Body pH - Who Should Be Concerned About Maintaining Proper Balance?

The short answer to this question is that everyone should be concerned about maintaining proper body pH. PH hangs in a very delicate balance within our bodies, and when it is off it may mean increased health complications. PH affects the fluids in our body, which are broken down into two categories: intracellular and extracellular. Intracellular fluid, called cytosol, is the fluid within our cells. This fluid makes up almost 2/3 of our total bodily fluid. Extracellular fluid is all fluid outside of the cells, including blood plasma and interstitial fluid that surrounds our tissues and organs. Normal body pH is regulated through alkaline minerals that keep these fluids between 7.35 and 7.45, slightly basic.

We get these minerals through our diet, and daily activity like exercise helps to maintain these mineral levels and grow lean muscle mass. When you have a poor diet or aren't active on a regular basis, your pH can become more acidic, causing your body to borrow minerals from tissues and bones. This "borrowing" can cause fatigue, weak bones, and much more. People who should be especially concerned about maintaining their body pH are those who:

While maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle are important to maintaining a healthy body pH, it can be difficult to do this through food and exercise alone. Supplements containing alkaline minerals like calcium and magnesium are often used as an added precaution.