Prevention And Healing With Water

An increased intake of healthy water will greatly enhance digestion‚ nutrient absorption‚ skin hydration‚ detoxification and virtually every aspect of better health!

So many common ailments and illnesses can be prevented and possibly even cured with an increased intake of healthy water. Headaches, hypertension, back pain, arthritis, ulcers, asthma, morning sickness and fatigue can all benefit and in many cases be prevented by regulating the body’s natural fluid levels. Recently there has been a dramatic swing in medical theory and a long overdue realization about “healing”. The best way to prevent, treat and in many cases cure illness is to give our body the right tools and let it go to work. With the proper intake of healthy water, the right minerals and nutrients our body can over come almost anything.

Recent studies have confirmed that many of the medications our society has become dependant on, primarily antibiotics and pain relievers , often do more harm than good. Antibiotics can be extremely damaging to the liver and have an adverse effect on our natural immune system. The more often we turn to synthetic medicines to over come infections, the weaker our natural defenses become and the more likely we are to have repeated incidences of infection. An increased intake of water and the proper immune enhancing nutrients combined with a little patience and common sense are by far the best defense against most infections. Allowing our body to over come minor infections with fever, fluids and rest increases our natural resistance and makes us less susceptible to these intruders in the future. Truly the best offence is a good “defense”.

Pain medications and analgesic medicines also work in contrast to the way our body heals itself. In a very informative book called The Body's Many Cries for Water (very highly recommend) studies by medical experts explain how most of the pain sensations we experience are the result of moderate or acute dehydration.

Our brain is over 75% water and when it detects a shortage of available fluids it implements a water rationing process by producing histamines, causing pain and fatigue. This natural process is meant to slow us down and conserve water. Histamines are released as a warning signal that something is wrong. When we take antihistamines or analgesic medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen we simply turn off the signal and often allow the problem to progress. Two cups of water and a 20 minute break will overcome most common headache pain.

Back pain is also most often the result of a deficiency in body fluid levels. The disks in our back are in reality little hydraulic shock absorbers. These disks are made up of an outer shell filled with fluid, primarily water. A properly hydrated disk creates a cushion that absorbs the shock of physical activity and supports the weight of the upper body. These discs are self hydrating as long as there is adequate fluid levels and regular movement. Movement that compresses and releases pressure on the disc creates a suction that allows water to be pulled inside the disc keeping it fully hydrated. When a disc is fully hydrated the shell of the disc supports 25% of the weight load and the fluid supports 75%. When theses discs become dehydrated then the shell has to support a larger portion of the load causing pain, swelling and soreness. Passive activities like standing, or sitting at a desk without regular movement, allow constant pressure on the disks which slowly forces water out. Without sufficient fluid levels, the pressure on the disc increases and results in pain and stiffness. Simply by maintaining a constant and adequate intake of water combined with regular movement such as bending forward and backwards with your head and upper body allowing the disks to hydrate, you can prevent and stop most minor back and neck pain. Try it, you’ll be amazed how easy and effective these natural solutions are.

Hypertension is very often a result of the body adjusting to blood volume loss, according to Dr. Batmanghelidj, MD, a recognized expert on natural and preventive treatments. The most common cause of lower blood volume is dehydration. Since our blood is more than 83% water it’s total volume is heavily effected by the level of available water in our body. When the body detects a loss of blood volume it closes off less active capillary beds in order to maintain proper blood flow to the more active areas. These vessel closings cause a rise in tension inside the muscle mass which we’ve come to know as “hypertension”. More water allows proper blood volumes and less tension.

Arthritis pain and stiffness is now understood to be initially a result of increased friction and swelling in the bone joints. Water is what our body uses to lubricate these joints. When our water levels are reduced there is increased friction between the cartilage surfaces resulting in swelling, stiffness and pain. The movement of the joints cause a suction that pulls water from the bone marrow to the joint cavity if there is available water. An increased intake of water and gentle rhythmic movements of the joints can ease and in many cases overcome minor arthritic pain. A more detailed explanation of this natural treatment can be studied in The Body’s Many Cries For Water or a recent publication by three very highly respected Medical Doctors called The Water We Drink. For more information on arthritis, read Glucosamine and Arthritis Pain

Asthma, which effects over 12 million children in North America alone and causes the deaths of several thousand each year, is a direct result of increased histamine production. Dehydration initiates exaggerated histamine production as a water regulating control. It is well known that asthmatics have excessive levels of histamines in their lung tissue causing constriction of the bronchial passages and increased mucus build up. Water is used in the lungs to keep the tissue moist, but each time we exhale we expel moisture from our lungs. Under normal hydrated conditions the moisture is rapidly replaced. If we are in a dehydrated state then the tissue inside the lungs begins to coat with mucus to prevent drying. It has been demonstrated in many animal studies that an increase in water intake will reduce histamine levels and over a 2 to 3 week period restore normal hydration to lung tissue and reduce mucus build up. Once this occurs the bronchial passages begin to open and normal breathing is restored. The same histamine related effects apply to allergies, and again, significant benefits can result from an increased intake of water.

Even something thought of as normal, like morning sickness is a direct result of dehydration. The fetus lives in a world of water which the body prioritizes above all other needs. Throughout the night, which is the longest period without water intake, the uterus draws water from the mothers system to maintain it’s internal fluid levels and those of the fetus. In the morning the mother awakens in a state of dehydration, nausea and fatigue, hence the term “morning sickness”. A common hang over produces the same symptoms and has essentially the same cause, dehydration… only with a much less noble purpose. Alcohol is a very strong diuretic and causes the body to excrete water often leading to advanced dehydration. Both of these common ailments can be prevented by drinking plenty of water before and throughout the night.

While water is not an absolute cure-all, it must be recognized as the base and primary ingredient to every preventive and healing process within our body. We are truly a magnificent creation capable of preventing and curing even the worst of disease and illness.

Understanding how our body works is the first step towards achieving a higher level of health. Once we have this understanding then our actions begin to work in harmony with our body’s natural instincts, creating the perfect internal environment.

It is important to remember that we are a water machine and that simply by providing our body with the proper ingredients we can and will achieve an elevated level of health, and what a wonderful and rewarding feeling it can be!

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Are You Drinking Enough Water?

Most people have no idea how much water they should be drinking, and most Americans live from day to day in a dehydrated state. They don't drink enough water. Without water, we would be poisoned to death by our own waste products and toxins resulting from metabolism. Can you see why dehydration is bad for our health?! Water is vital to digestion and metabolism, acting as a medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells through the blood, regulates body temperature and lubricates our joints (which is particularly important if you're arthritic, have chronic muscular-skeletal problems or are athletically active). We need water to breathe; we lose approximately one pint of liquid every day just by exhaling. If you are not in "fluid balance" you can impair every aspect of your body's physiological functioning. Dr. Howard Flaks, Beverly Hills: "As a result of not drinking enough water, many people encounter such problems as excess body fat, poor muscle tone and size, decreased digestive efficiency and organ function, increased toxicity in the body, joint and muscle soreness (particularly after exercise) and water retention." Proper water intake is the key to weight loss," says Dr. Donald Robertson, Scottsdale, Arizona. "If people who are trying to lose weight don't drink enough water, the body can't metabolize the fat, they retain fluid, which keeps their weight up, and the whole procedure we're trying to set up falls apart." "I'd say the minimum amount of water a healthy person should drink is 10 eight-ounce glasses a day," he continues, "and you need to drink more if you are overweight, exercise a lot, or live in a hot climate. Overweight people should drink an extra eight ounces of water for each 25 pounds that exceeds their ideal weight." Your water intake should be spread judiciously throughout the day, including the evening. Dr. Flaks cautions against drinking more than four glasses in any given hour. Always check with your physician before embarking on a water intake increase program. You may ask, "If I drink this much water, won't I constantly be running to the bathroom?" Initially, yes, because of the hypersensitivity of the bladder to increased fluids. But after a few weeks, your bladder calms down, and you urinate less frequently, but in larger amounts. There is a difference between pure water and other beverages that contain water. Water is water. Obviously you can get it by consuming fruit juice, soft drinks, beer, coffee or tea. Unfortunately, while such drinks contain water, they also may contain substances that are not healthy and actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water. Dr. Jerzy Meduski, Los Angeles, California: "Beer contains water, but it also contains alcohol, which is a toxic substance. Beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee, stimulate the adrenal glands; fruit juices contain a lot of sugar and stimulate the pancreas. Such drinks may tax the body more than cleanse it." Another problem with these beverages is that you lose your taste for water. The way to interpret all of this, therefore, is that the recommended daily water intake means just that--WATER! Remember, if you wait until you are thirsty, you are already slightly dehydrated! NOTE: Its important to drink pure, clean water. The only way to do this in today's world is to add some kind of filtration system to your water before you use it. I personally use filters on both my drinking water and my shower. The water tastes better, doesn't smell, and the shower filter has made my skin much less dry. My hair color lasts much longer! Plus, I have the added benefit of knowing I am doing something good for my health!

Chlorine and Your Drinking Water

Here's What The Experts Have To Say:

"The drinking of chlorinated water has finally been officially linked to an increased incidence of colon cancer. An epidemiologist at Oak Ridge Associated Universities completed a study of colon cancer victims and non-cancer patients and concluded that the drinking of chlorinated water for 15 years or more was conducive to a high rate of colon cancer." Health Freedom News, January/February 1987

"Long-term drinking of chlorinated water appears to increase a person's risk of developing bladder cancer as much as 80%," according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Some 45,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with bladder cancer. St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press, December 17, 1987

"Although concentrations of these carcinogens are low...it is precisely these low levels which cancer scientists believe are responsible for the majority of human cancers in the United States." Report Issued By The Environmental Defense Fund

"Chlorine itself is not believed to be the problem. Scientists suspect that the actual cause of the bladder cancers is a group of chemicals that form as result of reactions between the chlorine and natural substances and pollutants in the water." (organic matter such as leaves and twigs.) St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press, December 17, 1987

Greenpeace reports have found chlorine-based compounds to be the most common toxic and persistent pollutants in the Great Lakes

Summary and Prevention Strategies

In its proposal for revamping the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has recommended examining chlorine's impact on health and the environment (SN: 1/22/94, p.59). The agency's proposed $2 million, one-year chlorine study would look at the effects of the use of chlorine and chlorine compounds in the manufacture of paper, solvents, and plastics and in disinfecting waste water and drinking water, says EPA' James F. Pendergast.

Contaminants may enter water supplies at many points before reaching the tap. The carcinogens in drinking water at the point of use may result from contamination of source water, arise from the treatment processes, or enter as the water is transported to the consumer. Varied carcinogens may contaminate the source water, but they usually exist in drinking water at low concentrations. However, chemicals that enter drinking water during water treatment are limited in number, but appear in drinking water supplies with greater frequency than most source water contaminants.

Under conditions of average temperature, humidity, and activity, the human body loses and, therefore, must replace about 2.3 liters of water each day. Two-thirds of this consumption is in the form of water or some other beverage. Concerns about the health risks or taste of drinking water may cause those who consume tap water to shift to bottled water, or other beverages. These beverages may include sweetened soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, which can pose health risks greater than those associated with drinking water.

To stop chlorination of drinking water to eliminate the elevated cancer risks from chlorination by-products would be foolhardy. Nonetheless, the data provide strong evidence to support expanded efforts in research and development of alternatives to chlorination for the disinfection of drinking water. Chlorination is particularly effective in preventing recontamination during distribution. Alternatives must provide a similar level of protection. Perhaps the most viable alternative is point of use water treatment units.

The weight of the evidence suggests that chlorination by-products pose substantial cancer risks that should be reduced.

MORE FACTS & SOURCES:

DID YOU KNOW???

"Drinking tap water that is chlorinated is hazardous if not deadly to your health."
HEALTHY WATER FOR LONGER LIFE - DR. MARTIN FOX

"Known carcinogens are found in drinking water as a direct consequence of the practice of
chlorination"
MUNICIPAL ENVIROMENTAL RESEARCH LAB - FRANCIS T. MAYO, DIRECTOR

"Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose
water does not contain chlorine."
US COUNCIL OF ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY

"Chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of modern times. While it prevented epidemics of one
disease, it was creating another. Two decades ago, after the start of chlorinating our drinking
water in 1904, the present epidemic of heart trouble, cancer and senility began."
SAGINAW HOSPITAL - DR J.M. PRICE

The National Academy of Sciences estimate that 200-1000 people die in the United States each year from cancers caused by ingesting the contaminants in water."
SCIENCIES NEWS, VOLUME 130 - JANET RALOFF

"The cause of atherosclerosis and resulting heart attacks and strokes is none other than the
ubiquitous chlorine in our drinking water."
CORONARIES/CHOLESTEROL/CHLORINE - DR. JM PRICE

Chlorine gas was used despicably during WWI. When the war was over, the use of chlorine was diverted to poisoning the germs in our drinking water. All water supplies throughout the country were chlorinated. The combination of chlorine and animal fats results in atherosclerosis, heart attacks and death."
WATER CAN UNDERMINE YOUR HEALTH - DR. N.W. WALKER, D.S.

"48-49 states are failing to adequately enforce existing drinking water regulations."
JAMES ELDER - U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

"Florida had 521 excessive contaminants violations and 5,250 monitoring and reporting violations."
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL - USA TODAY SEPTEMBER 27, 1993

"Scientists discovered that chlorine reacted with organic material in water to produce hundreds of chemical by-products, several of which have proved in animal studies to be carcinogenic."
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT - JULY 29, 1991

"Drinking chlorinated water may as much as double the risk of bladder cancer."
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE - KENNETH CANTOR

Drugs in Our Drinking Water?

Experts put potential risks in perspective after a report that drugs are in the water supply.

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

Tiny amounts of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, hormones, mood stabilizers, and other drugs — are in our drinking water supplies, according to a media report.

In an investigation by the Associated Press, drinking water supplies in 24 major metropolitan areas were found to include drugs.

According to the investigation, the drugs get into the drinking water supply through several routes: some people flush unneeded medication down toilets; other medicine gets into the water supply after people take medication, absorb some, and pass the rest out in urine or feces. Some pharmaceuticals remain even after wastewater treatments and cleansing by water treatment plants, the investigation showed.

Although levels are low — reportedly measured in parts per billion or trillion — and utility companies contend the water is safe, experts from private organizations and the government say they can't say for sure whether the levels of drugs in drinking water are low enough to discount harmful health effects.

WebMD asked experts to give their take on the potential risks of drugs in the water supply.

Is this a new phenomenon, the finding of pharmaceuticals in public water supplies?

No. Low levels of pharmaceuticals in the water supply have been a concern for a decade or longer, says Sarah Janssen, MD, PHD, MPH, a science fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental action group.

"Ever since the late 1990s, the science community has recognized that pharmaceuticals, especially oral contraceptives, are found in sewage water and are potentially contaminating drinking water," Janssen tells WebMD.

Concern among scientists increased when fish in the Potomac River and elsewhere were found to have both male and female characteristics when exposed to estrogen-like substances, she says. For instance, some fish had both testes and an ovary, she says.

Scientists starting looking at the effects of oral contraceptives first, she says. "Now analyses have expanded to look at other drugs," Janssen says.

Technology has made this research easier, says Suzanne Rudzinski, deputy director for science and technology in the Office of Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Analytical methods have gotten better and we are able to detect lower levels than ever before."

Is there a health effect of drugs in drinking water?

All sides of the debate agree this is not known for sure. "At this point we don't have evidence of a health effect," Rudzinski says, "although it's an area of concern and one we will continue to look at."

Janssen agrees: "We don't know. It's true that the levels [of the medications found in drinking water] are very low. But especially when it comes to pharmaceuticals that are synthetic hormones, there is concern, because hormones work at very low concentrations in the human body."

"We don't want people to be alarmed and think they can't drink their tap water or that they shouldn't be drinking water," Janssen says. "We think this report in particular is a call for our federal agencies — EPA in particular — to do further studies to see what the health effects are."

EPA's ongoing research is focusing on the effect of pharmaceuticals in the water supply on aquatic life and human health, Rudzinski says. But she could not supply details of how much money is being allocated to that research effort or when to expect answers.

Are certain people — say pregnant women, children, the elderly — more sensitive to the potential effects of drugs in the drinking water supply?

Again, it's not known, Janssen says. "We know that kids, including babies and toddlers, as well as fetuses, are more susceptible to environmental exposures because their bodies are still developing and their exposure on a pound-per-pound basis is higher. And they lack the detoxification system adults have. So it is not unreasonable to expect they would be at higher risk."

Can boiling tap water get rid of the medicines, or would drinking bottled water solve the problem?

Boiling will not solve the problem, Janssen says. And forget bottled water as a way to escape the low levels of drugs found in some public water supplies. "Twenty five percent of bottled water comes from the tap," she says, citing an NRDC report.

Labels on bottled water, regulated by the FDA, help consumers know what they are getting, says Stephen Kay, a spokesman for the International Bottled Water Association. If bottled water companies use water from municipal sources and do not treat it further to purify it, the FDA views the source as legitimate but requires the label to state that it is from a municipal or community water system. Bottled water companies that use municipal source water, but then treat and purify it by using reverse osmosis, distillation, or other processes can label it as such using terms such as "purified water" or "reverse osmosis" water.

Home filtering systems such as reverse osmosis may reduce the medication levels, says Timothy Bartrand, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Drexel University, Philadelphia, who participated in a National Science Foundation workshop to develop a drinking water research agenda.

"An activated charcoal system will remove some pharmaceutical drugs but not all," Janssen says. "A reverse osmosis system can also remove some."

What else can consumers do to find answers or improve the situation?

Contact your local public utilities and ask them what pollutants they test for in drinking water, Janssen says, as one way to raise awareness of the problem. Contacting your senator or congressman is another.

When disposing of expired or unneeded medications, don't flush them, Rudzinski says. Instead, mix unused or unwanted drugs with coffee grounds or kitty litter, something that will be unpalatable to pets. Put the mixture in a sealed container so it's not accessible to children or pets and put the mixture in the trash.

With Bottled Water, You Don't Know What You're Getting

With Bottled Water, You Don't Know What You're Getting

You wouldn’t drink this water, would you?

Of course not!

80% of city water systems are not equipped with filters that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Meaning, the drinking water available is not suitable for human consumption because of all the pollutants in it.

Most water, including bottled waters, has a pH (chemical measure of acidity or alkalinity) of 5.5 down to 4.2. Consuming low pH water, which is high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid, is consuming poison. Sulfuric acid and nitric acid are the two main components of Acid Rain.

Acid rain encourages the proliferation of reproductive toxins and neurological toxins in drinking water supplies. It also changes our pH level; when our pH level is off, our body rejects minerals. Vitamins without minerals are quickly eliminated from the body.

This is where Blis Living Water comes in. The purer the water (the closer to uncontaminated mountain-fresh water as it used to be found in nature in the past), the higher the cellular absorption and the better the body can make use of the water. With an abundant intake of clean, healthy water we allow the body to perform all the healing processes that it is naturally capable of.

Are non Blis Living Water filtration systems any good?

	• Carbon filtration only reduces certain organic compounds and chlorine in drinking water, but not to an acceptable level. Activated carbon filters do not remove all volatile organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, harmful acids, viruses and bacteria, pyrogens, microbes, sodium, nitrates, fluoride, hardness and other pathogens and toxins and does not remove heavy metals.
	• Reverse osmosis and distillation do not remove harmful acids from water purified through these processes. Purified water is an active absorber and when it comes in contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The more purified water a person drinks, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and the higher the body acidity becomes. According to the EPA, "Purified" water, being essentially mineral-free, is very aggressive, in that it tends to dissolve substances that it comes in contact with.
	• Water ionizers do remove the acids; however, the high alkaline pH readings tend to come from elevated (bi)carbonate levels, contaminated "sludge" (remaining from only partially filtered tap water) and quite often added organic minerals, such as carbonate calcium and ceramic tourmaline. It uses Coral calcium that depletes our magnesium reserves. Ionized water is nothing more than high pH dirty water.

Acidic v. Alkaline Health

Acidic v. Alkaline Health

The Causes of Your Acidity

We are alkaline bodies by design, but acid generating by function. Acid is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach to aid in digestion, and acid is consumed in organic form in fruit. However, other than the stomach, no part of the body should be acid.

Despite this, one of the most widespread and insidious causes of illness that plague our society is acidosis - an accumulation of more acid than the body can effectively process. Patients often initially consult a doctor seeking relief from symptoms of a chronic condition - arthritis, diabetes, emphysema, arteriosclerosis, or cancer.

Regardless of the particular symptomatology, all of these conditions originate with an increase in the amount of acid in the body.

Acidosis is generally seen by medical science as a part of the pathology of several different diseases including impaired liver function. It is encountered often enough to be assumed to be normal, however, acidosis is definitely not normal. It is the forerunner of most, if not
all, chronic degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. These diseases are rampant enough to be considered epidemic in our country.

Acidosis is often a covert condition in that the patient feels good
in the early stages of acid accumulation. In fact, he may boast of an exaggerated feeling of well-being and an unusually high level of energy.

Unfortunately, this is an inaccurate perception resulting from the "stimulatory" reaction of the body's regulatory systems that are operating in high gear to process the excess acid. Both the good feeling and high energy level will disappear as more acid accumulates.

In a continued effort to maintain alkalinity, the neutralizing alkaline reserves are depleted and the liver becomes increasingly congested
and is unable to perform its function of detoxification. When the extra cellular and intracellular fluids lose their alkalinity, the person is considered to be in a condition of acidosis.

Attitude And Acidosis

Prolonged periods of acidosis affect not only the physical condition
but also the mental and emotional states of patients. Similarly, mental attitude can affect the physical state.

It is possible for a person to maintain a diet high in fruits and vegetables and still be acid. Regardless of the diet followed, the person who is negative in his outlook on life is acid.

Negative thoughts act to stimulate the action of the adrenal glands that in turn speed up the body's metabolic activity. As this occurs, more acid is produced and since the process is continuous, the amount of acid overpowers the alkaline from the good food and the net result is acid.

And the cycle can be perpetuated; the more acid we become, the more negative, defensive, argumentative and unpleasant we become. The pessimist who can find nothing good about anything is almost certainly in some degree of acidosis.

Symptoms Of Acidosis

Symptoms of prolonged acidosis that are caused by the consumption
of excess protein can easily be mistaken for individual character or personality traits. However, definite attitudes and mannerisms develop as a result of the super-charged internal activity of the body as it works toward ridding itself of the damaging excess acid. The person who is on
a high-protein diet moves through a progression of symptoms.


Initially, he . . .

• Has an exaggerated sense of well-being
  
• Is a high achiever, a "mover and shaker"
  
• Believes himself to be perfectly well
  
• Is overly ambitious and restless due to the irritation of the nerves.

Later he……

• Sees only the pessimistic side of issues and life
  
• Can't sleep restfully
  
• Wakes up as tired in the morning as he was when he went to bed
  
• Constantly finds fault with everyone and everything
  
• Is tired and experiences generalized aches and pains
  
• Becomes irritable, ill tempered, and difficult to please
  
• Shows signs of "aging" as the body removes alkalizing substances from the muscles… then calcium from the bones.

Although everyone who is suffering from acidosis does not experience all of these symptoms, it is helpful for the practitioner
to be able to correlate some "personality traits" with clinical findings and to recognize indications that the patient's body is over taxed and headed toward chronic degenerative disease.

10 Reasons To Avoid Acidosis

1. Corrodes Arteries, Veins and Heart Tissues
   Like acid eating into marble, acidosis erodes and eats into
   cell wall membranes of the heart, arteries and veins, weakening cardiovascular structures and inter connective tissues.
2. Accelerates Free-Radical Damage and Premature Aging
   Acidosis causes partial lipid breakdown and destructive oxidative cascades.This accelerates Free Radical Damage of cell walls and intracellular membrane structures, which then unravel, killing cells in the process. Acidosis is thus thought to be the first step toward premature aging, accelerating oxidative cascades of cell wall destruction, creating wrinkling, age spots, dysfunctional hormonal systems, interfering with eyesight, memory, and a
   host of other age-related phenomena.
3. Causes Weight Gain, Diabetes and Obesity
   An acid pH has considerable influence over the majority of
   weight problems, including Diabetes and Obesity. It seems that
   a habitually acid pH can directly cause immediate weight gain.
   
   Here's what happens when a system is too acid... A condition known as Insulin Sensitivity or Syndrome X results, which forces too much insulin to be produced, and the body is flooded with insulin so that it won't waste any calories, it diligently converts every calorie it can into fat.
   
   It is thought that an acid pH immediately signals the powerful genetic response to an impending famine, directly interacting
   with the all important and very sensitive, Insulin- Glucagon Axis. This makes the body produce more insulin than usual, and in turn, produce more fat and store it. In general, the more insulin is available to the body, the higher the probability that fat will be produced and stored, rather than used and burned as energy.
   
   Thus, an acid pH will probably alert the genetic response to famine, directing more insulin to be produced and storing more fat than usual. Conversely, a healthy, slightly alkaline pH, will be more likely to yield normal fat burning metabolic activity, making no demands on the body to overly produce insulin and make fat, allowing fat-weight to be burned and naturally lost.
   
   And, with a healthy pH, there is less likely to be any yo-yo effect, or rebounding from a diet with additional weight gain. As long as nutritional stores are maintained, a healthy, slightly alkaline pH allows fat to burn normally for energy, rather than being hoarded under the mistaken biochemical belief of an impending famine.

With increased pressure to produce insulin under the worst conditions, beta cells lose phase with one another, cellular communication is thwarted and the Immune System begins to
over- respond. Stress within the cells increases, making it difficult
for them to perform adequately, and further, survive. In a very real sense, they simply burn out! Acidosis is thus thought an important
yet often underestimated precursor to Diabetes Mellitus.

Interestingly, before the advent of synthetic insulin, diabetes was treated historically by buffering the system with base or alkaline causing powders.

4. Causes Cholesterol Plaque to Form
   LDL-Cholesterol is laid down at an accelerated rate within
   an acid chemical environment of the cardiovascular system, inappropriately lining the vascular network, and clogging up
   the works! The amount of cholesterol in the diet has not been found to be a major factor in cholesterol plaque formation. Rather, pH status appears to be the factor more directly involved, binding cholesterol with heavy metals and other cellular debris.
   
5. Disrupts Blood Pressure
   With acidosis, (pH<7.20) arteries become dilated. Yet,
   severe lowering of blood pH also causes persistent venous vaso- constriction (a disease in the calibre of blood vessels). When this happens, peripheral blood is shifted more centrally: the more acidic the patient, the greater the fractional redistribution of blood to the central vessels. This central redistribution of blood adds to the heart's workload when its contractibility is compromised.
   
6. Disrupts Critical Lipid and Fatty Acid Metabolism
   Acidosis disrupts general lipid and fatty acid metabolism within the body.Fatty acids are intimately involved in nerve and brain function. When fatty acid metabolism is disturbed, neurological problems may arise including Multiple Sclerosis, Macular Degeneration and others, as well as problems with hormonal balance within the endocrine system.
   
7. Inhibits Metabolism of Stored Energy Reserves
   An acid pH inhibits efficient cellular and body metabolism. Acidosis causes chemical ionic disturbances, interfering with cellular communications and functions. Acidosis reduces Ca (calcium) binding of plasma proteins, reducing the effectiveness
   of this intracellular signal.

Acidosis also leads to a disease of calcium cations (positive Ca) entry through positive Ca channels, resulting in reduction of cardiac contractibility, or the ability of the heart to pump efficiently and rhythmically.

Also, positive Ca and positive H (Hydrogen) regulate the activity of intracellular proteins and are driven out of cells, because of the "Sodium-Potassium pump" (Na-K pump), which provides a strong incentive for sodium to be driven into cells.

There are some 10 times the amount of positive Na in extra cellular fluids than in cells.

The Sodium-Potassium pump regulates the amount of sodium and potassium each cell in the body stores, and uses up as much as 25% of our caloric input per day to run. Positive Ca exchanges the positive Na, being forced out of cells, but naturally, the electrochemical gradient for positive Ca favors both positive H and positive Ca entry into cells, as there is less calcium and positive H in cells than in the extra cellular fluids.

Therefore, in acid solutions, less sodium will be present, slowing down the processing and induction of nutritional items going into cells. (Calcium may become inordinately leached from bone mass, causing osteoporosis.) An acid pH drains us of energy and disallows stored energy reserves to be used. Furthermore calcium may become inordinately leached from bone mass, causing osteoporosis.

8. Inhibits Cellular Regeneration & DNA-RNA Synthesis
   For DNA-RNA synthesis and healthy cell proliferation to occur, cell pH must not be acidic. However, cancerous cells grow well in acidic mediums, therefore an acid pH actually accelerates and increases the possibility of cellular mutations (Cancer).
   
   Cancerous cells do not contain hydrogen atoms. When healthy cells have plenty of hydrogen they cannot become cancerous. If we can get hydrogen into any unhealthy cells, they can heal.
   
9. Inhibits Oxygen Getting to the Tissue
   Acidosis or an acid pH decreases the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to cells, making normally healthy cells unhealthy so eventually they die.
   
10. Inhibits Life Giving Electrolyte Activity
    Life-essential functions, like electrolyte Potassium (K plus) and Sodium (Na plus) channels, are inactivated by acidosis.
    
    This has far reaching effects cardiovascularly, since without sufficient electrolyte management, heart attacks are likely to occur. Without appropriate electrolyte management, our heart literally stops beating. Inhibition of electrolyte activity also affects the way we feel and behave, and is intimately involved in the energy levels we experience, because of the nature of the Na-K Pump and cellular metabolism.

An Acid pH Is The Seed-Bed
Of Degenerative Diseases

Such as…

• Cardiovascular Disease: Arteriosclerosis, Heart Attacks, Stroke, High Cholesterol, and High Blood Pressure
  
• All Forms of Cancer
  
• Diabetes, Insulin Sensitivity, Obesity
  
• Neurological Diseases, MS, MD, ALS and Parkinson's disease
  
• Liver & Kidney Disease
  
• Senility, Dementia, Alzheimer's
  
• Immune Deficiencies
  
• Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Tooth Loss
  
• Hormonal Imbalances
  
• Premature Aging, Male Prostate Problems

Understanding pH Level and Why Many People Have Disease

According to the research of Dr. Enderlein, total healing of chronic illness only takes place when and if the blood is restored to a normal, slightly alkaline pH. In case you missed it, let me say it again...

Total healing of chronic illness only takes place when and if the blood is restored to a normal, slightly alkaline pH.

Human blood stays in a very narrow pH range around 7.35 - 7.45. Below or above this range means symptoms and disease. If blood pH moves too much below 6.8 or above 7.8, cells stop functioning and the patient dies. The ideal pH balance for blood is 7.4.

A healthy blood pH without cancer has acid / alkaline balance almost equal. Actually a healthy body is slightly alkaline measuring approximately 7.4. This ideal blood 7.4 pH measurement means it is just slightly more alkaline than acid.

If you have a health problem, most likely you are acidic. We have seen that research shows that unless the body's pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. So, no matter what type of modality you choose to use to take care of your health problem, it won't be effective until the pH level is up. If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Your body pH affects everything.

Like most living things on earth the body has to have a balanced pH or it does not function correctly. The alkaline level is very important because research has already proven that disease cannot survive in an alkaline state and yet thrives in an acidic environment.

FACT: An acidic imbalance will decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.

An acidic pH can occur from an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients.

The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

Cancer…

There are two factors that are ALWAYS present with cancer no matter what else may be present. Those two factors are Acid pH and Lack of Oxygen. Can we manipulate those two factors that always have to be present for cancer to develop and by doing so will that help reverse the cancer? If so, we need to learn how to manipulate those two factors.

Cancer needs an acid and low oxygen environment to survive and flourish within.

Terminal cancer patients are around 1000 times more acidic than normal healthy people. The vast majority of terminal cancer patients possess a very low body pH.

Why?

In the absence of oxygen, glucose undergoes fermentation to lactic acid. This causes the pH of the cell to drop from between 7.3 to 7.2 down to 7 and later to 6.5 in more advanced stages of cancer and in metastases the pH drops to 6.0 and even 5.7 or lower. Our bodies simply cannot fight disease if our body pH is not properly balanced.

The normal human cell has a lot of molecular oxygen and a slightly alkaline pH. The cancer cell has an acid pH and lack of oxygen. Cancer cells cannot survive in an oxygen rich environment. Again, the higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is. Cancer and all diseases hate oxygen / pH balance. pH balance is very important for one's health.

FACT: If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Also, mucus on the small intestine can block your body from vitamin and mineral absorption.

Acidosis - an extended time in the acid pH state - can result
in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, most cancers and many more health problems.

If salivary pH stays too low, the diet should focus on fruit, vegetables and still mineral water as well as removing strong acidifiers such as sodas, whole wheat and red meat.

Foods considered to be alkaline-forming and thus helpful to people with consistently acid pH include: almonds, aloe vera, apples, apricots, bee pollen, buckwheat, cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, carrots, cucumbers, dates, dulse, poached eggs, figs, grapefruit, honey, lettuce, millet, parsley, raisins, peaches, fresh red potatoes, pineapple, soy products, sprouted seeds, cooked spinach, turnip tops, wakame miso soup, azuki
beans, rice, mineral water.

People who remain too acid often display symptoms such as: anxiety, diarrhea, dilated pupils, extroverted behavior, fatigue in early morning, headaches, hyperactivity, hyper sexuality, insomnia, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, restless legs, shortness of breath, strong appetite, high blood pressure, warm dry hands and feet. Acidosis (overly acidic body) is the primary indicator of Calcium Deficiency Disease.

It’s not enough to eat well, you must be able to assimilate what you eat. But…your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is balanced.

It is therefore possible for you to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them.

Balancing the pH is a major step toward well-being and greater health. Scientists have discovered that the body fluids of healthy people are alkaline (high pH) whereas the body fluids of sick people are acidic (low pH). Balancing the pH is a major step towards well-being and greater health.

Eating the proper foods and getting the best nutrients, in balance, will help you avoid all that - along with the misery and quality of life that so often precedes death, sometimes by decades. The simple secret is in finding the right combinations of diet and lifestyle.

Chronic Acidosis

By Michael Cutler, MD

Most of us are familiar with acid indigestion, or "heartburn."

However, few of us realize that many Americans have chronic, low-grade acidosis (acid body chemistry) because of what we eat. We are, as a nation, chronically acidic.

And fewer of us realize what a devastating impact acid can have on our bodies…for example:

Bone Loss and Joint Pain

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a seven-year study¹ by the University of California on 9704 women showed that those with chronic acid overload are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have normal pH levels.

Why? Because when your body is highly acidic, it will do whatever it takes to return itself to a healthier pH balance. Your body steals the calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium it needs from your bones

in order to buffer the tissue acids and they are systematically eaten away.

The result? Severe bone loss and joint pain.

Bronchial Attacks for Those with Asthma

Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine announced that high acid levels are strongly linked to asthma attacks.² Dr. Benjamin Gaston discovered that shortly before
an asthma attack, acid levels in the lungs shot up as much as 1000-fold. This increased acidity contributed to inflammation in the bronchial airways and triggered an attack. As a result of this study, researchers at

Duke University are now investigating treatments using antacid therapy.

Abnormal Cell Growth

According to Nobel prize-winning scientist Dr. Otto Warburg, abnormal cells positively thrive in an acidic environment. "They have a fundamentally different energy metabolism compared to healthy cells," he says. In addition, scientific research reported in the journals

Psychosomatic Medicine³ and the American Journal of Managed Care⁴ recently revealed that lactic acid and uric acid (both released into the body by stress) may promote the growth of abnormal cells.

And these are only a few of the damaging effects of chronic acidosis...

References

1. Sellemeyer et al. (2001.) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 73: 118-22.
2. Gaston et al. (2000.) American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. 161: 694-699.
3. Orme-Johnson. (1987.) Psychosomatic Medicine. 49: 493-507.
4. Orme-Johnson, (1997.) American Journal of Managed Care. Vol. 3, No.1: 135-144.

[Ed. note: Michael Cutler, M.D. is a board-certified family physician with more than 17 years of clinical experience. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Tulane Medical School. Dr. Cutler's practice focuses on integrative solutions to health problems, behavioral and nutritional medicine.]

Blood's Acid/Base Balance

by Craig C. Freudenrich, Ph.D

Your blood maintains a constant concentration of hydrogen ion (pH) by a chemical mixture of hydrogen ions and sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate is produced by the carbon dioxide (CO ₂) formed in the cells as a byproduct of many chemical reactions.

The CO₂ enters the blood in the capillaries, where red blood cells contain an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase that helps combine
CO ₂ and water (H ₂O) to form carbonic acid (H ₂ CO₃ ) quickly.

The carbonic acid formed then rapidly separates into hydrogen ions (H⁺ ) and bicarbonate ions (HCO₃^-). This reaction can also proceed in the reverse direction, whereby sodium bicarbonate plus hydrogen ion yields carbon dioxide and water.

Carbonic Anhydrase

CO ₂ + H ₂ O <---------> H ₂ CO₃ <---------> H⁺ + HCO ₃ ^-

The correct pH is maintained by keeping the ratio of hydrogen ion to bicarbonate in the blood constant. If you add acid (hydrogen ion) to the blood, then you will reduce the bicarbonate concentration and alter the pH of the blood.

Similarly, if you reduce the hydrogen ion by adding alkali, you will increase the bicarbonate concentration and alter the pH of the blood.

Now, the acid/base balance of our blood changes in response to many things including:

• Diet - diets rich in meats provide acids to the bloods when digested. In contrast, diets rich in fruits and vegetables make
  our blood alkaline because they are rich in bicarbonates.
  
• Exercise - exercising muscles produce lactic acid that must be eliminated from the body or metabolized.
  
• Breathing - high altitude causes rapid breathing that makes our blood alkaline. In contrast, certain lung diseases that block the diffusion of oxygen can cause the blood to be acidic.

The kidneys can correct any imbalances by removing excess acid (hydrogen ion) or bases (bicarbonate) in the urine and restoring the bicarbonate concentration in the blood to normal.

The kidney cells produce a constant amount of hydrogen ion and bicarbonate because of their own cellular metabolism (production of carbon dioxide). Through a carbonic anhydrase reaction similar to the red blood cells, hydrogen ions get produced and secreted into the lumen of the nephron.

Also, bicarbonate ions get produced and secreted into the blood. In
the lumen of the nephron, filtered bicarbonate combines with secreted hydrogen ions to form carbon dioxide and water (carbonic anhydrase is also present on the luminal surface of the kidney cells).

Whether the kidney removes hydrogen ions or bicarbonate ions in the urine depends upon the amount of bicarbonate filtered in the glomerulus from the blood relative to the amount of hydrogen ions secreted by the kidney cells.

If the amount of filtered bicarbonate is greater than the amount of secreted hydrogen ions, then bicarbonate will be lost in the urine.

Likewise, if the amount of secreted hydrogen ion is greater than the amount of filtered bicarbonate, then hydrogen ions will be lost in the urine (i.e. acidic urine).

Let's consider a few examples:

Acid Diet

1. Hydrogen ions added to the blood by breaking down a meat-rich diet combine with bicarbonate in the blood and form carbon dioxide and water.
   
2. This reaction reduces the bicarbonate concentration and the pH in the blood.
   
3. The decreased bicarbonate concentration in the blood reduces the amount of bicarbonate filtered in the glomerulus.
   
4. All of the filtered bicarbonate combines with the hydrogen ion secreted by the kidney cells in the lumen to form carbon dioxide and water.
   
5. Because the filtered load of bicarbonate was less than the amount of hydrogen ion secreted by the kidney cells, there is an excess of hydrogen ion in the urine.
   
6. The amount of bicarbonate secreted from the kidney cells into the blood was equal to the hydrogen ion secreted into the lumen and greater than the filtered load of bicarbonate from the blood -- therefore, the blood has a net gain of bicarbonate.

7. This process continues to lose hydrogen ions in the urine and gain bicarbonate in the blood until the concentrations of hydrogen (pH) and bicarbonate ions in the blood are restored to normal.

Alkaline Diet

1. Bicarbonate added to the blood from the fruit or vegetable-rich diet combines with hydrogen ions to form carbon dioxide and water.
   
2. This reaction reduces the hydrogen ion concentration and increases the pH.
   
3. The increased bicarbonate concentration increases the amount of bicarbonate filtered in the glomerulus.
   
4. The filtered bicarbonate exceeds the amount of hydrogen ion secreted by the kidney cell, and excess bicarbonate is lost in the urine.
   
5. The amount of bicarbonate secreted from the kidney cells into the blood was equal to the hydrogen ions secreted into the lumen and less than the filtered load of bicarbonate from the blood -- therefore, the blood has a net loss of bicarbonate.
   
6. This process continues to lose bicarbonate in the urine
   and reduce the bicarbonate in the blood until the concentrations of hydrogen (pH) and bicarbonate ions
   in the blood are restored to normal.

Take the Test!

It is estimated that more than 90% of Americans are acidic. Yet...you may feel that it's good to know whether you need to alkalize before making your decision to invest in an alkaline balancing system.

Although the vast majority of Westerners are overloaded with acid waste, there are a very few who are not. This is as much a hereditary predisposition as anything, yet drinking alkaline water and following
an alkaline diet as suggested here may not sustain their need for the balancing effects of acid food.

In her excellent book The Chemistry of Success, Dr. Susan M. Lark, MD, says that understanding the importance of your pH balance will lead you to the realization that peak performance and general health are intimately related, and that robust health is essential if you want to meet your goals in life.

____________________________________________

Dr. Lark lists the benefits of maintaining a healthful state of slight alkalinity:

Peak performance benefits

(Please note this is for education purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat. Consult a qualified medical practitioner when considering and health regimen modification.)

• May increase Physical vitality and stamina
  
• May enhance mental clarity and acuity
  
• May increase ability to get on with other people.
  
• May increase optimism and vision.
  
• May give faster recovery from illness, injury, and exertion (incl. colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, allergies, traumatic injury and surgery)
  
• May give increased resistance to illness (colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia)

Health benefits

• May reduce incidence of digestive problems such as heartburn, irritable colon, Crohn’s disease and colitis.
  
• May reduces risk of and increases relief from urinary tract conditions such as bacterial cystitis, interstitial cystitis, and uric-acid kidney stones.
  
• May reduce risk of gout.
  
• May reduces risk of and helps in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
  
• May lower risk of osteoporosis and promotes bone and teeth growth.
  
• May aid in prevention and treatment of diabetes.
  
• May reduce hypertension.
  
• May also reduce the risk of cancer.

Are You Overly Acidic?

Lifestyle Markers

* I do not feel the best when I eat fast foods, fried foods,
colas or desserts.

* I do not feel my best when I eat red meat or red meat
dishes.

* I do not tolerate acidic condiments like vinegar or red
meat dishes.

* I regularly consume processed and refined foods that
contain chemical additives.

* I regularly consume breads and baked goods made with
white flour and sugar.

* I eat few fruits and vegetables.

* I drink more than one cup of coffee or tea a day

* I frequently take Vitamin C, aspirin or antibiotics.

* I do not tolerate alcohol.

* I have a history of cigarette smoking.

* I frequently travel by plane

Performance Markers

* I often feel exhausted after vigorous exercise or work.

* I often experience fatigue or lack of stamina.

* I run out of breath when running up stairs or walking
briskly.

* I am physically and mentally tired after an hour of desk
work.

* I am pessimistic, with little initiative.

Physical Markers

* I have thin, porous bones.

* I have poorly developed muscles

* I often experience muscle stiffness and soreness.

* I am over fifty years old.

Medical History Markers

* I catch colds and flu frequently.

* I am susceptible to heartburn, canker cores, food and environmental allergies, and sore throat.

* I have a history of osteoporosis, arthritis, gout, lung disease or kidney disease.

Are you a High Alkaline Producer?

Performance Markers

* I am able to sprint up stairs

* I have great physical endurance.

* I am always on the go and full of energy.

* I need only a few hours sleep.

* I am a leader at work and in my community.

* I prefer highly active sports and high stress activities.

* I feel bright and energized after a steak dinner.

* I am able to digest a wide range of foods.

* I feel de-energized after a vegetarian meal.

* I feel relaxed and healthy while leading a full life.

* I typically have lots of energy in the midst of intense
emotions and high drama.

* I can do desk work for long hours without becoming tired
or losing mental acuity.

* I am an optimist.

* I easily maintain an active social life.

* I am free of allergies.

Physical Markers

* I have a stocky build and large frame.

* I am strong and large-boned.

* I have well-developed muscles.

If you are a natural alkaline producer: "Quite frankly, we rarely see this." says Dr. Lark.

.

According to Dr Lark, the results you get show tendencies, not necessarily actualities. Look at them in relation to how you feel and make your own decision.

There are ample markers here for you to self-assess with reasonable accuracy, but without expert medical advice you cannot rule our a pre-existing health condition that may be causing the trend you see
in this test.

Between the ages of thirty and fifty...
At least several of your vital chemical/metabolic functions cease operating at peak efficiency due to accumulative effects of the wear
and tear of daily life. It’s rare to have only one symptom; you will
almost always identify a number of markers in the above test, if not
a breakdown in several areas.

Symptom variations are limitless.
A fifty year old man may have a high frequency of allergy symptoms,
low libido and high blood pressure. His female partner on the same
diet may have digestion problems, an overly acid stomach, increasing fatigue, hot flushes and other transitional menopausal symptoms.

It’s important to understand that change has to occur holistically
rather than symptom-by-symptom. We need to change the way our body functions at its most basic level rather than find yet another antidote for the latest symptom, which may just be another manifestation of pH imbalance.

This is why alkaline water is so effective; with water comprising
60-70% of a middle-aged body, changing water pH has the ability to reduce acidity almost immediately. The advantage of using an Enagic alkalizing water ionizer is that you always have the choice of alkalinity level and ordinary filtered H2O, so you can use the alkalizer as a complete balancing tool. An extended acid-producing activity (excess work or physical activity, stress etc) can be responded to immediately.