pH Balance and Psoriasis
pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of a substance (i.e. water, juice, wine, food etc.)
The pH scale ranges between 0 and 14:
- pH 7 = neutral;
- pH below 7 = acidic;
- pH above 7 = alkaline.
Correct pH balance is EXTREMELY important for the correct functioning of our bodies.
Our bodies are designed to operate in an alkaline state, but they also need certain acids to function.
Many chronic diseases are accompanied by an acid body state: autoimmune diseases (i.e. Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis), joints inflammation (i.e. Psoriatic Arthritis) and many others.
The human body functions correctly at a pH that varies in the range from 6.8 to 7.5.
Our diet is usually the main culprit of creating the acidic state in our bodies.
According to one of the Psoriasis Theories, the Toxins and Psoriasis Theory, psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder, directly connected with the pH imbalance of our bodies and digestive tract.
Acidic foods form large amounts of toxins in the body.
Due to the "Leaky Gut Syndrome", present in the people with psoriasis, the toxins find their way through the walls of the intestines of the people with psoriasis into their blood and lymph flow and then get excreted out of the body through the skin. Autoimmune aggression, also present in the people with psoriasis, forces the immune system of the people with psoriasis to start attacking the skin cells, where the toxins were excreted through the skin. Thus the Toxins and Psoriasis Theory explains the appearance of the psoriatic plaques on the skin of the people with psoriasis, at the spots where the toxins are excreted through their skin.
A renowned osteopath John O. A. Pagano, D.C. has come up with a solution to the above described problem. So what does Pagano propose in order to fix that? He proposes a rather strict diet with eliminating various Acid-forming foods, in order to stop the formation of the toxins in the body.
1. Acid-forming Foods:
- Proteins (pork, beef, chicken, ham, turkey etc.); grains; coffee and tea; eggs; beer, wine and sodas; most breads, spaghettis and pastas, refined rice, sugar and chocolate.
2. Mostly neutral Foods:
- Dairy foods, potatoes and onions
3. Alkali-forming Foods:
- Fruits, vegetables, beans and soy.
Pagano considers dairy foods and potatoes also unsafe for a person with psoriasis.
Therefore Doctor Pagano suggests eliminating the Acid-forming Foods, reducing the Neutral Foods and sticking mainly to the Alkali-forming foods.
The above is a very short overview about Pagano's diet; in order to find out the exact scheme by Doctor Pagano, you might have to purchase one of his books on psoriasis treatment.
Pagano's diet is too harsh for most people - I personally find it to be too harsh for me. Not only you should avoid the most often foods (i.e., meat, sugar, cheese, bread etc.), but you should also limit certain combinations of the "permitted" food products.
Pagano's diet shows tremendous results in the people with psoriasis, who can stick to this diet.
On the next page I will explain, what Apple Cider Vinegar can do to improve the pH Balance.
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