Most of us are familiar with acid indigestion, or “heartburn.” However, few of us realize that many Americans have chronic, low-grade acidosis (acid body chemistry) because of what we eat. We are, as a nation, chronically acidic.

And fewer of us realize what a devastating impact acid can have on our bodies.

Bone Loss and Joint Pain

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a seven-year study1 by the University of California on 9704 women showed that those with chronic acid overload are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have normal pH levels.

Why? Because when your body is highly acidic, it will do whatever it takes to return itself to a healthier pH balance. Your body steals the calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium it needs from your bones in order to buffer the tissue acids and they are systematically eaten away.

The result? Severe bone loss and joint pain.

Bronchial Attacks for Those with Asthma

Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine announced that high acid levels are strongly linked to asthma attacks.2 Dr. Benjamin Gaston discovered that shortly before an asthma attack, acid levels in the lungs shot up as much as 1000-fold. This increased acidity contributed to inflammation in the bronchial airways and triggered an attack. As a result of this study, researchers at Duke University are now investigating treatments using antacid therapy.

Abnormal Cell Growth

According to Nobel prize-winning scientist Dr. Otto Warburg, abnormal cells positively thrive in an acidic environment. “They have a fundamentally different energy metabolism compared to healthy cells,” he says. In addition, scientific research reported in the journals Psychosomatic Medicine3 and the American Journal of Managed Care4 recently revealed that lactic acid and uric acid (both released into the body by stress) may promote the growth of abnormal cells.

And these are only a few of the damaging effects of chronic acidosis…

What Can You Do?

Your body chemistry can be changed from acidic and damaging to alkaline and healthy. How?

Limit acidic food intake, including:

• Carbonated drinks: colas and other carbonated drinks create acidosis.
• Refined oils and fats: especially when they exceed 20% of your total intake of calories (refined oils in general are acidifying).
• Proteins: most animal proteins are acidic, so restrict animal protein intake to your recommended allowance of 10 to 20% of your total day’s food intake — roughly 3 oz per day for an average person. (Pregnant women are an exception and need an extra ounce of protein per day.) Be aware that not all proteins are acidifying. Eggs, chicken breasts, cottage cheese, yogurt, and tofu are alkalizing, so use them frequently as protein sources.

Please note that you should LIMIT, not eliminate acidic foods. We all need a balanced diet to remain healthy, and certainly proteins and fats must be part of that diet. Sources and experts vary in their recommendations, but I simply recommend that you eat 9 servings of vegetables and fruits per day, in addition to whole foods (foods in their most natural state, before refining or processing them). This type of diet will help you create and keep an alkaline body chemistry.

References

1. Sellemeyer et al. (2001.) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 73: 118-22.
2. Gaston et al. (2000.) American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. 161: 694-699.
3. Orme-Johnson. (1987.) Psychosomatic Medicine. 49: 493-507.
4. Orme-Johnson, (1997.) American Journal of Managed Care. Vol. 3, No.1: 135-144.

[Ed. note: Michael Cutler, M.D. is a board-certified family physician with more than 17 years of clinical experience. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Tulane Medical School. Dr. Cutler's practice focuses on integrative solutions to health problems, behavioral and nutritional medicine. To learn more, click here.]

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