Acidosis is what happens when body fluids are more acidic than they should be?

The acid-alkaline balance in body fluids is crucial to health

Body’s acid vs alkaline balance of prime importance to health

For optimal body function, the pH level of blood plasma and external and internal cellular fluids must be kept in the narrow pH range of 7.35 – 7.45 – acidosis occurs when this pH drops lower than 7.2 on a regular basis, and has detrimental consequences to health.

Symptoms that may indicate excess body acidity

Low energy, chronic fatigue, sleepiness
Excess mucous production
Nasal congestion; coughing
Frequent colds/flus and infections
Nervous, stressed, irritable, anxious, agitated
Nausea, vomiting
Confusion; loss of consciousness
Weak nails, dry hair, dry skin
Formation of cysts, such as ovarian cysts, polycystic ovaries, benign breast cysts (i.e. fibrocystic breasts)
Headaches

Shortness of breath;
Arrythmia; increased heart rate
Joint pain or arthritis
Neuritis
Muscle pain, seizures, weakness
Hives
Leg cramps and spasms
Gastritis, acid indigestion (incl. GERD)
Diarrhea
Kidney stones (uric acid stones)

Acidosis promotes detrimental changes in the body

Depletes bodys alkaline reserves

The ongoing buffering mechanisms use alkaline electrolyte minerals (including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium), bicarbonate, ammonia and proteins to correct an overly acidic pH due to strong acid presence.

Decreases cellular energy production

Oxygen levels decrease. Partial oxygen pressure (PO₂) expresses amount of O₂that can react/combine with hemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin, the form in which O2 is transported through body. This reaction rate decreases as blood plasma becomes more acidic, which decreases the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to cells, and thus decreases cellular energy production.

Cellular Sodium /Potassium Pumps are Compromised. Na⁺/K⁺ pumps in the cell membrane are central to cellular energy production of all cells.

To function correctly these pumps must maintain the cell membrane potential, by keeping a low sodium / high potassium concentration of ions inside the cell. When hydrogen (H⁺) ions move into cells to compensate for an overly acidic blood plasma pH, they exchange places with potassium ions inside the cell (to maintain electrical equilibrium inside cell), and thus disturb Na/K pump function. Malfunctioning pumps leave us feeling tired and burning less fat and causes a sodium and calcium buildup within the plasma.

Acid build-up in tissues

Continual acid production can deplete the chemical buffers in the blood plasma, such that a healthy pH can no longer be maintained. To deal with this problem, excess acid is stored in the connective tissue and joints, including ligaments, tendons and muscles. As these acid stores build up, they can cause pain and inflammation in the storage areas.This may manifest as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

Overly acidic blood plasma is an arterial irritant

(may lead to atherosclerosis)

If blood plasma pH is consistently on the acidic end of the required 7.36 -7.42 range, then the blood plasma’s acidity acts as a chemical irritant, slowly “eating away”at the inner linings of the artery, vein and heart. This weakens their structures and sets the stage for the need to lay down arterial plaque to repair the damage.

Accelerates free radical damage

Acidosis causes partial lipid breakdown and destructive oxidative cascades, accelerating free radical damage of cell walls and intracellular membrane structures. Acidosis is a stepping stone towards premature aging, deterioration of eyesight and memory, creating skin wrinkles / age spots, dysfunctional hormonal systems, other age-related phenomena.

More mucus

Acid-producing foods create mucus, which congests and retards oxygen entry

More chloride ions

In normal pH, 99% of chloride ions are reabsorbed, less are reabsorbed in acidosis

Health Problems that can result from mild acidosis
CARDIOVASCULAR DAMAGE	Reduction in cardiac muscle contractility Sympathetic overactivity E.g. tachycardia, vasoconstriction, decreased arrhythmia threshold Peripheral arteriolar vasodilatation Vasoconstriction of peripheral veins Effects of increased potassium on heart
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS	Hyperventilation (as compensatory response) Decreased affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen (i.e. less oxygen in blood)
WEIGHT GAIN, OBESITY AND DIABETES	Excess acid triggers INSULIN sensitivity. Resulting in excess INSULIN production and high blood sugar, with INSULIN promoting fat storage. Also, continual INSULIN production wears out the pancreatic beta cells. Diabetes used to be treated by buffering the system with alkaline-promoting powders. Fasting or dieting. Produces acid that triggers genetic response to starvation, causing INSULIN to flood the body to promote fat storage for future needs.
CANCER	Cells become cancerous and thrive in an acid pH – Eventually, as oxygen levels continue to decrease, normally aerobic cellular energy production converts to anaerobic fermentation (possibly involves microorganisms, that thrive in lower oxygen environment, entering and hijacking cells), creating lactic acid as a byproduct -making the body even more acidic. Lactic acid is associated with fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, and energy loss. CANCER
BONE DISEASE	Estimated that at least 40% of the buffering minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, needed to neutralize an acute acid load are drawn from bone – This can lead to osteomalacia, osteoporosis, rickets etc.
KIDNEY STONES	Uric acid stones are formed in overly-acidic conditions. Composed of uric acid and crystine. A more alkaline diet would make the urine less acidic. Kidney Stones
OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS	Increased bone resorption (in chronic acidosis) – bones are broken down and its minerals released Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia Gout Immune deficiency Low energy and chronic fatigue Premature aging