What is Acidosis? What You Need to Know to Keep Yourself Safe
June 18, 2018If you struggle with fatigue, rapid breathing, and bad breath, you’re probably dealing with acidosis. We’re here to help keep the struggle from being real!
Are you dealing with low energy levels, a rapid breathing rate, and bad breath? These seemingly unrelated symptoms are often a sign that something is wrong with your blood: it’s too acidic.
Acidosis Defined
Put simply, acidosis occurs when your body is making too much acid, can’t efficiently get rid of the acid it produces, or doesn’t have enough of an alkaline “base” to offset its normal acid levels. Even seemingly insignificant pH level imbalances can make a difference for your health.
How Acidosis Affects Your Body
Your body deals with acid every day. However, an overproduction of acid can overwhelm your body’s natural processing systems. This forces the acid into short-term storage in organs, glands, and even fat cells until the body can metabolize and eliminate it.
Once acid concentrations overwhelm the body’s control systems, blood becomes more acidic. This triggers irregular actions in the portions of the brain responsible for the respiratory system, which can lead to quicker breathes and more carbon dioxide production.
The kidneys are also affected by acid levels, as they will work extra hard to excrete it through urine, potentially leading to organ failure over time. Because cells can’t function in this high-acid environment, the process will eventually kill them.
What Puts You at Risk for Acidosis?
- Consuming a high fat, high carbohydrate diet
- Eating high amounts of animal products
- Taking in ample amounts of added sugars
- Suffering from kidney problems
- Obesity
- Dehydration
- Diabetes
Common Symptoms of Acidosis
While acidosis symptoms will vary depending on the type you have, common ones include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, shortness of breath, decreased appetite, mental confusion, headaches, jaundice, inexplicable drowsiness, and “fruity-smelling breath” that is a symptom of ketoacidosis (diabetic acidosis).
Best Strategy for Preventing & Treating Acidosis
The best thing you can do for your pH levels is to follow an alkaline diet.
Following an alkaline diet means intentionally filling up on foods with a high pH, like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, green juices, and alkaline water. It also requires that you avoid anything that contains high sodium, is heavily processed, or contains added sugars, refined carbohydrates, fatty meats, excessive caffeine levels, artificial preservatives, and food coloring.
Treat Your Body Better for a Full Acidosis Recovery
Too much acidity can wreak havoc on your internal functioning, but acidosis is far from unavoidable. By following a healthy lifestyle and incorporating more alkaline foods into your diet, you can help keep your pH levels balanced and promote your health.
Address the root causes of your acidosis today, and you’ll be taking the steps you need to get your body back under control.