Tired? listless? without energy? an overacidification has many forms and affects the personal well-being.

In this article we would like to show you how acidosis occurs, what consequences it can have for you, how to recognize acidosis in your body and last but not least, 5 helpful tips for its application.

What is meant by an acidosis of the body?

"Overacidification" is the term used to describe an imbalanced acid-base balance in the body, which is primarily caused by excessive consumption of acid-forming foods and insufficient consumption of base-forming foods.

Overacidification can lead to numerous complaints and secondary diseases in the long term. Often the symptoms remain unnoticed for decades - until the body has already been damaged.

Content

• How does it come to an overacidification of the body?
• What consequences and symptoms result from chronic acidosis of the body?
• How can acidosis of the body be prevented?
• Excursus: What is a "pH-value" - and when can it be called "good"?
• Determining acidosis of the body - Are you also over acidified?
• 5 tips against acidosis
• How should base powder be dosed in case of acidosis?
• What side effects can occur when taking base powder?
• Myths on the subject of acidosis

How does it come to an overacidification of the body?

Overacidification of the body occurs when we consume too many acid-forming foods, and in return too few base-forming foods. Examples of highly acidic foods are sugar, carbohydrates and animal products. Stress and lack of exercise can also be reasons for an unbalanced acid-base balance.

In the short term, an excess of acids does not pose a challenge to the body, as it can break down an excess of acids through its buffer system. However, if our acid-base balance is out of balance for years or even decades due to an unhealthy lifestyle, chronic acidosis can occur - with numerous consequential damages.

What consequences and symptoms result from chronic acidosis of the body?

• Excess acid can attack tissues and organs, which in turn leads to diseases and chronic complaints
• Excess acid creates a favorable environment for harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that can damage glands and organs
• Acidosis of the body can affect all vital functions and is a possible cause of many diseases and chronic conditions
• If the tissue is overacidified, characteristic symptoms do not appear immediately. Instead, a wide variety of unspecific complaints can occur that are not perceived as a uniform clinical picture. Possible signs are muscle aches and cramps, general malaise, persistent fatigue, susceptibility to infections, headaches or heartburn.
• Brittle nails, increased dandruff, hair loss, bad breath, impure skin and cellulite can also be caused by acidosis.
• Chronic acidosis favors the development of many diseases, although the scientific evidence for this is still largely lacking. A connection with allergic diseases, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis (chronic polyarthritis), migraine, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, gallstones, gout, muscle hardening, fibromyalgia, neurodermatitis, kidney stones and chronic pain is being discussed.
• Last but not least, another consequence of overacidification of the organism can begin with symptoms of cellulite and end in obesity: The body forms fat cells to keep excess acids away from the vital organs. Fat can thus be the body's response to an alarming acidosis.

 

For a better overview, here is a list of possible symptoms or complaints that can be caused or promoted by chronic acidosis:

• Chronic, excessive tiredness and listlessness
• Wrinkled skin
• Hair Loss
• Disturbed intestinal flora or poor digestion
• Brittle bones and teeth
• Allergic diseases
• Arthrosis and joint problems
• Headaches and migraines
• Arteriosclerosis
• Diabetes
• Neurodermatitis
• Deteriorated immune system
• Excessive susceptibility to inflammation and arthritis
• Rheumatism
• Sensitive gums
• Caries and tooth decay

How can acidosis of the body be prevented?

The blood buffer of the body to maintain a healthy pH-value

To prevent our body cells from being destroyed by acidic metabolic products, the body always tries to keep the pH value of the blood constant between 7.2 and 7.4. For this purpose, our body has a complex buffer system of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium, which is able to intercept and neutralize excessive acids (but also excessive bases).

These buffers are mixtures of weak bases that bind acids (or vice versa) and can thus compensate for harmful pH fluctuations in the blood. They are therefore also called "blood buffers". Regulators in the acid-base balance, which provide the corresponding buffers, are for example the stomach, kidneys, skin, intestines, lungs and connective tissue.

The buffer capacity of a body corresponds to the amount of acid (or base) that can be added without changing the pH value of the blood to an extent that is hazardous to health. The greater the buffer capacity, the more stable the system is against changes in the pH value.

If there is an excess of acids in the body over a long period of time (typically due to poor eating habits), a large amount of minerals must be used to neutralize them. Since highly acidic foods do not provide minerals, the body has no choice but to remove the missing minerals from its own resources: from bones, teeth, hair, blood vessels and organs after the blood buffer has been completely used up. This explains the many and varied complaints described above, which can result from an over-acidification of the body.

What is a "pH value" - and when can it be considered "good"?

The pH value (derived from "power of hydrogen") is a measure of the acidic or basic character of an aqueous solution. Every cell in our organism is influenced by the pH value of our body fluids.

The pH value is given on a scale of 1-14:

pH value 1-7: acidic substance
pH value 7-14: basic substance
pH value of exactly 7: is neutral.

Conventional tap water typically has a pH value of 7.

Due to their different tasks, each body fluid has a different optimal pH value. Some parts of the body must be acidic, such as stomach acid with a strong acidic pH of 1-2. After the strong stomach acid has acidified a food in the stomach and thus predigested it, it is mixed with the alkaline digestive juices of the pancreas and bile after leaving the stomach.

Typical pH values of different body fluids:

• saliva: 6.5 - 7.0
• Connective tissue: 7.1 - 7.25
• Gastric acid: 1 - 2
• Small intestine: 6,5 - 8,0
• blood: 7.35 - 7.45
• Joint fluid: 7.4 - 7.8
• Bile acid: 8,8
• Urine: 5 - 8,0

As you can see, there is no "good" pH value for the entire body - each body fluid has its own optimal pH value range. Most important for the state of health is the pH value of the blood.

Determine acidosis of the body - Are you also over acidified?

Due to modern eating habits, there is often the danger of a permanent acidosis of the body.

Because chronic acidosis usually develops slowly and unnoticed and initially only causes untypical symptoms, it is best detected by measuring the pH value of the urine. You can carry out this measurement yourself relatively easily using pH test strips.

In a person with a balanced acid-base balance, the urine is usually

• slightly acidic in the morning (pH value 6.5 to 6.8)
• at noon it becomes neutral (pH-value 7)
• in the evening it should be slightly alkaline (pH-value above 7).

Please note that a single measurement is not meaningful due to the high fluctuation range of the pH value. Measurements from pH 5 to pH 8 are possible, with usually low levels in the morning (5 - 6.5) and sometimes considerable increases after meals and during the day. Therefore, a measurement should be taken five times a day for five days - ideally at the same times of the day.

If you notice that the pH value of your urine is permanently too acidic, you should take deacidifying measures!

5 tips against acidification

Acidosis is caused by various factors - for most people primarily by incorrect nutrition. The good news: with a little discipline, you can easily bring your acid-base balance back into a natural balance! Within a few weeks you will notice a higher performance and vitality - and also protect your body from serious chronic diseases.

1) In case of overacidification: change your diet

Many foods such as animal proteins, sweets and ready meals favour over-acidification - so try to avoid it if possible! Also make sure you drink plenty of water - but always without carbon dioxide.

A ratio of ¼ acid-forming and ¾ basic foods is considered optimal for the body. The latter include fruit, vegetables and herbs.

To give you an overview of recommended and non-recommended foods, we have compiled a list for you here:

Acid-forming foods (not recommended):

• Meat and animal products
• Milk and dairy products (except butter)
• Cereal products
• Fats and oils
• seasoning
• Sweetened beverages (sweetened or with artificial sweeteners)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Drinks containing caffeine
• Fast food and ready meals

Neutral food (recommended):

• Millet
• Natural rice
• Tap water
• Natural fats and oils
• Butter
• Fresh walnuts

Alkalizing foods (highly recommended):

• Potatoes
• leafy vegetables (e.g. salads, spinach)
• Root vegetables (e.g. carrots)
• Vegetable fruits (tomato, cucumber, pumpkin etc.)
• Vegetable soups (base soups)
• Rungs
• Onion
• Garlic
• Soybeans
• Chestnuts
• Fruit
• Almonds
• wild herbs (e.g. dandelion, nettle)
• aromatic herbs (e.g. cress, parsley, chives, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano)
• Non-carbonated mineral water

2) Against acidity: Supply your body with basic minerals

At least until your acid-base balance is back in balance and your body has had a chance to replenish its blood buffer, you should actively add bases to your body to help it deacidify. If you like to eat out or eat fast food, sweets and coffee, we recommend a continuous daily supply of minerals even after an initial alkaline intensive treatment to keep your acid-base balance in balance.

We at Herbano have developed two high-quality mineral formulas for the targeted deacidification of the body, which are produced in Germany under strictest testing standards and regulations.

Our high-quality products:

• The Herbano Base Balance Powder
• The Herbano Base Mineral Capsules

3) Take base baths to combat acidosisThe Herbano basic bath salts

Treat yourself once or twice a week to a 45-60-minute "base bath" with special high-quality bath additives - ideally as a full bath, or (if you don't have a bathtub) at least in the form of a foot bath. The main effect of alkaline baths is not to stabilize your blood buffer, but to eliminate acidic waste products from your connective tissue. Especially at the beginning of an alkaline cure, when you neutralize a particularly high amount of acids by taking in minerals, you should not do without regular alkaline baths so that the neutralized acids can be completely eliminated by your body.

You can also perform brush massages to activate the elimination of the neutralized acids via the lymphatic system.

4) Do moderate exercise to combat acidity

Move regularly so that you really start sweating. In this way you stimulate your body's metabolism and support deacidification in this respect as well.

But be careful: Don't overexert yourself - especially if you are untrained in sports. Otherwise you can achieve the opposite: a so-called "over-acidification".

5) Relax to fight acidosis

Particularly if you suffer from a stressful everyday life due to your job or family, you can give your body a targeted rest.

Tips for relaxation:

• Eat less hastily
• Sleep well
• Avoid stress and negative feelings (anger, rage, envy, resentment and quarrelling)
• Try meditation exercises or relaxing sports, such as yoga

How should base powder be dosed in case of acidosis?

• Those who prefer the powder form should take 1 tablespoon mixed with 200mL water (1 glass) in the morning.
• Those who prefer the capsule form should take 4 capsules spread over the day with plenty of water - preferably 2 capsules in the morning and 1 each before lunch or dinner.

What side effects can occur when taking base powder?

Basically there should be no side effects. However, if too much alkaline powder is taken, diarrhoea symptoms may occur, as the intake of alkaline powder is particularly stimulating for the organs.

Myths on the subject of acidification

Myth 1: Acidosis equals acidosis

No, not in the school science sense! A metabolic or respiratory "acidosis" is defined as a drop of the pH value in the blood to a value of less than 7.35 - independent of the pH value of other body fluids. Acidosis in the general sense can have life-threatening consequences and can occur, for example, in diabetics due to a lack of insulin.

Acidosis is not related to acidosis of the body. Even if the body is chronically acidic, the blood still remains alkaline - because the body does everything possible to keep the pH value of the blood at 7.4.

However, in naturopathy, one often speaks of a chronic, latent acidosis. This is not yet recognized by some scientists. But more and more experts represent it.

In the case of chronic acidosis as part of an unhealthy lifestyle, the human being is affected by a disturbance of the acid-base balance. This chronic acidosis is not life-threatening, but it is often the cause of numerous chronic degenerative diseases. Precisely because hyperacidity is not a threat which (unlike acidosis) requires immediate medical treatment, chronic hyperacidity can be counteracted in the long term with a healthy alkaline diet.

Myth 2: Acidosis equals heartburn

Many people initially think of heartburn when they hear the term "acidosis". But these are two different things.

Since acidosis is the cause of most health problems (if these problems are not present from birth), it is also involved in the development of heartburn. However, heartburn is only one of the many possible symptoms of acidosis.


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