|
We discuss pH in much more detail in other areas of the biomedx website, but right now we'll just give a brief glance at the role pH balance plays in osteoporosis. This is a very simplistic discussion.
As a part of normal metabolism, the body produces acids. When the body has an excess of acid it can't get rid of at the moment (due to acid excess or a lack of alkaline reserve minerals), the acid can get stored. Where does it get stored? Mostly in the interstitial spaces, also called the extracellular matrix - this is the space around the cells. As way of illustration, it can be said that when the body stores this acid in the extracellular matrix, it believes that one day, the acid is going to be removed. Therefore, in order to be in balance, it knows that for every molecule of acid that gets stored in the tissues, an equal molecule of bicarbonate or base substance needs to be put into the blood because one day it will need to escort the acid out of the body. This is the body's amazing compensatory mechanism at work. What we see here is the pH interplay between the blood and the tissues. If the body has an acid overload, it stores the acid in the tissues (the tissue pH decreases) and the blood compensates and becomes alkaline (the blood pH increases).
As the body degenerates further into ill health, the blood pH often will turn from it's overly alkaline condition and then start to move down. When that happens, the body is losing it's compensatory mechanisms. If the proper intensive intervention is not engaged, physical death will often ensue. But before that happens….
As more acid accumulates in our body, it gets stored and pushed further, and ultimately it can get pushed into the cell. When it gets pushed into the cell, the first thing it does is displace POTASSIUM and then MAGNESIUM and then SODIUM.
Wow. Those are three critical minerals in our body. The potassium and magnesium will leave the body. As potassium leaves it needs phosphate in the process and the body will get that from bone, the result is calcium is released and ends up as free calcium in the system. (As a preservation mechanism the sodium will be retained through the operation of the kidney). This calcium leaving the bone as phosphate is released to bind with potassium is something you don't want and it is a big part of what's behind osteoporosis, arthritic pain, etc. It is brought about by the body compensating for an ever increasing tissue acidosis and potassium loss somewhere in the body. What you might not want to do in this case is take more calcium supplements that won't be utilized down at the cellular level. With that said, you can now understand why most generic calcium products, antacids, etc. are one of the most over-prescribed supplements. In these situations what the body really needs is more of the right minerals to put potassium back in its place, more magnesium, and possibly zinc - like zinc picolinate - which lends help to the whole digestion process for making adequate levels of HCL in the gut so minerals can be broken down to begin with when you eat.
With a good understanding of the pH interplay in the body, natural answers can be derived for good health, including good bone health.
pH is not the whole story.
As mentioned earlier, this discussion would be very simplistic. Your body has specific homeostatic regulators that keep everything working and in balance. pH is but one--though a most important one. Another would be your sympathetic vs. parasympathetic system in relationship to your oxidative rate (how you metabolize food/nutrients). For some individuals with osteoporosis as mentioned above, calcium would be a secondary concern and more important might be potassium, magnesium, manganese, etc. How one breaks down their nutrients (fast oxidizers vs. slow oxidizers) would give another indication of which mineral supplements might be more important for osteoporosis management.
When you embark on your endeavor to manage osteoporosis risk, it is important that you consult a medical doctor or other healthcare provider that has your biological individuality in mind. These individuals rarely (if ever) prescribe pharmaceutical drugs with potential health harming side effects. These naturally oriented providers have a better understanding of basic nutritional concepts, natural osteoporosis management, metabolic typing and nutrient needs per individual requirements, along with other health supporting concepts.
|
|
