WHY ALKALINE WATER AND FOOD '? Acid-base balance
Article written by Dr. Rocco Palmisano Degree in Health Science, USA Naturopath Founder Air Products Association Anyone who knows a bit 'of human physiology knows that the biochemistry of our body tends
Alkaline is also and especially the arterial blood, whose normal pH range is between 7.30 and 7.45. Values \u200b\u200bbelow 7 and above 8 are incompatible with life and many problems are to occur as you move away from the optimum value of 7.4.
We humans are a biochemical genetic blueprint alkaline.
Before the exposition of this topic will explain the significance of pH, which measure the concentration of hydrogen ions (H +) present in a solution or wherever there is water.
One of the most important characteristics of water for life is the ionization, chemical process that is the loss or acquisition of one or more electrons from an atom or molecule. The activity of cellular biochemistry is based essentially in a continuous process of splitting the water molecule (H2O) in ion H + (hydrogen ions) and ion OH-(hydroxyl) and its recombination, catalyzing all other biochemical processes that allow us of life.
molecule of water: hydrogen ions O-H + and oxygen.
In fact, after air, water is the most essential element for all life on earth.
Well, this feature of its hydrolysis and recombination in both the cell and outside extracellular fluid is one of the most fundamental for life.
In a body of water the amount of H + ions and OH-ions can vary for several reasons:
1 - Water that contains more hydrogen ions H + is called acid water;
2 - one that contains more hydroxyl OH-ions is called alkaline water;
3 - if the number of positive and negative ions are equal, the water is considered neutral.
In a certain amount of neutral water at room temperature (22 ° C) is the ratio of H + ions of OH-ions with the total volume of water molecules that is for both of 1:107. If we know the number of ions and H + OH-neutral in that volume of water, multiply 1x10-7.
If we add acid in the above neutral solution, the number of H + ions increases.
When the number increases to 1x10-6 (ten times more water neutral) the law of nature compels the number of OH-ions to decrease to 1x10-8 units. Since the sum of the exponents of these multiplications is always 14, with a pH 6 corresponds to the POH 8. Therefore, in measuring pH of a solution is understood the relevant POH.
The pH scale ranges from 1 to 14, where the value 7 corresponds to the neutral, down from 7 expresses values \u200b\u200bincreasing acidity and up from 7 values \u200b\u200bincreasing alkalinity.
Since it is a negative pulse on a logarithmic scale, each point, which runs from 7 in both directions, corresponds to a value 10 times higher than the previous. For example, a pH 6 expresses an acid concentration 10 times greater than 7, while a pH 5 value 10 times greater than 6, but 100 times greater than 7.
pH scale: in the figure ranges from 1 to 10
All biochemical be separated, in every process, from the presence of water.
An interesting feature is that it ionizes the water easily.
Ionization is the process that includes the same chemical reactions
of oxidation and reduction.
Oxidation involves the transfer of electrons, the reduction provides absorption electrons. There is no simultaneous oxidation reduction: this combination of chemical reactions
called redox reactions. We can now resume the discussion on the importance of biochemistry for the alkaline
health.
We know that at birth a healthy child has an alkaline biochemistry. Alkali milk
maternal alkaline or slightly acidic is your urine.
What allows the body to stay healthy and alkaline, although the cells continue to produce
constantly acids, is its drainage capacity and its reserve
alkaline.
The alkaline reserve is made up primarily of the alkaline minerals in the blood, in tissue, teeth and bones.
When the alkaline reserve of blood and tissues is depleted, the removal of minerals ;
alkali is necessary for the neutralization of the teeth and bones.
caries and osteoporosis are two specific conditions of metabolic and digestive. E '
interesting to note that Nature provides to provide the child with alkaline reserve, taking it
the reserves of the mother are often, in fact, tooth decay and osteoporosis in women in pregnancy, which alkaline reserves are deficient. caries and osteoporosis: two consequences of the excess acids in our bodies
Since the maintenance of physiological pH is a key factor for any other proper
biological process, Nature has equipped the body various buffer systems for ensure the best possible biological condition.
buffer systems involved to compensate for the excess acidity or alkalinity.
Unfortunately for our unnatural lifestyle, especially food, the body is forced to stop much more frequently the excess acid, so in this article we will deal mainly
of correction mechanisms of metabolic and digestive.
SYSTEMS morpho-physiological pH correction
The physiological blood pH is the result of an automatic control mechanism that serves primarily the normal breath, blood reserves acid (H2CO3) and alkaline (HCO3 -).
When normal breathing is not enough to compensate for and dispose of the excessive acidity of the blood, occurs in a few minutes an increased respiratory response.
pulmonary ventilation plays a key role in correcting the pH.
with pulmonary ventilation, in addition to carbon dioxide (CO2), other organic acids are eliminated from the blood in gaseous form.
Breathing is a way to expel the acid
The CO2 produced by the cells diffuses into the blood, where it turns into carbonic acid (H2CO3) in order to be more easily transported to the lungs, where it reverts back to CO2 to be eliminated from the lungs. During the hydration of CO2 on carbonic H + ions are formed which must be buffered to prevent a reoccurrence of pH to acid values, which are incompatible with cell life. To do this occurs in the first instance, the hemoglobin, which has a highly efficient buffering capacity.
Under physiological changes in metabolic production of CO2 will be offset by changes in ventilatory promptly, so as to maintain the amount of CO2 in the blood. The increase in pCO2, the decrease of pH and pO2 of the blood stimulates hyperventilation, while a change in the opposite direction leads to hypoventilation.
For the plasma acid-base balance are two key factors: the concentration of hydrogen ions (H +) expressed by the pH and alkalinity of the bicarbonate (HCO3-), derived from the transformation of CO2.
To these factors must be added, moreover, constantly acidic and alkaline substances derived from the metabolism of intermediate and final digestion. Because these two factors can vary independently, we can talk about acid-base balance only when there is a right relationship between acid and alkaline reserve.
to derail the early and most acid-base balance is the abnormal amount of acid produced by the digestive metabolism due to unnatural food and antifisiologica now universally used.
Nutrition plays a key role in acid-base balance
fact, with the excessive and unnatural power they produce:
A. Carbonic acid, the end result of combustion of carbon contained in food.
B. Sulfuric acid, derived from the digestion of proteins.
C. Phosphoric acid, derived from oxidation of phospholipids and nucleo-proteins.
D. Acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid derived from fatty acids.
E. Uric acid, derived from the metabolism of nucleo-proteins.
F. Lactic acid produced by the metabolism of glycogen and various other acids generated
G. incomplete oxidation of sugars (often for lack of oxygen).
H. Oxalic acid released by certain foods (chocolate, spinach, tomatoes, etc.)..
I. Even the organic acids of plants, also in the absence of ions (sodium, potassium
J. magnesium, calcium), if they are not sufficiently buffered, adding that its acidity
K. organism.
All of these acids, especially acids "fixed", ie those that do not turn into CO2 and are not in gaseous form, thus eliminating the breathing and perspiration, however, must necessarily be buffered and eliminated from our body .
CO2 has biphasic characteristics in the process of acid-base balance: on one hand the acid product is quantitatively more important that the body must be defended as not to lower the to ensure that its pH and primarily, as we have seen, the lungs, on the other hand, provides about half of the buffer pH defense against acids "fixed". The buffer system acid-base balance of CO2 buffer system that is primary, as it is of importance far superior to others.
extracellular water occurs when a strong acid such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) is the following reaction: HCl + NaHCO3 = NaCl + H2CO3. Carbonic acid produced in this reaction becomes a part of H2O + CO2 where CO2 will be ejected with ventilation, while another Party turns into HCO3 - + H +, HCO3-is reabsorbed when the level of the renal tubules and put back into circulation while H + is excreted in the urine.
The renal excretion of H + is one of the fundamental systems to maintain the physiological pH of the body. The hydrogen ions (H +) secreted by the renal tubule are eliminated in the urine.
kidneys contributing to the maintenance of acid-base balance through three major buffer systems: absorption of bicarbonate ions, excretion of acids "fixed" (title), excretion of NH4 (ammonium), while the elimination of free H + is negligible.
The kidneys help maintain the acid-base balance
1) resorption of ions HCO3 - .
bicarbonate filtered by the glomerulus are reabsorbed by about 80% in the proximal tubule and the remainder in the distal tubule of the nephron. Many systems may affect the ability of tubular reabsorption of bicarbonate. The most important are: the extracellular volume, pCO2, serum potassium, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus. For the purposes of the acid-base balance of net acid excretion must be equally reabsorption of bicarbonate (HCO3-).
2) acid excretion "fixed" (title)
Among the titratable urinary acid phosphates are the most important buffer system. When the urine is acidified (for secretion of H +), most of the phosphate dibasic (HPO4 - -) is transformed into dihydrogen (H2PO4-) using the following formula: HPO4-- + H + = H2PO4-, which is removed with the 'urine and with it the H + ion acquired. In case of alkalosis would be the reverse reaction with its release of H + by the phosphate monobasic.
3) Ecrezione of NH4 + (ammonium)
Some acids "fixed" (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc..) Produced by the body or introduced with the power are strong acids, which the kidney is incapable of proton (ability to bind the ion H +) even for a urinary pH of 4.5. To compensate for this inability to protonation of strong acids found in urine, the kidney produces another buffer, ammonia (NH3) for hydrolysis of glutamine. The production of ammonia is related to the acid-base balance in the body. All of the nephron involved in the production of ammonia, but if they find greater quantities in those segments of the nephron where the acidity urine is higher, ie in the distal tubule and especially in the collector. Thus the output and renal excretion of NH3 is the most valid for monitoring the elimination of acids "fixed". In fact, the excretion of H + bound to NH3 (as NH4 +) excretion accounts for over 50% of total 'urinary acidity and can increase up to 80% in case of severe acidosis.
To get the optimal blood pH of 7.4 should be a 20:1 ratio between bicarbonate and carbonic acid. Therefore, the alteration of this report will affect the blood pH in relation to the acidity or alkalinity to.
To maintain this relationship contributes, as we have seen so far: systemic buffer systems, lungs, kidneys and digestive system as we shall see now, especially in the stomach.
The biochemical activity of the stomach is of paramount importance in the acid base balance.
certainly are important buffer systems and organs analyzed until now, but if there were no digestive system, they enter and are processed the basic substances for the production of acids, bases, and bicarbonates of carbonic acid itself, you could not even imagine any other activity vital. In fact, if you do not eat, and above all do not drink, death comes quickly.
Role of the stomach in acid-base balance Of all the digestive system (mouth, stomach, liver, pancreas, intestine with all its secretory glands of tremendous vital) role of primary importance for the acid-base balance is carried from the stomach and thus by the parietal cells of the wall (mucosa) of the stomach.
The parietal cells are specialized in the production of hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is not only essential for the digestive activity but also for the acid-base balance whole organism.
Indeed, the parietal cells to produce HCl participate in general acid-base balance with the production context as bicarbonate (HCO3 -) which is poured into the bloodstream. Other cells of the gastric mucosa secrete mucus, digestive enzymes and many other factors and not.
A higher speed, the greater the acidity of gastric secretion, but to the extent of HCl concentration of 150 mEq / L, safe limit of biological safety.
parietal secretion contains only HCl, but also different chlorides (KCl, NaCl), but decrease as the acidity increases.
The mechanism of production of hydrochloric acid as accredited by physiologists is the following.
The cytoplasm of the cell wall acts as a carrier of Cl-(as well as water and various cations K +, Na +, etc..) From the blood into the canals and the tubule cell, where is the synthesis of ' hydrochloric acid for the presence of H + ions secreted by the same cell wall. H + ions would result from the process of hydrolysis of the water molecule in the cell wall using the following formula: H2O = H + + OH-. The ion H + leaves the cell by exchanging with K + and Na + ions in common canaliculus and is combined here Cl-making with HCl (strong acid), which is secreted into the gastric lumen. The base OH-combines with the CO2 in the cell to form HCO 3 -, which is placed into the blood stream where it combines with various cations (K +, Na +, Ca + +, Mg + +, etc.), determining the best reserves alkaline blood.
We know, therefore, physiology and for the production of hydrochloric acid to the cell wall needs to exchange H + ions with cations of alkaline minerals, which necessarily must be introduced with feed, which etymologically means "that which leads to the chin "that food and water.
Therefore, if the power is (Water and food) does not introduce sufficient amounts of alkaline minerals, we have a deficient production of hydrochloric acid (hypochlorhydria), which paradoxically will procure for gastric acidity, resulting from the fermentation produced by the most permanent of food in the stomach and secretion of HCl dall'eccesiva (hyperchlorhydria).
As we have previously seen, Nature has established a safety limit in the production of HCl.
The study of nutritional biochemistry shows us that water, especially if alkaline, but alkaline foods, especially raw and natural, if chewed properly, give the body more easily and thoroughly cations of the alkaline minerals, necessary, as we have seen, for exchange with H + and OH-ions also bring abundance, a necessary basis for the production of bicarbonate.
The digestive activity is a complex biochemical process, which includes not only the hydrochloric acid, as well as enzymes, hormones and various biochemical and emotional factors. The production of hydrochloric acid is under control and hormonal induction according to the digestive needs. The parietal cells do not produce hydrochloric acid, if not induced by the introduction of food to digest, although any type and quantity of drinking water.
The production of HCl, as well as digestive enzymes, is requirements related to the digestive and secretory capacity. In fact, gastric secretion varies according to the quantity and quality of the food we eat.
Therefore, if we eat fruits and vegetables will not be a very small gastric secretion, whereas if we eat meat, fish, eggs, cheese, cereals and pulses will occur copious gastric secretion, provided that the parietal cells have retained their functional capacity and that the body has everything it needs to balance the production of HCl.
In fact, if the stomach has made no corresponding to the production of bicarbonate necessary to mucosal cells of the stomach to defend itself from hydrochloric acid, indispensable for the activity of the pancreas, liver and glands alcalofile of the duodenum and small intestine, the digestive process is incomplete general acid-base balance of the body would soon be compromised.
alkaline water
drinking any amount of water, even if alkaline, parietal cells are not stimulated to produce HCl, because water does not need to be digested .
alkaline water does not need to be digested
drinking water, the concentration of acid in the stomach is diluted at the moment, until the water is absorbed or eliminated completely from the stomach. If the stomach is empty, its absorption is fast and the pH will return soon to his previous physiological state, but without any production of HCl, whereas if it contains food to be digested, the parietal cells continue to produce hydrochloric acid in proportion to type and amount of food contained therein and the water with its minerals, together with the minerals of the food during the digestive phase will contribute to the secretion of HCl in proportion to the amount of bicarbonate ions and alkaline minerals absorbed by the gastric mucosa.
It 'important to know that the ability to absorb water from the gastric wall in the secretory phase is very slow, so drink during a meal slows digestion due to the dilution of digestive juices. If the intake of alkaline water in itself stimulate the production of HCl, you would drink more water, it would be better digestion, but we know that this is not true, and we should have heartburn compared with intake of large quantities of ' alkaline water, but I assure you that this does not happen in normal conditions organic.
As just said contradicts the belief of those who think that the stomach produces HCl, under the induction of alkaline water. The water intake can not stimulate the immediate production of hydrochloric acid, because this function is related to the need to digest the food: this is our physiology. Therefore, drinking alkaline water, never will produce an excess of HCl in the stomach, as some critics would have us believe, while the blood absorption of alkali cations and oxygen (OH-), in alkaline water is abundant, will allow systems systemic and morpho-physiological buffer to maintain the acid-base balance and to allow the appropriate time, to produce hydrochloric acid.
The value of alkaline water is to have an abundance of molecules of alkali hydroxide minerals (eg KOH = K + + OH-), which easily split into positive and negative ions, promoting a rich and interesting activities REDOX , which is essential for all biochemical processes.
If you never managed to drink lots of alkaline water to exceed the reserve capacity of the blood alkaline minerals, these would be readily eliminated in the urine, as occurs naturally with the elimination of excess minerals present in daily, abundance of which we do not care.
alkaline water abundant in nature
drinking more water available for wildlife, and also ours,
is alkaline.
fact, sea water is alkaline, the water of rivers and streams, most
springs, lakes, wells are alkaline.
Nature dispenses acidic water with the rains the plants, while offering alkaline water
animals and men.
Try putting fish in acidic water and you'll see them soon die. Not would
sense that nature had provided an alkaline physiology, as we have seen, then there
had given water and food needed to meet the physiological needs. It is not the purpose of this article
to explore the theme of alkaline foods.
We must recognize that the lives we lead today is very far from the standard
nature intended for humans. That argument does not fall in the grounds of
this article, although there is much to say.
Since technological society has moved away, a little 'force majeure, a little' for our choices,
the opportunities that nature offers us, we need to make corrections to our
frantic and self-defeating style of life.
primary importance is the role of water in our lives.
The sources of drinking water supplies are increasingly polluted by chemicals and
drugs, besides the fact that multinational companies are becoming private property.
Water pollution has led industry to build water purification systems that
safer drinking water in our homes.
Several systems are commercially available, but the one that best meets our needs
is the physiological water ionizer.
water ionizers
Alkaline water ionizers produced by the water is living water, like spring water and even better, because the ionization made with current technology produces clusters water are much smaller than any other drinking water available, allowing its greater and more rapid penetration into the cell.
ionizer water purification system and the best water treatment for our physiology.
It 'important to understand the concept of cluster. In nature there is no water molecule in isolation but a group of molecules, linked by an electromagnetic link.
The smaller size of the clusters of ionized water will also facilitate the transport of all water-soluble substances that the cell needs and facilitate the drainage of catabolites phones.
fact, these clusters may have a molecular weight of only 18, much smaller than other molecules of great biological importance: beta-carotene 150, 153 vitamin E, vitamin C 176.
The water ionizer can produce alkaline water at will and the benefits of alkaline water we talked about before.
Another interesting characteristic of ionized water is its crystalline molecular structure, as shown by a search for Masaru Emoto, and that makes it alive, as the best water source.
Contrary to popular belief, nature is not uncommon even in the super alkaline water.
There are, in fact, many sources and many lakes around the world with a pH of 9 to 10.
Famous for their strength and longevity are the Hunza people inhabitant some valleys of the Himalayas of Pakistan, drinking water has unique properties which have led, over half a century ago, some Russian and Japanese scientists to invent him water ionizer.
Few of us know that since prehistoric times our ancestors have drunk tap water with a strongly alkaline.
are famous lakes in the Rift Valley for their strong alkalinity: the Turkana has a pH of 9.5 to 9.7 - pH 8.2 to 8.9 in Malawi - Tanganyika pH 8-9. Well around these lakes have evolved over millions of years of 6 types of our ancestors, including Homo Hergaster then became Homo Sapiens.
These lakes are still drinking. In Tanzania the tribe Hadzab is still quenches Eyasi the lake, which has a pH of 9.4. Even in Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria in the lakes are rich in sodium bicarbonate at pH 9.5 to 10. In Bulgaria are sold mineral water with a pH around 9.5.
The study of populations in the world live longer (Okinawa, Abkhazia, Vilcabamba, Adventists of Loma Linda, Sardinia, etc..) Shows that these people have as a common denominator, the following factors:
eat little, and calmly;
eat mostly alkaline foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), no or few livestock products;
drink alkaline water.
While less long-lived population whose life expectancy does not exceed 30 years, is one of the miners who extracted sulfur around the lake Kawakita (Indonesia), with its 36 million m3 of sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid is the largest lake in the world acid (pH 0.3).
After these observations, biochemical, physiological and sociology, appear to me all those little research to support sustainable water and alkaline foods and there is no reason, if not partisan, to discourage the use of alkaline water to be used together at all sure the other biological factors that nature and provides us with sound research.
The beneficial use of alkaline ionized by the Japanese and Koreans for more than half a century, from the U.S. for over thirty years is much more than scientific experiments and, irrespective of the stories of miracles, but not will hurt, because alkaline water is specific to our physiology.
For the curious and the skeptical council to learn about scientific research carried out worldwide, but especially on his own experience the wonderful effects of alkaline water, which is not necessarily that of a technological device, since there are countless alkaline springs scattered throughout the world.
Dear readers always remember what he said Galileo Galilei: "A true experience is worth a thousand reasons," but it is true only our personal experience.
Bibliography
1) Physiology - Davson - Ed USES
2) Reverse the aging - Sang Whang - Macroedizioni
3) The iris reflection of acid-base balance - P. Emilio Ratti - Association ASSYRIAN
4) Seminar on pH - Claudio Tozzi - 04/05/2008 Rome
5) Treaty of General Medical Physiology - Guyton - Piccin
alkaline water and food, why?
And when the pH goes wrong, everything goes wrong 
these days is a topic for so-called "Hot, hot, very hot, even radioactive. The various alarms and global health organizations launched from time to time, fearing a pandemic and putting to shame the number of chickens and pigs. Let us remember, however, became eternal words of Pasteur: "
The terrain is everything, the microbe is nothing." 
to be slightly alkaline.