Every organ in the body is affected by acidity. Our lungs, bones, brain, heart, liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines and skin. Bottom line – if your body is too acidic, then you’re not going to be feeling that great.
When our bodies enter a state of acidosis, it becomes the perfect breeding ground where illness and disease can easily manifest. A body that maintains its alkaline set-point will have less chronic inflammation – one of the number one causes of pretty much any disease.
After a lifetime of consuming a Standard American Diet (SAD), the body remains in a constant state of acidity. When the body is in a chronic acidic state, precious minerals are removed from vital organs and bones to neutralize the acid and remove it from the body. This is why we are seeing an up-rise in osteoporosis – your bones are literally being leached of the precious minerals needed to protect them (like calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium). Once these mineral reserves are completely depleted, there are no more reserves to draw upon, and the body just continues to run more and more acidic – and this is when major disease (like cancer) starts to show up.
Most grains, dairy products, soy, and meats are acidic. Coffee, alcohol, highly processed foods, refined sugar, sugar replacements and GMO oils (and GMO food altogether) are also highly acidic. When we eat (anything for that matter), acidic waste products are generated from the metabolism of these foods. These waste products must be neutralized or excreted – and so this is where alkaline foods come in. They literally neutralize the acids of an unhealthy diet.
20 Signs Your Body Is Too Acidic
So lets get to it – here are 20 signs that your body is too acidic:
– Excess mucus / phlegm
– Chronic Cough
– Chest Pain
– Chronic Fatigue
– Sinus Issues
– Osteoporosis
– Neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia
– Reduced mental clarity
– Cardiovascular damage caused by acidic plaques – increased risk of heart attack and stroke
– Bladder and kidney infections
– Immune deficiency
– Skin issues like eczema, acne, rashes, and dermatitis of all types
– Stomach issues including bloating, indigestion, acid reflex and excess gas
– Candida and yeast infections
– Weight gain and/or obesity
– Diabetes
– Allergies
– Sciatica and stiff neck
– Cavities and sensitive gums
– Joint pain and aching muscles
pH Balance in The Body
So why doesn’t the body just adjust it’s own pH?
Well, it does. But it does so at a price. All of the tissues and fluids of the body are alkaline, except for the stomach. If the body becomes too acidic, different tissues will take alkaline-forming elements from other areas of the body (like digestive enzymes of the small intestine, or our bones) – and then creates a less-than-optimal environment for these areas where the alkaline-forming elements were taken. So even though the body can adjust pH on its own, it does so at a price to other systems in the body.
So how do you exactly go about alkalizing the body?
Change your diet, and modify your lifestyle a bit – your body literally depends on you to do these things to survive.
How to Alkalize The Body to Fight Disease
Here are some things you can do to lower your acidity:
1. Drink plenty of filtered water every day (spring water is the best). This will help flush toxic materials from the body at a faster rate.
2. Remove acidic foods such as those mentioned above. You don’t have to remove all of them, but reducing them to a minimum or a couple times a week until you can go without them completely is a good vantage point. If you didn’t catch it, foods like soda, popcorn, dairy, pastries, alcohol, coffee, white vinegar, sweeteners, meat, wheat products, eggs, fish, soy and seafood are higher acid-forming.
3. Eat more greens – greens are incredibly alkalizing. Green smoothies, green juices, salads, anything!
4. Your emotional state also affects the pH of your body. Anger, fear, resentment and jealousy produce acidity of the body fluids. Engaging in meditation or yoga will help you de-stress.
5. Avoid GMO foods.
6. Up your intake of alkaline-forming foods – vegetables and fruit are the best, with second best being nuts, seeds, beans and legumes.
7. Drinking lemon water can help balance acid levels, too!
8. Get enough sleep.
9. Reduce sodium intake.
10. Start exercising.
Make an effort to take care of yourself and your body. You’ll appreciate your efforts, and will begin to feel more energetic and vibrant each and every day!
Gregg and Rosie says
I was so acidic from eating grains and dairy, my lungs were so clogged with thick mucus for years. I beat my lungs to loosen the phlegm every time it happened to the point one day I caused a bleed and nearly drowned in my own blood in August. I did some research and found this site and others but this one was best. My regular Doctor tried giving me Albuteral etc. with no help. Been off all grain and dairy completely for 2 months and ate/drank alcohol, coffee, chicken, beef and pork with no problems. Now I’m into canned (wild caught) red and pink Salmon and King Oscar Sardines for meat. Feeling Awesome, thanks Carly
Carly Fraser says
Thanks for sharing your story!
Gregg and Rosie says
I forgot to mention I also needed to get rid of all High Fructose Corn Syrup which meant tossing out all my jellies and jams, that causes thickening mucus withing minutes after eating it. I can have small amounts of regular beet sugar but replaced my sweet tooth to Raw Honey which is not sugar, Honey actually thins mucus. I have tossed out at least $250 in food so far. I’m eating canned fruit in its own juice, nuts, dates and raisins for breakfast as a carbohydrate pickup and meat and vegetables in the afternoon. So those are the 3 main culprits. Grain, Dairy and High fructose corn syrup and not too much regular sugar. I discovered natural peanut butter (just peanuts and salt) I splat like 3-4 tablespoons on a plate and mix Ambrosia raw honey into it and eat it with a spoon for a snack, yum ! If I do get any thick mucus I do what I’ve done before, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a half a cup of warm distilled water and down the hatch followed by sipping a cold glass of distilled water. Clears everything up within an hour, if not I just do another teaspoon.
Carly Fraser says
Good work! That’s great to hear 🙂 — yes, getting rid of dairy and refined sugar can be tough, but sometimes you gotta think about your health in the long run.
Rita says
Do you have to have all or most of the symptoms?
Carly Fraser says
You should have most of the symptoms – what kind of symptoms are you experience? Most symptoms in the body can almost always be attributed to diet and lifestyle.
Elaine says
What about kombucha? Greek yogurt? I make my own and drink 16 oz/day. Same with Greek yogurt make my own and have some fruit.
Carly Fraser says
Kombucha is great. Greek yogurt is still an animal product though and will create acidity in the body.
jaslin says
I am so blessed with your sharing and advice here. Can I share with my friends on this?
Carly Fraser says
Yeah sure! There are share buttons above and below the article.
Paula says
I’ve been sick for a couple of years now bloating and stomach issues … acid reflux … osteoporosis …now bladder and kidney issues…fatigued…chronic pain …numbness and tingling in hands and feet and cheeks and under chin.
Bladder retention…which is effecting my kidneys. Could all this be because I’m too acidic … are used to be so healthy I eat right and everything and then we had to move and for the past five years I started eating wrong and my help just went to pot.
Carly Fraser says
Yes, you need to start clearing up your diet.