The Benefits of an Alkaline Diet and Water
To understand how the body’s internal pH levels affect your health, it helps to understand what pH is. The pH scale runs from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic or alkaline); 7 is neutral. Pure water has a pH of 7.
The human body needs to maintain a pH in a narrow range, between 7.35 and 7.45, to function properly. This pH range provides the ideal working environment for the body’s fluids and tissues. Your stomach is acidic, about 3.5 on the pH scale, and it must remain so in order to break down food. Blood is mostly neutral—a characteristic that enables it to transport various substances around the body without affecting or reacting to them. The wrong pH in a given system or organ can seriously affect your health.
Regulating the pH in the mouth will help reduce the risk for cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. The bacteria that cause cavities are living organisms. And just like all living things they consume food and in return create waste products. The wastes that these types of bacteria create are very acidic (a pH of 4 and lower). Acid formation and tooth demineralization begins within minutes of oral bacteria receiving a sugary meal. It can take up to several hours for saliva to penetrate through dental plaque and neutralize these acids. Bacteria feed off sugars that are commonly found in sucrose (table sugar), glucose, fructose, lactose, and cooked starches. Certain foods, such as sugary beverages, snacks, and some grains, increase the acidity in the mouth.
Even though saliva can help neutralize the mouth, consuming acidic foods and liquids can increase the acidity of the saliva. If the pH takes a long time to neutralize in the mouth, it may give bad bacteria enough time to wreak havoc on the teeth and gums. An acidic mouth is an optimal environment for bad bacteria to grow, and if given the time and the ability, it can cause tooth decay. The pH of the mouth can change dramatically with the types of foods we eat.
Here are some ways to move your diet towards an alkaline pH:
- While some vegetables are acidic, many vegetables are alkaline so they will help neutralize the pH in the mouth and the body. Experts say the more vibrant the color, the more beneficial the veggie. Good choices include red bell peppers, kale, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, and green beans. Bad choices include any pickled vegetable, olives, lentils, corn, and winter squash.
- Sadly, most bread grains fall in the acidic range. But there are some healthier options. For instance, almond flour breads are a better choice because almonds are slightly alkaline.
- A lot of beans and seeds are alkaline. Soy, navy, and lima beans, for instance, are highly alkaline. And caraway, cumin, fennel, and sesame seeds are alkaline as well.
- Many sugar alternatives such as honey, xylitol, and beet sugar are acidic. Stevia, on the other hand, is alkaline.
- Ketchup and mustard are also highly acidic. But one thing that might help is to eat something that will offset the acidity. Some ideas include cantaloupe, mango, melons, apples, and carrots. Instead of eating a sweet dessert after dinner, one that will only contribute to the low pH levels in your mouth, follow up dinner with an alkalizing fruit or veggie.
- Wine, cheeses, and coffee are acidic as well. Are you willing to give up your morning coffee and evening wine? To help maintain a healthy pH and protect your teeth and gums from infections and decay, you may want to seriously consider at least reducing your intake of these items.
- On the reverse side are some common drinks that we tested for their pH level. You want to have any drink that you consume to have a pH of 7 or higher. You can test in personally using litmus paper that you purchase on Amazon.
| Bottled Water | pH Level |
| pH 10 Superior Hydrate | 10 |
| Aqua Hydrate | 9 |
| Sprouts Alkalized Water | 8 |
| Tap Water | 7.5 |
| Distilled Water | 7.5 |
| Ethos | 7.5 |
| Fiji | 7.5 |
| Pure Life | 7 |
| Smart water | 7 |
LEVEL THAT BACTERIA FORMS DECAY
| Crystal Geyser | 6.5 |
| Kirkland Signature | 6.5 |
| Voss | 6.5 |
| Aquafina | 6 |
| Great Value | 5.5 |
| Perrier | 5.5 |
| C2O- Coconut water | 5.5 |
| Deja Blue | 5.5 |
| Avitae | 5 |
| Ozarka | 5 |
| Dassani | 4.5 |
| Kroger | 4.5 |
| Topo Chico Mineral Water | 4.5 |
| Splash | 4 |
| Pellegrino | 4 |
| Life Water | 4 |
| La Croix | 4 |
| Original New York Seltzer | 3.5 |
| Sprite | 3.5 |
