We are testing our urine pH twice a day as part of a candida cleanse, and we're observing that our morning urine is usually in the 5s or low 6s but our night time urine is often in the 7s or even into the 8s!
We also start to notice that the pH seems more consistent when we spend four days straight eating really healthy food.
However, after just a few days eating not so healthful foods, our pH take a nosedive back into the 5.0s. Based on these observations, we can't help but wonder what's going on!
We are questioning what food choices affect pH levels the most.
With anything in life, we want to get the biggest bang for our buck, and that includes the foods we are consuming to nourish our bodies!
While researching this topic of food pH not only did we confirm a few things we already knew, but we also learned a great deal about how food preparation affects the vitamins, minerals, and pre-biotics in/on food, and also changes the pH.
We have shared this chart a few times, but it is important to understand that the pH levels shown on this chart are for the foods listed in RAW form, not cooked or heated at all (expect where is specifically states "cooked").
Let's layout some pretty well known food facts:
1.) The most acidic food types are milk products, meats (especially pork), refined flour, and sugar products.
2.) Most fruits and veggies are much more alkaline than any other food groups.
3.) Processed foods (anything found in a package) are generally acidic.
4.) Cooking, baking, or heating foods over 118 degrees changes the chemical composition and the pH.
5.) High temperature cooking breaks down the starch in food, therefore raising the sugar content.
6.) Heating food also denatures = deactivates key enzymes and proteins.
Here are some very interesting but much less know facts about food pH that may change your eating preferences:
1.) Based on current science, the human body tissues and blood is more alkaline that it is acidic. If you follow that logic, then it would make more sense for humans to eat an alkaline diet to support our bodies.
2.) Cooking food - especially vegetables - releases water, oxygen, and fiber, which decreases the overall volume of the food. That means you will want to consume more cooked food than raw. Cooked food will be less nutritious than raw, which can lead to weight issues.
Because of these factors, many people who are health conscious are choosing to go on a raw diet. Even for those who don't go fully raw, eating many more whole, raw foods increases pH to offset other acidic foods they consume.
You will hear very few people complain about a down side to raw food lifestyle, but there are a few considerations given our current environment:
1.) Watch your B12 levels. Most people these days get their B12s from meats and dairy products, but if you grow your own veggies and fruits, then you don't have much to worry about. Nutrient rich soil actually creates a pre-biotic type of coating on organically home grown foods that will supply you with plenty of B12. Since many people don't grown their own fruits and veggies though, you may need a good liquid supplement. Here is one that has been used by some of our community members with great success:http://amzn.to/2w4JSS1
2.) Some people are not eating enough calcium rich foods when they give up dairy. Make sure you get plenty of these:
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Watercress
- Bok Choy
- Okra
- Almonds
It should be noted that there are a few other factors besides food that we know affect your pH levels:
1.) Water - Make sure you are drinking plenty of quality water!
2.) Stress - If you have stress in your life, even a little, your body will release different chemicals to cope, which makes your internal environment very acidic. Do whatever you can to alleviate stress - try deep breathing, yoga, meditation, exercise, make art, and get plenty of quality sleep!
We hope this will inspire you to do additional research and work towards the best possible health for yourself!
For additional resources on this topic, please check out some of these links and the ones above:
http://thealkalinediet.org/alkaline-diet-tips/how-your-cooking-methods-affect-your-ph-balance
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-health/the-acid-alkaline-balance-and-the-raw-food-diet
https://draxe.com/top-10-calcium-rich-foods/
*This information is not intended to be medical advice; it is just shared research & experience.
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