Water For Life - Total Hydration is Total Health

Loads of energy, glowing skin, great health, vitality, bright eyes, no aching joints, no grumbling illnesses, total motivation and a body to die for….. by just drinking the right amount of water!


Water, air and food are the three things essential for life. We know we would die without air, and we know we have to eat everyday to survive, but we still ignore the need for water. We simply don’t drink enough water, no matter how many times we are told.


Our bodies are 75 percent water. If we drop this by just 2 percent, we are dehydrated. As soon as we are dehydrated our bodily functions slow down and we begin to operate inefficiently.

Water is the body’s transport system, which move nutrients around it as well as carrying waste out of our body. Water breaks down food, keeps our body temperature balanced and it keeps our skin elastic,

We can live for weeks without food but only a few days without water.

Tiredness, high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, aching joints, low immunity, indigestion, urinary tract infection are all caused by dehydration. If you have any of these symptoms, or maybe all of them, it may just be that bringing your consumption of water up to 2 liters everyday can change your life.

There is no danger in drinking water correctly. It is relatively inexpensive, it is readily available and the benefits are truly phenomenal.

Water is all around us, within us, in the air we breathe, in our skin cells, organs and blood. We lose water all the time, when we sweat, talk and breathe. We need to replace water all the time to stay fully hydrated.

· The brain is 75 percent water

· Blood is 92 percent water

· Bones are 22 percent water

· Muscles are 75 percent water

· Brain cells are 82 percent water

· Moderate dehydration can cause headaches and even dizziness.

· The brain weighs 1.5 kilograms, of which 200 grams are actual brain – the rest is water.

· We need water to exhale

· Water helps us to breathe as it moistens air on inhalation

· Water inside the body regulates our body temperature

· We lose as much water when we are sleeping as we do when we are awake

· On hot days, sweating causes us to lose up to 16 glasses of water per day

· Mild dehydration slows down metabolism by as much as 3 percent

· Lack of water is the number one cause of tiredness

· It takes only a 2 percent drop in hydration to slow down recall, give trouble with basic maths, and cause difficulty in focusing on reading or screen work

· Approximately 90 percent of the world’s population is chronically dehydrated

How to Drink Water

Drinking the correct amount of water can make phenomenal differences to our bodies and our lives. You will notice incredible levels of energy, glowing skin, weight loss, reduction of cellulite, better immunity, less fatigue, and lethargy, the ability to think clearly throughout the day and a general all-around increased level of health and well being.

Simple steps to follow in order to feel the good results

· Drink at least 2 liters of water per day

· On summer or on hot days, increase the daily amount by at least half a liter.

· Make sure that at least 1.5 liters of the water we drink is still or ideally at room temperature

· Make sure the water is fresh – a bottle newly opened that day, a glassful freshly pour from the tap or filter jug

· Spread out water intake over the whole day – 1 glass every hour

· Replace any water lost – if you drink a cup of coffee have at least the same amount in water, same also with alcohol. This will be in addition to our 2 liters daily requirements.

· During work out or exercise, drink more water.

· Keep our water fresh as much as possible.

· Tap, alkaline, oxygenated, reverse osmosis, filtered, purified – any water counts as long as it is pure water.



  • Thirst

  • Headache

  • Fatigue

  • Flushed skin

  • Dry mouth and throat


  • Rapid heart rate

  • Dizziness

  • Low blood pressure

  • Weakness and lack of energy

  • Highly concentrated urine, but low in volume


  • Muscle spasms

  • Swollen tongue

  • Poor blood circulation

  • Increased weakness

  • Failing kidney function

  • Dehydration is complete when urine is clear.

When to Drink Water

  • As soon as you get up, drink a glassful of water. This will hydrate you from the night before.

  • For breakfast, drink a glass of hot water with fresh lemon or calamansi juice to cleanse our body.

  • Every time we go to the toilet – take a glass of water to replace the fluids lost

  • Before lunch and dinner, drink a glass of water. This will dampen our appetite and stop us drinking with our food, which decreases absorption of nutrients.

  • Make sure we have had at least 1.5 liters of water before 6pm

  • Drink a glass of water every hour when we are awake to ensure proper hydration

A drop in the body’s water level causes a decline in blood volume which in turn triggers the hypothalamus to send out the demand for a drink. This will result to a slight rise in the concentration of sodium in our blood, which make us thirsty. As we aged, the sense of thirst become dulled at the same time, we had a lower percentage of reserve body water than we had when we were young. This is why it is important to drink water every waking hour even if we do not feel thirsty.

Without water, we would poison ourselves with our own metabolic wastes. The kidneys remove waste products like uric acid, urea and lactic acid that must be dissolved in water. If water is not enough to remove these effectively, they may cause damage to kidneys.

Digestion and metabolism needs also water for certain enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. Water carries oxygen and nutrients to cell through the blood and helps in the regulation of body temperature by perspiration. Water is very important to every parts of our body.

Dehydration may contribute to excess body fat, digestive problems, poor muscle tone, and poor functioning of many organs.

Water comes in many kinds: alkaline, tap, oxygenated, spring water, mineral water, distilled, reverse osmosis water, purified water and many more. There are many stories about different water, whatever the source, it is better to be drinking water than not drinking it at all.

Water Contaminants

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

To protect drinking water from disease-causing organisms, or pathogens, water suppliers often add a disinfectant, such as chlorine, to drinking water. However, disinfection practices can be complicated because certain microbial pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium, are highly resistant to traditional disinfection practices. Also, disinfectants themselves can react with naturally-occurring materials in the water to form byproducts, such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, which may pose health risks.

A major challenge for water suppliers is how to control and limit the risks from pathogens and disinfection byproducts. It is important to provide protection from pathogens while simultaneously minimizing health risks to the population from disinfection byproducts.

1. Microbes

Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water is usually a result of a problem with the treatment system or the pipes which distribute water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease.

Fecal coliform and E coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.

Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and animal waste. It causes cryptosporidiosis, a mild gastrointestinal disease. However, the disease can be severe or fatal for people with severely weakened immune systems.

2. Inorganic Contaminants like Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Lead can be found in air, soil, dust, food, and water.

Lead enters the water (“leaches”) through contact with the plumbing.

Lead leaches into water through corrosion of pipes, solder, fixtures and faucets (brass) and fittings.

The amount of lead in your water also depends on the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long the water stays in the pipes, the amount of wear in the pipes, the water’s acidity and its temperature.

*Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing.

3. Disinfectants


Chloramine is a water additive used to control microbes, particularly as a residual disinfectant in distribution system pipes. It is formed when ammonia is added to water containing free chlorine. Monochloramine is one form of chloramines commonly used for disinfection by municipal water systems. Other chloramines (di- and tri-) are not intentionally used to disinfect drinking water and are generally not formed during the drinking water disinfection process.

Some people who use water containing chloramine in excess of the maximum residual disinfectant level could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose, stomach discomfort or anemia.

The gaseous or liquid form of chlorine is a water additive used by many companies to control microbes. It is relatively inexpensive and has the lowest production and operating costs and longest history for large continuous disinfection operations.

Some people who use water containing chlorine well in excess of the maximum residual disinfectant level could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose and those who drink it could experience stomach discomfort.

Chlorine dioxide is a water additive used to control microbes and can be used to control tastes and odors. It rapidly disappears from stored water.

Some infants, young children, and fetuses of pregnant women who drink water containing chlorine dioxide in excess of the maximum residual disinfectant level could experience nervous system effects. Some people who drink water containing chlorine dioxide well in excess of the MRDL for many years may experience anemia.

Water Safety in Manila

Water makes at least six major stopovers to ensure its quality once it is delivered to individual households in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

The basic process involves the following steps:

  • flow of water from Umiray River, to Angat Dam, then to Ipo Dam

  • settling process in the Bicti Settling Basin

  • delivery of water to La Mesa Treatment Plants 1 and 2, and Balara Treatment Plants 1 and 2

  • water treatment involving four processes—including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection

  • distribution of water using gravity and pumping

To kill contaminants in water, chlorine, a chemical disinfectant, is applied at different points of the treatment process. The Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) monitors the water’s chlorine level. Compliance with drinking water standards is regulated by the Department of Health (DOH), the lead agency tasked to implement the Sanitation Code of the Philippines.

In Metro Manila, the DOH-led Metro Manila Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee monitors compliance with standards, and publishes water quality pronouncements every month. Both Maynilad and Manila Water say they regularly pass and even exceed a number of PNSDW requirements–in particular, the required level of residual chlorine. This refers to the amount of the chemical remaining in the water once it reaches a customer’s faucet, considering that it gets depleted every time it attacks bacteria and viruses. The PNSDW requires a residual chlorine level of 0.3 parts per million. This means that if water, at the treatment plant, is mixed with 0.7 ppm of chlorine and passes through kilometers of pipelines—with the chlorine killing impurities and getting used up along the way—water should still end up at a household tap with 0.3 ppm of the disinfectant. The PNSDW sets the maximum amount of chlorine, at any point of the distribution system, at 1.5 ppm. Water from Maynilad has a residual chlorine level of 0.85 ppm, while that from Manila Water also has 0.85 ppm based on latest water analysis report.

Kinds of Water

1. Tap water

Tap water is obtained from surface water – in Manila, the reservoir is the La Mesa Dam. It can also be obtained from ground water, such as wells. There are many wells all throughout the country and is one of the major source of water in the Philippines.

Tap water contains calcium and magnesium. Tap water can sometimes appear cloudy, and this is often mistaken for a mineral impurity in the water. Cloudy water, also known as white water, is actually caused by air bubbles coming out of solution in the water. Because cold water holds more air than warm water, small bubbles will appear in water with a high dissolved oxygen content that is heated or depressurized, because this reduces how much dissolved gas the water can hold. This condition is completely harmless, and the cloudiness of the water disappears quickly as the gas is released from the water.

Some people, believing that their tap water is unsafe, have turned to expensive bottled water, only to discover that most brands of bottled water contain the same or more contaminants as ordinary tap water, leading to a conclusion that bottled water is nothing more than high priced tap water.

This leads us back to the question of what is in tap water, and is it safe to drink? There isn’t one definite answer to either question, since tap water changes greatly from place to place. Some communities have excellent quality tap water, while others may be downright awful.

Chlorine is a disinfectant which is added to tap water during treatment from source. Chlorine can leave organic material like trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in the water. The level of chlorine found is small, 1L of chlorinated water gives 0.2 mg of chlorine, which is too small to cause any health problems

Tap water remains susceptible to biological or chemical contamination. In the event of contamination deemed dangerous to public health, government officials typically issue an advisory regarding water consumption. In the case of biological contamination, residents are usually advised to boil their water before consumption or to use bottled water as an alternative. In the case of chemical contamination, residents may be advised to refrain from consuming tap water entirely until the matter is resolved.

2. Mineral Water

Mineral water is water that is filled with natural minerals. After all, mineral water can come both from a natural source or an artificial source.

Mineral water is water from a mineral spring containing various minerals such as salts and sulfur compounds. Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at their spring sources, In modern times, it is far more common for mineral waters to be bottled at the source for distributed consumption. Travelling to the mineral water site for direct access to the water is now uncommon, and in many cases not possible (because of exclusive commercial ownership rights). There are more than 3,000 brands of mineral water commercially available worldwide

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies mineral water as water containing at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS), originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source. No minerals may be added to this water.

However, in many places, the term "mineral water" is colloquially used to mean any bottled carbonated water or soda water, as opposed to tap water.

This may leave you wondering what is mineral water compared to regular water, like tap water and traditional bottled water. Mineral water, in its basic and natural form, is a much better source for the nutrients and additional health benefits you receive from drinking water. And what is mineral water compared to its artificial counterpart—both, in fact, are mineral water so there shouldn’t be much difference.

All water is initially mineral water until it is boiled, like distilled water, or sent through a softener or some sort of cleaning process. The fact is that there is a long list of different minerals that may be present in mineral water that could be potentially beneficial to your health. These different types of minerals might include the following: calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, sodium, potassium, chloride, nitrates, sulphates, fluoride and even bicarbonates.

The type of minerals found in the mineral water you are drinking will depend on the source of the water. For instance, minerals to be found in the hills of Italy differ from those to be found in the Rocky Mountains. Yet both places produce, bottle and export mineral waters.

Mineral water, no matter where it comes from or what minerals make it up, is an excellent addition to a healthy diet and exercise program as it will not only keep you hydrated, but also replace minerals that you lose through the normal course of your day.

There are a great number of benefits you could gain from drinking mineral water. This is because the minerals contained in this kind of water provide a number of therapeutic advantages. One way to attain the optimum development of the body is by taking in the essential vitamins and minerals.

The great thing about the minerals contained in water is they can be easily absorbed by the body. In fact, it is easier for the body to absorb the minerals from water than from most foods. Thus, it can be argued that mineral water is somewhat essential for day to day healthy living.

Here are a number of benefits that can be gained from mineral water health for your body:

  1. It can help detoxify your body. Taking in mineral water is important in eliminating the toxins that may have entered the body through the foods that you consume every day and through the air that you breathe. Because of the detoxification properties of mineral water, the general health of your brain and body can be improved and the risk of contracting degenerative diseases can be decreased.

  2. Mineral water can help in preventing problems with the nervous system. Poor quality water can cause pollution of the fluids in the nervous system and this in turn can cause its normal functions to falter. The complex and small waterways of the nervous system through which the body’s cells get electric signals coming from the brain could be impaired by impure water. However, if you drink mineral water regularly, you will help your nervous system remain healthy.

  3. It aids in heightening the body’s natural healing capability. Because over 70 percent of the human body is made up of water, it is not unusual to that water intake can have a lot to do with the overall health of the body.

  4. The magnesium contained in mineral water contributes to making the bones and muscles strong, aids in making the body relax and in sustaining the proper blood pressure , and enhances the immune system of the body. You can therefore be sure that taking in pure water is important in helping the body restore itself.

  5. Mineral water works at promoting proper digestion and nutrient absorption. The minerals contained in mineral water such as the chlorides and the bicarbonates are important in promoting proper digestion as well as the effective regulation of the stomach and intestinal acids. Because of this, mineral water helps in the optimization of the benefits gained by the body through the foods that are taken in as they are digested effectively. The food’s nutrients are also extracted properly.

3. Purified water

This is a type of drinking water that has been treated with processes such as distillation, deionization or reverse osmosis (we'll get to those terms later). Basically, this just means that the bacteria and dissolved solids have been removed from the water by some process, making it "purified." This type of bottled water is usually labeled as purified drinking water but can also be labeled for the specific process used to produce it, for example, reverse osmosis drinking water or distilled drinking water. Many bottled water brands are actually purified drinking water.

4. Alkaline water

Alkaline water is water that is neither acidic nor neutral on the pH scale. It is on the alkaline side of the scale. Some believe the benefits of alkaline water are nearly immeasurable -- that it is vital for consistent and continued health. Others say the research on alkaline water is far from conclusive.

Alkaline water, or ionized water as it is also referred to, has a pH of approximately 8, depending on the brand or the equipment used to alkalize the water. Normal water has a neutral pH, which is the number 7 on the scale. Water, depending on its source, also has the potential to be slightly acidic.

The Hype

Alkaline water is said to be of benefit to people's health because it helps neutralize the chemical imbalances of the body, which some believe tend to run too acidic. Further, proponents note that many common foods are also acidic, further upsetting the balance. It is claimed to aid in the treatment of asthma, help hydrate better between cells, help heartburn, reduce indigestion and aid with many other ailments.

The Truth

Taking calcium, alkaline powder or drinking alkaline water does not affect blood acidity.

You should not believe that it matters whether foods or water are acidic or alkaline, because no foods and water change the acidity of anything in your body except your urine. Your stomach is so acidic that no food can change its acidity. Citrus fruits, vinegar, and vitamins such as ascorbic acid or folic acid do not change the acidity of your stomach or your bloodstream. An entire bottle of calcium pills or antacids would not change the acidity of your stomach for more than a few minutes, even if you take a gallon of alkaline water.

You cannot change the acidity of any part of your body except your urine. Your bloodstream and organs control acidity in a very narrow range. Anything that changed acidity in your body would make you very sick and could even kill you. Promoters of these products claim that cancer cells cannot live in an alkaline environment and that is true, but neither can any of the other cells in your body.

Read more on Acid /Alkaline Theory of Disease

5. Oxygenated water

The Hype

Oxygenated water or “superoxygenated water” is drinking water that has been enriched with oxygen gas (O2). The sales pitch for oxygenated drinking water is that it results in better stamina and athletic performance, shortens recovery time from strenuous physical activity, and improves brain function because the extra oxygen it contains is absorbed in the digestive tract and used by the cells of the body.

The Truth

The amount of dissolved oxygen in ordinary drinking water, which is about 8 mgw per liter at room temperature, can indeed be increased by introducing the gas under pressure. Thus, with the use of pressurized bottles or containers (as is done in producing oxygenated water), one can increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in drinking water by 40 mg per liter for every additional standard atmosphere of pressure.

When you open a container of oxygenated water to drink its content, the pressure inside the container is released, and almost immediately, most of the extra oxygen bubbles out. Of course, if you drink the oxygenated water immediately after opening the container, some oxygen molecules will find their way into your digestive tract. However, you will later burp out most of this gas. In short, even if we assume that the stomach and intestines—which by the way are organs that are designed to absorb nutrients, not oxygen—can absorb oxygen molecules, it is safe to say that when you drink oxygenated water, only a negligible amount of oxygen actually finds its way into your bloodstream.

Oxygen is needed by all the cells of the body that is why there are two specialized organs called lungs where oxygen from atmospheric air is extracted by the red blood cells and then distributed to the different cells of the body. Absorption of oxygen is infinitesimally more efficient in the lungs than in the digestive tract. By inhaling a liter of air you will be able to ultimately deliver to the various cells of the body about 146 mg of oxygen. Hence, if you want to increase your blood concentration of oxygen, you will not be able to do that by drinking oxygenated water, but rather by simply increasing your respiratory rate. A better way is by inhaling oxygen-enriched air. But let me warn you that there is also such a thing as oxygen toxicity. A very high blood oxygen level is harmful and can even be fatal.

Despite the obviously preposterous claims of those who sell oxygenated water, several research groups have taken the bother of conducting studies to determine the effect of drinking oxygenated water on exercise and athletic performance. One such study was sponsored by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and was conducted by the Human Performance Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin. Needless to say, results of the study showed that there is no scientific evidence or logical rationale to suggest that drinking super oxygenated water can in any way increase the amount of oxygen in the blood stream.

6. Distilled water

Distilled water is an important element in medical and industrial fields. While there are some people who drink distilled water on a daily basis, there remain facts that still need to be known about this.

There have been several studies focused on whether people should drink distilled water or not. Many studies concluded that distilled water can adversely affect your health if used or drunk for a longer time period.

Here are some interesting bits of information that should help you learn more about this kind of water and help you make up your mind about whether it is good for you and your family or not:

When drunk for a long period of time, distilled water may cause a certain amount of mineral deficiency in the body. This is because some of the minerals your body needs are usually absorbed and digested through the water you consume.

Because distilled water has no electrolyte value, there is a possibility you can become dehydrated if you drink it over a sustained period. Electrolytes can be sourced from chloride, sodium and potassium, all of which are not to be found in distilled water.

* When cooking vegetables and other types of food with the use of distilled water, there is a greater chance of getting a lower nutritional value from them. This is because distilled water is known to take out the mineral content from fruits, vegetables and other food types.

* If your mineral intake is reduced because of drinking and using distilled water all the time, you can be at greater risk for contracting such diseases as hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, hypertension, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, and other degenerative diseases that are usually linked with premature aging. This alone is enough to make you think carefully whether to drink distilled water over a long period of time.

* Distilled water can turn the air acidic because it is known to absorb the carbon dioxide from it.

These facts should make you think twice about the long-term implications. While it is up to you to make a decision, if you want to ensure the health of you and your family, you would be advised to say no to drinking distilled water over a long period of time.

While it is true that drinking distilled water takes away the problems associated with tap water—for example fluoride or unwanted minerals in the drinking water—there are many other considerations.

A better question might be “should people drink distilled water over long periods of time?” because as with many other things, drinking distilled water in moderation and over only short periods of time will allow you to get the benefits of distilled water without any of the side effects or unwanted little “extras” that come with drinking distilled water.

Because distilled water has been boiled and is devoid of minerals, it has a much easier time collecting toxins and removing them from the body. For those seeking water sustenance through a short term detox process , distilled water is the best type of water to drink.

7. Mineralized Water

When you buy bottled mineral water at your local store, you may believe that you are drinking natural mineral water just because the label says so, but the truth is that some mineral water may simply have been distilled or tap water that has had minerals added to it at a later stage in a bottling or preparation plant. This is now called as mineralized water.

8. Spring Water

Spring Water is defined as bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. To qualify as spring water, it must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. If the collection process uses some type of an external force, the water must be from the same stratum as the spring and must retain the quality and all of the same physical properties of water that flows naturally from a spring to the surface.

Acid / Alkaline Theory of Disease

All disease thrives in an acid environment in the body and will not flourish and thrive in an alkaline, oxygenated environment.

Cancer cells cannot live in an alkaline environment.

There are many notions telling us to eat more alkaline foods, drink alkaline water to be healthy.

The more acidic you are, the more susceptible you become to disease and all resulting cell mutations. As disease flourishes, it creates an even more acidic environment spreading further until consumes your health. These acids, if not neutralized, cause inflammation, free radical damage, and kill healthy cells by stealing oxygen. Alkaline water and alkaline foods dissolve these harmful acids and helps remove them from your body by allowing them to pass safely through the kidneys and not be stored in your body.

The theory is that, When we eat, food can have immediate acid or alkaline effects on the blood and tissues.

  • Breads, fish, cereals, eggs and poultry, meats leave an acid residue because of high chlorine, sulfur, and phosphorus.

  • Alkaline-forming foods contains potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, includes most vegetables and fruits even fruits with a high acid content like tomatoes and citrus, because these acids can be completely metabolized in the body into carbon dioxide, water and energy.

  • Almonds, chestnuts and coconuts are alkaline-forming while peanuts and walnuts are acid forming

  • Most legumes are alkaline forming except for lentils

  • Butter and lard are Neutral foods, also refine carbohydrates like white sugar and cornstarch because they contain no minerals.

  • Milk and milk products are alkaline because of calcium contents

Please take note what ever we take or eat, either alkaline or acid forming foods will not affect or have no direct acidifying or alkalinizing effect on the biochemistry of the body.

Normally, the blood, saliva and extra-cellular fluids are slightly alkaline, while the urine is slightly acidic. The ph value of these body fluids is maintained by a series of complex feedback mechanisms in the body and is not dependent on dietary excesses of either acid or alkaline foods.

After a meal especially meats or lots of protein, the blood will become more alkaline for a short period of time, which is in effect a balancing reaction to the secretion of large amounts of hydrochloric acid in our stomach. The blood then undergoes a short-lived increase in acidity, which is again a balancing reaction to the heavy alkaline enzyme-rich solutions from the pancreas. These reactions are completely normal and should in no way be interpreted as justification for avoiding high-protein, “acid-forming” foods.

To simplified it, the normal slightly alkaline condition of the blood is maintained primarily by the action of the kidneys and the lungs regulating the balance between the amount of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate ions in the blood. Problems with the kidneys or lungs, dehydration, ingestion of certain drugs, diabetic conditions or other causes may lead to acidosis, with symptoms of drowsiness, progressing to stupor and coma. This acute condition may be relieved by taking an alkaline solution, such as bicarbonate of soda. The condition of alkalosis may likewise be caused by impaired kidney function as well as hyperventilation, ingestion of certain drugs such as diuretics or steroids, and loss of acid from the body due to vomiting or gastric drainage. Symptoms include cramps, muscle spasms, irritability and hyper-excitability. Treatment of this acute condition may include breathing expired carbon dioxide from a paper bag or taking an acidic solution, such as ammonium chloride.

Unusual chronic or long-term conditions of acidosis or alkalosis may be relieved by stressing more acid-forming or alkaline-forming foods in the diet, but such regimes can also lead to deficiencies that actually worsen the condition. Many people with perfectly normal blood pH values have followed “alkalinizing diets” without realizing that there is no particular need to do so. One particularly dangerous theory suggests that the human diet should be composed entirely of alkaline-forming fruits and vegetables to the exclusion of protein-rich “acid-forming” foods. Under the vast majority of conditions, high-protein foods, such as meat and eggs, do not cause the blood to be pathologically acidic. On the contrary, good quality protein is needed for the body to maintain the proper pH values of the blood and extra cellular fluids and to maintain the health and integrity of the lungs and kidneys, those organs which have the most to do with regulating the pH values of the blood. Phosphorus in whole grains, which is an “acid-forming” mineral, actually plays an important role in preventing the blood from becoming too acid.

We need lots of minerals in our diet. An unbalanced diet consisting mainly of “alkaline-forming” fruits and vegetables, while possibly useful in the short term as a fast, can lead to serious deficiencies of minerals and also of vitamins–in the long run; for diabetics and those who suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) a diet composed exclusively of fruits and vegetables can be dangerous even in the short term.

Many people in the health industry recommended to test the pH of our saliva to determined the health conditions of our body by mere pH using pH paper or litmus paper. Even we ate a lot of animal foods and whole grains, the pH of our saliva is consistently slightly alkaline. Even saliva of animals like dog who consumed meat and bones is also alkaline. So the theory that eating meat will cause the body to be too acid is wrong. Deficiencies in protein and in minerals can create such an acidic condition. The solution is a nutrient-dense diet contain adequate protein, one that is rich in minerals and also in vitamins A and D, which the body needs to absorb minerals.

Alkalosis is excessive blood alkalinity caused by an overabundance of bicarbonate in the blood or a loss of acid from the blood (metabolic alkalosis), or by a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood that results from rapid or deep breathing (respiratory alkalosis).

Metabolic alkalosis develops when the body loses too much acid or gains too much base. For example, stomach acid is lost during periods of prolonged vomiting or when stomach acids are suctioned with a stomach tube (as is sometimes done in hospitals). In rare cases, metabolic alkalosis develops in a person who has ingested too much base from substances such as baking soda (bicarbonate of soda).

In addition, metabolic alkalosis can develop when excessive loss of sodium or potassium affects the kidneys' ability to control the blood's acid-base balance. For instance, loss of potassium sufficient to cause metabolic alkalosis may result from the use of diuretics or corticosteroids. Respiratory alkalosis develops when rapid, deep breathing (hyperventilation) causes too much carbon dioxide to be expelled from the bloodstream. The most common cause of hyperventilation, and thus respiratory alkalosis, is anxiety. Other causes of hyperventilation and consequent respiratory alkalosis include pain, cirrhosis, low levels of oxygen in the blood, fever, and aspirin

Alkalosis may cause irritability, muscle twitching, muscle cramps, or no symptoms at all. If the alkalosis is severe, prolonged contraction and spasms of muscles (tetanus) can develop.

The Science

  1. What ever we take or eat, either alkaline or acid forming foods will not affect or have no direct acidifying or alkalinizing effect on the biochemistry of our body.

  2. The idea that we must consume alkaline water to neutralize the effects of acidic food has no basis; we get rid of excess acid by exhaling carbon dioxide.

  3. If we drink alkaline water, its alkalinity is quickly removed by the gastric fluid in our stomach which is highly acidic.

  4. Absorption of water in our body occurs mainly in the intestine, not in the stomach. But when stomach contents enter the intestine, it will be neutralized and will become alkaline because of secretions from the pancreas – so all the water or food we take or drink eventually becomes alkaline anyway.

  5. Different parts of the body and even of individual cells can have widely different pH values. The pH of drinking water has no effect on pH of the blood or of the body’s cells.

  6. Alkaline or ionize water is not an anti-oxidant but an oxidizing agent, as can be seen by its ability to decolorize iodine.

  7. We cannot change our blood pH even if were taking alkaline water or alkaline forming foods.

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