The Case:  Elody is not feeling well. She has aches and pains as well as digestive issues. She also has dull hair and skin.  She read about the benefits of an alkaline diet and started taking baking soda and drinking alkalized water but it made her feel worse.    The Investigation There are many studies that support having a more alkaline diet and encourage people to support this diet with sodium bicarbonate. On the surface, it might seem like a good idea. I suspected Elody was on the right track trying to adjust her pH levels but I also knew the mystery ran a bit deeper than that.  To fully understand the intricacies of finding the perfect internal pH balance, I’m excited to welcome one of the most respected experts on the topic.  Dr. Russell Jaffe has been searching for answers in health care (not sick-care) for the past 30 years. In his global search for insights, he’s developed a deep understanding of the importance of measuring and correcting the body’s pH levels.    The Role of pH in Health The body’s pH levels are reflected in the venous and arterial blood, and in the cells themselves. The range of pH is broad (0-12) but the healthy human range is just on the alkaline side of neutral. A chance in pH by as little as 1/100 of a pH unit can have a profound effect on human health. So, even tiny changes in pH can result in significant shifts in how well we feel. Staying inside the healthy pH range is getting harder and harder in our modern culture.  Does Taking Baking Soda Help Your pH Levels (by Increasing Alkaline Levels)? Dr. Jaffe says the science makes sense but in practice, this is a silly approach. Taking bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate will disrupt the natural (and necessary) acidity of the stomach. This can lead to serious digestive issues.    The Healthy Way to Alkalize the Body  Dr. Jaffe explains that the only way to biologically alkalize the body is to: Take in minerals, particularly magnesium and  potassium in ways that  the body can absorb and retain Reduce the metabolic acid production by reducing toxin exposure, reducing stress (and distress) levels, and improving your nutritional competence.    Symptoms of Low pH Levels There are a variety of symptoms that could indicate a low pH (below 6.5) including feeling stressed out, hopeless, or helpless. Fatigue, dehydration, and poor digestion can also be symptoms. Even a desire to drink alcohol can be an indication of a low body pH.    Symptoms of High pH Levels Being over-alkaline has negative health effects too. Being in this state for an extended time is called catabolic illness. In this state, the body starts to use amino acids for energy which means the body starters to break down lean muscle to use as fuel. This produces extra ammonia which ends up in the urine. This stress-related disorder is reversible if you are proactive in restoring the neural hormonal immune defence and repair, and digestive competencies that have been eroded.    Testing Your pH Levels It can be difficult to tell if you’re pH is out of balance (too acidic or too alkaline) without testing. Testing does not require a lab. Dr. Jaffe suggests doing a daily pH level test first thing in the morning and keeping a log to track your balance. The test is a urine test that can be done at home. Dr. Jaffe recommends testing your first urination of the day by peeing on a pH paper strip or dipping the strip in a clean cup of urine.  The strip will change color. If you have an excess of metabolic acids, your pH will be below 6.5 and the strip will turn a sandy-red. If you are in optimal range (6.5-7.5) the strip will turn green. If you are above 7.5 consistently, you may have catabolic illness which should be addressed.  Dr. Jaffe recommends using the 5.5-8 range strips because that’s the biological pH paper.    Restoring the pH Balance The best way to reset the body’s pH levels is through diet. Here is a chart that identifies foods that can help shift the balance. While