In recent years, many people have become interested in alkaline diet benefits. In response to this demand, numerous products have become available that are designed to bring about an alkaline body chemistry. Among other options, you can find alkaline bottled water, alkaline water machines, and alkaline nutritional supplements, not to mention books that tell you about alkalizing foods that you should stress, and acidifying foods that you should reduce.
But before you splash out for one of these products, you might want to know exactly what factors lead to the most alkaline diet benefits. As it turns out, there are at least nine things that can have an effect on your body’s pH.
1. Genetics. Genes have a profound effect on many aspects of physical and mental health. Although not much research has been done in this field, it seems likely that genes help some people to remove acid more efficiently than others.
2. Kidney function. Because the kidneys are the body’s main organs for eliminating excess acid, reduced kidney function can make your body too acidic. Some people have impaired kidney function from birth, while in others it occurs due to disease or as the result of aging.
3. Illness. The link between pH and health cuts both ways: Too much acid makes you more vulnerable to illness, but illness also makes your body more acidic. This being the case, if you are dealing with a health problem, it is particularly important to eat an alkaline-producing diet.
4. Smoking. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, which is acid-producing.
5. Air pollution. Like cigarette smoke, smog-filled air contains carbon monoxide, which has an acidifying effect on your body.
6. Altitude. Believe it or not, living at a high altitude makes your body more alkaline. But you don’t need to head for the hills. No matter where you live, you can change your body’s acid-alkaline balance by changing a few factors that are easier to control.
7. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Most medications have an acid-producing effect on the body, including antibiotics, psychotropic drugs, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
8. Exercise. Exercise helps make your body more alkaline, because carbon dioxide is removed from your body with each breath.
9. The foods and beverages. This is the most important factor, and it’s something that you have complete control over, no matter where in the world you live. Soft drinks, poultry, and refined foods make your body more acidic. Most produce lead to alkaline diet benefits. Just about anything you eat or drink affects your internal pH in some way.
