The acid-alkaline balance, also known as the acid-base balance, is essential to the health of our metabolism. This fundamental law is crucial to the proper functioning of warm-blooded organisms.
Rather than relying solely on a more massive immune system, which would require a larger body to carry it, nature has come up with a clever solution. It has established ‘contracts’ with various micro-organisms that cohabit harmoniously with us, helping to maintain our health. For example, certain mites maintain our skin and bronchial tubes, while certain yeasts play a key immunological role in our muscles.
To maintain this harmony, our body uses simple mechanisms, including the acid-alkaline balance. Blood and organs are slightly more alkaline than other tissues, which are more acidic. This difference in pH keeps each tissue in its place and regulates the populations of micro-organisms that reside there. Respecting this balance is crucial to preventing or alleviating many health problems.
However, this balance can be disturbed by a variety of factors, whether emotional, biochemical, chemical or dietary. Behaviours such as hatred, anger or fear, as well as hormonal imbalances and exposure to modern chemicals, can acidify the blood, leading to internal disharmony.
Fortunately, the body has natural mechanisms for restoring this balance. For example, physiological processes correct the blood pH after digestion, while antioxidants neutralise biochemical and chemical bases. A healthy emotional life, in harmony with our environment, and a balanced diet also play a crucial role in maintaining our well-being.
A key factor directly influencing digestion and the acid-alkaline balance is the order in which we eat our food. Understanding digestive mechanisms can help us to better structure our meals to optimise our health.
Nutrient absorption begins in the small intestine with water and sugars, while vitamins and fats are processed in the duodenum. Proteins are broken down in the stomach by gastric juices. So, to avoid fermentation of food in the stomach, it is advisable to eat desserts or fruit at the beginning of the meal, when the stomach is empty. For example, chocolate cake or fruit eaten as an aperitif will be quickly sent to the small intestine, where it will be digested efficiently.
Similarly, it is important to chew foods such as potatoes, even in mashed form, to allow optimal digestion thanks to ptyalin, a salivary enzyme. The stomach, although complex, is capable of managing different types of digestive juices, but it does have its limits. For example, mixing several sources of animal protein or eating several types of cereal in the same day can overload the digestive system and lead to fermentation of the food.
Our modern diet, rich in diversity but often disorganised, can lead to digestive problems and an acid-alkaline imbalance. To avoid these problems, it is advisable to follow a specific dietary order: start with sugars, fats and vitamins, then proteins, and finally raw and cooked vegetables. This type of diet promotes harmonious digestion and helps maintain a balanced pH in the body.
It is also important to limit foods and substances that acidify the blood, such as cooked tomatoes, coffee, alcohol, sugar and pork. Environmental factors such as tobacco, solvents and chemicals in food can also upset this balance. To reduce acidity, we recommend eating alkalinising foods such as raw fennel, green tea with lemon, and omega-3s.
In conclusion, understanding and respecting the acid-alkaline balance, as well as dietary order, are the pillars of good health. By adopting eating and lifestyle habits that support this balance, we can prevent many health problems and promote lasting well-being.
