How Easy is it to Measure Body pH Balance?

Although we may be exhibiting many of the symptoms that would indicate our body pH levels are deviating slightly towards acidity, it is important to get an indication as to what the levels actually are.

The body has a number of buffer systems to keep the blood and body fluids at an optimal pH level. However, recent research has shown that for many people, these buffer systems are struggling to cope with the acid load, leading to low-grade metabolic acidosis.

This manifests as reduced energy levels, less than optimal immunity and, if not corrected, can lead to more serious diseases.

When the blood pH deviates even slightly towards acidity this will result in lower oxygen transfer throughout the body. Proper body oxygen levels are necessary for good health and a high-energy lifestyle.

One of the easiest ways to get an indication of your body pH balance is to check the pH of your saliva and urine. Special test strips designed for saliva and urine testing are available from our online store. pH of saliva is a good indication of our health. It is normally slightly more acidic than blood pH. Ideally you want to see a reading of between 6.5 and 7.0 when you check your saliva pH a couple of hours after a meal. Avoid testing your saliva immediately following a meal, as you will simply obtain a measure of precisely what it was you ate. Thus, you will not obtain a legitimate reflection of your pH. 

If pH is consistently below 6.5, it is an indication that you have insufficient alkaline reserves. If you test your pH shortly after a meal, your pH should have risen to at least 7.8. If it has not, it is an indication that your body has a deficiency in alkaline minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium.

Your urine pH is a good indication of how well your body is working to keep your blood pH at the proper levels. As we check our urine pH, we get a fairly good indication of our body pH as the kidneys filter out the buffer salts of pH regulation.

It is best to check your urine pH first thing in the morning and take an average reading from the first two times you pass urine in the day. The ideal range is 6.5 to 7.25. If it is consistently lower, you should consider taking action to correct your body's acid alkaline balance.

It is advisable to conduct daily pH tests for 2-4 weeks, because this will enable you to spot trends and adjust your diet/lifestyle accordingly. It is also an effective way of determining the effects of your supplementation, and boosting motivation. Many, if not all of today's diseases, are believed to be the result of excess tissue acidity caused through improper diet, high levels of stress and environmental pollution.

Monitoring your pH levels is a good way to start to get an indication of your current status and to assess your progress as you implement dietary changes, improve your body hydration and take alkalising nutritional supplements.

Correcting low-grade acidosis is all about making sensible dietary and lifestyle choices. Choose to eat a preponderance of alkaline-forming foods, while jettisoning acidic foods from your diet. In simple terms, it is best to cut out simple sugars and processed foods of all kinds.

Eat an abundance of vegetables, particularly alkalising green vegetables and/or green smoothies, and drink mineral-rich water using an alkaline filter.

Good unprocessed salt, such as Himalayan pink salt or Celtic sea salt, is also hugely beneficial for pH balance because it is rich in natural minerals. The alkaline minerals which are especially helpful include calcium, magnesium and potassium. You can obtain these nutrients from food, which is always the best source; however, soil erosion caused by modern agriculture has to be taken into account. For magnesium in particular, a dietary supplement is often necessary.

Stress is another factor which should be considered, as high levels of cortisol deplete your body of the aforementioned minerals and increase acid load. Feel free to have a look at our pH Test Strips to get a handle on the pH of your saliva or urine, which will give an indication of the alkaline balance of the body.