The acid-base

According to research made by Doctor Ragnar Berg, Edgar Cayse, United States and many other Western nutritional experts, we ought to consume 80% base and 20% acid-producing food to achieve the healthiest balance (= proper pH) in the various body systems. The Yoga science recommends a 70/30 proportion between acid / base.

Today an ordinary diet at its best has the proportion 60/40, while the most unhealthy diet is less than 50 % basic compared to acid-producing food.

The question of acid and base is really a question of acid or alkaline reaction and in a liquid solution this principle is related to the hydrogen ion concentration. If the hydrogen ion concentration is high, you have an acid solution, while low hydrogen ion concentration gives an alkaline (basic) solution. If the value lies halfway between, i.e. a pH of 7,0, it is regarded a neutral solution.

The body fluid value, acid - alkaline, is moreover dependent on what is known as buffering. You talk about different chemical buffer systems, for example the phosphate buffer system as well as the carbonic acid buffer system. As all bodily functions, not to mention the function of the enzyme system, are strongly dependent on keeping acidity within appropriate limits, this buffer system is of vital importance to the body. The natural functions of the body - breathing, heartbeat, muscle movements - continuously produce acids emitted to the blood. Doctors and physiologists talking about the acid-base of the body really mean the body's struggle to keep constant pH (7,35) in the blood as well as the pH value in the extracellular fluids. If the pH of the blood falls below 6,95, coma sets in.

Via exhalation air the body easily rids itself of certain types of acids, for example carbonic acid. Light acids like uric acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) could be secreted in the urine if quantities are not too large. Strong acids on the other hand could only be secreted from the body to a lesser extent and must first be neutralised with bases. To manage this the body is equipped with an effective but individually limited defence, i.e. the ability of the kidneys to produce ammonia. This is a strong base, capable of neutralising strong acids, which in their turn could be secreted as neutral salts. The ability of the kidneys to secrete and rid themselves of added acids, varies widely between different individuals as well as different ages. There is always an individual maximum limit for the amount of acids let out through the kidneys. If adding more acids to the body than what passes through lungs, perspiration, kidneys as well as intestine, the buffer system certainly works to a certain degree. However, the body must somehow dispose of the acid excess. The acid excess is stocked in places where no harm is done to the pH value of the blood.

Acid storage in body.
Connective tissue:
Connective tissue is the most important acid storage of the body. It possesses the ability to absorb and apparently spirit away the acids. The connective tissue (collagen) is changing, resulting in deteriorated function. Degeneration of the connective tissue when worn-out or at hardened arteries (artriosklerosis) accelerates the additional piling up of acids.
Skeleton:
In connection with the storage of acids in the skeleton calcium is lost, resulting in a weakened and porous skeleton. Decalcification is a common phenomenon today.
Cells:
The cells may be another storage place for acids. Normally this is already a very sour place but presumably there will be room for additional storage, which may disturb the function of the cells causing very serious diseases.

In cold weather - blood is more acid, when warm - more alkaline.
The acid-base is influenced by factors such as genes, diet, digestion, stress and weather. Experiments show that if base-excess is transmitted to a person with assumed large storage of acids, the urine will continue secreting an acid-excess for half a year or more. This might be regarded an indirect measure of the acid storage in the body, a measure obtained afterwards. According to these experiments the body seems to be able to store large amounts of acids as reserve stock, but needing perhaps much time to remove this acid excess. During this period the blood pH is normal.

Measuring acidity (pH value).
How should you know that you are in balance? One method might be to test the morning urine now and then, using for example a litmus paper. If the position is neutral or only slightly on the sour side, this indicates a probably healthy level, as for the acid-base. If urine is more or less heavily sour, this might indicate that large stocks have gathered in the body or that you are sour just on this occasion. An alkaline reaction of the diurnal urine rarely occurs and is mainly to be found with strongly orthodox vegetarians (vegans) avoiding also bread and flour food.

Acids bring various symptoms (diseases).
When diet mainly causes acid metabolic products, the body is forced to draw on its mineral reserve to neutralise the acids by producing salts. But this mineral reserve has its limits. As the body is getting more and more over acid the mucous membranes react. These membranes rich on minerals, enclose the organs of the body to protect against corrosion attacks, but are increasingly irritated when having to let go of more minerals.

If this process continues acids will be stored in the body, causing a lot of ailments, e.g. fibromyalgia, rheumatism, gout, fragility of the bones, renal ailments, adenoids and haemorrhoids. At continued intoxication stones will be formed in gall bladder and kidneys. Not only the stones cause pain at gallstone or renal stone attacks. Also acids invading the gall bladder or kidneys give pain. Gastric ulcer is suspected to be caused by acid excess as well as the decalcification of the skeleton, osteoporosis, an extraordinarily common disease causing a brittle skeleton.

The acid-producing diet has low sodium, calcium and magnesium content. Furthermore it lowers the level of potassium and magnesium in the nervous cells that may lead to a loss of mental clarity (dullness in thought), and may leave room for extremely serious diseases. A dull sense and reduced mental capacity is typical of people having a strongly acid-producing diet. Heavy metal poisoning has the same effect on the senses. When becoming aware of the reactions of your body to various kinds of food, you will be able to avoid symptoms such as food allergies and other ill-health.

We should maintain a good reserve of alkaline mineral salts to enable the body's neutralisation of acid excess in a critical situation. When being ill there is almost always acid excess (acidosis), meaning acidification to a certain extent. Symptoms of acidosis are liquid swelling, abnormally low blood pressure, insomnia, inflamed joints, nasty-smelling faeces, difficulty in swallowing and teeth sensitive to wine vinegar or sour fruit. 
A reduced function of liver, kidneys or adrenal gland cause acidity. This in its turn may be caused by an unhealthy diet, overweight, vitamin deficiency and malnutrition added to the environmental acidification. Hard training, stress and feelings like anger, fright and anxiety also produce acids.