What is pH? What does pH stand for?
How does pH relate to an acid - alkaline diet?
A pH definition

Introduction

A pH definition that is useful to those of us who aren't chemistry wizards or rocket scientists would answer such questions as: "What is pH?" "What does pH stand for?" as well as explain and illustrate the pH scale and how it relates to an acid or alkaline diet.

What does "pH" stand for? The meaning of "pH" is "potential of hydrogen" - a chemistry term. The "H" in pH is capitalized because the symbol for hydrogen is capital H.

(Hydrogen is a very light element and the smallest atom. There is more hydrogen in the universe than any other element. On Earth, it is usually found with oxygen in water.

A chemical element is any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter.)

Translating that into a useful pH definition, there is a pH scale that reflects how powerful or weak the hydrogen particles are in a solution.

That factor, the relative activity of the hydrogen particles, makes a solution more acidic or more alkaline. There's a lot more to it, but it's a brain-cracking chemistry subject and we'll leave the details to the rocket scientists!

The pH scale

The pH of a substance is measured and shown on a pH scale of 0 - 14. The pH scale below illustrates pH as it relates to our body and health:

pH balance of the body

How does this pH definition apply to the pH balance of the body and health?

The body works by a vast network of chemical processes. Digestion, absorption, metabolism and elimination are all achieved by chemical processes in the body.

All chemical processes have an ideal pH where they function optimally. The ideal pH of the human body is slightly alkaline (pH of 7.0 to 8.0). Furthermore, the blood must be maintained precisely at a pH of 7.4 (slightly alkaline) and the body works ceaseless to maintain the blood pH.

pH is balanced when the amounts of acidity and alkalinity are fairly equal - around 7 on the ph scale. The pH balance of the body is constantly changing - the chemical processes of metabolism, for example, create an acidic pH environment and the body constantly works to balance it.

Acid alkaline diet

Balanced nutrition goes far in attaining pH balance in our bodies. For instance, red meats, fats, and sugars create an acidic pH and fruits, vegetables, and whole grains create an alkaline pH.

It is not the pH of the undigested food itself that matters. It is the pH of digested and assimilated Food and drink (called "ash" that matters.

For example, lemons themselves are acidic. But after digestion, they create an alkaline solution in the body, which makes lemons very healthy!

Acidic body pH

When we consume more red meats, fats, and sugars out of balance with most fresh fruits, lightly steamed or juiced vegetables and other alkaline, neutralizing nutrients, we create an acidic pH body environment.

An acidic, unbalanced body environment is unhealthy and allows disease to grow and thrive. One thing that an acidic body pH causes is inflammation. Cancers and other degenerative diseases just love an acidic environment!

Some health conditions that may be caused, at least partially, by an unbalanced, acidic pH are:

• Immune deficiency

• Fatigue

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Bladder and kidney problems

• Joint pain

• Fungal overgrowth

• Hormonal imbalances

• Premature aging

• Headaches

• Bad breath

• Irritability and depression
  

I am not saying that completely handling an acidic body pH would completely eliminate these conditions. But improving an out-of-balance pH will improve your health.

Makes sense that you'd feel lousy after a while if this were happening constantly! After researching and understanding this pH definition, I realized how fundamental to our health it is. Since I've been helping my body to become more alkaline, less acidic I have experienced greatly improved health overall.

Testing your pH

There are pH test strips available in health food stores and on-line that you can use to test your pH. I found some at the place I get my dietary supplements.

The pH of your body and other substances can be checked with pH strips.

pH color chart

Here's a short video about using pH test strips to check the pH of your body.

Conventional or "western" medicine, with its emphasis on a "drugs-and-surgery" method of healthcare, do not give us a pH definition, much less any mention of this health tool. I highly doubt that it is taught in conventional medical schools. If it were, why don't we hear about it?

I hope this pH definition has helped you understand how you can use it as a tool to better your health.

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