Balance Body pH in Allergies with Some Healthy Foods and Supplements
Measuring Body pH
To know what the current pH of your body is, you need a way to measure it. This is simple. Just purchase some inexpensive pH testing strips, also called litmus paper, in a drugstore. Look for pH paper that reports within a fairly narrow range. You do not need laboratory test paper, just something that will report between a 4.5 to 8.5 reading. Test both your urine and saliva. A pH reading equal to or below 7.0 is acidic. Above 7.0 is alkaline. Urine pH values tend to range from 6.5 to 7.0 in the morning and 7.5 to 8.0 in the evening. Below 6.0 or above 8.5 is considered unhealthy. Saliva, which should be tested two hours after a meal, should be mildly alkaline.
Overly Acidic Conditions
- Buffered Vitamin C is one of the best choices because the buffer material, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate, is a good way to get rid of excess acid and balance body pH in allergies.Taking some at the first sign of an allergy may be a quick way to abort the attack if acdity is the problem.
- Alka Seltzer Gold, containing sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, and potassium bicarbonate will work as well. This formulation does not contain aspirin. Alka Selzter Gold should not be taken with kidney disease or a diet that restricts potassium or sodium. Some sites report that Alka Selzter Gold contains corn and should not be taken by people who are sensitive to corn products.
- Mix 1 tsp. salt with 1 tsp. baking soda in 1 quart of water and refrigerate the solution. According to Allergy Relief and Prevention, if you take 2 to 4 ounces at least every 15 minutes of the first day you have an allergic reaction and every hour the next day it can help abort the process. Do not take this if you have high blood pressure.
- Some highly alkaline foods are almonds, avocados, beets, carrots, and spinach.
Overly Alkaline Conditions
This is less common in allergic reactions, but it can be balanced with these supplements or foods.
- Unbuffered Vitamin C, which is simply ascorbic acid, will reduce alkaline conditions.
- Blueberries, lentils, olives, oatmeal, rice, and wheat are all vegetables with an acidifying effect and should lower pH towards the acid side.
- Digestive enzymes and probiotics can reduce alkalinity.
Reduce Allergy Flare-ups with pH Balanced Diets
Although there is disagreement in the medical profession about attempts to maintain a health pH in the body through dietary methods, a number of naturopathic physicians and others do claim that this is possible and desirable. By consuming healthy foods, you may balance body pH in allergies that come and go. Recommended foods to accomplish this balance are not harmful and may help reduce the occurrence or severity of allergic attacks. For example, Dr. Janet Starr Hull claims that “when the body is too acidic as a result of acid forming foods . . . disease and infections proliferate.” The Happy Herbalist Web site has an extensive list of acid or alkaline forming foods.
References
Taylor, Frances, M.A., Krohn, Jacqueline, M.D., and Larson, Erla Mae. Allergy Relief & Prevention, 3rd ed. (Hartley & Marks Publishers, 2000)
Dr. Janet Starr Hull pH Balance Information
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