A deacidification diet – what it is, symptoms of acidification of the body

Recently, a lot has been heard about the problem of acidification of the body, which is supposed to be the cause of many ailments. However, few people know what this phenomenon is and how it affects our health. The fact is that there are deacidification diets that are designed to restore the proper acid-base balance in the body. Learn the most important assumptions and principles of the deacidification diet.

What is acidification of the body?

To begin with, let us remind you: we express the acidity and alkalinity of a substance on the pH scale. Free of admixtures, the water has a neutral pH of 7. All values ​​below pH 7 are acidic, e.g. digestive juice has a pH of 2,5. Meanwhile, values ​​above pH 7 refer to alkaline substances, e.g. soaps usually have a pH of 9 to 10.

Fluids in the human body have their own natural reaction, which ensures their proper functioning. With the exception of the gastric juice mentioned above, human body fluids have a pH of around 7,4, so they are alkaline. Maintaining this balance is hampered by many factors that make up the lifestyle in modern civilization: factors such as stress, highly processed food, stimulants, and taking medications cause a lot of acidic ingredients to enter the body. It is worth knowing that acidification of the body is a common name that does not function in medicine. It is not possible for the pH level of body fluids to decrease, as they would then not be able to fulfill their function. Instead, the body’s natural reaction to too high an acidic concentration is to take the restoring elements from its natural reserves, including bones. If this situation continues for a long time, there is a shortage of important ingredients such as calcium and magnesium.

What are the symptoms of acidification of the body?

Therefore, acidification of the organism is a condition of chronic deficiency of nutrients with an alkaline reaction. The following symptoms may indicate this situation:

1. susceptibility to colds and other viral or bacterial infections,
2. osteoporosis, muscle and joint pain,
3. bad condition of hair, skin and nails,
4. body weight fluctuations,
5. chronic fatigue,
6. problems with concentration and memory,
7. mood swings.

Of course, all these symptoms are nonspecific, i.e. they may indicate various conditions. Therefore, before implementing a deacidification diet, it is worth consulting a doctor or dietitian.

What is the de-acidifying diet for the body?

The key to a well-balanced deacidification diet is the 80/20 rule. This means that 80% of the products we eat should be alkaline and 20% acidic. In order for the deacidification diet to be effective, it is worth remembering to eat regularly, preferably 5 times a day, about every 3-4 hours, and to drink at least 2 liters of water a day to facilitate metabolic processes in the body.

When it comes to deacidifying ingredients, it is worth adding products to the diet such as:

1. Lemon and other citrus juice – This is counterintuitive as citrus juices are highly acidic (pH around 2,5). At the same time, however, they contain a number of ingredients that help metabolize acids in the body, including sodium bicarbonate. It is used by some athletes to restore the body’s pH balance after exercise.
2. Vegetables, especially those with the most alkaline reaction: kale, broccoli, spinach, cucumber, avocado, pepper, celery, parsley, algae, sprouts, zucchini. They are best eaten raw or steamed.
3. Fruit. The most basic fruits are kiwi, watermelon, pineapple, melon, ripe bananas, peaches, cherries, apples and strawberries.
4. A good way to take advantage of the properties of vegetables and fruits is to make smoothies and juicing them.
5. Vegetable oils, especially olive oil and linseed oil, contribute to deacidification of the body.
6. Millet is also a valuable component of a deacidifying diet. Its deacidifying and cleansing properties are well known.

You can also use special teas with de-acidifying properties. Black tea de-acidifying and Green tea de-acidifying, also available on Medonet Market, additionally contain quince juice, which supports immunity.

When composing your menu, it is also worth knowing which products have the most acidic reaction. Some of them should be severely limited, others completely eliminated from the diet:

1. Fried products, baked with the addition of fat, etc.
2. Animal fats, especially those contained in fatty meat or full-fat dairy products, especially cheese. Eggs are not banned but should be eaten in moderation.
3. White sugar, especially when found in sweets and carbonated drinks. Attention! Artificial sweeteners also help to acidify the body.
4. Alcohol, caffeine and other stimulants.
5. Highly processed foods, including white flour. Wholegrain flour is also non-alkaline, but full of nutrients to help maintain the proper pH in the body.
6. Nuts are allowed in small amounts, as long as they are not fatty and highly processed salted peanuts.