PH

In the scientific world, pH stands for "potential of Hydrogen." Or, you could be really scientific about it and say that pH represents the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. Wow! Instead, let's just say that, in your body, pH stands for your potential for Health.

Specifically, pH is a value given to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It's a value – an intangible, not a thing. pH values are to acid and alkaline what temperature degrees are to heat and cold.

The pH scale of values runs from 0 to 14. At the low end, 0 indicates really strong, complete acidity. At the high end, 14 indicates really strong, complete alkalinity. In the middle, pH 7.0 indicates that the substance is neither acid nor alkaline – it’s neutral. Very few substances are completely neutral – most test out on either side of it.

All of the fluids of your body operate best at particular levels of pH ranging between slightly acid and slightly alkaline. Simple tests of your saliva and urine that you can perform yourself can give you a good idea of the pH levels of your body.

Testing urine and saliva after sleeping at least five hours gives you an idea of how your body is really operating. Urine pH tells you how your body is responding to the food you ate the day before. Saliva pH tells you how your body has adapted to your thinking and the stresses of your life.

If you are truly healthy, both your saliva and urine should register around pH 7.0 the first thing in the morning (as soon as you get up after at least five hours sleep). However, even though you usually feel good, if your diet consists mostly of meat, pasta, convenience foods, starches, and coffee or cola drinks, your early morning urine will probably register as low as pH 5, or possibly as high as pH 8.
If you have not been eating foods that contain alkalizing minerals (fruits and vegetables), or, if you have a lot of stress in your life, your body has adapted its functions to keep the pH of your blood and other vital fluids as correct as possible under these circumstances. But, these adaptations can cause your potential for Health to suffer, eventually leading to symptoms of chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, emphysema, or even cancer.