Veggie Blog

Balancing pH and detox to cleanse the body

Grow, glow and go. These are the three food groups that a person should eat every day, in the right amounts, to have a healthy and nutritious diet. This is the subject of one of the many science lessons in elementary school that teach children about eating a healthy, balanced diet.

From the very start, people have been used to eating all kinds of food products, as well as beverages, and without knowing it, we also take in small amounts of unwanted chemicals with them. The body has its own ways of removing unwanted toxins, mainly through the liver and kidneys, and in healthy people it does this very effectively.

Different fluids are found inside the human body, and the cells are sensitive to their pH level. The pH level is the measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. The body has its own very precise way of managing pH: the lungs and kidneys keep the pH of the blood within a narrow range (about 7.35 to 7.45). If they cannot do this properly, the imbalance affects the whole body.

Some detox programs claim that stress, tiredness, unwanted weight, fatigue, aches, pains, poor digestion and other disorders are signs that your body is too acidic. In fact, these symptoms have many possible causes. Truly acidic blood (acidosis) is a medical condition, usually caused by illnesses such as kidney disease or uncontrolled diabetes, and it needs a doctor rather than a detox.

Detox writers name three things that are supposed to make the body more acidic: taking in acids, producing acids, and not getting rid of acids properly.

Foods such as meat, dairy, processed sugar, alcohol and coffee are often called acid-forming. They can make your urine more acidic, but they do not change the pH of your blood, which your body keeps steady.

Some detox advocates also claim that yeasts and harmful bacteria thrive in an acidic body and produce even more toxins. There is no good evidence for this, and such claims should be treated with caution.

Some acids are strong, while others are weak. The body buffers acids with several systems, including the bicarbonate in your blood, your breathing and your kidneys. Acid builds up in the body only when these systems are not working properly, for example because of illness.

Your liver and kidneys do the actual work of detoxification. You can support them by not overloading them, especially with alcohol, and by seeing a doctor if you suspect they are not working well.

For a healthy body, you need good food and nutrition. Rather than relying on special products, eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruit, get proper nutrition and keep your body well hydrated. This supports the body’s own detox process.

Alkalizing products are also sold in stores with the promise of balancing your pH. Your body already keeps its pH balanced, so there is little reason to buy them. If you are worried about acid build-up, the right step is a check-up with your doctor.

A detox program can be a good way to start eating better, with more vegetables and fewer processed foods, but it is the change in diet that helps, not the detox itself.

Good health does not come overnight; it comes through self-discipline and determination. Changing simple things in your daily routine will benefit you and your body more than any quick fix.

Remember, your body keeps its own pH in balance. If you have symptoms that worry you, such as ongoing tiredness, pain or digestive problems, that is the right time to consult your doctor.