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                      pH Levels Keep Your Bones Healthy

                      Published by Dr. Mark Rosenberg

                      I encourage my 50-and-older patients to get a bone density test every year. As this test  tells me if they’re losing or maintaining their bone density and strength. The pelvis and femur bones of the hips and upper thighs are especially significant as we get older because they support our body walking and standing and, really, with any activity we do. If bones become weak through loss of density, they are at increased risk for serious fractures.  Fortunately, there are safe, natural health options for maintaining the strength of your bones.

                      Maintaining Healthy Bones with pH Monitoring

                      Too much acid in our diets can eat away at our bones resulting in bone loss. Some of the ways I can tell if bone loss may be occurring is by looking at a patient’s mouth – are their gums receding? Are they breaking teeth? Or by looking at the caliber of their muscles – are they losing muscle mass?  Too much acid can throw our general health out of whack as well contribute to inflammation, which sets the stage for serious diseases like cancer.

                      I like to test my patients for pH imbalances, and possible bone loss, by measuring the pH levels in their blood. This is done with a simple saliva or urine test which tells me what their level of acid is.  A good range is about 7.0-7.5 which is just slightly on the more alkaline side. A patient can also do their own pH test at home if they want as they are available in some health food/supplement stores and online.  However, I recommend having a healthcare professional perform the testing so you can receive the appropriate advice on the findings.

                      If a patient’s tests come in under 6.5, I ask how much sugar, or other simple carbohydrates are in their diet, as these are the main contributors to high acid blood levels.  Did you know that just drinking a few sugary soft drinks a day increases your risk of bone loss and fracture?  The good news, though, is cutting down on sugar intake and eating more alkaline based foods will help re-balance too much acidity and ward off possible bone damage.

                      On the opposite side is overly high alkalinity which can mean that “catabolism” is taking place; a breaking down of tissues, bone and muscle which the body does to obtain the minerals it needs to function. This is not a good situation either and needs to be balanced back to the middle range.  Once I determine what a patient’s pH level is, too acid, or too alkaline, I can work with the patient through adjustment of their food intake and perhaps the addition of some specific vitamins and minerals to help re-balance their levels.

                      Most often, however, a patient’s pH levels will be “too acid”, mainly because the American diet often contains large amounts of sugar and animal products (red meat, dairy).  Correcting high blood acid levels is fairly simple once I explain to the patient that they must reduce the amount of sugar in their diet and balance the acid foods they are eating with some alkaline ones.  Ideally, the best pH balance ratio is 4 parts alkaline to 1 part acid if you’re active, as exercise increases acidity.  Less active people may perhaps increase their acid food intake to a 2:1 ratio.  However, I prefer my patients to be more active than inactive, to preserve general health and bone strength, so I prefer the 4:1 ratio.

                      Foods That Balance Acid-Alkali Levels

                      To normalize too high acid levels, I ask my patients to make some dietary changes first.  A good acid/alkali food list book can help but here are some general guidelines:

                      • Limit sugar.   Omit, or cut way down, simple sugars in your diet.  This means no added table sugar in your coffee or tea, or on grapefruit, cereal, to sweeten.  Try granulated Stevia instead. Cut down on processed, packaged foods which can contain a lot of sugar.  Read labels. Aim for 5 grams or less per serving of sugar. Omit sugar-sweetened soft drinks.  Soft drinks can wreak havoc with your bones even without the sugar because of the phosphorus they contain.  Switch to iced tea or just plain water with some lemon.
                      • Limit these acid-base foods.  Beer, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, wine, butter, beef, cheese, eggs, white flour, ham, fish, honey, pork, wheat, dairy cream, cottage cheese, syrups, jams, jellies (unless sugar-free), lentils, artificial sweeteners like aspartame (Equal), saccharin (Sweet N Low), Splenda.
                      • Include these alkaline-base foods. Alfalfa, apples, apricots, bananas, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cantaloupe, celery, citrus fruits, coconuts, dates, huckleberries, garlic, grapes, grapefruit, herbs,  kelp, leeks, lemons, lettuce, lima beans, melon, Omega-3 fatty acids, onions, oranges, papaya,  peaches, pears, pineapple, spices, vegetables (most), watermelon, watercress.

                      Other Acid Forming Things

                      Though food and drink intake is the primary source of imbalanced pH levels, other things can also contribute like stress which increases cortisol levels, toxin overload (being exposed to chemicals on the job), low oxygen intake (living in smog, pollution filled areas), not enough water intake or exercise.

                      As I tell my patients, balance is the key when trying to maintain good pH levels that help not only your bones stay strong, but your general health. Too high acid levels can contribute to serious diseases.  However, you don’t have to omit all acid-base foods from your diet, in fact, that’s not advisable.  Just add more alkaline foods to your diet to balance.  Also, be sure you are drinking enough water, exercise frequently to up your oxygen intake and help control stress, and always try to get enough sleep, at least 6-7 hours a night.

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                      Dr. Mark Rosenberg
                      Dr. Mark Rosenberg
                      Dr. Mark Rosenberg received his doctorate from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1988 and has been involved with drug research since 1991. With numerous certifications in several different fields of medicine, psychology, healthy aging and fitness, Dr. Rosenberg has a wide breadth of experience in both the public and private sector with particular expertise in both the mechanism of cancer treatment failure and in treating obesity. He currently is researching new compounds to treat cancer and obesity, including receiving approval status for an investigational new drug that works with chemotherapy and a patent pending for an oral appetite suppressant. He is currently President of the Institute for Healthy Aging, Program Director of the Integrative Cancer Fellowship, and Chief Medical Officer of Rose Pharmaceuticals. His work has been published in various trade and academic journals. In addition to his many medical certifications, he also personally committed to physical fitness and is a certified physical fitness trainer.

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                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

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