Alkaline Diet

Supplements for hair loss
1

Has anyone here tried going to great extremes to turn his body’s pH alkaline? I’m curious whether the answer to stopping hair loss is as simple as this. Allow me to explain.

DHT, like all free radicals, is acidic. Therefore, one way to neutralize the damaging affects would be to make the body alkaline. Another way is to take anti-oxidant suppliments and eat lots of raw foods which are naturally high in anti-oxidants. Cooking food can turn alkaline foods acidic so it’s best to eat as much raw food as possible. Even though fruits are acidic, they turn alkaline in our stomachs. A third way is to get a water ionizer. Ionic water is one of the newest (and possibly most powerful) way to turn the body alkaline.

It’s been said that an alkaline body is the key to curing cancer. Can the prevention of hair loss be just this simple? I wish I had known about this when I just started losing my hair because I would certainly try it. I remember having a lot of acid indigestion when I was younger and my father did too (and guess who else is bald in my family). My older brother never had that problem and he’s got all his hair to this day.

Here are some interesting links:

DHT and Alkaline Diet

Free Radicals

2

» Has anyone here tried going to great extremes to turn his body’s pH
» alkaline? I’m curious whether the answer to stopping hair loss is as
» simple as this. Allow me to explain.
»
» DHT, like all free radicals, is acidic. Therefore, one way to neutralize
» the damaging affects would be to make the body alkaline. Another way is to
» take anti-oxidant suppliments and eat lots of raw foods which are naturally
» high in anti-oxidants. Cooking food can turn alkaline foods acidic so it’s
» best to eat as much raw food as possible. Even though fruits are acidic,
» they turn alkaline in our stomachs. A third way is to get a water ionizer.
» Ionic water is one of the newest (and possibly most powerful) way to turn
» the body alkaline.
»
» It’s been said that an alkaline body is the key to curing cancer. Can the
» prevention of hair loss be just this simple? I wish I had known about this
» when I just started losing my hair because I would certainly try it. I
» remember having a lot of acid indigestion when I was younger and my father
» did too (and guess who else is bald in my family). My older brother never
» had that problem and he’s got all his hair to this day.
»
» Here are some interesting links:
»
» DHT
» and Alkaline Diet
»
» Free
» Radicals

Never heard of this, but sounds like something worth looking into. Thanks.

3

» » Has anyone here tried going to great extremes to turn his body’s pH
» » alkaline? I’m curious whether the answer to stopping hair loss is as
» » simple as this. Allow me to explain.
» »
» » DHT, like all free radicals, is acidic. Therefore, one way to
» neutralize
» » the damaging affects would be to make the body alkaline. Another way is
» to
» » take anti-oxidant suppliments and eat lots of raw foods which are
» naturally
» » high in anti-oxidants. Cooking food can turn alkaline foods acidic so
» it’s
» » best to eat as much raw food as possible. Even though fruits are
» acidic,
» » they turn alkaline in our stomachs. A third way is to get a water
» ionizer.
» » Ionic water is one of the newest (and possibly most powerful) way to
» turn
» » the body alkaline.
» »
» » It’s been said that an alkaline body is the key to curing cancer. Can
» the
» » prevention of hair loss be just this simple? I wish I had known about
» this
» » when I just started losing my hair because I would certainly try it. I
» » remember having a lot of acid indigestion when I was younger and my
» father
» » did too (and guess who else is bald in my family). My older brother
» never
» » had that problem and he’s got all his hair to this day.
» »
» » Here are some interesting links:
» »
» »
» DHT
» » and Alkaline Diet
» »
» » Free
» » Radicals
»
»
» Never heard of this, but sounds like something worth looking into. Thanks.

Ok, I’m going to try it. Do you know of a definitive list of alkaline and acidic foods? I’ve looked on the internet, but I don’t think it’s reliable because am finding inconsistencies. For example, the following foods have been listed as acidic and alkaline depending on what site I go to: bananas, olives, soy, and more which I don’t remember. But that shows the reliability of the internet sources. Also, is there anyway to ionize your water besides buying a multi-hundred dollar unit?

4

A simple way to reduce acidity in your stomach after a meal is the well known sodium bicarbonate. I wonder what difference it would make between eating exclusively alkaline food and immediately neutralizing the acidity of a standard diet… Don’t know.

5

» Ok, I’m going to try it. Do you know of a definitive list of alkaline and
» acidic foods? I’ve looked on the internet, but I don’t think it’s reliable
» because am finding inconsistencies. For example, the following foods have
» been listed as acidic and alkaline depending on what site I go to: bananas,
» olives, soy, and more which I don’t remember. But that shows the
» reliability of the internet sources. Also, is there anyway to ionize your
» water besides buying a multi-hundred dollar unit?

It doesn’t have to be that complicated really. However, there are some things to know. Most raw fruits and vegetables are alkaline. Cooking can turn alkaline foods acidic. Be aware that most bottled drinks are paseurized, which means they’re boiled to kill bacteria. Although fruits are acidic they turn alkaline in our stomachs. Raw nuts and grains contain acids that are extremely bad for you, but soaking and/or sprouting washes those acids out. This can be time consuming (google “soaking nuts” or “sprouting” to get proper techniques). I would minimize nuts and grains in the diet anyway. Beans are very acidic and shouldn’t be eaten raw. And definitely eliminate white sugar and white flour which are very acidic. I suggest making green smoothies (google that for some recipes) in a blender rather than juicing. Fiber is just as essential as anything for health.

The articles I read suggest a diet of about 70%-80% alkaline foods. Just google “the most alkaline foods.” You don’t have to eliminate all acid foods, just reduce them. Minerals are alkalizing but you should get organic minerals from raw fruits and vegetables. Coral calcium is one popular suppliment which turns the body alkaline, but I stopped taking it after learning more about it. Natural foods high in calcium are great for alkalizing the body, but be aware that calcium and magnesium should be in balance which it usually is in natural food form.

Water ionizers are very expensive, but I’ve heard a lot of impressive things about them. At the very least, make sure you DO NOT drink distilled water. It’s like a magnet to minerals since the minerals have all been removed, and it will pull essential minerals right out of your body. Distilled water is extremely acidic. If you’re at an early stage of hair loss, I would invest the money in a good water ionizer (do your research before buying). The money you’ll pay in the future to try to regain the hair you lost will pale in comparison.

There are lot’s of anti-oxidant foods and suppliments. Chocolate is one of the highest (just don’t buy chocolate bars because most chocolate is almost pure cocoa butter and very little chocolate). For that reason, raw chocolate is popular among raw foodists. Grape seed extract is a good anti-oxidant. My original post above had a link to a suppliment that claimed to be the best anti-oxidant suppliment, but I haven’t looked into that one yet. I think the water machine he mentioned might have been an early version of the water ionizer. Vitamin C and E are very good anti-oxidants but I prefer to get my vitamins and minerals from whole foods. All you need is a blender.

It is just my opinion, but I believe turning your body alkaline will stop hair loss dead in it’s tracks. In addition, a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables will give your hair and every cell in your body the nutrition it needs to be at it’s optimal state.

6

Hum… I’m a bit skeptical… Once again, why would some guys develop an over the top propensity to churn out DHT from an acidic food background whereas others would not… Second, this means youcould totally upset your hormonal balance with alkaline foods. I’ think your recipe may decrease hairloss but not stop it in its tracks.

7

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWK010/ItemDetail?n=4294967190+2644

“One of the most powerful alkalizing supplements on earth”

8

» Hum… I’m a bit skeptical… Once again, why would some guys develop an
» over the top propensity to churn out DHT from an acidic food background
» whereas others would not… Second, this means youcould totally upset your
» hormonal balance with alkaline foods. I’ think your recipe may decrease
» hairloss but not stop it in its tracks.

First, we all have DHT not just bald guys or guys with an acidic diet. The point I was trying to make is that bald guys may have DHT that is in a free radical form that can cause damage.

Second, I believe your hormones are already out of balance and this should bring it back into balance. I don’t believe anti-oxidants or an alkaline body will remove DHT (unless you have too much) but rather it will simply neutralize the damaging affects of the DHT. If you understand chemistry you’ll realize that adding or taking away an electron doesn’t change the molecular substance but it does change the way it reacts with other molecules such as the 5 alpha reductase enzyme. Neutralizing free radicals simply gives a molecule the missing electron that it needs, otherwise the free radical takes the electron from the cells in your body which causes damage.

Trust me when I say that a healthy diet will not have negative side effects. What we want is a “healthy” head of hair. Doesn’t it make sense that a “healthy” diet will help achieve that? I’m just pointing out that going to an extreme to undo the acidic diets we’ve all been brought up with is essential. And I wouldn’t consider baking soda to be part of a healthy diet. I’ve been eating healthier and healthier the more I learn over many years and I can honestly say that my hair loss has slowed to the point where I don’t think it’s a problem. But I think that happens to us as we get older anyway and maybe the supply of DHT reduces or the follicles that are susceptible reduces or both. It’s too late for me to grow back any significant amount of hair unless we get a miracle cure which I’m still hoping for. Anyway, I’m not writing this post for myself but rather for all of you.

9

» » Hum… I’m a bit skeptical… Once again, why would some guys develop an
» » over the top propensity to churn out DHT from an acidic food background
» » whereas others would not… Second, this means youcould totally upset
» your
» » hormonal balance with alkaline foods. I’ think your recipe may
» decrease
» » hairloss but not stop it in its tracks.
»
» First, we all have DHT not just bald guys or guys with an acidic diet.
» The point I was trying to make is that bald guys may have DHT that is in a
» free radical form that can cause damage.
»
» Second, I believe your hormones are already out of balance and this should
» bring it back into balance. I don’t believe anti-oxidants or an alkaline
» body will remove DHT (unless you have too much) but rather it will simply
» neutralize the damaging affects of the DHT. If you understand chemistry
» you’ll realize that adding or taking away an electron doesn’t change the
» molecular substance but it does change the way it reacts with other
» molecules such as the 5 alpha reductase enzyme. Neutralizing free radicals
» simply gives a molecule the missing electron that it needs, otherwise the
» free radical takes the electron from the cells in your body which causes
» damage.
»
» Trust me when I say that a healthy diet will not have negative side
» effects. What we want is a “healthy” head of hair. Doesn’t it make sense
» that a “healthy” diet will help achieve that? I’m just pointing out that
» going to an extreme to undo the acidic diets we’ve all been brought up with
» is essential. And I wouldn’t consider baking soda to be part of a healthy
» diet. I’ve been eating healthier and healthier the more I learn over many
» years and I can honestly say that my hair loss has slowed to the point
» where I don’t think it’s a problem. But I think that happens to us as we
» get older anyway and maybe the supply of DHT reduces or the follicles that
» are susceptible reduces or both. It’s too late for me to grow back any
» significant amount of hair unless we get a miracle cure which I’m still
» hoping for. Anyway, I’m not writing this post for myself but rather for
» all of you.

Well I appreciate it, I have a very minimum amount of hair loss being young. I’ve already started eating a lot more alkaline foods and a lot less acid. I would like to acquire and ionizer also.

10

» » » Hum… I’m a bit skeptical… Once again, why would some guys develop
» an
» » » over the top propensity to churn out DHT from an acidic food
» background
» » » whereas others would not… Second, this means youcould totally upset
» » your
» » » hormonal balance with alkaline foods. I’ think your recipe may
» » decrease
» » » hairloss but not stop it in its tracks.
» »
» » First, we all have DHT not just bald guys or guys with an acidic diet.
» » The point I was trying to make is that bald guys may have DHT that is in
» a
» » free radical form that can cause damage.
» »
» » Second, I believe your hormones are already out of balance and this
» should
» » bring it back into balance. I don’t believe anti-oxidants or an
» alkaline
» » body will remove DHT (unless you have too much) but rather it will
» simply
» » neutralize the damaging affects of the DHT. If you understand
» chemistry
» » you’ll realize that adding or taking away an electron doesn’t change
» the
» » molecular substance but it does change the way it reacts with other
» » molecules such as the 5 alpha reductase enzyme. Neutralizing free
» radicals
» » simply gives a molecule the missing electron that it needs, otherwise
» the
» » free radical takes the electron from the cells in your body which
» causes
» » damage.
» »
» » Trust me when I say that a healthy diet will not have negative side
» » effects. What we want is a “healthy” head of hair. Doesn’t it make
» sense
» » that a “healthy” diet will help achieve that? I’m just pointing out
» that
» » going to an extreme to undo the acidic diets we’ve all been brought up
» with
» » is essential. And I wouldn’t consider baking soda to be part of a
» healthy
» » diet. I’ve been eating healthier and healthier the more I learn over
» many
» » years and I can honestly say that my hair loss has slowed to the point
» » where I don’t think it’s a problem. But I think that happens to us as
» we
» » get older anyway and maybe the supply of DHT reduces or the follicles
» that
» » are susceptible reduces or both. It’s too late for me to grow back any
» » significant amount of hair unless we get a miracle cure which I’m still
» » hoping for. Anyway, I’m not writing this post for myself but rather
» for
» » all of you.
»
»
» Well I appreciate it, I have a very minimum amount of hair loss being
» young. I’ve already started eating a lot more alkaline foods and a lot less
» acid. I would like to acquire and ionizer also.

Couldn’t I just as effectively take a tums after every acidy meal to alkalize my body?

11

Hair diet

Low on Sugar and Refined carbs…these eat B vitamins during digestion, and you need a lot of B vitamins for healthy hair, look at the super hair vitamins they are LOADED with Bs…Biotin is also a B

Low on red meat, this is bad for hair

Low on Salt or sodium, this accumulates in the tissues around the base of the hair follicles and causes excessive shedding

Low on animal protein, ie eggs dairy, meat, etc, …this will cause uric acid to accumulate in the blood and cause sometimes huge shedding, try to keep animal protein below 30gm per day, vegetable protein is ok

12

» » Well I appreciate it, I have a very minimum amount of hair loss being
» » young. I’ve already started eating a lot more alkaline foods and a lot
» less
» » acid. I would like to acquire and ionizer also.
»
»
» Couldn’t I just as effectively take a tums after every acidy meal to
» alkalize my body?

As with baking soda, I wouldn’t consider tums to be part of a healthy diet. Although, I remember one of the major antacid products had calcium in it. That’s because calcium is excellent at neutralizing acids in your stomach and in your entire body.

Eating an alkaline diet is an excellent start. But remember that you’re trying to put out a fire. In other words, you should be eating as much alkaline foods as you can until your system shows a change towards an alkaline pH. You can measure your pH with your saliva and a pH strip. Most health stores carry pH strips now days because it’s well known that there are many health benefits to having an alkaline pH. Making green smoothies is probably the easiest way to eat lots of alkaline fruits and vegetables. Just google “green smoothie recipes”.

I would also include as many anti-oxidant suppliments as possible too. Many fruits and vegetables have anti-oxidants in them naturally, but suppliments allow you to take them in a concentrated form. Vitamin C and E are also great anti-oxidants. Just google “best anti-oxidant”. Once your pH is alkaline you can probably get by without the suppliments.

13

» Hair diet
»
» Low on Sugar and Refined carbs…these eat B vitamins during
» digestion, and you need a lot of B vitamins for healthy hair, look at the
» super hair vitamins they are LOADED with Bs…Biotin is also a B
»
» Low on red meat, this is bad for hair
»
» Low on Salt or sodium, this accumulates in the tissues around the base of
» the hair follicles and causes excessive shedding
»
» Low on animal protein, ie eggs dairy, meat, etc, …this will cause
» uric acid to accumulate in the blood and cause sometimes huge shedding, try
» to keep animal protein below 30gm per day, vegetable protein is ok

All these foods are extremely acidic too. That’s why animal protein should always be balanced with raw vegetables to neutralize the acids. Refined sugar, carbs and table salt should be avoided altogether. I remember putting salt on hard boiled eggs and it would give me heartburn (stomach acid) more than anything else. Canned (or bottled) tomato sauces always seemed to give me heartburn as well.

14

» » Hair diet
» »
» » Low on Sugar and Refined carbs…these eat B vitamins during
» » digestion, and you need a lot of B vitamins for healthy hair, look at
» the
» » super hair vitamins they are LOADED with Bs…Biotin is also a B
» »
» » Low on red meat, this is bad for hair
» »
» » Low on Salt or sodium, this accumulates in the tissues around the base
» of
» » the hair follicles and causes excessive shedding
» »
» » Low on animal protein, ie eggs dairy, meat, etc, …this will
» cause
» » uric acid to accumulate in the blood and cause sometimes huge shedding,
» try
» » to keep animal protein below 30gm per day, vegetable protein is ok
»
» All these foods are extremely acidic too. That’s why animal protein
» should always be balanced with raw vegetables to neutralize the acids.
» Refined sugar, carbs and table salt should be avoided altogether. I
» remember putting salt on hard boiled eggs and it would give me heartburn
» (stomach acid) more than anything else. Canned (or bottled) tomato sauces
» always seemed to give me heartburn as well.

This knowledge was gained through research also trial and error on my self, when i was taking no dht blockers and only relying on diet and vitamins etc

i agree with a lot of what you say but i am traditionally somewhat of a junkfood eater, and i try to avoid red meat etc, and take my vitamins etc,

despite my still eating a lot of bad things my hair is doing well now, but without my vitamins and dht blockers i would be really in trouble

15

» This knowledge was gained through research also trial and error on my
» self, when i was taking no dht blockers and only relying on diet and
» vitamins etc
»
» i agree with a lot of what you say but i am traditionally somewhat of a
» junkfood eater, and i try to avoid red meat etc, and take my vitamins etc,
»
»
» despite my still eating a lot of bad things my hair is doing well now, but
» without my vitamins and dht blockers i would be really in trouble

DHT is very much like heavy metals. They bind to our cells because they’re positively charged. An alkaline diet helps to neutralize the charge and therefore will release them and allow our bodies to eliminate them. Most scientific literature will tell you that our bodies can never get rid of heavy metals, but now there is scientific proof that heavy metals can be eliminated by alkaline foods such as parsley, green algae and wheat grass juice.

http://www.jonbarron.org/detoxing-health-program/10-24-2005_2.php

Because cilantro changes the electric charge on intracellular deposits of heavy metals to a neutral state, which relaxes their tight bond to body tissue, freeing them up to be flushed from the body. Studies have shown that levels of mercury, lead, and aluminum in the urine increase significantly after consuming large amounts of cilantro. It seems that cilantro changes the electric charge on intracellular deposits of heavy metals to a neutral state, which relaxes their tight bond to body tissue, freeing them up to be flushed from the body – exactly the results seen in the Clinical Study.

Once free, the next step is to actually facilitate the removal of the metals from the body. And here’s where chlorella comes in. Chlorella possesses the capacity to absorb heavy metals. This property has been exploited as a means for treating industrial effluent that contains heavy metals before it is discharged, and to recover the bio-available fraction of the metal in the process. In studies undertaken in Germany, high doses of chlorella have been found to be very effective in eliminating heavy metals from the body – from the brain, intestinal wall, muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, and bone.

Note that heavy metals alone can cause hair loss!

It also makes sense that you find minerals to be valuable in preventing your hair loss. Minerals are the reason why alkaline foods are alkaline because they hold the extra electrons that are missing in the free radical acids. The answer seems very simple to me and I wish I had this information when I first started to notice my hair loss. I’d be a lot healthier today and probably still have all or most of my hair.

16

» » This knowledge was gained through research also trial and error on my
» » self, when i was taking no dht blockers and only relying on diet and
» » vitamins etc
» »
» » i agree with a lot of what you say but i am traditionally somewhat of a
» » junkfood eater, and i try to avoid red meat etc, and take my vitamins
» etc,
» »
» »
» » despite my still eating a lot of bad things my hair is doing well now,
» but
» » without my vitamins and dht blockers i would be really in trouble
»
» DHT is very much like heavy metals. They bind to our cells because
» they’re positively charged. An alkaline diet helps to neutralize the
» charge and therefore will release them and allow our bodies to eliminate
» them. Most scientific literature will tell you that our bodies can never
» get rid of heavy metals, but now there is scientific proof that heavy
» metals can be eliminated by alkaline foods such as parsley, green algae and
» wheat grass juice.
»
» http://www.jonbarron.org/detoxing-health-program/10-24-2005_2.php
»
» Because cilantro changes the electric charge on intracellular deposits
» of heavy metals to a neutral state, which relaxes their tight bond to body
» tissue, freeing them up to be flushed from the body. Studies have shown
» that levels of mercury, lead, and aluminum in the urine increase
» significantly after consuming large amounts of cilantro. It seems that
» cilantro changes the electric charge on intracellular deposits of heavy
» metals to a neutral state, which relaxes their tight bond to body tissue,
» freeing them up to be flushed from the body – exactly the results seen in
» the Clinical Study.
»
» Once free, the next step is to actually facilitate the removal of the
» metals from the body. And here’s where chlorella comes in. Chlorella
» possesses the capacity to absorb heavy metals. This property has been
» exploited as a means for treating industrial effluent that contains heavy
» metals before it is discharged, and to recover the bio-available fraction
» of the metal in the process. In studies undertaken in Germany, high doses
» of chlorella have been found to be very effective in eliminating heavy
» metals from the body – from the brain, intestinal wall, muscles, ligaments,
» connective tissue, and bone.
»
» Note that heavy metals alone can cause hair loss!
»
» It also makes sense that you find minerals to be valuable in preventing
» your hair loss. Minerals are the reason why alkaline foods are alkaline
» because they hold the extra electrons that are missing in the free radical
» acids. The answer seems very simple to me and I wish I had this
» information when I first started to notice my hair loss. I’d be a lot
» healthier today and probably still have all or most of my hair.

Ok, granted Tums is not a health food, but will it still get the job done? Will it deacidify the body.

17

» Ok, granted Tums is not a health food, but will it still get the job done?
» Will it deacidify the body.

The simple answer is no. The reason is because it would have to neutralize the HCL acids in your stomach before it could begin working on your blood, which would impair your digestion. Read the article and they specifically mention an experiment where women took large amounts of baking soda, and it mentions how Tums would have the same affect of impairing your digestion. According to this article, your pancreas is responsible for turning your blood alkaline from the alkaline foods you eat (fruits and vegetables). And this is due to the presence of alkaline minerals.

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:yCbydVKuyo0J:www.aginghealthier.com/pdfs/AcidAlkalineMysterySolved.pdf+tums+turn+blood+alkaline&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

  1. THE ACID/ALKALINE CHEMISTRY OF DIGESTION The words “stomach acid” have a negative connotation for many because of the continual barrage of media advertising for products that “neutralize excess stomach acid” that supposedly causes “acid indigestion” and “heartburn”. The image that these phrases conjure up is that the vast majority of mankind is in imminent danger from acids in their stomach, and should run, not walk, to the nearest drug store for Tums, Rolaids, Alkaseltzer, Bromoseltzer, Mylanta, Brioschi, Digel, or any of a dozen other brands of antacid. This billion dollar industry is based on myth, and outright distortion of facts. It has done a great disservice to Americans by confusing the important issue of proper digestion. In addition, the ads do not state that there are significant health risks involved with long term use of such products. The advertising message, stated or implied, is that when we have an upset stomach, it is due to excess acid production in the stomach. This is false. In most cases, the characteristic “sourness” is due to fermentation of foods in the stomach due to maldigestion, a common result of poor food selection, overeating, eating too fast, or insufficient hydrochloric acid production. In fact, research has shown that where abnormal acid production exists, it is far more often too little than too much, especially in elderly individuals!1Antacids then, can help with the acidic by-products of fermentation, but may actually increase the problem in the long run. They may also create new problems such as malnutrition. Most minerals, vitamins B12 and folic acid all require adequate stomach acid for absorption, and chronic antacid use can dramatically reduce the availability of these nutrients.2The facts: Cells in the lining of the stomach secrete hydrochloric acid (HCL). This acid is strong enough to cause a slight burning sensation if placed on your skin, but your stomach is protected by mucus secreted by other cells. HCL has two important functions. It acts directly upon the food (primarily protein), beginning the breakdown process called hydrolysis, and it facilitates the activity of another important enzyme called pepsin. Without sufficient HCL, pepsin is inactive, and maldigestion results. The normal pH (acid level) of the stomach is between 1.5 and 2.5 (very acid). This is neutralized, to a certain extent, by the food we eat; but the stomach is able to re-acidify during the meal to complete its digestive function. By the time our food has been reduced to a semi-liquid mass called chyme, its pH is far less acidic (in the range of 3.5 to 5.0) and it is ready to pass into the small intestine. Digestion continues in the small intestine by the action of enzymes secreted by the pancreas, gallbladder, and intestinal wall. But a fundamental difference exists here. Whereas the initial stages of digestion in the stomach required a highly acidic medium, the latter stages require an alkaline environment. This is because 90% of all absorptiontakes place in the small intestine, and absorptive tissue is extremely sensitive. This rapid and dramatic change in pH to alkaline is accomplished by the pancreas, which secretes the necessary quantity of bicarbonate. In fact, the pancreas may secrete, on a daily basis, the equivalent of 6 Alkaseltzer tablets, or half a roll of Tums. Digestion is thus a complex and delicate process, involving feedback mechanisms between stomach and pancreas, to maintain optimal acid/alkaline levels.

Page 4
acid-alk document # 108.22 page 4 of 5 Excessive use of any medicine which alters this balance is potentially harmful. I am not only speaking about the multitude of antacids that are literally a household item in America, but also the variety of hydrochloric acid products found in health food stores. ACID FORMING AND ALKALINE FORMING FOODS Ready? The intricate process of metabolism is the story of what ultimately happens to food after it’s digested and absorbed. In the final stages of energy production, you have to realize that the mineral content of food is not oxidized (you can’t burn rocks, right?). This, therefore, leaves a residue, or ash that is either alkaline, acid, or neutral, depending on the mix of minerals found in the food. Hang in there. Sulfur, phosphorus and iron form acid ions in the body. These minerals are found primarily in proteins, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and most nuts. These foods are therefore called ACID FORMING FOODS. Soft drinks, the bane of the American diet, contain no protein, but lots of phosphate and thus are very acid forming. Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium form alkaline reactions in the body. These minerals are found primarily in fruits and vegetables, and so these foods are called ALKALINE FORMING FOODS. It’s all a matter of balance. For example, milk is a high protein food, rich in sulfur and phosphorus, so you would expect it to be acid forming. But it contains enough calcium (alkaline) to balance out to about neutral. To complete the picture, we find that the simple sugars and fats don’t count, because they don’t contain minerals of either category. Ta Da! How to use this information For decades, the alkaline or acid-forming properties of one’s diet was thought to be important only for kidney stone patients. An alkaline ash diet, emphasizing fruits and vegetables, produces more alkaline urine, and was used to treat uric acid stones. The acid ash diet, emphasizing meat, fish and grains, was used with oxalate stones. We now know, however, that there are significant adverse consequences to anyone consuming the Standard American Diet (abbreviated SAD) because it is extremely acid-forming. Food consumption surveys reveal that Americans are now consuming more soft drinks than any other beverage including water. Add coffee to that (including decaf) and you have a metabolic disaster in the making. And that’s only the beginning. Americans consume meat and poultry products at an average of two meals a day every day, and the grains we consume have all had the alkaline minerals refined away. At the same time, consumption of alkaline-forming vegetables and fruit is at an all-time low. The result is widespread acidosis that accelerates catabolic damage and impairs anabolic repair processes. Perhaps the best example of this is the effect of acid / alkaline factors on bone health. It has long been known that high protein diets increase risk for osteoporosis. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain this, but it now appears that a high intake of acid-forming foods (primarily meat, poultry, and eggs) over the course of a lifetime, may accelerate the loss of alkaline minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium) from the bones. In other words, the body may deplete one system (the skeleton) in order to maintain balance in another more sensitive system (the blood).

Page 5
acid-alk document # 108.22 page 5 of 5 In support of this theory, the New England Journal of Medicine reported a study in which postmenopausal women were given an alkalinizing agent (potassium bicarbonate) to neutralize the acid produced by a high protein diet. Researchers were able to see significant improvements in the bone retention of calcium and phosphorus in a little over two weeks.3Does this mean that we should all be taking potassium bicarbonate supplements? Not at all; many of the women in the study had digestive problems as a result of the bicarbonate therapy, and antacids have been shown to seriously reduce nutrient bioavailability.4,5A more sensible conclusion is that we should eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables.In support of this important dietary shift, Oasis has created MetaGreens™. MetaGreens contains a extraordinary mix of land and sea vegetables, all of which are rich in alkaline minerals. Importantly, these greens are pesticide-free, grown on high-nutrient soil that has never been chemically fertilized. Harvested at the peak of nutrient value, these ingredients are processed by low-temperature dehydration to retain all the raw food goodness and manufactured in small batches to maximize freshness. The result is a comprehensive, high-potency vegetable powder that mixes easily in water to produce a health tonic with remarkable anabolic properties. As part of a sensible diet and a lifestyle that includes regular exercise, MetaGreens can help restore the alkaline balance that is essential for optimum health and longevity.

REFERENCES 1. Capper WM, et al. Gallstones, gastric secretion and flatulent dyspepsia. Lancet 1967;1:413. 2. Russell R, Golner B, Krasinski S: Effect of acid lowering agents on folic acid absorption. Fed Proc 1987;46:1159-1164. 3. Sebastian A, et al. Improved mineral balance and skeletal metabolism in postmenopausal women treated with potassium bicarbonate. New Eng J Med 1994; 330:1776-81. 4. Effect of antacid and H2 receptor antagonists on the intestinal absorption of folic acid. Russell, R. M., Golner, B. B., Krasinski, S. D., Sadowski, J. A., Suter, P. M., Braun, C. L., Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 1988 Oct;112(4):458-463. 5. Antacid effects on the gastrointestinal absorption of riboflavin. Feldman, S., Hedrick, W., Journal of Pharmacologic Science 1983 Feb;72(2):121-123.

18

» » Ok, granted Tums is not a health food, but will it still get the job
» done?
» » Will it deacidify the body.
»
» The simple answer is no. The reason is because it would have to
» neutralize the HCL acids in your stomach before it could begin working on
» your blood, which would impair your digestion. Read the article and they
» specifically mention an experiment where women took large amounts of baking
» soda, and it mentions how Tums would have the same affect of impairing your
» digestion. According to this article, your pancreas is responsible for
» turning your blood alkaline from the alkaline foods you eat (fruits and
» vegetables). And this is due to the presence of alkaline minerals.
»
»
» http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:yCbydVKuyo0J:www.aginghealthier.com/pdfs/AcidAlkalineMysterySolved.pdf+tums+turn+blood+alkaline&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
»
»
» 3. THE ACID/ALKALINE CHEMISTRY OF DIGESTION The words “stomach acid” have
» a negative connotation for many because of the continual barrage of media
» advertising for products that “neutralize excess stomach acid” that
» supposedly causes “acid indigestion” and “heartburn”. The image that these
» phrases conjure up is that the vast majority of mankind is in imminent
» danger from acids in their stomach, and should run, not walk, to the
» nearest drug store for Tums, Rolaids, Alkaseltzer, Bromoseltzer, Mylanta,
» Brioschi, Digel, or any of a dozen other brands of antacid. This billion
» dollar industry is based on myth, and outright distortion of facts. It has
» done a great disservice to Americans by confusing the important issue of
» proper digestion. In addition, the ads do not state that there are
» significant health risks involved with long term use of such products. The
» advertising message, stated or implied, is that when we have an upset
» stomach, it is due to excess acid production in the stomach. This is false.
» In most cases, the characteristic “sourness” is due to fermentation of
» foods in the stomach due to maldigestion, a common result of poor food
» selection, overeating, eating too fast, or insufficient hydrochloric acid
» production. In fact, research has shown that where abnormal acid production
» exists, it is far more often too little than too much, especially in
» elderly individuals!1Antacids then, can help with the acidic by-products of
» fermentation, but may actually increase the problem in the long run. They
» may also create new problems such as malnutrition. Most minerals, vitamins
» B12 and folic acid all require adequate stomach acid for absorption, and
» chronic antacid use can dramatically reduce the availability of these
» nutrients.2The facts: Cells in the lining of the stomach secrete
» hydrochloric acid (HCL). This acid is strong enough to cause a slight
» burning sensation if placed on your skin, but your stomach is protected by
» mucus secreted by other cells. HCL has two important functions. It acts
» directly upon the food (primarily protein), beginning the breakdown process
» called hydrolysis, and it facilitates the activity of another important
» enzyme called pepsin. Without sufficient HCL, pepsin is inactive, and
» maldigestion results. The normal pH (acid level) of the stomach is between
» 1.5 and 2.5 (very acid). This is neutralized, to a certain extent, by the
» food we eat; but the stomach is able to re-acidify during the meal to
» complete its digestive function. By the time our food has been reduced to a
» semi-liquid mass called chyme, its pH is far less acidic (in the range of
» 3.5 to 5.0) and it is ready to pass into the small intestine. Digestion
» continues in the small intestine by the action of enzymes secreted by the
» pancreas, gallbladder, and intestinal wall. But a fundamental difference
» exists here. Whereas the initial stages of digestion in the stomach
» required a highly acidic medium, the latter stages require an alkaline
» environment. This is because 90% of all absorptiontakes place in the small
» intestine, and absorptive tissue is extremely sensitive. This rapid and
» dramatic change in pH to alkaline is accomplished by the pancreas, which
» secretes the necessary quantity of bicarbonate. In fact, the pancreas may
» secrete, on a daily basis, the equivalent of 6 Alkaseltzer tablets, or half
» a roll of Tums. Digestion is thus a complex and delicate process, involving
» feedback mechanisms between stomach and pancreas, to maintain optimal
» acid/alkaline levels.
» --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
» Page 4
» acid-alk document # 108.22 page 4 of 5 Excessive use of any medicine which
» alters this balance is potentially harmful. I am not only speaking about
» the multitude of antacids that are literally a household item in America,
» but also the variety of hydrochloric acid products found in health food
» stores. ACID FORMING AND ALKALINE FORMING FOODS Ready? The intricate
» process of metabolism is the story of what ultimately happens to food after
» it’s digested and absorbed. In the final stages of energy production, you
» have to realize that the mineral content of food is not oxidized (you can’t
» burn rocks, right?). This, therefore, leaves a residue, or ash that is
» either alkaline, acid, or neutral, depending on the mix of minerals found
» in the food. Hang in there. Sulfur, phosphorus and iron form acid ions in
» the body. These minerals are found primarily in proteins, such as meat,
» fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and most nuts. These foods are therefore
» called ACID FORMING FOODS. Soft drinks, the bane of the American diet,
» contain no protein, but lots of phosphate and thus are very acid forming.
» Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium form alkaline reactions in the
» body. These minerals are found primarily in fruits and vegetables, and so
» these foods are called ALKALINE FORMING FOODS. It’s all a matter of
» balance. For example, milk is a high protein food, rich in sulfur and
» phosphorus, so you would expect it to be acid forming. But it contains
» enough calcium (alkaline) to balance out to about neutral. To complete the
» picture, we find that the simple sugars and fats don’t count, because they
» don’t contain minerals of either category. Ta Da! How to use this
» information For decades, the alkaline or acid-forming properties of one’s
» diet was thought to be important only for kidney stone patients. An
» alkaline ash diet, emphasizing fruits and vegetables, produces more
» alkaline urine, and was used to treat uric acid stones. The acid ash diet,
» emphasizing meat, fish and grains, was used with oxalate stones. We now
» know, however, that there are significant adverse consequences to anyone
» consuming the Standard American Diet (abbreviated SAD) because it is
» extremely acid-forming. Food consumption surveys reveal that Americans are
» now consuming more soft drinks than any other beverage including water. Add
» coffee to that (including decaf) and you have a metabolic disaster in the
» making. And that’s only the beginning. Americans consume meat and poultry
» products at an average of two meals a day every day, and the grains we
» consume have all had the alkaline minerals refined away. At the same time,
» consumption of alkaline-forming vegetables and fruit is at an all-time low.
» The result is widespread acidosis that accelerates catabolic damage and
» impairs anabolic repair processes. Perhaps the best example of this is the
» effect of acid / alkaline factors on bone health. It has long been known
» that high protein diets increase risk for osteoporosis. Numerous theories
» have been proposed to explain this, but it now appears that a high intake
» of acid-forming foods (primarily meat, poultry, and eggs) over the course
» of a lifetime, may accelerate the loss of alkaline minerals (calcium,
» magnesium, potassium) from the bones. In other words, the body may deplete
» one system (the skeleton) in order to maintain balance in another more
» sensitive system (the blood).
» --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
» Page 5
» acid-alk document # 108.22 page 5 of 5 In support of this theory, the New
» England Journal of Medicine reported a study in which postmenopausal women
» were given an alkalinizing agent (potassium bicarbonate) to neutralize the
» acid produced by a high protein diet. Researchers were able to see
» significant improvements in the bone retention of calcium and phosphorus in
» a little over two weeks.3Does this mean that we should all be taking
» potassium bicarbonate supplements? Not at all; many of the women in the
» study had digestive problems as a result of the bicarbonate therapy, and
» antacids have been shown to seriously reduce nutrient bioavailability.4,5A
» more sensible conclusion is that we should eat less meat and more fruits
» and vegetables.In support of this important dietary shift, Oasis has
» created MetaGreens™. MetaGreens contains a extraordinary mix of land and
» sea vegetables, all of which are rich in alkaline minerals. Importantly,
» these greens are pesticide-free, grown on high-nutrient soil that has never
» been chemically fertilized. Harvested at the peak of nutrient value, these
» ingredients are processed by low-temperature dehydration to retain all the
» raw food goodness and manufactured in small batches to maximize freshness.
» The result is a comprehensive, high-potency vegetable powder that mixes
» easily in water to produce a health tonic with remarkable anabolic
» properties. As part of a sensible diet and a lifestyle that includes
» regular exercise, MetaGreens can help restore the alkaline balance that is
» essential for optimum health and longevity.
»
» REFERENCES 1. Capper WM, et al. Gallstones, gastric secretion and
» flatulent dyspepsia. Lancet 1967;1:413. 2. Russell R, Golner B, Krasinski
» S: Effect of acid lowering agents on folic acid absorption. Fed Proc
» 1987;46:1159-1164. 3. Sebastian A, et al. Improved mineral balance and
» skeletal metabolism in postmenopausal women treated with potassium
» bicarbonate. New Eng J Med 1994; 330:1776-81. 4. Effect of antacid and H2
» receptor antagonists on the intestinal absorption of folic acid. Russell,
» R. M., Golner, B. B., Krasinski, S. D., Sadowski, J. A., Suter, P. M.,
» Braun, C. L., Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 1988
» Oct;112(4):458-463. 5. Antacid effects on the gastrointestinal absorption
» of riboflavin. Feldman, S., Hedrick, W., Journal of Pharmacologic Science
» 1983 Feb;72(2):121-123.

So would a Brita filter actually be bad for hair then? It removes bad things from tap, but good things as well like calcium. The water is so pure now that as it goes through the body, it will rob the body of minerals it lost to the Brita filter. Is this true?