Psoriasis and pH
Overview
It's probably been a long time since you have thought
about pH, maybe as long ago as high school chemistry class.
If you suffer from psoriasis or other inflammatory conditions,
it may be critical to refamiliarize yourself with the subject.
Numerous researchers have made a connection between pH and
diseases like psoriasis, eczema and acne. Excess acids are
known to irritate the tissues and deplete them of minerals.
In fact, some believe that acidic foods are so detrimental
to our systems that they commonly refer to them as being poisonous![Buy Now]
What is pH?
The abbreviation "pH" simply refers to the measurement
used to determine if a substance is acidic or alkaline. Substances
with a pH of less than 7.0 are considered acidic, and those
with a pH of greater than 7.0 are "basic," or
alkaline. Humans need to maintain a pH ~ 7.4 in order to thrive.
If your body has the mineral reserves that it needs, an 
abundance
of minerals will show up in a saliva pH test (showing a pH
reading of 7.0 to 7.50). A lower saliva pH reading indicates
that mineral reserves are being used to buffer acids elsewhere
in the body. Normal acid excretion through the renal system
(kidneys) gives urine a pH that falls between 6.75 to 7.25.
Urine pH helps to determine whether your body is eliminating
a normal quantity of acids. Since pH test strips are not widely
available at drug stores anymore, DermaHarmony now sells Alkalive
pH Stix (80 strips for $7.99).
The alkalinity or acidity of our system depends largely on
the food we consume. The usual culprits - sugar, coffee,
highly processed foods, some meats, and excessively fatty
foods - raise acid levels (lowering pH). When foods
are digested they leave an "ash"; this residue determines
whether a food is considered acidic or alkaline. Additionally,
stress, depression, and lack of exercise can also cause acid
levels to rise. As with many situations, people often begin
to feel poorly from the increased acidity, stop exercising,
become emotionally negative and perhaps start making poor
food choices, which simply makes the problem worse.
In her book Digestive Wellness, Elizabeth Lipski,
PhD,CCN explains how consuming even one can of soda can drastically
affect pH:
One can of cola contains enough phosphoric acid to
significantly change our pH. The kidneys cannot excrete
urine that is more acidic than about 5.0 without damaging
them or the bladder. The pH of cola is between 2.8 and 3.2,
about a hundred times more acidic than a pH of 5.0. To dilute
this to an appropriate level, you'd need thirty-three
liters of urine. So, the body has another mechanism -
using buffering minerals from elsewhere in the body. If
there are enough reserves, the body will pull sodium and
potassium to do this. If not, it will pull calcium, magnesium
and other minerals from the bones. The amount of minerals
necessary would be the buffering capability of four TUMS.
One can imagine the effects of drinking several cans of
cola or one Big-Gulp daily.
Consider a typical fast food meal, with a large soda, fries
and cheeseburger, combined with the often high levels of stress
experienced on a daily basis, and it's easy to see how
quickly acid levels can rise.
Interestingly, some research indicates that pH levels may
also be affected by seasonal changes. Many patients with eczema
and psoriasis see a marked improvement over the summer months,
only to relapse once winter arrives. There is some evidence
to suggest that the summertime improvement may be related
not only to increased sunlight levels, but increased humidity
and greater water consumption, all of which aid in balancing
acidity and alkalinity.
How does pH affect psoriasis?
As with many other conditions, pH imbalance can have multifold
negative impacts on psoriasis. Organs work harder to balance
the system, stored minerals are used up, toxins are filtered
though the skin to compensate for the workload placed on other
organs, and some researchers believe it may also lead to leaky
gut syndrome. Oftentimes people with a pH imbalance suffer
from joint pain and arthritis as well as skin problems.
Increased acidity in the body may create an environment that
aggravates psoriasis. When the system becomes too acidic,
organs such as the kidneys have to work extra hard to return
the system to more alkaline levels. In order to achieve this,
sodium, potassium and often calcium are utilized, depleting
our mineral reserves. These minerals are often leached from
the bones, and unless foods or supplements containing these
minerals are consumed, mineral stores may remain low or depleted,
which over time can lead to even worse health problems, including
osteoporosis.
If you have read our articles
on toxicity, you already know that increased toxicity
from overtaxed organs can greatly impact inflammatory conditions
like psoriasis. Just to quickly review, when organs like the
kidneys and liver cannot effectively filter toxins from the
blood, other organs like the skin and lungs take over the
job of filtration. When this occurs, toxins, which usually
are excreted through the urine, end up on the surface of the
skin and exacerbate existing conditions like acne, psoriasis,
and eczema. In the instance of an overly acidic system, the
kidneys are working very hard to balance the system, and may
not be effectively doing their job of filtering toxins. This
can compound existing problems of overtoxicity, leading to
systemic problems throughout the body.
For example, an acidic system can lead to leaky gut syndrome,
which many researches consider one of the main driving factors
in increased psoriasis flare-ups. "Leaky gut"
is the term some researchers use to describe a condition where
the intestines actually develop small holes and leak toxins
and particulate food matter back into the system. This is
most often caused by poor dietary choices. The toxins and
particles travel through the system and can cause inflammation
both internally and externally. Read
more about leaky gut.
Use the Alkalive pH Stix to take a saliva pH reading before
and after meals. The pH reading, or alkaline level of your
saliva, should be higher after meals because there is an abundance
of alkalizing minerals in saliva after eating. Test your saliva
~60 minutes after a meal. If your pH level is lower than 6.75,
your alkaline mineral reserves are low. Determine an average
over several days or weeks.
For optimum test results, test the pH of your second urination
in the morning. Most people see urine pH become more alkaline
as the day progresses. Test frequently during the day, and
determine an average. Determine an average pH over several
days or weeks.
Achieving and maintaining optimum pH levels
As mentioned earlier, a pH of ~7.4 is the level essential
to achieve optimum health. Since many factors both within
our control, such as food, or outside our control, such as
changes in the seasons, can contribute to the rise and fall
of acid levels, it's important to get a firm hold on
those factors over which we do have power.
First and foremost, including alkaline-forming foods and
reducing acid-forming foods in the diet is key. In her book, Your Healing Diet, Deidre Earls, RD, LD suggests
the following:
When you are trying to recover naturally from disease,
it is good to have a diet that is ~80% alkaline-forming
and ~20% acid-forming. This is challenging but to the extent
that the vast majority of your diet is built around whole
grains, vegetables and fruits, you will alkalize your system.
This will enhance the ability of your immune system to rid
your body of toxins and create natural healing. After symptoms
are resolved, you still want a majority of your intake to
be alkaline-forming. A general guideline for maintaining
optimum health is ~60% alkaline forming and ~40% acid forming.
A few of the alkalizing foods you may want to eat more of
include:
- Broccoli
- Lentils
- Dark leafy vegetables such as collard and mustard greens
- Molasses
Some highly acidic foods to avoid:
As always, it is important to drink lots of water throughout
the day, not only to flush toxins but to raise alkalinity
as well.
In addition to diet, emotions may play a significant role
in governing pH levels. Negative emotions, stress, and depression
may increase acid levels. In addition to exercise -
preferably outdoors so that you get the benefit of sunlight,
which helps the body to make vitamin D - it is very
beneficial to include activities like yoga, meditation, and t'ai chi in your daily routine.
Through increased exercise, greater awareness of food choices,
and reduction of stress, it is possible to ease the demands
your body places on your renal system (kidneys). Once an optimum
pH level of ~7.4 is achieved, it is a good idea to periodically
test pH levels to make sure they remain within a healthy range.
About DermaHarmony supplements
DermaEssentials™ Skin Care Packs -
Four nutritional formulas in one covenient pack to provide
the nutritional foundation needed to stimulate the healing
process from within. They travel easily, and are to be used
twice daily with meals.
- Multi-Minerals and Vitamins (6 per day)
- Opti-EPA Omega-3 Fish Oils (4 per day)
- Digestive Enzymes (2 per day)
- Multi-Probiotic (2 per day)
In an independent review of 500 supplement products available
in the United States and Canada, the DermaEssentials™
base nutritional formula - prior to the addition of
EPA/DHA concentrated marine fish oil, digestive enzymes, and
the multi-probiotics included in our formula - ranked
higher than 489 other formulas on 14 criteria.
To read more about the excellent base of support we offer,
visit the DermaEssentials™ page. You can try DermaHarmony products risk-free for 37 days.
If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason,
simply return the empty bottles for a full refund of the product
price (less shipping and handling) - no questions asked.
If you would like to speak with one of our Nutrition/Digestive
Health Specialists, call 1-800-827-3730.
Read on for the answers you seek, then give us a call if
you would like additional guidance.
Radiant
skin begins with your diet! - You may be
surprised to learn that what you eat can dramatically affect
the condition of your skin. Perhaps you remember a friend
or family member warning you about chocolate or french fries
causing acne back in high-school, and dismissed it as myth.
In fact, they weren't that far off-base with their warnings!
The role of magnesium on the body’s pH balance. - A simple and effective way to increase alkalinity in our body is to take supplemental magnesium citrate. Within the body, pH balance is readily achieved through alkalinization of magnesium and citrates, which reinforce one another.
Vitamin
D-3 and the skin. Although there is currently
no proven cure for psoriasis, recent research indicates there
are numerous health benefits to vitamin D supplementation,
supporting relief from many inflammatory ailments and medical
conditions. We believe this includes psoriasis!
Your
colon and psoriasis. Recent studies have suggested
that the health of the intestine and colon greatly affects
psoriasis. "Leaky gut," also known as dysbiosis
or intestinal permeability, is often associated with constipation,
diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These imbalances
may not only cause psoriasis to flare up, but also exacerbate
a host of other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. One
chiropractic physician and psoriasis specialist, Dr. John
Pagano, insists that psoriasis originates within the intestinal
tract - and so does its remedy!
How Can We Help?
At DermaHarmony, our goal is to help inform chronic skin care sufferers about their choices, if necessary improve choices, and then support you in any way we can. Our Program supports healthy skin with nutritional supplements, topical treatments and dietary guidance. To learn more about our programs, click here or call us toll-free at 1-800-827-3730. Our Support Desk is open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday.
Our skin assessment is designed to help us get a better understanding of your symptoms and to make diet and lifestyle recommendations for you. It’s super easy and free and only takes about 5 minutes. Take our Skin Assessment.
References:
Earls, D. 2005. Your Healing Diet - A Quick Guide to
Reversing Psoriasis and Chronic Diseases with Healing Foods.
Charleston, SC: BookSurge Publishing.
Hamilton, I., et al. 1985. Small intestinal permeability
in dermatological disease. Q. J. Med., 56 (221), 559-567.
(Accessed electronically July 9, 2006.)
Humbert, P., et al. 1991. Intestinal permeability in patients
with psoriasis. J. Dermatol. Sci., 2 (4), 324-326. (Accessed
July 9, 2006.)
Lipski, E., 2005. Digestive Wellness. NY: McGraw-Hill.
Tucker KL, Hannan MT, Kiel DP. The acid-base hypothesis: diet and bone in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study. Eur J Nutr 2001;40(5):231-237.
BROCQ P, ROTH PC. [Influence of an alkaline diet on the effects of implantation of dihydrofolliculine tablets in the rabbit.]. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil 1955;149(9-10):942-943.
Remer T. Influence of diet on acid-base balance. Semin Dial 2000;13(4):221-226.
Lin SH, Cheema-Dhadli S, Chayaraks S, et al. Physiological disposal of the potential alkali load in diet of the rat: steps to achieve acid-base balance. Am J Physiol 1998;274(6 Pt 2):F1037-F1044.
Kurtz I, Maher T, Hulter HN, et al. Effect of diet on plasma acid-base composition in normal humans. Kidney Int 1983;24(5):670-680.
Lemann J, Jr., Lennon EJ. Role of diet, gastrointestinal tract and bone in acid-base homeostasis. Kidney Int 1972;1(5):275-279.
Zahorska-Markiewicz B, Gonciarz Z, Gibinski K, et al. [Acid-base equilibrium in obese patients treated with reducing diet]. Pol Arch Med Wewn 1972;49(2):151-157.
Czekalski S, Wojtczak A. [Effect of diet with varying protein content on the acid-base equilibrium in liver cirrhosis]. Pol Arch Med Wewn 1972;48(3):241-250.
Principal Authors: K. Kastelein, Editor-in-Chief
& M. Smith, Nurse Practitioner
Date of Publication: 05/23/2007
Updated: 08/26/2009
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