Should I aim to eat a more alkaline diet when I have Crohn's Disease?

We hear many things about how dangerous being acidic is, and many patients ask me if it is true or not. Should I try to be more alkaline they ask? I think the answer to that question is yes and this explains my reasons why!

​So please read about the dangers of being too acidic and how you can find that balance by changing your diet. You will improve your health as a result of these changes. 

8 Benefits of Having a Balanced Body pH:

• Good digestion
• Reduction of candida (yeast) overgrowth
• Deeper more restful sleep
• Abundant physical energy
• Suffer from fewer colds, headaches, flu viruses
• Increased mental acuity, mental alertness
• Less arthritis
• Won’t support osteoporosis

Did you know that the water fish swim in needs to be the correct pH for them to live? Also, plants flourish when the soil is at the right pH level. Life only exists where there’s a balance, and your body is regulated by pH!  Are you too acidic?

Check Out This List of Symptoms of Being Too Acidic

Digestive issues:

• Excess stomach acid
• Acid reflux
• Gastritis
• Ulcers
• Saliva acidic

Unhealthy Skin, Nails and Hair:

• Nails are thin and break easily
• Dry skin
• Cracks at the corners of the lips
• Hair is dull with split ends, and falls out
• Hives
• Very pale face

Teeth and Mouth Issues:

• Loose teeth
• Teeth sensitive to hot, cold, or acidic foods
• Teeth have a tendency to crack or chip
• Sensitive gums
• Mouth ulcers
• Infections in throat and tonsils
• Tooth nerve pain

Eyes, Head and General Body:

• Headaches
• Low body temperature (feels cold)
• Tendency to get infections
• Leg cramps and spasms
• Eyes tear easily, conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelids and corneas

Nerves and Emotions:

• Low energy; constant fatigue
• Being continually depressed with a loss of joy and enthusiasm
• Excessive nervousness

If you are in an overly acidic condition, you can weaken the body, and it can become dangerous. Our body requires a slightly alkaline state to function well. Blood, for example, needs to be 7.4 pH.  A shift in blood pH of just 0.2 can result in death.  The body does not want to die, and because it is smarter, then we realise it compensates for this. It is forced to borrow minerals (calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium) from vital organs and bones to neutralise the acid.  A condition of high acidity may go undetected for years, causing the body to suffer prolonged damage. 

So How Do We Balance Our pH?

Our typical diet consists mostly of acidifying foods (proteins, cereals, sugars).  Alkaline foods such as fruits and vegetables are often eaten in much smaller quantities; not enough to neutralise the excess of acidifying foods we consume.  Also having Crohn's disease makes this more difficult as well as sometimes the food we should eat is not the food we can tolerate comfortably. Also, our bad habits like tobacco, coffee, tea and alcohol are extremely acidifying.

Our body is approximately 20 percent acidic and 80 percent alkaline, and it is recommended that we consume approximately 20 percent acidic foods and 80 percent alkaline foods.

The acid in the acid/alkaline balance is not the same as stomach acid. A healthy stomach pH is acidic, which is necessary for digesting food. What we are discussing here is the pH of the body’s fluids, cells and tissues.  Alkalinity is also more about what happens AFTER digestions.  For example, lemons and oranges are considered acidic, but after digestion, they supply alkaline minerals to the body.  

So your diet needs to be reasonably alkaline – for it to be energising and to get all the benefits mentioned above. Diet is the safest way to balance your acidity.  If your diet is not what it should be, you can also add alkaline water.   ​   ​

If you have any more questions then please free to email me at mycrohnsdoctor@gmail.com or visit my Facebook Page at My Crohn's Doctor.

Yours in Health and Wellness
Dr Michael     

​My Crohn's Doctor
www.mycrohnsdoctor.com

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This article (including links to any/all website pages, blog posts, blog comments, forum, videos, audio recordings, etc.) is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Information is provided for informational  purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have an urgent medical problem, promptly contact your  professional healthcare provider. Any application of the recommendations in this email is at the reader's discretion. My Crohn's Doctor and Dr Michael are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this email. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this article.