If you are following the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, then you are familiar with the acid/alkaline balance to build your bones. The basic idea is to balance your meals and snacks so that you consume 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods. Maintaining this balance is crucial for increasing and maintaining bone density. But did you ever stop to think about how your body maintains its pH? It’s really quite interesting!
Acidic vs. Alkaline Body Environment: Why Does It Matter?
An acid is a substance that neutralizes alkalis and can dissolve some metals. In other words, acid is corrosive, and it neutralizes alkalis.
While some acids are stronger than others, these characteristics are fundamental to the nature of acid in general. When your body is acidic, the acidic environment must be neutralized by the dissolution of alkalis.
Quoting from the Osteoporosis Reversal Program:
“The blood, lymph and cerebral spinal fluid in the human body are designed to be slightly alkaline at a pH between 7.35 and 7.45.”
When you eat acid-forming foods, your body uses the available alkalis to neutralize the acidic environment in order to maintain the desirable pH. This process is called buffering. Unfortunately, some of these “available alkalis” are key minerals like calcium that are in your bones, or in your blood from diet or supplements. To neutralize the acid, once the circulating alkaline reserves are depleted, these minerals are pulled or leached out of the bones, or they’re intercepted to buffer the acid before they even get to your bones.
When it comes to these acid-alkaline reactions in the body…
Your Kidneys Do The Lion’s Share
Your kidneys are vital in maintaining the acid-alkaline balance because they are responsible for filtering out the excess acid from your system. They also reabsorb alkalizing bicarbonate from the urine. A constant load of acid caused by the typical American diet (and other diets around the world) means that these vital organs have to work very hard to remove it.
Our kidneys tend to get less efficient as we age, so a high-acid-forming diet combined with age sets the stage for compromised kidneys and continually high acid levels in the body. “The higher the acid load and the older you are, the worse your kidney function is and the higher the body’s acid level [that] is maintained,” study author Lynda Frassetto wrote.1
This is why even if you’re following a pH-balanced diet…
Keeping Your Kidneys In Top Shape is Vital To Your Bone Health
Eating an acid-alkaline balanced diet is the first key step to relieving your kidneys of their work overload to get rid of the acid. But there’s another (unfortunately) common condition that can damage your kidneys, which means that it’s also detrimental to your bones. And that condition is…
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood against blood vessel walls. If this pressure is high, it results in damage to various blood vessels – including those in the kidneys. When the kidneys can’t do their job, excess acid, toxins, wastes, and fluid are not removed properly and therefore accumulate in the body. The resulting excess fluid increases blood pressure, so it’s a cyclic process.
High blood pressure is so hard on the kidneys that it causes more than 25,000 cases of kidney failure each year in the US alone.2
Thus, managing high blood pressure and keeping your kidneys in tip-top shape are crucial to the health of your bones.
Controlling Blood Pressure Is Another Key To Bone Health
“Savers” know that at Save Our Bones, we explore and research drug-free alternatives to improve bone health. Thankfully, there are drug-free, natural approaches to managing high blood pressure. In fact, studies have shown that…
Vitamin C, A Foundation Supplement, Helps Control Blood Pressure
According to a 2012 study, increased intake of Vitamin C, with dosages as low as 500 mg, has been associated with lower blood pressure.3 Since Vitamin C is a Foundation Supplement in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, when you follow the Program you’re a step ahead.
How To Restore Kidney Function
If you're ready to reverse age-related and environmental kidney function decline, the good news is that you can “fast track” your body’s ability to heal itself and grow stronger bones.
That's why I created the Osteoporosis Fresh Start Cleanse: The 7-Day Bone Building Accelerator.
The Osteoporosis Fresh Start Cleanse is a seven-day plan, uniquely designed to promote bone health and protect kidney function. When followed, it will help flush out the toxins in your body to keep your kidneys operating at their optimum levels.
If you want maximum benefit from your bone-building efforts, you simply must flush out the dangerous chemicals and toxins that are standing in your way. A very powerful daily habit (it’s not hard) that can help keep your kidneys and liver operating at their optimum levels.
Following the Osteoporosis Fresh Start Cleanse is especially important if you've ever taken any prescription osteoporosis drugs and would like to cleanse your liver and kidneys thereby accelerating your bone building efforts.
Learn More About The Osteoporosis Fresh Start Cleanse Now →
References
1 Frassetto, Lynda, MD. “Acid-base, diet, and preventing ‘age-related’ dysfunction of bone, muscle, kidney, and cardiovascular system.” 7 Oct. 2009. p. 9. PDF file.
2 United States Renal Data System. USRDS 2007 Annual Data Report. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007.
3 Juraschek, Stephen P., et al. “Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. April 2012, doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.027995. Web. https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/95/5/1079.full
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Dear Margaret,
Please check your email inbox within the next 24-48 hours for an email addressing your concerns.
We’re thrilled to help you!Customer Support
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I found that the comment on beet juice was interesting and might be helpful to me. My blood pressure has gone up recently and I was wondering what I could do to lower it !
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Most certainly give beets a try. And you’ll be glad to know that among their many health benefits, beets also contain betalains, unique pigments that support what is known as Phase 2 detoxification. This metabolic step is how cells get rid of unwanted toxins. It involves an enzyme that catalyzes a critical step of this process, and betalains trigger this specific enzyme activity.
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I was on actonel, forteo, fosamax and miacalcin spray in the late 1990’s and 2007 , I am always worried if it has left my system. I went off the last one which was forteo, I was on it for 2 years, and it literally did NOTHING for my bone density !
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I have extreme osteoporosis and my doctor is encouraging me to have a Reclast infusion. I am not sure I am comfortable with this after reading so much about the risks and possible side effects. I am 75 and in very good health despite the bone loss. One lobe of my thyroid was removed more than 20 years ago and I have been on Synthroid. I had colon cancer when I was 49 and a portion of my colon was removed. I was on chemo 1 day a week for a year. That was 26 years ago. In my reading it seems to indicate that having had thyroid surgery or a portion of your intestine removed could lead to greater risk. I am very active, swim, surf, hike and am raising my 2 grandsons. My doctor says that because I am so active I could never cope with a broken hip. I don’t think I could cope with some of the risks of Reclast, either. Any comments that might help me make up my mind?
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Thanks for sharing your story. At the Save Institute, we never recommend osteoporosis drugs, Kathleen. You can learn more about Reclast by clicking the links to the articles below, You’ll see that Reclast can cause renal failure, among many other undesirable side effects:
https://saveourbones.com/negative-side-effects-of-reclast/
https://saveourbones.com/reclast-kidney-failure-alert/
I hope you’ll choose a natural path to support your bones.
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Kathleen, I would never go on recLast. My Dr wanted me to go on prolia and I said no way. I had a hairline hip fracture in 2015 and I still say its from being on those awful drugs . Good luck to you
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DO NOT HAVE THIS INFUSION!
Four years after one infusion I am still having recurring agony in my hip which cannot be explained. Perhaps it is the Illopsoas muscle which makes movement so painful. Two teeth recently developed cracks and are being repaired currently and it is “ditto ” to many of the other symptoms.
Aclasta is not even listed on my medical records as an allergy or adverse reaction.
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Thank you Vivian, I allwais take care of my kidneys, I sufer alot from this, I Take Cran Actin, Cranbery estract,And Parley, paerejil, aev ery day… Con carino, Josie
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You’re on the right track for your kidneys 🙂
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Good info. Fortunately my blood pressure and kidneys are in good shape. I do take Vitamin C at times. I also take various herbs, safe herbs and rotate them. Again I am thankful to God for these blessings
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I love your positive attitude, Faye. Just keep in mind that Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, and therefore, you should take it every day.
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Appreciated the article immensely! Thanks much.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Vivian: Any comments on using fresh red beet juice for naturally lowering blood pressure. Taste is not the greatest, but one can also add fresh celery juice to improve the taste. Since I started drinking this (8oz. glass per day, my blood pressure has dropped significantly.
Regards
Brigitte-
That’s a great way to manage your blood pressure, Briggite!
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Thanks,
Shula
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My pleasure!
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Thank you for the Osteoporosis Reversal Program. I have used it for several years. It
Works, to be proactive in your health care is wonderful. I really appreciate all
Extra information you give us. Please keep it up.
Joyce-
You are most welcome, Joyce. Please keep tuning in and contributing! We’re glad you enjoy the information, and we also appreciate your input. 🙂
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Dear Vivian,
I follow Save Our Bones as faithfully as I can. Disaster struck last week as I was on holiday and, much as I tried, could not do the 80% alka/20% acid.
I now have Acid Reflux which is very painful.I’m trying to eat 100% alka. to get back to normal, but it’s difficult.
I would be grateful for any advice on how to get properly rid of this condition and the pain that it causes.
Sincerely,
Helen.-
I understand, Helen – reflux is a problem! I used to suffer from it, too, but it disappeared when I went on the Program. 🙂 I addressed this issue in Question #7 of this “Vivian Answers” post. You might like to check it out!
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I’d like to balance the Ph of my body. I don’t know how much acidic and alkaline food should I eat. Please help!
Thanks-
Vivian,
I love all of your articles. I gain so much knowledge because of you .
Thank you so much ! -
Maria, the Osteoporosis Reversal Program tells you just that! It has an extensive list of foods and their alkaline/acidic properties, and a Recipe Sampler as well. 🙂 Check it out!
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Very interesting….I had high blood pressure but with exercise I was able to bring it back under control….although it has been more stable since I started SOB program. I am fascinated with the correlation of the kidneys and Vit c. My mom lost the use of her kidneys due to a cholesterol med so I am diligent about taking care of my kidneys. Thank for the additional information. After thinking this through, it appears to me that a “normal acidic diet” that is in our faces all the time in ads and so on is the main reason for acid re-flux problems. Which I don’t have any more…Thank you Vivian, You really are so refreshing!!!
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Terry, It’s wonderful to hear how your overall health has improved while on the Program! 🙂 You are right – the acidic diet is all around us. The fact that you are aware of it puts you light years ahead of the majority!
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Vivian,
In reading the info on Ultimate BP, I cannot determine if the vitamin K2 within the supplement is M4 or M7. Can you clarify that for us?
Many thanks.-
The Vitamin K is the 7.
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Thank you,Ita.
Hello Vivian – thank you for all your information and I have followed your programme for the past 20 years . I have very poor bone density -3T and discover last week that two vertebrae in the lumber region have fractured and knitted together, crookedly, to catch sciatic nerve- consultant says becasue of osteoporosis. I am under extreme pressure from the medical profession to accept injections. The use of romosozumab has just been passed by NICE -our medical governing body. It appears to build bone – any advice, please thank you Margaret I’m 78 but always very active ,playing tennis until the fracture.