The pH of the body is influenced by metabolic subproducts and our diet. Thus, pH is directly affected by the various categories of food that we eat and the internal mechanisms involved in their processing.
Some foods that are acid in their composition can become alkalinizing following metabolization. Accordingly, it is to become more consciously aware of the impact that various food groups and our eating habits have on the internal environment of the body.
What is Body Alkalinity?
The premise for Alkalinity is based on the belief that all illnesses are caused by “too much tissue acid waste in the body.” For those of you who have been following my natural cancer cures research articles, you know that toxicity is the secondary cause of disease, but the primary cause of any disease is oxygen deficiency. However, that small discrepancy is not very important in this review of his most noteworthy and useful reference book, “ALKALIZE OR DIE”.
Though we can measure acidity in the bodily fluids, urine, saliva, and blood, there is no concrete way to evaluate and measure the body’s tissue acidity, since the fluids are constantly running through the cellular tissues, busy removing excess tissue acid wastes.
According to Dr. Baroody, “waste acids that are not eliminated when they should be are reabsorbed from the colon into the liver, and put back into the general circulation where they deposit in the cellular tissues (that are most deficient in oxygen).
His understanding is that it is these tissue residue re-deposits that determine sickness and health. This is where we differ in the concept of toxicity and how it occurs.
Oxygen and Alkalinity as Natural Cancer Cures
With my research and recent discovery of the importance of oxygen in curing cancer, and all other diseases, in general, I imagine that once the oxygen level declines to such a low state, that the toxins from the cells just stay at the cellular level, because the cells are unable to eliminate, even their own toxic wastes into the bloodstream.
Consequently, the toxins remain stationary inside each cell and accumulate more and more.
Because the area is oxygen-deficient, bacteria, viruses, parasites and other pathogens (along with their toxic wastes) are naturally attracted to the oxygen deficient cellular tissue areas.
When critically abundant levels of toxins accumulate in any location, the body creates tumors (trash bags) as an attempt to isolate and confine the toxins to one place.
However, I do think that the toxins in tumors eventually become a combination of both stationary and re-deposited toxins, as the oxygen deficiency becomes more critical, and the elimination organs become affected by those increased deficiencies.
Nevertheless, his theory also assumes that the elimination organs simply malfunction (without explanation), rather than the cells in the cellular tissue initially malfunctioning, and not being able to perform their job of elimination of even their own toxic wastes into the blood. So essentially, the cells become “sick” first, and then the organs become sick.
How to see If Your Body is Acid or Alkaline
While we can’t accurately measure our cellular tissue acidity with any measuring device, Dr. Baroody has ingeniously devised an acid symptom checklist which uses actual illnesses and bodily discomforts as the “acidity” measuring device. You can use these lists to determine YOUR current level of acidity.
Thanks to AquaVida for this image
Beginning Symptoms of body acidity
Acne, Agitation, Muscular Pain, Cold hands and feet, Dizziness, Low energy, Joint pains that travel, Food allergies, Chemical sensitivities to odors, gas heat, Hyperactivity, Panic attacks, Premenstrual and menstrual cramping, Premenstrual anxiety and depression, Lack of sex drive, Bloating, Heartburn, Diarrhea, Constipation, Hot urine, Strong smelling urine, Mild headaches, Rapid panting breath, Rapid heartbeat, Irregular heartbeat, White coated tongue, Hard to get up in morning, Excess head mucous (stuffiness), Metallic taste in mouth
Intermediate Symptoms of body acidity
Cold sores, Depression, Loss of memory, Loss of concentration, Migraine Headaches, Insomnia, Disturbance in smell, taste, vision, hearing, Asthma, Bronchitis, Hay fever, Earaches, Hives, Swelling, Viral infections (colds,flu), Bacterial infections (staph, strep), Fungal infection (candida albicans, athlete’s foot, vaginal), Impotence, Urethritis, Cystitis, Urinary infection, Gastritis, Colitis, Excessive falling hair, Psoriasis, Endometriosis, Stuttering, Numbness and tingling, Sinusitis
Advanced Symptoms of Body Acidity
Crohn’s disease, Schizophrenia, Learning disabled, Hodgkin’s Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Sarcoidosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Myasthenia gravis, Scleroderma, Leukemia, Tuberculosis, All other forms of cancer
What Can We Learn About These Acidity Symptoms?
You can see from these lists that ANY bodily discomfort is a sign of acid toxic waste build-up in one or more parts of your body (caused by nutrient and oxygen deficiency).
These lists will help you pinpoint what tissue acid wastes are present, so that you can begin to alkalize yourself and rid these acids from your cellular tissue and eventually your entire body.
The reward will be superior health, energy and strength. Ignoring these symptoms will most likely result in premature death. The choice is most definitely each one of ours to make.
I am happy to say that I suffer from none of the symptoms on any of these lists, so I assume that my “alkaline reserve” is abundantly sufficient, and I will expect that reserve to increase with my recent change to an even stricter Vegetarian Diet.
Understanding Minerals for Alkaline and Acidity
Minerals are extremely important in the alkaline/acid equation. Certain minerals in foods are “acid-binding” which means that in the body they bind acid-toxins and leave alkaline-forming residue in the urine.
The “acid-binding” or “alkaline-forming” minerals are the following: calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and sodium. Foods or other eaten substances that contain theses minerals, usually leave an alkaline urine residue. Because of this, these foods are considered “alkaline-forming”.
Other minerals are alkaline-binding. This means that they bind the alkaline reserve minerals and leave and acid-forming residue in the urine.
The alkaline-binding, or acid-forming minerals are the following: Bromine, Chlorine, Copper, Fluorine, Iodine, Phosphorous, Silicon, and Sulfur. Foods or other substances that contain these minerals usually yield an acid urine residue.
Because Dr. Baroody discovered that other factors besides diet (i.e. emotional, mental, and physical)) also caused changes in urine residue, he attached another component to the definition of alkaline-forming and acid-forming…namely – energy.
Definition: An alkaline-forming reaction refers to any chemical alteration in the body that produces an increased ability to energize the system (body) and leaves and alkaline-residue in the urine.
Definition: An acid-forming reaction refers to any chemical alteration in the body that produces a decreased ability to energize the system and leaves and acid residue in the urine.
Whether something is alkaline or acidic is determined by its pH(potential Hydrogen), which simply measures the number of hydroxyl(OH-) ions, which are negative and alkaline-forming as opposed to the amount of hydrogen (H+) ions that are positive and acid-forming. So, in short, pH measures how much the positive and negative ions counter-balance one another.
We are vibrating (energy) beings and the stronger the inner vibration, the healthier we are. Thus, it is the alkaline-forming reaction that produces an increased ability to supply that vibrating energy.
High Acid Levels and Your Health
Dr. Baroody imagines the acid wastes in the body “attacking” our joints, tissues, organs, muscles, organs, and glands (without any explanation as to why): however, I imagine these various areas of the body becoming oxygen and/or nutrient-deficient first and because of the anaerobic nature of bacteria, viruses, pathogens and parasites, they are specifically “attracted” to these areas of the body and start to grow and multiply, causing various illnesses and discomforts wherever they conjugate.
Because of these deficiencies within the cells, they don’t have the power or energy to get rid of their own wastes, much less rid the tissue area of the intruders or their toxic wastes. This scenario is the beginning of disease.
Regardless of this subtle difference in opinion concerning acid wastes “attacking” or being “attracted” to various parts of the body, the basic reality is that alkaline food and water are major contributors to optimum health.
How to Lower Acid and Raise Alkalinity in Your Body
Dr. Baroody suggests an easy method to remember the 80/20 Rule for maintaining an “alkaline reserve”. This is of utmost importance because when your alkaline reserve runs out, death occurs. Eat 80% of your daily food from the Alkaline Food list and no more than 20% from the Acid Food List.
This proportion will guarantee the much necessary reserve. He provides a convenient Alkaline/Acidity Chart and assigns the relative alkaline and acid values to a large variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, condiments, beverages, meats, animal products, nuts, seeds, oils, sugars, and starches. I have very happily utilized this feature of the book for about 6 years. The doctor also provides a 3-week high Alkaline Menu Planner which is an easy way to start eating a high Alkaline Food Diet immediately.
Most Fruits are Alkaline Forming
I was very surprised to discover that all fruits are alkaline-forming EXCEPT blueberries, prunes, plums, and cranberries.
According to the doctor’s charts, lemons and watermelons have the highest Alkaline-forming Value of all fruits (but you must remember to eat watermelon, and other melons, all by themselves on an empty stomach, or they will lose value, and most likely become acid-forming).
In the Vegetable category, Parsley, Watercress, Seaweed, and Asparagus have the highest alkaline-forming values.
For all you avid meat-eaters, THERE ARE NO MEATS that are Alkaline-Forming, so you must counter-balance your daily diet with PLENTY of alkaline-forming foods.
For the Grains, the ONLY Alkaline-forming grains are Amaranth, Quinoa and Millet.
I remember, years ago when I first read this book, I immediately went out and purchased all three grains and started preparing them exclusively for my morning cereal, I’m sure you will be surprised by some of the values, as I was, but it will definitely make you take notice of what you are eating and when.
By the way, the doctor also provides a food-combining chart because if you combine the wrong foods together when you eat, you change their alkaline-forming ability, sometimes, in fact, they even become acid-forming, like the melons. Lots to learn here, but you will be much healthier for paying attention to everything that this doctor points out.
Dr. Baroody also covers many other important factors in detail besides food, that have direct effect on the alkalinity level in our bodies, like the level of Hydrochloric Acid, Water (I will be referencing the doctor’s findings on water in a future post, they are very enlightening.), Sunlight, Moonlight, Physical Trauma, Mental, Music, Art, and Prayer.
This is an excellent book for learning how the body works with the very best natural cancer cure in the world… Organic alkaline foods. And to have as a wonderful reference for regaining and maintaining optimum health for the rest of your life.
Remember our goal… Get Well and Stay Well.
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