On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 29 I May/June 2019 | Page 11

effect. It’s important to be aware that
the pH of the food prior to consumption
can be different to the pH value after
digestion. For example citrus fruits are
acidic prior to digestion but after they
are metabolised they result in slight
alkalising action.
The body requires both acid and
alkaline forming foods for optimal health
and because the acid load of acid forming
foods is approximately 4 times higher than
the alkaline value of alkalising foods, we
can focus on the 80/20 rule at meal times.
80% of the meal should be vegetables or
salad and 20% should be protein.
Typical weight loss dieting can result
in the break down of fat as well as the
production of keto acids which can
contribute to an acidic metabolic state
and further burden the ability of the
body to breakdown fat, so maintaining
a less acidic environment is important
when eating to reduce body fat.
Many studies have shown the negative
impact of acidosis on bone density and an
increased risk of osteoporosis. This can
occur as the body draws calcium and
magnesium from the bones to alkalise the
blood if its too acidic which promotes
demineralisation of the bones. Bone cells
are also impacted by chronic acidosis as
bone forming osteoblast cells are
inactivated and bone-resorbing osteoclasts
are more activated in an acidic state.
Regular exercise contributes to a
longer life and it’s also important for
simply strengthening the body and
increasing circulation throughout the
ACID FORMING FOOD ALKALINE FORMING FOOD
• Rice • Spinach, Kale, Rocket
• Hard Cheese and Camembert • Ginger
• Corned Beef • Dates
• Salami and Sausage • Avocado
• Game • Parsley, Cumin, Dill
• Prawns • Carrot, Celery
• Egg yolk • Zucchini, Broccoli
body. Exercise supports acid excretion
via the kidneys and increased exhalation
of carbon dioxide via the lungs which
both positively support the acid/alkaline
balance of the body.
The kidneys are the main organ to
process acidity so those with suboptimal
kidney health are especially advised
to maintain a low acid forming diet.
Reduced kidney function results in a
reduction in excretion of acid from the
body leading to a further burden on
organs. Often as people age, they don’t
have the appetite or motivation to eat
a balanced diet rich in a selection of
vegetables and fruit, as often it’s a more
simple eating plan of protein and grains.
This is sometimes accompanied by low
water intake which can reduce the
excretion capacity of the kidneys.
One way of measuring how acidic
the body is can be done via testing the
urine and an ideal result is a pH 6.8-7.
Urine is affected by diet, medications,
disease and even the time of day, so
for the most accurate results collecting
several measurements at the same time
every day is important. Due to our food
intake impacting our acidity, it’s best to
measure directly before each main meal.
Menstrual blood in the urine can also
affect results so it’s best to measure urine
acidity at least 4 days away from the
menstrual cycle. Urinary pH strips can be
bought from chemists.
Things you can do to reduce the
acidity in the body include eating a
predominantly alkalising diet rich in
vegetables, salad and fruit, as well as
taking a supplement high in alkalising
mineral citrates. Your nutritional health
professional can prescribe a practitioner
range supplement that is excipient,
additive and sweetener free as well as
taking into account any current health
issues and medications that need to
be considered prior to dietary and
supplement changes.
Further information can be found via
the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL)
information developed by the US
Department of Agriculture.
Diana Arundell is a university-qualified naturopath and consults from her Avoca Naturopath clinic. She has
a special interest in fertility and pregnancy health, digestive health, immune function and family wellness
programs. She was a nutrition lecturer at Macquarie University for 10 years, and is an accredited Journey
Practitioner. For further information please contact Diana Arundell at Avoca Naturopath on 0410 465 900.
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MAY/JUNE 2019 – ISSUE 29
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