rich in alkaline minerals on acid-base balance in humans. Nutrition Journal 2009,8: 23.
- Robey IF et al. Bicarbonate increases tumour pH and inhibits spontaneous metasteses. Cancer Res 2009; 69:2260-68.