Acidosis, acid-base balance of the organism, foods e alkalizing supplements, are all terms that are entering our vocabulary, because someone argues that our diet may be unbalanced and we prefer sugars, refined carbohydrates, proteins and caffeinated drinks and maybe we forget to introduce fresh fruit in season, or in any case in quotas not enough.
But also why we are intoxicated by stress, negative emotions, smog, sports hyperactivity and we become "acid"! The truth? It is in the middle as it often happens.
Many speak of an alkalizing diet to correct the pH of the blood. But the pH of the blood cannot be mechanically changed!
Generally the Blood pH tends to be alkaline, around 7,4 and can undergo slight fluctuations that are metabolically regulated by the lungs and kidneys, excretory organs that deal with disposing of excess acid waste.
Our healthy body is a self-regulating system. When the urine is particularly acidic it is simply excreting catabolites and activating a homeostatic process to maintain the acid-base balance. It is therefore not an indicator of blood acidosis.
Alkalize in a natural way
In any case, one way to free the body from acid waste is to eat at least for a couple of days a week of fresh fruit only, possibly only one type of fruit per meal for a total of five meals. This regime is not always easy to apply, even though it is purifying and detoxifying for the body.
We can introduce supplements in one balanced diet, rich in raw vegetables and fresh fruit, whole grains and low levels of animal proteins.
They are indicated as alkalizing supplements, which help to detoxify the muscles, to correct the acidity of the urine, to sedate the gastric and intestinal fermentative action, but not to alkalize the blood.
The main acids we are talking about are in fact thehydrochloric acid gastric in nature, thelactic acid muscular in nature, uric acid, sulfuric e nitric products from the digestion of animal proteins.
Alkalizing supplements are simple electrolytes that sometimes our body depletes in case of excess acids and which it needs to stay in a state of well-being.
5 alkaline foods, properties and how to combine them
Magnesium (Mg)
Magnesium is an earthy alkaline mineral that affects the cellular respiration and promotes the expulsion of catabolites and cellular redox processes.
It is present in the bone tissue and how vitamin D participates in fixation of football and to restore the calcium-phosphorus balance.
It regulates the neuro-muscular responses, and is fundamental for the control of the release of adrenaline, thus safeguarding the heart, brain, stomach.
Magnesium activates the production of energy (in the form of ATP adenosine triphosphoric acid) through the synthesis of sugars and the burning of fats.
Cooking and refining food destroy the magnesium present in food, which is why in some cases it is good to introduce it as a supplement.
- Daily doses: 300-400 mg. In the passage of the season and especially with the arrival of heat, the integration of Magnesium is advisable, for a two-week cycle, because it helps to support our
organism from environmental stress and from the depletion of mineral salts due to excess sweating.
- Warnings: in case of renal insufficiency, its integration is not recommended. In any case it is always necessary consult a doctor.
Potassium (K)
Potassium is an indispensable element in nature. Just think that in plants it is the basis of chlorophyll photosynthesis!
In humans it is present in the intracellular fluid, regulates water balance, nourishes the muscles and controls its contraction: muscle cramps, excesses of lactic acid are governed by potassium.
It participates in the transformation of sugars into glycogen and therefore regulates energy production. Heavy sweating, the use of diuretics, dysentery conditions, or intestinal malabsorption can deplete important amounts of potassium.
- Daily doses: 4.700 mg. In the seasons and especially with the arrival of heat, the integration of Potassium is useful for a two-week cycle, also in combination with Magnesium, because it helps to support our body from environmental stresses.
- Warnings: do not introduce potassium in case of renal insufficiency
Sodium (Na)
Il sodium participates in the acid-base regulation of the organism. Regulates the fluid levels in the bodyin fact, it retains the aqueous cellular component. Is one electrolyte stabilizer and it is synergistic with other mineral salts.
It is present in many foods such as cheeses, egg white, celery, algae and of course table salt.
Some studies have verified that Himalayan salt is a very rich element in pure sodium, since it has not undergone the refining processes.
Sodium is introduced in the diet and in my opinion it is good not to introject it with supplements as an excess could create water retention.
However, I wanted to include it among the alkalizing supplements because sodium is often "criminalized" and without criteria low-sodium diets, low sodium water are advertised, as if we had to ban this mineral salt from our diet, when in reality it plays a fundamental regulatory role. It is always the excesses that harm!
General warnings
As a naturopath I don't believe much in those supplements on the market that promise to alkalize our body. Let us remember that if our body produces acidic environments it is because "the fire must burn"!
They are the ashes that once produced by combustion must be alkalized or if acid waste expelled and to this task they perform the liver with the transformation, i lungs with breathing, the skin with oozing, i Reindeer with urine, theintestine with evacuation. Healthy nutrition and electrolytes help support us in these transformations.
Read also Alkalizing diet: how it works, sample menus, recipes >>
