Does anyone know of a product to test your ph level?

Question

I'VE HEARD THAT PEOPLE WITH AN ALKALINE BASE CANNOT RETAIN OR GET CERTAIN DISEASES, DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A PRODUCT THAT ANALYZES YOUR PH LEVEL? ALSO, ANY KIND OF PRODUCTS/ FOODS/ SUPPLEMENTS THAT KEEP YOUR PH IN THE ALKALINE BASE?

Answer 1

Hi Tahoe Realtor. Here are a few quotes from the scientific literature on this subject. Feel free to base you opinions on the scientific evidence (unlike the first answerer!).

"Our group has shown that contemporary net acid-producing diets do indeed characteristically produce low-grade systemic acidosis that increases with age..." "We argue that any level of acidosis may be unacceptable from an evolutionary perspective, and indeed, that a low-grade metabolic alkalosis may be the optimal acid-base state for humans."
- European Journal of Nutrition. Oct. 2001 (researchers at the Univ. of Calif., San Francisco).

"The findings suggest that diet-induced metabolic acidosis and its sequelae in humans eating contemporary diets reflect a mismatch between the nutrient composition of the diet and genetically determined nutritional requirements for optimal systemic acid-base status." "...the diet of contemporary Homo sapiens is rich in saturated fat, simple sugars, sodium, and chloride and poor in fiber, magnesium, and potassium. These and numerous other postagricultural dietary compositional changes have been implicated as risk factors in the pathogenesis of 'diseases of civilization', including atherosclerosis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer."

"Increasing evidence ... suggests that ... persisting, albeit low-grade, acidosis, and the relentless operation of responding homeostatic mechanisms, result in numerous injurious effects on the body..." The change from a net base to net acid producing diet results in a reduction in endogenous bicarbonate production. "This overriding reduction in bicarbonate production is due to the displacement of base-rich plant-food groups (roots, tubers, leafy green vegetables, vegetable fruit and fruit) by cereal grains and ... refined sugars and separated fats ... neither of which could contribute to counterbalancing the acid production from net acid-producing food groups in the contemporary diet (meat, cheese, milk and yogurt, and eggs). "Indeed, cereal grains themselves are net acid-producing and alone accounted for 38% of the acid load ..." - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dec. 2002.

OK. What does all this mean in simple English. The Standard American Diet is a net acid-producing diet. This shifts the body's acid balance subtlely but significantly in a direction that may contribute to many common chronic diseases including osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and even cancer.

To avoid this problem your diet should be filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of WHOLE grains, moderate amounts of protein and fat. You want to avoid fast foods, processed foods, junk foods, sugary or fatty foods, and high-acid foods like soda pop.

The best way to test your body's pH is to use standard pH paper and test your morning urine. pH paper for this purpose can be purchased at any health food store and most pharmacies. Generally, a pH around 6.5 is considered good and a pH down in the 5's is too acidic.

Hope this wasn't to complex to help you. Best wishes and good luck. There are plenty of books on this subject so try a little browsing on Amazon.

Answer 2

So, I have no scientific evidence proving that this is TOTAL bunk, but it IS total bunk.

I would have to get a medical professional to prove its total bunk simply because I am too lazy.
Try not to avoid cancer, live your life to the fullest.

Forcing me to write this:

Ok first of all, the guy below me is right. I already knew that an alkaline base could POSSIBLY cause problems. I've known that a while. Secondly, don't let the Dr. mislead you in his name, because only Ph.Ds, chiropractors and Naturopathic doctors brag about that crap. Dollars to donuts not an MD, what the hell would he be doing here.

Osteoporosis is caused by osteoclasts taking away from the bones and giving it to the blood, and is most likely in middle aged women who have inadequate calcium intake. Every one else knows what diabetes and heart disease and hypertension is caused by. And its not alkalosis.

Nothing will keep your body in an alkaline base, since your body is homeostatic, which means it will try to keep the pH at wherever the hell it wants it.

You piss an alkaline ratio and you freak out. Don't. It's more than likely normal, and dependent on the food you ate. I've heard practitioners say that your body has "certain pH levels of 2.2." That's impossible! You'd be dead.

Oh btw, why would the diet suggest eating fresh fruits THEY ARE THE MOST ACIDIC FOOD SUBSTANCES! Just eat healthy, like the ADA recommends. Humans can't really handle alkaline substances in eating, they are bitter, and this has developed from the theory that most poisons are alkaline.

If you're really worried about your pH, a urinalysis costs 30 dollars at the doctors office, and if its not normal, a physician can interpret it.

And I didn't copy and paste anything. Sorry Dr. J, or w/e the hell your name is, but I think your Dr. is outweighed by undergrad common sense.