The Effect of Acidic Foods on the Human body - Research Paper Example

The human kidneys are the most important osmoregulatory organ in the body by maintaining the acid-base balance of the body through checking the concentration of the acidic and alkali minerals in fluids of the human body. The normal pH of the human body is 7.3-7.5, below and above this range acidosis (excess of acidic minerals in the human body) and alkalosis (excess of alkaline minerals in the human body) occurs respectively. The amount of pendrin, which is responsible for the transfer of iodine in the in the cells of thyroid also changes due to metabolic acidosis and alkalosis [1]. An acidic pH in body can be a result of emotional stress, toxic overload, and deprivation of oxygen in some cells; however the most common cause of the decrease in pH of the body below the normal range is the excessive use of acidic foods in diet. With the decrease in pH of the body the body starts utilizing the alkaline minerals of the cells resulting in an acidic buildup in the cells which sometimes leads to cancer and severe medical abnormalities in cells. The acidity also increases when the body deposits excess acids into any particular area of the body resulting in the increase of acidity in the cells of that area of the body and thus the cells eventually die or become abnormal by adapting to the acidic environment. These abnormal cells later cause cancer. Thus the development of cancer in the body starts with the intake of acid forming foods containing large amounts of nitrates. The development of cancer due to the intake of acidic foods also passes through leukemia, a condition in which the number of white cells increases and red cells decreases. The various other disastrous effects of the disturbance of acid-base balance include: 1. Decrease in the energy production of cells 2. Decrease in the amount of minerals and nutrients being absorbed by the body 3. The repair of the damaged cells and the detoxification of the various harmful chemicals in the cells become difficult 4. Tumors develop in the various parts of the body 5. The person with an acidic pH in the body feels fatigued and ill which ultimately lead to coma and death in severe cases. The disturbance of acid-base balance of body due to dehydration also causes various diseases [2]. These diseases include diarrhea and dysentery, and the intake of acidic foods contributes to the situation because it adds more acidic minerals to the body fluid. There are some beneficial effects of intake of acidic foods as well. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is known for decreasing the risk of cancer in human body. The cis-9 and trans-11 CLA is reported to have anti-carcinogenic effects whereas cis-10 and trans-12 CLA induces lipogenesis [3]. The most important benefit of these acids is the fact that they do not alter body composition, thus do not have any harmful effects on the body. The roots of the food crops is the very first stage of the path through which acids and heavy metals reach human body because the injurious minerals from the fertilizers travel from the roots of plants and get deposited in the edible parts of plant body [4]. Now the vegetables and foods from plant sources are also being classified as sources of acidic intake because of the unchecked and unprotected use of fertilizers which are very rich in ...Show more