What is pH balance?
Without a doubt, the single most important thing you can do for your health is to balance your pH!
PH balance in the body refers to the “optimal” balance of acidity and alkalinity in the body’s blood, tissues and fluids – a balance so extremely critical for the proper functioning of absolutely every organ and system, beginning with all basic cellular processes. When our bodies have proper pH balance, we say that they are in a state of homeostasis. Survival itself depends on the body's ability to maintain or restore homeostasis, a state of relative constancy of its internal environment.
Acid/base homeostasis is the part of human homeostasis concerning the proper balance between acids and bases – in other words, the pH. The human body is very sensitive to its pH level. Outside the range of pH that is compatible with life, enzymes lose their ability to function, and the body is unable to sustain itself.
pH is the abbreviation for Potential Hydrogen or the measurement of hydrogen-ion concentration of any solution. The higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is. The lower the reading, the more acidic and oxygen deprived the fluid is. The pH scale is from 0 to 14 with 7.0 being neutral. Anything above 7.0 is alkaline; anything below 7.0 is acid.
To properly understand pH balance – let’s first review a little high school chemistry in regards to “pH”, and our everyday knowledge of acids and bases.
What Does pH Mean?
pH stands for potential hydrogen. It is the measurement of the hydrogen-ion concentration. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14…..A reading of 7.0 or above is alkaline and below 7.0 is acidic. The higher a pH reading the more oxygen is in the fluid you are testing and the lower the pH reading indicates less oxygen and more acid.
The “p” refers to the potential of hydrogen. The “H” is the Hydrogen. An acid is something acidic, like vinegar. A base is something that is alkaline and has a high pH value, like baking soda. The number of PH shows the balance of acidity and alkalinity. For example, a pH of 7 is called “neutral”. A pH of <7 is “acidic”, and a pH of > 7 is “alkaline”. PH ranges from 0 (maximum acidity) to 14 (maximum alkalinity). Most of us are aware that vinegar is acidic, having a pH of about 2.5. Did you know that soda is also very acidic? Cola soft drinks have a pH of about 2.5, and can remove the paint from your car. Battery acid, on the very low end of the scale, has a pH of 1. On the alkaline side, antacids and over-the-counter medications like Milk of Magnesia have a pH of about 9.
Our bodies are said to be in pH balance when all of the body’s internal fluids are slightly alkaline, around 7.4 – which is about the same pH as in found from natural water. Arterial blood should be between 7.35 and 7.45. Spinal fluid and saliva should both be around 7.4. Interstitial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, liver bile and lymphatic fluid should all remain slightly alkaline – for a balanced, healthy body.
The kidneys regulate the pH of blood by adjusting H+ (hydrogen ion) levels, referred as augmentation of mineral ion concentration, as well as water composition of the blood.
Again, why exactly is this pH balance so important? Because the body’s pH management system regulates almost all life-sustaining bodily functions: breathing, circulation, elimination, digestion, hormone production and immune system defense! And without all of this going the way it should, disease and illness sets in. The current high cancer and obesity epidemics are thought to be the direct result of imbalanced pH and very high levels of acidity – in America and other westernized societies!
The kidneys are the primary organ responsible for maintaining the balance between acidity and alkalinity. The body maintains this acid/base balance through buffers in the blood, excretion of carbon dioxide through the lungs and the filtration of acids and waste through the kidneys.
 The kidneys are 2 small bean-shaped organs. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood, sifting out about 2 quarts of waste products and excess water. A complicated chemical exchange takes place − with waste materials and water leaving your blood and entering your urinary system. Without the kidneys, waste products and toxins would build up to dangerous levels in the blood, and subsequently damage your body. Through toxic-buildup in the body or dietary neglect, these important toxin-filtering organs can become inflamed, infected, develop kidney stones or fail altogether. And then the body’s ability to maintain pH balance will become more difficult.The kidneys regulate pH balance, electrolytes and the body's level of necessary substances like water, sodium and potassium. The correct balance of such substances is vital for your body to function healthily. The kidneys also:
- Regulate the composition of your blood
- Keep the concentrations of various ions and other important substances constant
- Remove wastes from your body (e.g. urea, drugs, toxic substances)
- Keep the acid/base concentration of your blood constant
- Maintain your body's calcium levels
When we learn how to maintain (or restore) our pH balance – we are living a lifestyle that allows our kidneys to perform at their peak. – And provide us with this ever-so important acid/base balance. | 
