Acid-base balance: how to maintain it?
In recent years, a notion has been invited both in our vocabulary and on our plate: the acid-base balance. A sacrosanct Grail to reach and maintain to ensure line and health. But what is meant by acid-base balance and above all, are there ways (including food) to guarantee it?
What is acid-base balance?
The notion of acid-base balance refers to thebalance between the acidity level and the alkalinity level of the body, guaranteeing our health. And more precisely, it isbiological homeostasisthat is concerned. It corresponds to the setof biochemical regulatory processes that allow the body to function optimally. When this homeostasis is not balanced, the blood pH may be too acidic (below 7), in which case we speak of acidosis, or to be too basic (pH above 7), we are then in a situation of alkalosis.
Case of acidosis
In case of acidosis, the blood plasma is too acidic, and can lead to different phenomena:
- metabolic acidosis, affecting the whole body, of endogenous or exogenous origin, which may cause respiratory disorders (ample dyspnea), neurological disorders with mental confusion,cardiovascular syndrome (collapse), renal failure;
- respiratory acidosis, which occurs in hypoventilation
- lactic acidosis, which corresponds to an excess of lactic acid and which can result from a genetic disease (type 1 diabetes, lymphoma,carbohydrate metabolism disorder …), taking medications, excessive alcohol consumption,liverdisease or leukemia;
- mixed acidosis, conjunction of metabolic and respiratory acidosis.
Case of alkalosis
Alkalosis reflects an increase in the pH of blood plasma. There are mainly two types:
- metabolic alkalosis , due to an excess of bicarbonates, a loss of acids, a loss of chlorine or cellular dehydration, which will cause muscular problems (tetany, paresthesias), convulsions, decreased breathing;
- Respiratory alkalosis , which results from hyperventilation, itself leading to a drop in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the plasma.
What foods help maintain acid-base balance?
We hear more and more that diet could play a role in maintaining acid-base balance. It is on this postulate that thealkaline dietis based . Its proponents claim that certainFoodscould influence biological homeostasis and therefore help maintain blood pH at a balanced level, between 7.38 and 7.42. Thus, this food diet could reduce fatigue, relieve emunctory organs, lose weight and stay thin and prevent the occurrence of many diseases: cardiovascular disorders, osteoporosis,Allergies , sleep disorders , difficult digestionstress , chronic diseases…
But which foods should be favored? There is no fixed classification of so-called alkaline and acidic foods. Nevertheless, the alkaline diet is based on the degree of alkalinity of food (PRAL index, for Potential Renal Acid Load), which is measured according to the content of citrates, bicarbonates andProteinin the latter. Thus, we can draw up a “mapping” of food.
Alkaline foods include:
- and vegetables
- tubers ( Potato , sweet potato, parsnip, carrot)
- chestnuts
- legumes except lentils
- soy and its derivatives
- The Mushrooms
- dried fruits, except walnuts and peanuts
- homemade vegetable and fruit juices, no added sugar
- The Seaweeds
- Seeds (squash, chia, flax, etc.)
- The Vinegar
Among the neutral foods:
- nutritional yeasts
- vegetable fats (oils)
- water
Among the acidifying foods, to avoid or moderate:
- meat, fish and eggs
- dairy products, regardless of animal origin
- grain-based carbohydrates
- lentils
- nuts and peanuts
- salt
- all processed foods
- drinks such as alcohol, sugary drinks, coffee, Tea
Acid-base balance: is the alkaline diet effective in maintaining it?
Scientists are unanimous in saying that the alkaline diet is useless for maintaining the acid-base balance of the bodytag. And for good reason:the initial assumption, which states that the body needs help to maintain blood homeostasis, is incorrecttag. This biological function is done automatically. In the event of an imbalance, the body knows exactly what to do:
- it will neutralize the pH imbalance by first drawing on nutrients from the diet , provided it is varied, healthy and balanced ;
- it will store acidity in its connective tissues ;
- He will theneliminate it through its emunctorial organs, such as the kidneys, lungs and liver.
In addition, the alkaline diet is based on aclassification of foods according to the PRAL index. But the latter is based on the measurement of urinary pH. However, the acidity ofurine is not correlated, nor is it the image of the acidity of blood plasma. Thus it is questionable whether the dichotomy alkalizing food / acidifying food is scientifically valid, since it is based on a weak index.
Finally, another notable fact: acidosis and alkalosis are not induced by a food failure, but by endogenous causes (diseases affecting the kidneys, lungs or liver, metabolic deficiency) orexogenous (typically, intoxications – alcoholic, drug …).
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.