The body’s immune system is our only line of defense against a world filled with bacteria, viruses, fungus, yeasts, and molds. The onslaught is constant, beneficial and harmful bacteria wage a constant war for supremacy in your intestines, airborne mold assaults your sinuses, and yeast tries to grow on you whether you like it or not! The pH balance in your intestines is what determines whether the good bacteria will win, or the bad.
To win the battle, your immune system has to be able to defeat these invaders 100% of the time. Should the immune system have a weak moment, or become compromised, the misery of disease is sure to follow. Worse yet, is a compromised immune system that attacks itself, resulting in autoimmune diseases such as allergies.
How pH balance Affects the Immune System
The immune system depends on several systems in the body in order to function at peak efficiency. Some of the systems that the immune system depends on are: the digestive tract, lymph system, blood, and interstitial fluids (between cells). Most of the body’s systems depend on an alkaline ph balance for proper function, except for the inside the stomach and urinary tract which normally have an acidic balance.
The cells that make up these systems “breathe” in nutrients, water and oxygen and they “exhale” acidic metabolic wastes. Cells will exhale wastes when the environment inside of them becomes more acidic than the environment outside of them. If the body’s environment becomes too acidic, the cells can’t exhale wastes.
In short, a pH imbalance can cause the cells to suffocate, and when that happens, the functions of the body that depends on those cells start breaking down. When the systems that support the immune system become weakened by this suffocation, the function of the immune system will break down. Continuous cell suffocation will result in cell death, and body death will invariably follow. [1]
The Alkaline Way to pH Balance
In The Alkaline Way: Integrative Management of Autoimmune Conditions Dr. Russell Jaffe, a pioneer in immunological research,describes his method for maintaining an alkaline pH balance
Essentially, the immune system itself generates acidic wastes! These acidic wastes must be dealt with in order to keep the immune system functioning efficiently. Dr. Jaffe’s Alkaline Way depends on four things to maintain the body’s alkaline balance:
- Alkaline Foods
- Alkaline Water
- Mindfulness/ Meditation
- Exercise
Dr. Jeffe claims that each part of the Alkaline Way is important. Alkaline foods and water provide buffers – alkaline compounds that the body uses to counteract cell-suffocating acidic wastes. Mindfulness reduces stress, which is important because stress does contribute to body acidity. Exercise reduces stress, and maintains a healthy heart which is necessary in order to maintain the movement of blood that carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and removes wastes from them. [2]
How Alkaline Water helps you achieve a healthy pH Balance
Alkaline water is rich in important alkaline minerals, and research proves that drinking alkaline water is the best way to get your minerals. Studies have shown that waterborne alkaline minerals are 30% better absorbed than food based minerals.
Along with the minerals, alkaline water will help raise the pH balance of the stomach and intestines, which can result in long-term improvements in digestive health. As a matter of fact, in Japan, alkaline water is actually prescribed by doctors for an upset stomach!
Has the FDA evaluated the effect of pH balance on health?
No. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The preceding information and/or products are for educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. Please consult your doctor before making any changes or before starting ANY exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using this information or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.
References
Koufman, Jamie, and Nikki Johnsten. “Potential Benefits of pH 8.8 Alkaline Drinking Water as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Reflux Disease..” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. Web. 8 Jul 2013. <http://www.annals.com/toc/auto_abstract.php?id=15887>.
Vorobjeva, N.V.. “Selective stimulation of the growth of anaerobic microflora in the human intestinal tract by electrolyzed reducing water.” Medical Hypotheses. Elsevier, 14 Jun 2004. Web. 8 Jul 2013. <http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(04)00489-X/abstract>.
Jaffe, Russell. “The Alkaline Way: Integrative Management of Autoimmune Conditions.” Health Studies Collegium. Health Studies Collegium. Web. 8 Jul 2013. <http://www.healthstudiescollegium.org/docf/JaffeAlkWayTLDP_1110Edit.pdf>.
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