- Better gastrointestinal health
What we know is that acidity is caused by the overproduction of stomach acids. The hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach glands is essential for the digestion of proteins in the food but its passage back into the esophagus, known as acid reflux, causes heartburn. Frequent episodes may permanently damage the esophageal walls and may even trigger cancers.
Stomach acids mixed with the food that passes into the intestine normally gets neutralized by the sodium bicarbonate secreted by the pancreas in the first part of the intestine called duodenum. If the neutralization is not effective, it may inflame the intestinal walls and cause discomfort. Acidity is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, indigestion, and bloody stools. Since acidity interferes with the normal digestive process, nutritional deficiencies are a common outcome.
Overeating, alcohol consumption, spicy foods, excessive amounts of protein in the diet, and stress are some of the reasons for acidity since they over stimulate the stomach glands. Oral antacids are often used for temporary relief, but including more alkalizing foods in the diet has a more lasting effect.
- Weight loss benefits
Accumulation of toxins in the body is one major reason for obesity since these harmful substances are stored away in fat tissue. Acidosis, or excessive acidity in the tissues is a serious problem; it can even be fatal. Acid is produced all the time as part of normal metabolic processes, but various adaptive mechanisms pitch in immediately to bring the pH back within the normal range.
However, when there’s too much acid due to some reason or other, or if the acid cannot be easily processed and excreted, weight gain becomes an adaptive mechanism to handle the excess acidity. Reducing the acidity of the body can prevent its storage in the fat tissue. That’s why people who shift to alkalizing diets often experience noticeable weight loss from fat reduction.
- Energy boost
A surge in energy levels is a positive outcome of alkalizing the body. It is not surprising since the metabolic pathways function at their highest efficiency when the body has a pH level between 7.35 and 7.45. When the pH shifts out of this narrow range, the focus of the body also shifts to remedial measures.
For instance, when there’s a lactic acid build up in the muscles, blood carries it to the liver where it is converted to pyruvate, and then into glucose that can be used for energy. However, more energy has to be expended to complete this cycle, precipitating a large deficit in the total available energy.
Elimination of the acid also involves neutralizing it with minerals to form soluble compounds. Many body tissues, including muscles, are cannibalized to source these minerals, which naturally reduces their functioning. That’s why acidosis often precipitates fatigue and lethargy.
Alkalizing the body helps combat acidosis at the tissue level and makes extra energy and chemical substances available for the normal activities.
- Improved immunity
Resistance to diseases is the job of our immune system. White blood cells work in several different ways to combat disease-causing organisms and toxic substances. They produce several antibodies specially tailored to inactivate antigens or foreign proteins of the invading microbes. Chemical messengers called cytokines are released to mount a consolidated attack on the offending organism or material. Phagocytosis is a process of engulfing the foreign particles, thereby taking them out of circulation.
All the above immune mechanisms work best in a pH–balanced body. Too much acidity can interfere with their actions and make us more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It can even weaken the natural defense mechanisms against cancer cells. That’s why alkalizing the body increases resistance to diseases as well as reduces the risk of cancers.
- Anti-ageing effect
Aging refers to visible signs like wrinkled skin and graying hair, but it has far more serious health implications. Our cardiovascular system and neuromuscular system are also equally prone to the ravages of aging. It is quite obvious from the higher incidence of cardiac events, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases in the older population.
While aging is a natural process none of us can escape from premature aging. For instance, sun exposure causes photoaging, which is premature aging of the skin tissue. Similarly, acidosis accelerates the natural aging process. But keeping the body alkalized can prevent it.