What is ph and why should you know about it? The body's acid-base balance (acid-base balance) is the physical basis of human health! Maintaining pH

From the book: Randy Holmes-Farley: Reef Alchemy

The pH value in a reef aquarium greatly affects the vitality and condition of the organisms that call the aquarium their home. Unfortunately, there are many factors that push pH beyond the optimal range for many organisms kept together in saltwater aquariums. For example, a pH value that is too low makes it difficult for calcifying organisms to form calcium carbonate skeletons. At a low enough pH, ​​these skeletons actually begin to dissolve. For this reason, aquarists should monitor this parameter. Such an observation is often the first step towards solving various pH-related issues. Many reef aquarists rank low pH as one of the most annoying problems associated with maintaining suitable aquarium conditions. This article will take a closer look at the reasons that can lead to low pH values ​​in many aquariums and outline the best ways to increase it. The problems associated with high pH were briefly discussed in my previous article.

This chapter should help aquarists understand what the term “pH” means. Those who only want to solve the problem of low pH can skip directly to the bold text at the end of this section.

There are many different definitions of pH as it applies to seawater. In the system used by most aquarists (National Bureau of Standards - NBS) pH is determined according to equation 1:

1. pH = -log a H

where a H is the "activity" of hydrogen ions (H+, also called protons) in solution. Activity is the way chemists measure “free” concentrations, and pH is a measure of the number of hydrogen ions in a solution. Hydrogen ions in sea water are partly in a free state (in fact, they are not free, but join water molecules, forming complexes - for example, H 3 O + ), and some are complexed with other ions (which is why chemists use the term “activity” instead of concentration). In particular, H+ ions in ordinary seawater are present as free H+ ions (about 73% of the total), as H+ /SO4 - ion pairs (about 25% of the total H+ content), and as pairs H + /F - ions (a small fraction of the total H +). Potency issues also affect calibration buffers, and this is one reason why different pH scales and calibration buffers are used for seawater. For us aquarists, however, all these other standards have little relevance: in the aquarium hobby, it is customary to deal exclusively with the standard NBS (US National Bureau of Standards) system.

To understand the main problems associated with the pH value in saltwater aquariums, we can think of the pH value as being directly related to the H+ concentration:

2. pH = - gH log

Where gH– constant (activity coefficient), which, in most cases, can be ignored ( gH= 1 in pure fresh water and ~0.72 in sea water). Essentially, all aquarists need to understand is that pH is a measure of the number of hydrogen ions in a solution, and that the pH scale is logarithmic. This means that at pH 6 there are 10 times more ions H+ than at pH 7, and that at pH 6 there are 100 times more H+ ions than at pH 8. Therefore, a small change in pH can be associated with a large change in concentrationH+ ions in water.

Why control pH?

There are several reasons why aquarists would like to control the pH in saltwater aquariums. One of them is that aquatic organisms grow actively only in a certain pH range. Naturally, this range varies from organism to organism, and the concept of an "optimal" range may not be entirely correct for an aquarium containing many different species. Even natural seawater (pH = 8.0-8.3) will not be optimal for all creatures living in it. However, more than eighty years ago it was recognized that pH values ​​that differ greatly from those found in natural seawater (eg below pH 7.3) are a source of stress for fish 1 . We now have more information about the optimal pH ranges for many organisms, but unfortunately this data is not sufficient to enable aquarists to find the optimal pH for most of the organisms in which they are interested. 2-6 In addition, pH effects can be indirect. For example, it is known that the toxicity of copper and nickel to some organisms present in our aquariums (such as mysids and heteropods) depends on the pH 7 value. As a result, the pH ranges that will be acceptable in one aquarium may differ from those that are acceptable in another, even if the same organisms live in those aquariums.

However, there are fundamental processes occurring in many marine organisms that are severely affected by changes in pH. One of them is calcification (hardening). Calcification in corals is known to be pH dependent and decreases as the pH drops. 8-9 Using such factors, coupled with the experience gained by many hobbyists, we can develop some guidelines regarding acceptable pH ranges and maximum values ​​for reef aquariums.

The acceptable pH range for reef aquariums is an opinion rather than a specific fact, and will naturally vary depending on who is giving the opinion. And this range can be quite different from the “optimal” range. However, compared to the acceptable range, it is much more difficult to justify what the “optimal range” is. I suggest that a natural seawater pH of around 8.2 is appropriate, but a reef aquarium can live in a wider range of pH values. I believe that a pH range of 7.8 to 8.5 is acceptable for reef aquariums, with some allowances, as follows:

• The buffering capacity (KH) should be at least 2.5 mEq/L, and preferably higher, especially towards the lower end of the pH range. This point is based in part on the fact that many reef aquariums are kept quite effectively in the pH range of 7.8-8.0. However, most of the best of these aquariums contain a calcium reactor, which, although it tends to lower the pH, still maintains a fairly high KH level (3 mEq/L and above). In this case, any problems associated with calcination at low pH values ​​can be compensated for by increasing alkalinity. Low pH primarily affects calcifying organisms, making it difficult to obtain enough carbonate to form skeletons. Increasing buffering mitigates this problem for reasons that will be discussed in detail later in this article.
• Calcium levels should be at least 400 ppm. As the pH decreases, calcification becomes more difficult; it also becomes more difficult as calcium levels decrease. It is highly undesirable to simultaneously have extremely low values ​​of pH, alkalinity and calcium content. Thus, if the pH is in the low range and cannot easily be changed (such as in an aquarium with a CaCO3/CO2 calcium reactor), you should at least provide an acceptable calcium level (~400-450 ppm). Moreover, one of the problems that arises at high pH values ​​(above 8.2) is abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate, leading to a drop in calcium and alkalinity and clogging of heaters and pump impellers. If the aquarium pH is 8.4 or higher (as is often the case in aquariums using Ca(OH)2 lime water - kalkwasser), due care should be taken to maintain proper calcium levels and buffering. This means that these levels should be neither too low to cause biological calcification nor too high to cause excessive abiotic deposition on the equipment.

Carbon dioxide and pH

The pH value in a saltwater aquarium is closely related to the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. It is also associated with buffering. Indeed, if the water is completely aerated (that is, in complete equilibrium with ordinary air), then the pH value is precisely determined by the alkalinity of the carbonate. The higher the alkalinity, the higher the pH. Figure 1 shows the relationship for seawater in equilibrium with normal air (350 ppm carbon dioxide) and water in equilibrium with air containing excess carbon dioxide that may be present in the home (1000 ppm). It is obvious that with any buffering, with an increase in the carbon dioxide content, the pH value will decrease. Excess carbon dioxide is what causes low pH in reef aquariums.

Figure 1. Relationship between buffering capacity and pH in seawater in equilibrium with air containing normal and elevated amounts of carbon dioxide.

The green dot represents natural seawater in equilibrium with normal air, and the curves represent the result that would be obtained with increased or decreased buffering.

Simplified, this relationship can be understood as follows: Carbon dioxide is present in the air in the form of CO 2. When dissolved in water, it turns into carbonic acid H 2 CO 3:

3. CO 2 + H 2 O -> H 2 CO 3

The amount of H 2 CO 3 in water (when it is well aerated) does not depend on pH, but only on the carbon dioxide content of the air (and, to some extent, on other factors such as temperature and salinity). In non-air balanced systems, which include many reef aquariums, these aquariums can be considered "as if" they were in equilibrium with a certain amount of CO 2 in the air, which is effectively determined by the amount of H 2 CO 3 in the water. Therefore, if there is "excess CO2" in the aquarium (or the air with which it is equilibrated), this means that there is excess H2CO3 present in the aquarium, which in turn means that the pH value should drop like this shown below.

Sea water contains a mixture of carbonic acid, bicarbonate and carbonate, which are always in equilibrium:

4. H 2 CO 3 -> H + + HCO 3 - -> 2H + + CO 3 --

Equation 4 shows that if there is an excess of H 2 CO 3 in the aquarium, some of it dissociates (breaks into pieces), turning into H + , HCO 3 - and CO 3 - ions. As a result of excess H +, the pH value will be lower than if it had less CO 2 /H 2 CO 3. If there is a large excess of CO 2 in seawater, the pH value can drop to very low values ​​(pH 4-6). Equilibrating the water in my aquarium with carbon dioxide at 1 atmosphere of pressure resulted in a pH drop to 5.0, although it is unlikely that such a low value would be achieved in a reef aquarium since the soil and coral carcasses therein would act as a buffer to the dissolution. In my aquarium, water equilibrated with carbon dioxide at 1 atmosphere of pressure, in the presence of excess solid aragonite (a crystalline form of calcium carbonate, i.e. the same form found in coral carcasses), resulted in a pH value of 5.8.

If the buffering capacity is 3 mEq/L (8.4 dKH) and the pH is 7.93, this means that there is excess CO 2 in the aquarium (otherwise the pH value should be slightly higher than 8.3).

Figures 2-5 graphically show some ways to increase pH in aquariums. Ways to increase pH include:

• Saturating the water with "regular air", displacing excess carbon dioxide, will shift the aquarium's characteristics along the green line (Figure 3), causing the pH value to rise slightly above pH 8.3. The same result would occur if the excess carbon dioxide was absorbed as a result of the growth of macro algae. However, it rarely happens that such a phenomenon could lead to a shift of the characteristic along the green line, to a value above pH 8.3.
• Increasing Buffer: Even if the aquarium continues to have excess CO2, increasing buffering will cause the pH along the green line (Figure 4) to increase to 8.1 for a buffer of 4.5 mEq/L (12.6 dKH).
• The use of lime water (kalkwasser) to reduce excess CO 2 to normal levels, as well as to increase buffering (up to 4 mEq/L), can lead to a shift of the curve along the green line (Figure 5), which will lead to an increase in pH above 8.4 and buffer capacity up to 4 meq/l (11.2 dKH).

Figure 2. Same curves as in Figure 1. The red lines show the pH value,

which is obtained with a buffer capacity of 3 meq/l (8.4 dKH). It is clearly visible that the pH value is significantly higher

at normal levels of carbon dioxide than at elevated levels.

Figure 3. The same curves illustrating the effect of aeration on pH,

with excess initial carbon dioxide content

Figure 4. The same curves illustrating the effect of increasing buffering on pH,

while maintaining a high carbon dioxide content

Figure 5. The same curves illustrating the effect of lime water (kalkwasser) on pH by reducing excess carbon dioxide (hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide to form
bicarbonate and carbonate), simultaneously with an increase in buffering capacity.

Diurnal pH changes in reef aquariums occur due to the biological processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Photosytnesis is the process by which organisms convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen:

Thus, carbon dioxide is consumed during the daytime. As a result of this consumption, many aquariums become CO2-starved during the daytime and the pH rises.

In addition, the organisms living in the aquarium also carry out the process of respiration, during which carbohydrates are converted back into energy, which will be used for other purposes. In essence, this process is the opposite of photosynthesis:

This process occurs constantly in a reef aquarium and causes the pH to drop due to the formation of carbon dioxide.

As a result of the combined effect of these processes, in most reef aquariums the pH increases during the day and decreases at night. For a typical aquarium, this pH change ranges from less than 0.1 to more than 0.5. As discussed elsewhere in this article, active aeration of aquarium water to displace excess carbon dioxide or attract carbon dioxide when it is deficient completely eliminates daily pH fluctuations. In practice, however, it is difficult to achieve complete compensation; the pH value is different during the day and at night.

In addition to aeration, pH changes are affected by the presence of buffer solutions. High carbonate buffering results in less fluctuation in pH because the combination of carbonate and bicarbonate creates a buffer, moderating changes in pH. Boric acid and its salts also form a buffer that mitigates pH changes. The capacity of both of these buffer systems is higher at high pH values ​​(8.5) than at low pH values ​​(7.8). Thus, aquarists whose aquarium pH is low may experience greater fluctuations in pH values ​​for this reason. I discussed buffering effects and the challenges of diurnal pH fluctuations in detail in a previous article.

Below are specific tips for solving low pH problems. These tips can also help with adjusting pH levels closer to natural values, even if those levels are already within the "acceptable range" as described above, but still not as high as desired. However, before you begin implementing your pH strategy, here are some general guidelines:

Make sure you actually have a pH problem. Often, as a result of incorrect measurements, you may think there is a problem. This situation is most common when the aquarist uses a test kit (drop test or test strips) to measure pH rather than using an electronic pH meter. However, errors are possible with any measurement, and it would be a shame if you made your aquarium worse just because the pH meter was not calibrated correctly. Therefore, before starting corrective measures, make sure that the pH values ​​have been measured correctly. Below are links to two articles that are worth reading to ensure you are measuring pH correctly:

• Calibrating a pH meter using borax from a hardware store.

Before you start looking for a solution, try to determine the reason why the problem occurred. For example, if a low pH value is caused by excess carbon dioxide in the indoor air, increasing aeration with the same air is unlikely to help solve the problem. A much better solution would be if you address the very essence of the problem.

Causes of low pH

As described above, when the pH value drops below 7.8, problems arise. This means that during the day the lower pH value drops below 7.8. Of course, if the lower pH value drops to 7.9, it will still be necessary to raise the pH value, but it will not be as urgent. Typically, there are several reasons that can lead to a low pH value, and each case requires different actions. There is no universal way to protect an aquarium from all these problems at the same time!

The first step in solving the problem of low pH is to find out what causes it. Possible reasons could be the following:

1. The aquarium uses a calcium reactor (calcium carbonate reactor with carbon dioxide: CaCO 3 /CO 2 ).
2. The aquarium has low buffering capacity.
3. Due to insufficient aeration, there is more CO 2 in the aquarium than in the surrounding air. Don't be fooled into thinking that the aquarium will be sufficiently oxygenated because the water is very turbulent. It is MUCH more difficult to bring carbon dioxide levels into equilibrium than it is to simply provide enough oxygen. If carbon dioxide were in perfect equilibrium, there would be NO difference between daytime and nighttime pH values. Since most aquariums have a lower pH at night, this indicates that they are not fully aerated.
4. There is excess CO 2 in the aquarium because the indoor air contains excess CO 2 .
5. The aquarium is in the process of starting up and contains excess acid from the nitrogen cycle and the decomposition of organic matter into CO 2 .

Aeration test

Some of the options listed above require some effort to diagnose. Problems 3 and 4 are quite common, and there is an easy way to identify them. Take a glass of water from the aquarium and measure the pH. Then aerate this water vigorously for an hour using outside air. The pH value will increase if the pH was too low for the available buffer value, according to Figure 3 (if the pH rises, it is likely that one of the pH or buffer measurements was in error). In this case, repeat the experiment with a new glass of water, using air from the room for aeration. If the pH rises again, then the pH in the aquarium will also rise as a result of aeration, because the water in the aquarium contains an excess dose of carbon dioxide. If the pH in the glass does not rise (or rises very slowly), this means that the air in the room contains excess CO 2, and increasing the saturation with this air will not solve the problem of low pH (however, the problem can be solved if fresh water is used to saturate it). air).

Some solutions are only suitable for certain reasons, and these are discussed in detail below. However, there are general solutions that are often effective. Such solutions include the use of additives to increase pH. They are used in cases where increased buffering capacity is required. In this case, it is best to use lime water (kalkwasser), after which two-component additives can be used to increase the pH. The advantage of these methods is that they increase the pH without disturbing the calcium balance.

Using buffer solutions alone is not always a good method, since they only slightly increase the pH value, while the buffering capacity increases significantly. Unfortunately, the labels on many commercially available buffer solutions are written to convince aquarists that the pH will be fine if they simply add some of the solution. In most cases, the improvement in pH occurs only for one day, while the alkalinity increases beyond the desired limits.

Two other useful methods are to grow macro algae, which absorb some CO2 from the water as they grow (often the algae is lit out of phase with the main aquarium - the light in the macroalgae tank is turned on at night when the lights in the main aquarium are off to minimize the decrease in pH ), and saturation of water with fresh air taken from outside the room.

A common cause of low pH in a reef aquarium is the use of a calcium reactor. These reactors use carbon dioxide, which is acidic, to dissolve calcium carbonate, resulting in a significant amount of acid being released into the aquarium, albeit temporarily. Ideally, carbon dioxide should be ventilated from the reactor after some of it has been consumed to dissolve CaCO 3 . But in reality, this process is not complete, and aquariums that use a calcium reactor usually operate at pH values ​​close to the lower end of the acceptable range.

The proposed solutions assume that the reactor has been properly adjusted. A poorly set reactor can cause the pH to drop below normal, so the first step should be to set the pH accordingly. The issue of setting up a calcium reactor is beyond the scope of this article; we only note that the pH values ​​​​and buffering capacity of the water flowing from the reactor should not be too low.

To minimize the low pH problem resulting from the use of calcium reactors, many different approaches have been proposed, with varying degrees of success. One such approach is to use a two-chamber reactor, in which the effluent water passes through a second chamber containing CaCO 3 before being discharged into the aquarium. Dissolving additional CaCO 3 increases the pH and also causes an increase in calcium levels and buffering in the solution. This approach appears to be successful in raising the pH of the reactor effluent water, but not all the way to the aquarium, and the problem of low pH does not completely disappear.

Another approach is to aerate the water leaving the calcium reactor before it enters the aquarium. The purpose of this method is to blow out excess CO2 before water enters the aquarium. This approach is good in theory, but not in practice, since insufficient time is allowed for degassing before entering the aquarium. Another problem with this approach is the fact that if the pH is successfully raised, the solution may become supersaturated with CaCO 3 , which can lead to secondary precipitation of CaCO 3 in the reactor, thereby fouling it and reducing efficiency.

Finally, the final approach, perhaps the most successful, is to combine a calcium reactor with another buffering system that also increases the pH value. The most successful solution is probably to use lime water (calcium hydroxide). In this case, lime water is used not so much to increase dissolved calcium or increase buffering capacity, but to absorb excess CO 2, and thereby raise the pH. The amount of limewater required for this is not as great as if it were used as the main source to maintain high calcium levels and buffering properties. Addition of lime water can be done on a timer, at night or early in the morning when low pH values ​​are more likely. The addition of lime water can be carried out based on the readings of the pH controller, i.e. it can only be added when the pH value drops below a certain value (for example, below pH 7.8).

High levels of indoor carbon dioxide can also cause low pH in aquariums. The breathing of people and pets, the use of heating systems that burn natural gas (such as stoves and stoves) with inadequate ventilation, and the use of calcium reactors can lead to high levels of carbon dioxide indoors. The level of carbon dioxide indoors can easily be twice that of the outdoor air, and this excess can lead to a significant drop in pH in the aquarium. This problem is especially pressing in new, more hermetically sealed premises. This problem is unlikely to occur in older homes where wind can blow through the window frames.

Many aquarists have found that opening a window next to the aquarium can significantly raise the pH in one or two days. Unfortunately, aquarists living in cold climates may not be able to comfortably open their windows in the winter. Some of them have found that in such a situation it is useful to run a tube outside to the air intake of the flotator, in which fresh outside air is quickly mixed with the aquarium water. Keep in mind that if the aquarist lives in an area where insecticides are periodically sprayed to control mosquitoes (such as suburban areas in the south), an activated carbon filter should be installed on the air intake to prevent toxic chemicals from entering the aquarium.

Finally, using lime water (calcium hydroxide) is a good solution in many cases. Limewater can be especially effective because in this situation it is unlikely that the pH in the aquarium will rise to undesirably high levels, a danger that can accompany the use of limewater as the main source of calcium and buffering. Although calcium hydroxide is the most common and recognized additive for providing the necessary buffering in the aquarium, while raising the pH, other additives can be used to increase the pH. For example, in this situation, carbonate-based supplements will be very useful, but bicarbonate-based supplements will not. When considering commercial products, ESV's B-ionic is superior to the newer version (Bicarbonate B-ionic) from the same manufacturer. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) or calcined baking soda will be better than regular baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

Low buffering capacity can also result in low pH levels. For example, if the decrease in buffering capacity due to calcification is not compensated for, this can lead to a drop in pH. Such a drop is possible with all methods of buffering compensation, but will be most observed when using those systems that do not themselves increase the pH value (for example, a calcium reactor or the use of bicarbonates). In this case, the obvious solution is to increase the buffering capacity in some way, as shown in Figure 4.

All the cases described above refer to chronically low pH values. None of the options discussed address cases of sudden or temporary pH shifts. However, this can happen in some situations, and it will be useful to know what to do in such cases. Most aquarists are unlikely to do what I did, such as throwing a piece of dry ice into the sump just to see what happens. After doing this, I saw that the pH began to drop sharply. Similarly, you can easily see that a pH value of 5 can kill all life in the aquarium (in my case this did not happen, but I would not recommend you try to repeat this experiment for fun).

It is more likely that problems may arise with the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide as a result of a failure in the carbon dioxide supply system to the reactor. In most of these cases, I would advise doing nothing until the excess CO 2 has been removed by vigorous aeration. It may be worth opening a window so that the air involved in gas exchange itself does not contain excess CO 2. In about a day, the condition of the aquarium should return to normal. If the aquarist decides to add anything to increase the pH, he runs the risk of raising the pH value to too high a level 24 hours after excess CO 2 has been removed from the aquarium.

If the cause of the drop in pH is a mineral acid (for example, hydrochloric acid), the carbonate buffering (as well as the general buffering) will collapse. In this case, I would advise measuring the buffering capacity, and using carbonate buffering additives (not boron based) in order to raise the buffering capacity, returning it to normal levels (in the range of 2.5-4 meq/L or 7-11 dKH) . The end result of these actions should be an increase in pH. With some alkaline additives (limewater or regular B-ionic) the pH value can be restored quickly, while with others (like baking soda) the pH increase will occur slowly as the aquarium will need time to remove the resulting CO 2 .

If the cause of the drop in pH is vinegar or another organic acid, I would recommend the same measures as for hydrochloric acid, as discussed above. You just need to keep in mind that over time (from several hours to a day), the acetate formed from vinegar (acetic acid) will be oxidized to CO 2 and OH-. The result of this will be a possible increase in pH and alkalinity. Therefore, in this case it is better to limit or refrain from other actions that lead to an increase in buffering. If large amounts of buffering additives are used to stabilize the resulting acid, the pH and/or buffering may subsequently rise to higher values ​​than desired.

pH is an important saltwater aquarium indicator that most aquarists are familiar with. It has a serious impact on the health and well-being of the inhabitants of our systems, and we must do everything possible to ensure that this indicator lies within acceptable limits. This article provides tips for solving common problems associated with low pH in aquariums, allowing aquarists to diagnose and resolve low pH problems that may occur in aquariums.

Happy reefing!

1. Hydrogen-ion concentration of sea water in its biological relations. Atkins, W. R. G. J. Marine Biol. Assoc. (1922), 12 717-71.
2. Water quality requirements for first-feeding in marine fish larvae. II. pH, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Brownell, Charles L. Dep. Zool., Univ. Cape Town, Rondebosch, S. Africa. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. (1980), 44(2-3), 285-8.
3. Chondrus crispus (Gigartinaceae, Rhodophyta) tank cultivation: optimizing carbon input by a fixed pH and use of a salt water well. Braud, Jean-Paul; Amat, Mireille A. Sanofi Bio-Industries, Polder du Dain, Bouin, Fr. Hydrobiologia (1996), 326/327 335-340.
4. Physiological ecology of Gelidiella acerosa. Rao, P. Sreenivasa; Mehta, V. B. Dep. Biosci., Saurashtra Univ., Rajkot, India. J. Phycol. (1973), 9(3), 333-
5. Studies on marine biological filters. Model filters. Wickins, J. F. Fish. Exp. Stn., Minist. Agric. Fish. Food, Conwy/Gwynedd, UK. Water Res. (1983), 17(12), 1769-80.
6. Physiological characteristics of Mycosphaerella ascophylli, a fungal endophyte of the marine brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum. Fries, Nils. Inst. Physiol. Bot., Univ. Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden. Physiol. Plant. (1979), 45(1), 117-21.
7. pH dependent toxicity of five metals to three marine organisms. Ho, Kay T.; Kuhn, Anne; Pelletier, Marguerite C.; Hendricks, Tracey L.; Helmstetter, Andrea. National Health and Ecological Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA. Environmental Toxicology (1999), 14(2), 235-240.
8. Effects of lowered pH and elevated nitrate on coral calcification. Marubini, F.; Atkinson, M. J. Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia Univ., Oracle, AZ, USA. Mar. Ecol.: Prog. Ser. (1999), 188 117-121.
9. Effect of calcium carbonate saturation state on the calcification rate of an experimental coral reef. Langdon, Chris; Takahashi, Taro; Sweeney, Colm; Chipman, Dave; Goddard, John; Marubini, Francesca; Aceves, Heather; Barnett, Heidi; Atkinson, Marlin J. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA. Global Biogeochem. Cycles (2000), 14(2), 639-654.

In order to identify the presence of an inflammatory process or disease, a laboratory test of urine is used, namely the Ph of urine: the norm determines the absence of pathologies in the body, and a deviation indicates their presence.

We will find out further what type of research we are talking about and what standards are considered acceptable for a healthy person.

What does urine Ph mean?

The excretory system in the human body is designed not only to remove harmful and unnecessary substances, but also determines acid balance.

An indicator called Ph means the total number of ions in a solution, that is, in a urine sample collected for analysis.

The study shows the physical properties in the composition of urine, and also evaluates the balance of acid and alkali in it. Constantly high acidity harms body tissues. In this case, if no effort is made, then processes important to life will be suspended.

What's the norm?

The hydrogen index, that is, Ph, characterizes hydrogen ion concentration in the human body. Ph concentration levels are affected by acid as well as alkali.

The normal pH level in urine depends on the physiological state of the person, what he eats, as well as his age and gender. An important factor is the time at which urine is collected.

The main standards established for determining Ph are the following indicators:

• For a person over 18 years of age, the norm is Ph from 5 0 to 7;
• on average, the urine of adult women and men collected in the morning is in the range of 6.0-6.4 Ph;
• in the evening it increases slightly and can reach 6.4-7.0;
• for infants receiving breastfeeding, the norm is determined to be 6.9-8;
• with an artificial type of feeding, an infant should have a Ph in the range from 5.4 to 6.9.

Reasons for deviation from normal indicators

If the pH of urine exceeds 7, then it is considered alkaline, and if it stays at 5 or below, then it is acidic.

There are many reasons for an increase or decrease in the pH level in the urine, however, you need to consider the main ones in order to understand what deviation can change the indicators and how to avoid it.

If urine acidity is increased, then this can be explained by a number of reasons leading to this phenomenon:

• With prolonged fasting and lack of food containing carbohydrates, an increase in acidity is observed. In this case, the human body starts the process of breaking down fats in the body’s reserves. This process is carried out to replenish the necessary energy.
• Constant overload of the human body and grueling physical exercises lead to fluid leaving the body, and acidity increases.
• In situations where you have to stay in a stuffy room, hot countries or workshops with high temperatures.
• Excessive levels in diabetes.
• Long-term intoxication of the body, including alcoholic beverages.
• Inflammatory processes in the renal system, including, as well as cystitis.
• Septic condition in the human body.

All of the above reasons for increased acidity are only the main ones, but there are also other factors that can only be determined by the attending physician, based on research results.

Low acidity often observed when there are one or more causes for this phenomenon. These include:

• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• when eating excess amounts of animal protein;
• excessive consumption of alkaline mineral water;
• high level of stomach acidity;
• Availability ;
• active proliferation of infection in the urinary system.

During pregnancy, a woman experiences changes in the metabolic processes of the body, which also affects the Ph state, therefore, acidity is considered normal during this period in the range of 5.3-6.5. Low acidity levels are often observed during periods of vomiting and diarrhea.

The pH value of urine in a child may vary depending on the type of feeding and the time of day at which urine collection is carried out. Therefore, the final diagnosis can only be made by a pediatrician, based on other tests and other studies.

Determining the acidity of urine at home

You can determine the acidity of urine not only in the laboratory, but also at home. The option of performing an analysis at home is suitable for those patients who must independently monitor their Ph level due to the presence of diabetes mellitus or uraturia.

These are often used types of research How:

1. Litmus paper.

It is impregnated with a special reagent that reacts with the liquid and then changes the paint. The essence of the method comes down to the fact that it is necessary to lower two types of strips, blue and red, into urine at once and check how the shade changes.

If the two stripes remain in the same state, then the reaction is considered neutral. If both stripes change color, then it is generally accepted that there are both alkaline and acidic reactions in urine.

If the red color changes to blue, then an alkaline reaction is present. When the color changes from blue to red, the reaction is considered acidic.

2. Magarshak method.

The essence of this method of determining the Ph level comes down to the fact that they take two solutions of red and blue color, which are gradually added to the material being tested.

Next, check the color: if the urine has become bright purple, then the acidity is approximately 6; if it turns gray, the acidity should be considered 7.2. Light purple urine indicates a level of 6.6. Green urine is a sign of acidity at 7.8.

3. Test strips, used both in most laboratories and at home, when conducting independent tests for Ph level. They can be purchased at pharmacies and used as needed.

The advantage of such a study is its simplicity, since anyone can determine the acidity in urine in a similar way. The strip is dipped into a fresh portion of urine, and then the result is viewed on a special scale with a designated color scheme.

Ways to reduce and increase acidity levels

There are medicinal methods to lower or increase acidity levels, as well as recommendations for introducing certain foods into the diet, helping to normalize pH.

Doctors prescribe intravenous solutions to the patient. They are made on the basis of potassium bicarbonate, as well as products sold in pharmacies for the successful normalization of acidity.

In order to significantly reduce the high acidity of urine, it is recommended to consume low protein foods. Those foods that have a neutral alkaline load should be consumed.

You also need to eat foods with zero acid formation. These include:

• cucumbers;
• ice cream;
• vegetable oil;

It is allowed to introduce foods into food having negative acid formation. These are fruits, mushrooms, fresh herbs, fruit juices, and white wine.

The fact is that the division of food according to acidity is quite arbitrary. Each human body is individual and digests food differently. However, you need to gradually adjust the menu in accordance with the recommendations of your doctor.

Important to remember about normalizing water balance, since people who lead a healthy lifestyle, as a rule, are less likely to suffer from increased acidity of urine. Water not only normalizes the acidity state in the human body, but also improves the functioning of the renal system.

In order to increase acidity, on the contrary, it is necessary to slightly reduce the amount of water consumed, since it significantly increases the level of acidity in the body.

The determining Ph level is important because it can provide an informative picture of many internal diseases. Therefore, doctors recommend getting tested in a laboratory setting and monitor acidity levels at home using test strips.

It is important to study the basic methods of increasing and decreasing acidity and apply them to adjust this indicator.

Learn how to use litmus paper to determine acidity from the video:

Can you imagine that the development of many diseases depends on one cause? Many nutritionists and herbalists now describe this hidden danger in two words: acid and alkali.

High acidity destroys the most important systems in the body, and it becomes defenseless against disease. A balanced pH environment ensures normal metabolic processes in the body, helping it fight diseases. A healthy body has a reserve of alkaline substances, which it uses when necessary.

What is pH?

The ratio of acid and alkali in any solution is called acid-base balance (ABC), although physiologists believe that it is more correct to call this ratio the acid-base state. KSHR is characterized by a special pH indicator (power Hidrogen - “hydrogen power”), which shows the number of hydrogen atoms in a given solution. At a pH of 7.0 they speak of a neutral environment. The lower the pH level, the more acidic the environment (from 6.9 to 0). An alkaline environment has a high pH level (from 7.1 to 14.0).

The human body is 80% water, so water is one of its most important components. The human body has a certain acid-base ratio, characterized by pH (hydrogen) value. The pH value depends on the ratio between positively charged ions (forming an acidic environment) and negatively charged ions (forming an alkaline environment). The human body constantly strives to balance this ratio, maintaining a strictly defined pH level. When the balance is disturbed, many serious diseases can occur.

pH, or indicator of acid-base balance.

It is a measure of the relative concentration of hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions in a liquid system and is expressed on a scale from 0 (complete saturation with hydrogen ions H+) to 14 (complete saturation with hydroxyl ions OH-), distilled water is considered neutral with pH 7.0.

0 is the strongest acid, 14 is the strongest alkali, 7 is neutral.

If in any of the body fluids the concentration of (H+) ions increases, then the pH shifts to the acidic side, that is, the environment becomes acidic. This is also called acid shift.

And vice versa - an increase in the concentration of (OH-) ions causes a shift in the pH value towards the alkaline side, or an alkaline shift.

Our body has a slightly alkaline environment. The acid-base balance in our body is constantly maintained at one stable level and in a very narrow range: from 7.26 to 7.45. And even a slight change in blood pH that goes beyond these limits can lead to illness.

Changes in pH balance can lead to dire consequences.

Increased acidity in the body.

Due to poor nutrition and consumption of acidic foods, as well as lack of water, the body becomes acidic. People consume a lot of fats, meat, dairy products, grains, sugar, flour and confectionery products, all kinds of processed foods and other processed, refined foods that contain virtually no fiber, minerals and vitamins, not to mention enzymes and unsaturated fatty acids.

In order to counteract this - to reduce the concentration of acid and remove it from vital organs - the body retains water, which negatively affects metabolism: the body wears out faster, the skin becomes dry and wrinkled. In addition, when the body is acidified, the transfer of oxygen to organs and tissues worsens, the body does not absorb minerals well, and some minerals, such as Ca, Na, K, Mg, are excreted from the body. The body has to spend a colossal amount of resources and energy to neutralize excess acids, thereby causing a certain imbalance in biochemical reactions. Since there are clearly not enough alkaline reserves coming from outside, the body is forced to use its internal resources - calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium. As a result, hemoglobin decreases and osteoporosis develops. When the iron in blood hemoglobin is used to neutralize acid, a person feels tired. If calcium is consumed for these needs, insomnia and irritability appear. Due to a decrease in the alkaline reserve of nervous tissue, mental activity is impaired.

A lack of minerals affects vital organs, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, decreases immunity, causes bone fragility, and much more. If there is a large amount of acid in the body and the mechanisms for its removal are disrupted (with urine and feces, with breathing, with sweat, etc.), the body is subject to severe intoxication. The only way out is to alkalize the body.

On a global scale, acidification of the body leads to the occurrence of more than 200(!) diseases, for example: cataracts, farsightedness, arthrosis, chondrosis, cholelithiasis and urolithiasis, and even oncology!

And people are still surprised: “Where do humanity have so many diseases? Why do they always get sick? Why do they become decrepit with age?

Yes, if only because more than 90% of the food they eat is “acidic” foods, and everything they drink (except pure water, fresh juices and herbal tea without sugar) has a pH of 4.5 to 2, 5 - that is, it acidifies people’s bodies even more!

The state of increased acidity is called acidosis. If acidosis is not detected in time, it can harm the body unnoticed, but constantly for several months and even years. Alcohol abuse often leads to acidosis. Acidosis can occur as a complication of diabetes.

Acidosis may cause the following problems:

* Diseases of the cardiovascular system, including persistent vasospasm and decreased oxygen concentration in the blood, heart failure, weakening of the heart muscle.

* Weight gain and diabetes.

* Kidney and bladder diseases, stone formation.

* Digestive problems, weakening of intestinal smooth muscles and so on.

* Decreased immunity.

* General weakness.

* Increased harmful effects of free radicals, which can contribute to tumorigenesis.

* Bone fragility up to a hip fracture, as well as other disorders of the musculoskeletal system, such as the formation of osteophytes (spurs).

* The appearance of joint pain and pain in the muscles associated with the accumulation of lactic acid.

* Gradual weakening of the eye muscles, development of farsightedness, which is very common among older people.

* Decreased endurance and ability to recover from physical activity.

Over the course of 7 years, a study was conducted at the University of California (San Francisco), where 9 thousand women were examined. The results showed that with constant elevated levels of acidity, bones become brittle. The experts who conducted this experiment are confident that most of the problems of middle-aged women are associated with excessive consumption of meat and dairy products and lack of consumption of vegetables, fruits and herbs. Therefore, the body has no choice but to take calcium from its own bones and use it to regulate the pH level.

Urine pH value

Urine pH test results show how well the body absorbs minerals such as calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. These minerals are called “acid dampers” because they regulate the level of acidity in the body. If the acidity is too high, the body does not produce acid. It should neutralize the acid. To do this, the body begins to borrow minerals from various organs, bones, muscles, etc. in order to neutralize excess acid that begins to accumulate in tissues. Thus, the acidity level is regulated.

Saliva pH value

It is also rational to know the pH level of saliva. Test results show the activity of enzymes in the digestive tract, especially the liver and stomach. This indicator gives an idea of ​​​​the work of both the entire organism as a whole and its individual systems. Some people may have increased acidity in both urine and saliva - in which case we are dealing with “double acidity”.

Blood pH value Blood pH is one of the most stringent physiological constants of the body. Normally, this indicator can vary between 7.36 - 7.42. A shift in this indicator by even 0.1 can lead to severe pathology. Please note that in emergency cases, doctors first inject a slightly alkaline solution (saline) into the blood.

When the blood pH shifts by 0.2, a coma develops, and by 0.3, the person dies.

Watch a short video that clearly shows what alkaline and acidic blood looks like under a microscope and shows the connection between the state of the blood and nutrition:

What happens to a person’s blood after he drinks alcohol or smokes:

Maintain the correct pH balance for good health.

The body is able to properly absorb and store minerals and nutrients only with the proper level of acid-base balance. It is in your power to help your body receive, rather than lose, nutrients. For example, iron can be absorbed by the body at a pH of 6.0-7.0, and iodine at a pH of 6.3-6.6. Our body uses hydrochloric acid to break down food. In the process of vital activity of the body, both acidic and alkaline decomposition products are required, and 20 times more of the former are formed than the latter. Therefore, the body’s defense systems, which ensure the invariability of its ACR, are “tuned” primarily to neutralize and remove acidic decomposition products.

The main mechanisms for maintaining this balance are: blood buffer systems (carbonate, phosphate, protein, hemoglobin), respiratory (pulmonary) regulatory system, renal (excretory system).

Moreover, the acid-base balance affects not only the body, but also other human structures. Here's a short video about it:

It is in your best interest to maintain the correct pH balance.

Even the “most correct” nutrition program, or a program for treating any disease, will not work effectively if your body’s pH balance is disturbed. Although with the help of dietary changes it is possible to restore the acid-base balance.

The constant load on the body's compensatory systems over many years and decades greatly harms the body and wears it out. Gradually and steadily, there is a distortion in the functioning of all systems and metabolic processes.

This cannot continue indefinitely and without consequences. Chronic diseases that arise against this background simply CANNOT be cured with medications.

Here, the only and best “cure” can be only one thing: completely rebuild the diet, eliminate the acid load, eat mainly raw plant foods for many years - until all functions, all processes in the body return to normal parameters and the imbalance will disappear.

Watch the video in which Professor I.P. Neumyvakin talks about acid-base balance. Ivan Pavlovich Neumyvakin - Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, author of more than 200 scientific works, honored inventor, having 85 copyright certificates for inventions; since 1959, for 30 years, he has been inextricably linked with space medicine. Ivan Pavlovich developed many new principles, methods and means of providing medical care:

This is what A.T. says. Ogulov on acid-base balance:

Ogulov Alexander Timofeevich - Doctor of Traditional Medicine, Professor. The founder and researcher of the direction - visceral therapy - abdominal massage - massage of internal organs through the front wall of the abdomen. He has more than 20,000 of his students and followers in many countries of the world. President of the Professional Association of Visceral Therapists, General Director of the Predtecha Educational and Health Center. In September 2016, he was awarded the title of BEST DOCTOR from the Moscow government.

Full member of the International European Academy of Natural Sciences (Hannover, Germany), member of the Presidium of Traditional Healers of Russia.

Awarded medals:

• The best doctor. From the Moscow government
• laureate of the award. Y. G. Galperin “For contribution to the development of traditional medicine in Russia.”
• All-Russian Exhibition Center medal "Laureate of the All-Russian Exhibition Center"
• amber star of the Master of Traditional Medicine.
• medal "For practical contribution to strengthening the health of the nation."
• awarded the Paul Ehrlich Medal “For the Good of Health”.
• honorary medal “For success in folk medicine.”
• Order of the Red Cross

Here are some videos of A.T. Ogulov, each of them complements each other:

Other useful videos by A.T. Ogulov can be seen in the video selection “HOW CHRONIC DISEASES ARISE. HOW DIFFERENT ORGANS IN THE BODY ARE INTERRELATED (what influences what). How to find the cause of your diseases":

A simple test to determine acid-base balance using breathing:

How the body manages acidity levels:
Releases acids - through the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, skin;
Neutralizes acids - with the help of minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium;
Accumulates acids in tissues, primarily in muscles.

What to do if the pH balance is normal?

The simple answer is to help maintain this balance in a healthy zone.

1. Water.
   It is necessary to drink a sufficient amount of clean water, specifically 30 ml per kilogram of body weight per day (in the hot summer months, 2-3 times more).
2. Food.
   If the acid-base balance is already disturbed, then you should think about your diet and reduce the consumption of acidic foods (meat and dairy products, bread, sweets, carbonated drinks, any artificially created products).
3. Enzymes.
   Without enzymes, the body is unable to regulate pH levels. They heal and improve digestion and the absorption of minerals (especially calcium). To supplement your diet with additional enzymes, we recommend flower pollen.
4. Correction of mineral metabolism.
   Calcium is the most important mineral for regulating pH balance. In addition to the above calcium, the body needs other minerals, including phosphorus, zinc, boron, potassium, magnesium. They are becoming less and less common in our diet due to the fact that food raw materials are being purified, food is subject to excessive culinary processing, and vegetables and fruits grown in depleted soil do not initially contain the full range of minerals.

In the human body acid-base balance of blood must be kept under control and its permissible values ​​range from 7.35 to 7.45.

A slightly acidic environment is needed to launch a variety of chemical processes ( for example, digestion - in the stomach the environment is slightly shifted towards acidity), and if blood pH balance change, the processes will not go as planned.

After all, all our building material is in the blood ( transmitted from the liver), proteins, antibodies, fat genes, white blood cells, nutrients and a bunch of other things. They are configured to work precisely in this range ( 7.35-7.45 ) and the slightest shift disrupts the operation of the entire system ( blood is everywhere, we have 85,000 km of veins and arteries but only 5 liters of blood).

All regulatory mechanisms of the body ( including breathing, metabolism, hormone production) are aimed at balancing pH level, by removing caustic acid residues from body tissues without damaging living cells. If pH level gets too low( sour) or too high ( alkaline), then the cells of the body poison themselves with their toxic emissions and die.

The IMPORTANCE of the balance of this entire system is also emphasized by the following fact: to maintain the balance between acid and alkali, the body takes calcium from the bones ( our calcium bank) + magnesium ( they are indistinguishable from calcium), to alkalize the acid.

To avoid acidification of the body and increase alkalinity you need to eat foods containing calcium, magnesium and potassium BEFORE the body begins to urgently remove them from everywhere, that is, you need to eat a lot of greens ( except sorrel), of which cilantro and chervil take precedence. By the way, consumption of dairy products contributes to the leaching of calcium from bones.

It is much easier for our body to cope with alkali. (10 times like this), so everything is designed to prevent acidification. And by the way: boron is the best trace element for preventing the loss of calcium from the body, and it is found in fruits, vegetables and other plant foods.

And the most important thing to understand and remember: ANY PLANT FOOD AFTER HEAT TREATMENT BECOME POISON AND ACIDIFIES OUR BODY! Well, animal proteins, too, accordingly, only they themselves are no longer food for humans, and after heat treatment they cause 2 times more problems. For example, to preserve the presentation of meat, all kinds of sausages and frankfurters ( so they don't smell like corpses) nitrites are added to them ( a powerful carcinogen, not to be confused with nitrates - they are useful in their natural form), flavor enhancers ( monosodium glutamate and other chemicals, otherwise you simply won’t be able to eat them).

Grain that has been ground into flour, mixed with single-celled fungi ( yeast), heat treatment at 200 degrees, and become bread or pasta, buckwheat (toasted, not green) and rice, butter, etc. All this poisons and acidifies the body.

Stew vegetables? fry potatoes? nice thing! only there their own enzymes die ( LIFE), which are designed to engage in autolysis ( self-digestion) in our intestines without harming our body, and instead of them carcinogens are formed.

And a chronically acidified body struggles every day, leaching calcium from bones, losing magnesium and immunity.

In humans, food-digesting enzymes are living “nano-robots” that disassemble and assemble molecules in the thousands per second. In humans, digestion is based on enzymes, not acid. So, to start the digestion process with enzymes you need slightly acidic environment, but not increased acidity, which is now present everywhere for most of the inhabitants of the Planet.

And now the MOST important thing: PLANT FOOD, IN ITS NATURAL, PRIMARY FORM, PRACTICALLY DOES NOT ACIDIFY OUR BODY!

BUT we must remember that fruits also have some acidity, although, of course, they are very far from alcohol, heat-treated food, processed foods, sweets and other bio-garbage. After eating fruits, you can easily restore balance in your mouth simply by rinsing your mouth with water.

By the way, the most natural way to get rid of acid is sports. Then the acid breaks down faster and exits through the lungs as a gas.

ALKALINE PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

* all ripe fruits ( except citrus fruits, apples, grapes), vegetables, berries, cereals ( buckwheat, oats, rye, wheat), nuts

* especially alkaline are: greens ( #1 source of calcium), cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini, avocado

ACID PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

* meat, fish, poultry, as well as dairy products;
* all sugar-containing products: jam, preserves, compote, chocolate, cakes, sweets and other confectionery products;
* flour products;
* alcoholic and carbonated drinks ( soda is the most acidic product with pH=2.47-3.1 . drank soda and immediately lost some of the calcium from the bones, even mineral soda is carbonated with carbon-acid), coffee, cocoa, black tea, fruit juice;
* vinegars, sauces, mayonnaise;
* vegetable oils.

THE ACIDITY OF PRODUCTS INCREASES FROM:

* heat treatment ( frying, boiling, parka, baking);
* adding sugar ( jams, fruit drinks are very acidic), preservatives and acid additives ( vinegars, sauces, mayonnaise);
* long storage ( even more acidic jam).

Those. in fact, everything that a person has a hand in (fried, boiled, baked, squeezed oil ), EVERYTHING causes increased acidity.

Acid ( apple, lemon, grape) is found in all fruits, vegetables and other vegetation, but it is vegetable and promotes digestion in the stomach while the vegetation is raw ( live), but it begins to acidify the gastrointestinal tract and blood as soon as it is PREPARED.

Factors such as:

1. Stress, strong anxiety, anxiety (for any reason).

2. Harmful effects of poor ecology and lack of fresh air.

3. The harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation - from televisions, computers, mobile phones, microwave ovens and many other household appliances.

Read the articles “CAUTION: MICROWAVE OVEN!”: and “HOW TO PROTECT FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION FROM MOBILE PHONES AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES”:

4. Sedentary lifestyle.

Also of great importance is the internal energy of the person himself, his vital energy.

If a person is an optimist in life, a cheerful person, always cheerful, moves through life easily, strives for something, achieves something, in a word, lives, then by doing this he is already helping himself a lot, helping the body with his energy to maintain pH balance.

If, on the contrary, a person is a pessimist, does not strive for anything, sluggishly “floats” through life, whose whole life is just a series of gray, monotonous, boring days, in the word “eking out a miserable existence,” then he is thereby more susceptible to stress, depression, he loses vital energy, the body weakens and is unable to maintain a normal pH balance - it lacks energy and resources. He starts to get sick. With each new stress, the situation only gets worse and the process of health depression accelerates.

So, what can you do to alkalize your body?

1. It is necessary to REFUSE AT ALL from eating meat, dairy products, sugar, flour and confectionery products, all kinds of semi-finished products and other processed, refined products, minimize the consumption of grains, and it is better to consume them in the form of sprouts.

Explore these articles and materials:

* HOW PEOPLE KILL THEIR BLOOD. DO YOU KILL YOUR OWN BLOOD? (about what immunity is and how to strengthen it)

* ATTENTION! THE RESULTS OF THE LARGEST MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF NUTRITION PROVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEADLY DISEASES AND THE CONSUMPTION OF “FOOD” OF ANIMAL ORIGIN (any meat and dairy products)!

* THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) CALLED MEAT A CAUSE OF CANCER! Meat products are recognized as carcinogenic substances, such as asbestos and arsenic, and will be included in the “black list” of carcinogens!

* IMPORTANT TO KNOW TO BE HEALTHY AND TO BE CURED FROM “INCUREABLE” DISEASES! WHAT IS SPECIES NUTRITION?

2. Cleanse your body of waste and toxins:

* MARVA OHANYAN: “DEATH COMES FROM THE INTESTINES...”:

* FALSE THEORY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN OFFICIAL MEDICINE. WHY DO PEOPLE GET SICK AND WHAT ARE BACTERIA?

* CLEANSING AND HEALING. THE MOST EFFECTIVE RECIPES. HOW TO RESTORE INTESTINE MICROFLORA AND IMMUNITY (there is also a large selection of articles on cleansing the body):

* FILM “THE SCIENCE OF FASTING.” FASTING IS A SIMPLE, NATURAL AND UNIVERSAL WAY FOR TREATING MOST CHRONIC AND “INCUREABLE” DISEASES!

3. Avoid thermal cooking or at least maintain a ratio of 80% raw plant foods to 20% cooked foods.

Physiologists believe that to maintain BSH, a person needs at least four times more food with an alkalizing effect than with an acid-forming effect.

DO YOU EAT LIKE THIS TOO? Funny video from V.S. Ostrovsky (writer, speaker, member of the international movement for natural hygiene, hereditary herbalist, successor of the teachings of Galen, Hippocrates, Avicenna, has enormous experience in curing the most intractable diseases, although he switched to writing and lecturing in various societies, member of the International Royal Academy at UN):

* WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PAN?

* CAUTION: FOOD LEUKOCYTOSIS:

* THE MOST VALUABLE AND MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION! A concentrate of practical knowledge on restoring and gaining health and longevity! The School of Health is the experience of a successfully practicing doctor in healing from all chronic and “incurable” or difficult to treat diseases:

Here is a short video about what the Raw Food Diet is:

Is a raw food diet dangerous? Opinion of the chief nutritionist of Russia! Alexey Kovalkov / Sergey Dobrozdravin:

Raw food diet 80/20. What is in 20% of processed food? Important!

RAW DIET. How to eat cheaply on a raw food diet. You didn't know this:

If you decide to switch to a plant-based diet, then a selection of materials will help you “HOW TO HARMONIOUSLY TRANSFER TO A HEALTHY FOOD (VEGETARIANITY, VEGANITY, RAW FOOD) (step-by-step instructions + recipes + conflict management)” :

4. Drink a soda solution on an empty stomach every day. This is a very effective method of alkalizing the body!

For more information about the healing properties of baking soda and how and when to use it correctly, read the article “BAKING SODA IS A UNIVERSAL REMEDY FOR HEALTH AND FOR MANY DISEASES, EVEN CANCER!”:

5. Start drinking green smoothies. GREEN COCKTAILS ARE A SOURCE OF VITAMINS, MICROELEMENTS AND MINERALS FOR THE BODY, A WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT AND IMPROVE HEALTH. About the benefits of green smoothies and how to prepare them:

6. When choosing food products, pay attention to the alkalizing or acidifying properties of the products.

Pay more attention to what foods you eat. To better understand what you should eat, check out these articles:

*GOOD TO KNOW - DON'T EAT THIS!

* YEAST IS A DANGEROUS BIOLOGICAL WEAPON. How to protect yourself from it and stay healthy:

* ABOUT THE DAMAGES OF STARCH-CONTAINING “CEMENTING” FOOD! STARCH IS A DELAYED ACTION POISON!

* MUCOUS-FREE NUTRITION IS THE PATH TO HEALTH AND LONGEVITY!

PRODUCTS THAT ALKALINATE THE BODY (products and their alkalization coefficient):

berries (all kinds) 2–3, celery 4, fresh cucumbers 4, lettuce 4, fresh tomatoes 4, fresh beets 4, fresh carrots 4, dried apricots 4, fresh apricots 3, watermelons 3, melons 3, plums 3, fruits (almost all) 3, white cabbage 3, cauliflower 3, dandelion greens 3, radishes 3, peppers 3, potatoes 3, fresh beans 3, oatmeal 3, almonds 2, onions 2, green peas 2, raisins 2, dates 2

PRODUCTS THAT OXIDIZE THE BODY (products and their alkalization coefficient):

ready beans 3, dry peas 2, eggs 3, cream 2, cheese 1–2, ground nuts 2, white bread 2, jam 3, juices with sugar 3, sweet water 3, black bread 1, starch 2, barley 1, beans dried 1

OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES:

RELATIONSHIP OF HUMAN HEALTH AND NUTRITION. CONCEPTUAL MATERIALS ABOUT NUTRITION AND THE FUNCTIONING OF THE HUMAN BODY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW TO BE HEALTHY:

IS IT WORTH TREATING CHILDREN AND YOURSELF WITH MEDICATIONS?

HEALING COLDS AND FLU WITH EFFECTIVE NATURAL METHODS! AND PREVENTION, HOW TO STAY HEALTHY!

CANCER AND OTHER “INCUREABLE” DISEASES CAN BE CURED WITHOUT DRUGS! Share these materials, it could save someone's life!

Typically, an indicator such as pH or blood acidity (hydrogen indicator, acid-base balance parameter, pH), as patients are accustomed to calling it, is not noted in the referral for hematological tests to examine the patient. Being a constant value, the pH of human blood can change its values ​​only within strictly designated limits - from 7.36 to 7.44 (on average - 7.4). Increased blood acidity (acidosis) or a shift in pH to the alkaline side (alkalosis) are conditions that do not develop as a result of exposure to favorable factors and in most cases require immediate therapeutic measures.

The blood cannot withstand a pH drop below 7 and a rise to 7.8, which is why such extreme pH values ​​such as 6.8 or 7.8 are considered unacceptable and incompatible with life. In some sources, the high limit of compatibility with life may differ from the listed values, that is, equal to 8.0.

Blood buffer systems

Products of an acidic or basic nature constantly enter the human blood, but for some reason nothing happens? It turns out that everything is provided in the body, to guard the constancy of pH, buffer systems are on duty around the clock, which resist any changes and do not allow the acid-base balance to shift in a dangerous direction. So, in order:

• Opens a list of buffer systems bicarbonate system, it is also called hydrocarbonate. It is considered the most powerful, since it takes on a little more than 50% of all blood buffering abilities;
• Takes second place hemoglobin buffer system, it provides 35% of the total buffer capacity;
• Third place belongs to blood protein buffer system- to 10%;
• In fourth position is phosphate system, which accounts for about 6% of all buffer capabilities.

These buffer systems, in maintaining a constant pH, are the first to resist a possible shift in the pH value in one direction or another, because the processes that support the vital activity of the body are ongoing, and at the same time, products of either an acidic or basic nature are constantly released into the blood. Meanwhile, for some reason the buffer capacity is not depleted. This happens because the excretory system (lungs, kidneys) comes to the rescue, which reflexively turns on whenever there is a need - it removes all the accumulated metabolites.

How do the systems work?

Main buffer system

The activity of the bicarbonate buffer system, which includes two components (H2CO3 and NaHCO3), is based on the reaction between them and bases or acids entering the blood. If it appears in the blood strong alkali, then the reaction will follow this path:

NaOH + H2CO3 → NaHCO3 + H2O

The sodium bicarbonate formed as a result of the interaction does not stay in the body for a long time and, without having any special effect, is removed by the kidneys.

For presence strong acid the second component of the bicarbonate buffer system, NaHCO3, will react, which neutralizes the acid as follows:

HCl + NaHCO3 → NaCl + H2CO3

The product of this reaction (CO2) will quickly leave the body through the lungs.

The hydrocarbonate buffer system is the first to “feel” a change in the pH value, so it is the first to begin its work.

Hemoglobin and other buffer systems

The main component of the hemoglobin system is the red blood pigment - Hb, the pH of which changes by 0.15 depending on whether it currently binds oxygen (pH shift to the acidic side) or releases it to tissues (shift to the alkaline side). Adapting to circumstances, hemoglobin plays the role of either a weak acid or a neutral salt.

On admission reasons The following reaction can be expected from the hemoglobin buffer system:

NaOH + HHb → NaHb + H2O (pH remains almost unchanged)

And with acid, as soon as it appears, hemoglobin will begin to interact as follows:

HCl + NaHb → NaCl + HHb (pH shift is not very noticeable)

The buffering capacity of proteins depends on their basic characteristics (concentration, structure, etc.), therefore the buffer system of blood proteins is not as involved in maintaining acid-base balance as the previous two.

The phosphate buffer system or sodium phosphate buffer does not produce a special shift in the blood pH value. It maintains pH values ​​at the proper level in the fluids that fill the cells and in the urine.

pH in arterial and venous blood, plasma and serum

Is the main parameter of acid-base balance – pH in arterial and venous blood – somewhat different? Arterial blood is more stable in terms of acidity. But, in principle, the pH norm in oxygenated arterial blood is 0.01 - 0.02 higher than in blood flowing through the veins (pH in venous blood is lower due to excess CO2 content).

As for the pH of blood plasma, then, again, in plasma the balance of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, in general, corresponds to the pH of whole blood.

pH values ​​may vary in other biological media, for example, in serum, but plasma that has left the body and is deprived of fibrinogen is no longer involved in maintaining vital processes, so its acidity is more important for other purposes, for example, for the production of sets of standard hemagglutinating serums, which determine a person's group affiliation.

Acidosis and alkalosis

A shift in pH values ​​in one direction or another (acid → acidosis, alkaline → alkalosis) can be compensated or uncompensated. It is determined by the alkaline reserve, represented mainly by bicarbonates. Alkaline reserve (ALR) is the amount of carbon dioxide in milliliters displaced by a strong acid from 100 ml of plasma. The norm of SH is within the range of 50 – 70 ml of CO2. Deviation from these values ​​indicates uncompensated acidosis (less than 45 ml CO2) or alkalosis (more than 70 ml CO2).

There are the following types of acidosis and alkalosis:

Acidosis:

• Gas acidosis– develops when the removal of carbon dioxide by the lungs slows down, creating a condition;
• Non-gas acidosis– is caused by the accumulation of metabolic products or their entry from the gastrointestinal tract (alimentary acidosis);
• Primary renal acidosis– represents a reabsorption disorder in the renal tubules with the loss of a large amount of alkalis.

Alkalosis:

• Gas alkalosis– occurs with increased release of CO2 by the lungs (altitude sickness, hyperventilation), creates a condition hypocapnia;
• Non-gas alkalosis– develops with an increase in alkaline reserves due to the supply of bases with food (nutritional) or due to changes in metabolism (metabolic).

Of course, it will most likely not be possible to restore the acid-base balance in acute conditions on your own, but at other times, when the pH is almost at the limit, and the person does not seem to be in any pain, all responsibility falls on the patient himself.

Products that are considered harmful, as well as cigarettes and alcohol, are usually the main cause of changes in blood acidity, although a person does not know about it unless it comes to acute pathological conditions.

You can lower or increase the pH of the blood with the help of diet, but we should not forget: as soon as a person switches to his favorite lifestyle again, the pH values ​​will return to their previous levels.

Thus, maintaining the acid-base balance requires constant work on oneself, recreational activities, a balanced diet and proper regimen, otherwise all short-term work will be in vain.

The tissues of a living organism are very sensitive to fluctuations in pH - outside the permissible range, denaturation of proteins occurs: cells are destroyed, enzymes lose the ability to perform their functions, and the death of the organism is possible

What is pH (hydrogen index) and acid-base balance

The ratio of acid and alkali in any solution is called acid-base balance(ASR), although physiologists believe that it is more correct to call this ratio the acid-base state.

KShchR is characterized by a special indicator pH(power Hydrogen - “hydrogen power”), which shows the number of hydrogen atoms in a given solution. At a pH of 7.0 they speak of a neutral environment.

The lower the pH level, the more acidic the environment (from 6.9 to O).

An alkaline environment has a high pH level (from 7.1 to 14.0).

The human body is 70% water, so water is one of its most important components. T atehuman has a certain acid-base ratio, characterized by pH (hydrogen) indicator.

The pH value depends on the ratio between positively charged ions (forming an acidic environment) and negatively charged ions (forming an alkaline environment).

The body constantly strives to balance this ratio, maintaining a strictly defined pH level. When the balance is disturbed, many serious diseases can occur.

Maintain the correct pH balance for good health

The body is able to properly absorb and store minerals and nutrients only with the proper level of acid-base balance.

The tissues of a living organism are very sensitive to fluctuations in pH - outside the permissible range, denaturation of proteins occurs: cells are destroyed, enzymes lose the ability to perform their functions, and the death of the organism is possible. Therefore, the acid-base balance in the body is strictly regulated. Our body uses hydrochloric acid to break down food. In the process of vital activity of the body, both acidic and alkaline breakdown products are required

Blood has a slightly alkaline reaction: The pH of arterial blood is 7.4, and that of venous blood is 7.35 (due to excess CO2).

A pH shift of even 0.1 can lead to severe pathology.

When the blood pH shifts by 0.2, a coma develops, and by 0.3, the person dies.

The body has different PH levels

Saliva is a predominantly alkaline reaction (pH fluctuation 6.0 - 7.9)

Typically, the acidity of mixed human saliva is 6.8–7.4 pH, but with high salivation rates it reaches 7.8 pH. The acidity of the saliva of the parotid glands is 5.81 pH, of the submandibular glands - 6.39 pH. In children, on average, the acidity of mixed saliva is 7.32 pH, in adults - 6.40 pH (Rimarchuk G.V. et al.). The acid-base balance of saliva, in turn, is determined by a similar balance in the blood, which nourishes the salivary glands.

Esophagus - Normal acidity in the esophagus is 6.0–7.0 pH.

Liver - the reaction of gallbladder bile is close to neutral (pH 6.5 - 6.8), the reaction of hepatic bile is alkaline (pH 7.3 - 8.2)

Stomach - sharply acidic (at the height of digestion pH 1.8 - 3.0)

The maximum theoretically possible acidity in the stomach is 0.86 pH, which corresponds to an acid production of 160 mmol/l. The minimum theoretically possible acidity in the stomach is 8.3 pH, which corresponds to the acidity of a saturated solution of HCO 3 - ions. Normal acidity in the lumen of the body of the stomach on an empty stomach is 1.5–2.0 pH. The acidity on the surface of the epithelial layer facing the lumen of the stomach is 1.5–2.0 pH. The acidity in the depths of the epithelial layer of the stomach is about 7.0 pH. Normal acidity in the antrum of the stomach is 1.3–7.4 pH.

It is a common misconception that the main problem for humans is increased stomach acidity. It causes heartburn and ulcers.

In fact, a much bigger problem is low stomach acidity, which is many times more common.

The main cause of heartburn in 95% is not an excess, but a lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

A lack of hydrochloric acid creates ideal conditions for the colonization of the intestinal tract by various bacteria, protozoa and worms.

The insidiousness of the situation is that low stomach acidity “behaves quietly” and goes unnoticed by humans.

Here is a list of signs that suggest a decrease in stomach acidity.

• Discomfort in the stomach after eating.
• Nausea after taking medications.
• Flatulence in the small intestine.
• Loose stools or constipation.
• Undigested food particles in the stool.
• Itching around the anus.
• Multiple food allergies.
• Dysbacteriosis or candidiasis.
• Dilated blood vessels on the cheeks and nose.
• Acne.
• Weak, peeling nails.
• Anemia due to poor iron absorption.

Of course, an accurate diagnosis of low acidity requires determining the pH of gastric juice(for this you need to contact a gastroenterologist).

When acidity is high, there are a lot of drugs to reduce it.

In the case of low acidity, there are very few effective remedies.

As a rule, hydrochloric acid preparations or vegetable bitters are used to stimulate the secretion of gastric juice (wormwood, calamus, peppermint, fennel, etc.).

Pancreas - pancreatic juice is slightly alkaline (pH 7.5 - 8.0)

Small intestine - alkaline reaction (pH 8.0)

Normal acidity in the duodenal bulb is 5.6–7.9 pH. The acidity in the jejunum and ileum is neutral or slightly alkaline and ranges from 7 to 8 pH. The acidity of small intestine juice is 7.2–7.5 pH. With increased secretion it reaches 8.6 pH. The acidity of the secretion of the duodenal glands is from pH 7 to 8 pH.

Large intestine - slightly acidic reaction (5.8 - 6.5 pH)

This is a slightly acidic environment, which is maintained by normal microflora, in particular bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and propionobacteria due to the fact that they neutralize alkaline metabolic products and produce their acidic metabolites - lactic acid and other organic acids. By producing organic acids and reducing the pH of the intestinal contents, normal microflora creates conditions under which pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms cannot multiply. This is why streptococci, staphylococci, klebsiella, clostridia fungi and other “bad” bacteria make up only 1% of the entire intestinal microflora of a healthy person.

Urine is predominantly slightly acidic (pH 4.5-8)

When eating foods containing animal proteins containing sulfur and phosphorus, mostly acidic urine (pH less than 5) is excreted; in the final urine there is a significant amount of inorganic sulfates and phosphates. If the food is mainly dairy or vegetable, then the urine tends to become alkalized (pH more than 7). The renal tubules play a significant role in maintaining acid-base balance. Acidic urine will be produced in all conditions leading to metabolic or respiratory acidosis as the kidneys compensate for changes in acid-base status.

Skin - slightly acidic reaction (pH 4-6)

If your skin is prone to oily skin, the pH value may approach 5.5. And if the skin is very dry, the pH can be 4.4.

The bactericidal property of the skin, which gives it the ability to resist microbial invasion, is due to the acidic reaction of keratin, the peculiar chemical composition of sebum and sweat, and the presence on its surface of a protective water-lipid mantle with a high concentration of hydrogen ions. The low molecular weight fatty acids it contains, primarily glycophospholipids and free fatty acids, have a bacteriostatic effect that is selective for pathogenic microorganisms.

Genitals

The normal acidity of a woman's vagina ranges from 3.8 to 4.4 pH and averages 4.0 to 4.2 pH.

At birth, a girl's vagina is sterile. Then, within a few days, it is populated by a variety of bacteria, mainly staphylococci, streptococci, and anaerobes (that is, bacteria that do not require oxygen to live). Before the onset of menstruation, the acidity level (pH) of the vagina is close to neutral (7.0). But during puberty, the walls of the vagina thicken (under the influence of estrogen, one of the female sex hormones), the pH decreases to 4.4 (i.e., acidity increases), which causes changes in the vaginal flora.

The uterine cavity is normally sterile, and the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into it is prevented by lactobacilli that populate the vagina and maintain the high acidity of its environment. If for some reason the acidity of the vagina shifts towards alkaline, the number of lactobacilli drops sharply, and in their place other microbes develop that can enter the uterus and lead to inflammation, and then to problems with pregnancy.

Sperm

The normal acidity level of sperm is between 7.2 and 8.0 pH. An increase in the pH level of sperm occurs during an infectious process. A sharply alkaline reaction of sperm (acidity approximately 9.0–10.0 pH) indicates prostate pathology. When the excretory ducts of both seminal vesicles are blocked, an acidic reaction of the sperm is observed (acidity 6.0–6.8 pH). The fertilizing ability of such sperm is reduced. In an acidic environment, sperm lose motility and die. If the acidity of the seminal fluid becomes less than 6.0 pH, the sperm completely lose their motility and die.

Cells and intercellular fluid

In the cells of the body the pH is about 7, in the extracellular fluid it is 7.4. Nerve endings that are outside cells are very sensitive to changes in pH. When mechanical or thermal damage occurs to tissues, cell walls are destroyed and their contents reach the nerve endings. As a result, the person feels pain.

Scandinavian researcher Olaf Lindahl conducted the following experiment: using a special needle-free injector, a very thin stream of solution was injected through the skin of a person, which did not damage the cells, but acted on the nerve endings. It has been shown that it is hydrogen cations that cause pain, and as the pH of the solution decreases, the pain intensifies.

Similarly, a solution of formic acid, which is injected under the skin by stinging insects or nettles, directly “acts on the nerves.” The different pH values ​​of tissues also explain why with some inflammations a person feels pain, and with others - not.

Interestingly, injecting clean water under the skin produced particularly severe pain. This phenomenon, strange at first glance, is explained as follows: when cells come into contact with clean water as a result of osmotic pressure, they rupture and their contents affect the nerve endings.

Table 1. Hydrogen indicators for solutions

Fish eggs and fry are especially sensitive to changes in pH. The table allows us to make a number of interesting observations. pH values, for example, immediately indicate the relative strength of acids and bases. A strong change in the neutral environment as a result of the hydrolysis of salts formed by weak acids and bases, as well as during the dissociation of acidic salts, is also clearly visible.

Urine pH is not a good indicator of overall body pH, and it is not a good indicator of overall health.

In other words, no matter what you eat and no matter what your urine pH, you can be absolutely sure that your arterial blood pH will always be around 7.4.

When a person consumes, for example, acidic foods or animal protein, under the influence of buffer systems, the pH shifts to the acidic side (becomes less than 7), and when consumed, for example, mineral water or plant foods, it shifts to alkaline (becomes more than 7). Buffer systems keep the pH within the acceptable range for the body.

By the way, doctors claim that we tolerate a shift to the acid side (that same acidosis) much easier than a shift to the alkaline side (alkalosis).

It is impossible to shift the pH of the blood by any external influence.

THE MAIN MECHANISMS FOR MAINTAINING BLOOD PH ARE:

1. Blood buffer systems (carbonate, phosphate, protein, hemoglobin)

This mechanism acts very quickly (fractions of a second) and therefore belongs to the fast mechanisms for regulating the stability of the internal environment.

Bicarbonate blood buffer quite powerful and most mobile.

One of the important buffers of blood and other body fluids is the bicarbonate buffer system (HCO3/CO2): CO2 + H2O ⇄ HCO3- + H+ The main function of the bicarbonate buffer system of the blood is the neutralization of H+ ions. This buffer system plays a particularly important role since the concentrations of both buffer components can be adjusted independently of each other; [CO2] - through respiration, - in the liver and kidneys. Thus, it is an open buffer system.

The hemoglobin buffer system is the most powerful.
It accounts for more than half of the buffer capacity of the blood. The buffering properties of hemoglobin are determined by the ratio of reduced hemoglobin (HHb) and its potassium salt (KHb).

Plasma proteins due to the ability of amino acids to ionize, they also perform a buffer function (about 7% of the buffer capacity of the blood). In an acidic environment they behave as acid-binding bases.

Phosphate buffer system(about 5% of the blood buffer capacity) is formed by inorganic blood phosphates. The properties of an acid are exhibited by monobasic phosphate (NaH 2 P0 4), and the properties of bases are exhibited by dibasic phosphate (Na 2 HP0 4). They function on the same principle as bicarbonates. However, due to the low content of phosphates in the blood, the capacity of this system is small.

2. Respiratory (pulmonary) regulation system.

Because of the ease with which the lungs regulate CO2 concentrations, this system has significant buffering capacity. Removal of excess amounts of CO 2 and regeneration of bicarbonate and hemoglobin buffer systems are carried out by the lungs.

At rest, a person emits 230 ml of carbon dioxide per minute, or about 15 thousand mmol per day. When carbon dioxide is removed from the blood, approximately an equivalent amount of hydrogen ions disappears. Therefore, breathing plays an important role in maintaining acid-base balance. So, if the acidity of the blood increases, then the increase in the content of hydrogen ions leads to an increase in pulmonary ventilation (hyperventilation), while carbon dioxide molecules are excreted in large quantities and the pH returns to normal levels.

An increase in the content of bases is accompanied by hypoventilation, as a result of which the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood increases and, accordingly, the concentration of hydrogen ions, and the shift in the blood reaction to the alkaline side is partially or completely compensated.

Consequently, the external respiration system can quite quickly (within a few minutes) eliminate or reduce pH shifts and prevent the development of acidosis or alkalosis: increasing pulmonary ventilation by 2 times increases the blood pH by about 0.2; reducing ventilation by 25% can reduce pH by 0.3-0.4.

3. Renal (excretory system)

Acts very slowly (10-12 hours). But this mechanism is the most powerful and is able to completely restore the body's pH by removing urine with alkaline or acidic pH values. The participation of the kidneys in maintaining acid-base balance is the removal of hydrogen ions from the body, the reabsorption of bicarbonate from the tubular fluid, the synthesis of bicarbonate when there is a deficiency and removal when there is an excess.

The main mechanisms for reducing or eliminating shifts in blood acid-rich hormone, implemented by kidney nephrons, include acidogenesis, ammoniaogenesis, phosphate secretion and the K+, Ka+ exchange mechanism.

The mechanism for regulating blood pH in the whole organism is the combined action of external respiration, blood circulation, excretion and buffer systems. Thus, if excess anions appear as a result of increased formation of H 2 CO 3 or other acids, they are first neutralized by buffer systems. At the same time, breathing and blood circulation intensify, which leads to an increase in the release of carbon dioxide by the lungs. Non-volatile acids, in turn, are excreted in urine or sweat.

Normally, the pH of the blood can change only for a short time. Naturally, if the lungs or kidneys are damaged, the body’s functional capabilities to maintain pH at the proper level are reduced. If a large number of acidic or basic ions appear in the blood, only buffer mechanisms (without the help of excretion systems) will not keep the pH at a constant level. This leads to acidosis or alkalosis. published

©Olga Butakova “Acid-base balance is the basis of life”