Food acid
The human body has two essential components that enable it to dispose of waste acid resulting from its operation: it is the kidneys and lungs.
* Some acids are difficult to remove, and that the kidney will do so. This work is long and difficult and disposal is limited in quantity. We must therefore avoid overloading.
* Other acids are more easily removed, as they are transformed into a substance which has the property to “evaporate”. This form of disposal is restricted to the lungs. It is a job much easier than the previous one, which is coupled with respiration.
It is important to understand these mechanisms because it is an important key in practice:
* By the lungs are excreted acids called “volatile”, mainly from the degradation of plant proteins.
* Fixed acids “non volatile”, mainly from the degradation of animal proteins are eliminated by the kidneys.
Practical consequences: food meat is acidifying a vegetarian diet.
What foods are acid-producing?
The acid-producing foods are those containing substances whose catabolism leads to the formation of acid:
* This is the case of proteins (providing sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, uric acid …). There is no question as to delete amino acids that are essential to provide proper functioning of the body but it is important to ensure the amounts absorbed (those provided by our current diet are far too important).
o amino acids from animal protein (meat, chicken, fish …) contain strong acids (sulfuric and phosphoric) and purine providing themselves acidic compounds (uric acid). They are highly acidifying.
o amino acids of plant proteins, including grains (whether complete or refined) are more easily eliminated (the lungs).
* Coffee (caffeine), black tea (caffeine) and cocoa (theobromine) are rich in purine, and are classified as acidifying foods.
* It is the same for white sugar, bleached wheat flour and its derivatives, fats processing …
What is the effect of acid feeding on the gut?
Food acid causes secretion of mucus by the intestinal wall to cause the mucoid plaque.
In summary: acidifying foods include:
* The white sugar.
* The white flour and derivatives: white bread, biscuits, pastries, pasta, semolina …
* Refined oils.
* Black tea, alcohol, coffee.
* Meat, fish, poultry and game.
* The meat, liver, kidney, offal, brains.
* Eggs.
* Dairy products (including strong cheeses and fermented).
* The foods already prepared or preserved.
Tags: alkaline, Diet, food
