Why does YOUR pH matter?

The New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines pH as: [from Fr. P(ouvoir) h(ydrogen); hydrogen power.] a symbol for the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution.”

“Dorland’s Medical Dictionary” defines pH of 7 as neutral, above it is an alkaline pH, and below it an acid pH.  The lower the pH value, the higher the acidity; the higher the pH value, the higher the alkalinity.  In general, pH values vary throughout the human body.  Stomach acids have a very low pH value that can range from 1.0 to 3.0.  Pancreatic excretions are very high in pH value, which can range from 8.0 to 8.3.  The normal pH of arterial blood (oxygenated blood) is 7.4, whereas the pH of venous blood (deoxygenated blood) is about 7.35 because of the extra amounts of carbon dioxides (CO2) released from the body tissue. 

“Textbook of Medical Physiology” by Guyton and Hall states “the normal pH of arterial blood is 7.4.  A person is considered to have acidosis when the pH falls below this value and alkalosis when the pH rises above 7.4.  The lower limit of the pH value at which a person can live no more than a few hours is about 6.8 and the upper limit is about 8.0.

We can see that the regulation of the Acid/Alkaline Balance is critical for the maintenance of healthy body cells and tissue, as well as for their continued existence, as previously mentioned.  An example of this statement is the regulation of hydrogen ion (H+) balance.  A strong acid, such as Hydrochloric acid, produces large amounts of H+, and a strong base reacts rapidly and strongly with H+ to remove it from a solution when in excess.  This process is called “balance”: The “Acid/Alkaline Balance,” or “Acid/Base Balance.”  All enzyme systems in the body are influenced by H+ concentration and, therefore, change in the hydrogen concentration (H+) balance influence almost all enzyme systems in the body, as well as altering virtually all cell and body functions, according to Guyton and Hall’s, “Textbook of Medical Physiology.”

A KEY POINT to remember: Enzymes are greatly affected by the pH balance levels in human blood and body tissue.  Their resulting affects could be healthy or unhealthy depending on whether they are able to complete their enzymatic functions.

The AAA Diet (Acid Alkaline Association) written by Paul Fanny, Ph.D.