ULCERATIVE COLITIS : pH BALANCE and ACID

REFERENCES

Please reference the book: Prescription for Natural Cures, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D. A great resource for exploring natural remedies, including diet and nutrition, nutritional supplements, and body/mind work.

Also reference Wikipedia: pH


According to the Carlsberg Foundation, pH stands for "power of hydrogen". The 'H' in pH refers to the measurement of hydronium ion concentration in liquid solutions, such as bodily fluids.

In chemistry, pH is a measure of acidity of a liquid solution. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline. pH values range from 0.0 to 14.0. Since pH is a logarithmic scale, a difference of just one pH unit is equivalent to a tenfold difference in hydrogen ion concentration. Like earthquakes, a pH of 9.0 on the scale would be 10 times higher than a pH of 8.0.

Measurement of pH can be done with a glass electrode and a pH meter. pH measurements are important in, among many fields, medicine, nutrition, and water purification.

pH VALUES OF SOME COMMON SUBSTANCES

Bleach has a pH of 13.0. Baking soda: 9.0. Sea water: 8.0. Blood: 7.34-7.45. Pure water has a pH very close to 7.0. Urine: 6.0. Human skin: 5.5. Black coffee, 5.0; Tomato juice, 4; Orange juice, 3. Lemons, which contain 5-6% acidic acid, have a pH of 2.2. Gastric (stomach) acid has a pH value of 1.0.
WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE US

The body is very sensitive to its pH level and strong, natural mechanisms exist to maintain it. Homeostasis refers to the proper balance between acids and bases, also called body pH. The pH of different cellular compartments, body fluids, and organs is usually tightly regulated in a process called acid-base homeostasis. By nature, the body is designed to keep everything balanced, healthy and flowing, living strong.

By nature, a body's metabolic processes (eating, digestion, breathing, moving and elimination) are designed to work together with the result being the production and elimination of acids and alkalis. Most of the foods we choose to eat produce an acidic effect in our blood. Most of the acid in our bodies is eliminated by breathing, but acid that is diet-based is expelled through our kidneys. Kidneys need minerals to do their job effectively. Without a large-enough reserve of minerals, acidic toxins can accumulate to a dangerous point. The kidneys can only do so much. If they're overtaxed by acid overload, you're in trouble. Outside the acceptable range of pH, metabolic processes begin to break down to a point where death may occur.

An excess of acid (acidosis) in the blood is called acidemia and an excess of base (alkalosis) is called alkalemia. If blood pH drops too low (acidemia), the body will compensate by increasing breathing, thereby expelling CO2, causing the pH to rise back to normal. For alkalemia, the opposite occurs.

The main issue to be addressed here is dietary in nature. Sugar, meat, dairy products and most refined grains all have acidifying effects on our blood and tissues. The body's acid-base balance (homeostasis) is tightly regulated, keeping arterial blood pH between 7.38 and 7.42. An acidic blood condition adversely affects enzymatic reactions in the body, contributing to a host of problems, particularly inflammation. Where it peeks its head out, only you and I know for sure.

Fruits and especially vegetables contain the kind of organic minerals needed to keep a body's pH level in balance. The organic acid found in fruits easily disintegrates and blows away with respiration (breathing), your body's natural exhaust system.

Green veggies, such as dark green lettuces, broccoli, and zucchini and super green foods such as spirulina, chlorella and wheatgrass as well as sea veggies like dulse, nori, wakame, and hijiki, apparently can neutralize acidic tissues due to their alkalinizing effect.

The thought here: Eat multiple servings of these alkalinizing foods each day.

A NOTE ON SODA AND ENERGY DRINKSACIDIFICATION

No more soda or energy drinks. The more I read about soda, the more I'm glad I'm away from it. It's one of the contributing exacerbators for my Ulcerative Colitis. And these new energy drinks are so full of inflammatory chemicals plus caffeine, they're like an atom bomb of ACIDIFICATION.

ULCERATIVE COLITIS : TUFF LUV AFFIRMATIONS

TUFF LUV INTRO: BROWN APPLES

The visual of a browning slice of apple is what I keep in mind regarding my gut cells. If I want them to be the healthiest they can be, I have to consciously act in their own best interests. I must be their advocate. They are demanding it of me and I can't let them down. I've learned they will scream at me if I don't treat them well. My cells want to do the right thing and I want to give them the best chance to succeed with the greatest army of soothing, anti-inflammatory foods and supplements, and stress-reducing activities. I'm worth it.

And so the goal of this little section is to get from "Why Me?!?' to "Why NOT You!". I know it seems counter-intuitive but let me explain. The "Why Me?" part is the powerless, confused, hopeless self who is suffering from IBD. The "Why NOT You!" is the empowered you. These Tuff Luv Affirmations are simply bootcamp for when you need that kick in the ass. Together, we can get you feeling better. But only if you behave. And, be reminded, there is only Tuff Luv behind the words, accent on the Luv.


TUFF LUV WARM-UP

YOU ARE SUCH A WUSS. YOU WOULD RATHER CONTINUE TO SUFFER THAN TO DO WHAT YOUR BODY IS ASKING YOU TO DO. YOU'VE ALLOWED YOUR TONGUE AND NOT YOUR BRAIN TO TELL YOU WHAT TO EAT. YOUR BRAIN IS A COWARDLY LITTLE BABY THAT NEEDS SOME WUPASS BOOT CAMP. YOUR TONGUE NEEDS TO SHUT UP FOR ONCE! YEAH, FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT YOU'RE EATING. THAT TONGUE NEEDS TAMING! YOUR BRAIN NEEDS EMPOWERMENT!

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED THIS BLOG. BUT JUST FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I CAN'T SUFFER WUSSES FOR LONG. SO I'M GONNA DEWUSSIFY YOU FAST. I'M GONNA HELP YOU PUT YOUR BRAIN BACK IN CONTROL. COS IF YOU DON'T GET CONTROL OF THAT TONGUE...I DON'T WANNA THINK ABOUT IT. BUT YOU ARE SUCH A WUSS, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. YOU BETTER READ THESE AFFIRMATIONS. READ THEM ALL. OVER AND OVER AGAIN. UNTIL YOU GET IT. BUT DON'T TAKE TOO LONG. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS AND THE SOONER YOU GET YOUR WUPASS ON, THE SOONER YOU CAN CONQUER THIS. AND MAYBE YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS SOME ASS WUPPIN. SHARE THE LUV, I SAY. BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE, IT'S TIME TO OPEN THAT CAN. YEAH, THAT CAN OF WUPASS. YOU READY? WUSS? I SAID, ARE YOU READY? WELL, READY OR NOT.


AFFIRMATION NUMBER ONE

SHUT UP! THIS IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE! YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP MILK, CEREAL, BREAD AND DONUTS? I'M CRYING A RIVER. PUT ON YOUR BIG BOY DRESS, GROW A PAIR, BUCKLE DOWN, PICK UP YOUR BOOTSTRAPS, ADJUST YOUR BRA STRAPS AND YOUR JOCKSTRAPS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND LET'S GET TO BUSINESS. DON'T YOU DARE WUSS OUT ON YOURSELF! BUT, GAWD, YOU ARE SUCH A WUSS!


AFFIRMATION NUMBER TWO

WHAT'S THAT?? YOUR WEAK, LITTLE WILLPOWER MACHINE ISN'T WORKING TODAY? WELL, KICK IT IN ITS ASS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING DANCING! THAT'S RIGHT. WE GOT NEW STEPS TO LEARN AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE TWO LEFT FEET. NO EFFING EXCUSES. GAWD, YOU ARE SUCH A WUSS. YOU GOT TWO FEET, AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. NOW PUT SOME DAMN SNEAKERS ON AND LET'S GO WALKING!


AFFIRMATION NUMBER THREE

AND I DON'T CARE IF A LEG OR TWO WAS BLOWN OFF SOMEWHERE. YOU'RE ALIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS. YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR SPIRIT. STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF AND SHOW SOME SPIRIT. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU HAVE: A WHEEL CHAIR, CRUTCHES, PROSTHETICS, WHATEVER. GET OUT OF MY FACE AND DON'T COME BACK UNTIL YOU'VE BROKEN A SWEAT. DON'T YOU PITY YOURSELF. YOU'RE GETTING NOTHING FROM ME. OF COURSE I'LL COME WITH YOU.


AFFIRMATION NUMBER FOUR

DON'T YOU WUSS OUT ON ME, WUSS. DAMN, YOU'RE A WUSS. GET OUTTA HERE! YEAH, I KNOW ALL YOUR BS EXCUSES. LOOK IN THE MIRROR FOR GOODNESS SAKE! I'M YOU! AND THE LONGEST JOURNEY STARTS WITH THE FIRST STEP. NOW, OUT WITH WITH YOU, DOWN THE STREET WITH YOU. YOU ARE SUCH A WUSS. GO!


AFFIRMATION NUMBER FIVE: THE JOHN BELUSHI LAW

IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER!


AFFIRMATION NUMBER SIX: KNOWLEDGE IS EMPOWERMENT

OK. TODAY'S NOT SUCH A GOOD DAY. GET SOME REST. AND WHILE YOU'RE AWAKE, GET TO YOUR COMPUTER AND START DOING YOUR OWN RESEARCH, DO YOUR OWN BLOGGING. YOUR VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD. A LITTLE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD HAS BEEN SAYING YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR STORY. NOW'S THE TIME. THE TELLING OF YOUR HEALING WILL HELP KEEP YOU FOCUSED ON YOUR HEALTH AND HEALING. WITH YOUR STORY, YOU CAN HELP OTHERS. GO TO BLOGSPOT.COM RIGHT NOW. YOU'LL BE BLOGGING IN MINUTES. I WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY. DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE NOBODY LIKES TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOU. YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN TELL YOU OF THEIR CONCERN FOR YOU, BUT, AFTER A WHILE, BECAUSE OF THEIR FEELINGS OF POWERLESSNESS, IT HAS A LONG-TERM EFFECT. OTHERS WILL DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM YOU AS YOU DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THEM.

SO STOP THE PITY PARTY. NOW IS THE TIME TO STOP USING YOUR ILLNESS AS AN EXCUSE. INSTEAD, YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT TO HELP MOTIVATE YOURSELF, TO EMPOWER YOURSELF, ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE HOUR AT A TIME, ONE MINUTE AND ONE ELIMINATION AT A TIME. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, I PROMISE. REMEMBER, IT TOOK YOU A WHILE TO GET HERE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET YOU BACK INTO THE LIGHT. BUT THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL (PUN INTENDED, DAMMIT YOU NEED TO LAUGH AGAIN) AND YOU'RE NOT ALONE. DRINK SOME WARM CHAMOMILE TEA WITH ALOE VERA JUICE, HAVE A BANANA, HAVE A SCRAMBLED EGG WITH BROCCOLI FLOWER TOPS AND AVOCADO, MAYBE SOME CREAM OF RICE CEREAL WITH BANANA, CINNAMON AND HONEY. SOOTHE YOURSELF. DO SOME READING. START YOUR BLOG. YOUR STORY OF HEALING NEEDS TO BE TOLD. LOVE YOURSELF. THAT'S A FREAKIN ORDER!


MORE TO COME...