Acidity(lat. aciditas) - characteristic of the activity of hydrogen ions in solutions and liquids.

In medicine, the acidity of biological fluids (blood, urine, gastric juice and others) is a diagnostically important parameter of the patient’s health status. In gastroenterology, for the correct diagnosis of a number of diseases, for example, the esophagus and stomach, a one-time or even average acidity value is not significant. Most often, it is important to understand the dynamics of changes in acidity during the day (night acidity often differs from daytime) in several zones of the organ. Sometimes it is important to know the change in acidity as a reaction to certain irritants and stimulants.

pH value

In solutions, inorganic substances: salts, acids and alkalis are separated into their constituent ions. In this case, hydrogen ions H + are carriers of acidic properties, and OH − ions are carriers of alkaline properties. In highly dilute solutions, the acidic and alkaline properties depend on the concentrations of H + and OH − ions. In ordinary solutions, acidic and alkaline properties depend on the activities of the ions a H and a OH, that is, on the same concentrations, but adjusted for the activity coefficient γ, which is determined experimentally. For aqueous solutions, the equilibrium equation applies: a H × a OH = K w, where K w is a constant, the ionic product of water (K ​​w = 10 − 14 at a water temperature of 22 °C). From this equation it follows that the activity of hydrogen ions H + and the activity of OH − ions are interconnected. Danish biochemist S.P.L. Sørensen proposed a hydrogen show in 1909 pH, equal by definition to the decimal logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions, taken with a minus (Rapoport S.I. et al.):

pH = - log (a N).

Based on the fact that in a neutral environment a H = a OH and from the equality for pure water at 22 °C: a H × a OH = K w = 10 − 14, we obtain that the acidity of pure water at 22 °C (then there is neutral acidity) = 7 units. pH.

Solutions and liquids with respect to their acidity are considered:

• neutral at pH = 7
• acidic at pH< 7
• alkaline at pH > 7

Some misconceptions

If one of the patients says that he has “zero acidity,” then this is nothing more than a turn of phrase, meaning, most likely, that he has a neutral acidity value (pH = 7). In the human body, the acidity value cannot be less than 0.86 pH. It is also a common misconception that acidity values ​​can only range from 0 to 14 pH. In technology, the acidity indicator can be negative or greater than 20.

When talking about the acidity of an organ, it is important to understand that acidity can often differ significantly in different parts of the organ. The acidity of the contents in the lumen of the organ and the acidity on the surface of the mucous membrane of the organ are also often not the same. It is typical for the mucous membrane of the body of the stomach that the acidity on the surface of the mucus facing the lumen of the stomach is 1.2–1.5 pH, and on the side of the mucus facing the epithelium it is neutral (7.0 pH).

pH value for some foods and water

The table below shows the acidity values ​​of some common foods and pure water at different temperatures:

Product	Acidity, units pH
Lemon juice	2,1
Wine	3,5
Tomato juice	4,1
Orange juice	4,2
Black coffee	5,0
Pure water at 100 °C	6,13
Pure water at 50 °C	6,63
Fresh milk	6,68
Pure water at 22 °C	7,0
Pure water at 0°C	7,48

Acidity and Digestive Enzymes

Many processes in the body are impossible without the participation of special proteins - enzymes, which catalyze chemical reactions in the body without undergoing chemical transformations. The digestive process is not possible without the participation of a variety of digestive enzymes, which break down various organic food molecules and act only in a narrow range of acidity (different for each enzyme). The most important proteolytic enzymes (break down food proteins) of gastric juice: pepsin, gastrixin and chymosin (rennin) are produced in an inactive form - in the form of proenzymes and are later activated by hydrochloric acid of gastric juice. Pepsin is most active in a strongly acidic environment, with a pH of 1 to 2, gastrixin has maximum activity at pH 3.0–3.5, chymosin, which breaks down milk proteins into insoluble casein protein, has maximum activity at pH 3.0–3.5 .

Proteolytic enzymes secreted by the pancreas and “acting” in the duodenum: trypsin has an optimum action in a slightly alkaline environment, at pH 7.8–8.0; chymotrypsin, which is close to it in functionality, is most active in an environment with an acidity of up to 8.2. The maximum activity of carboxypeptidases A and B is 7.5 pH. Similar maximum values ​​are found for other enzymes that perform digestive functions in the slightly alkaline environment of the intestine.

Reduced or increased acidity relative to the norm in the stomach or duodenum, thus, leads to a significant decrease in the activity of certain enzymes or even their exclusion from the digestive process, and, as a consequence, to digestive problems.

Acidity of saliva and oral cavity

The acidity of saliva depends on the rate of salivation. Typically, the acidity of mixed human saliva is 6.8–7.4 pH, but with high salivation rates it reaches 7.8 pH. The acidity of the saliva of the parotid glands is 5.81 pH, of the submandibular glands - 6.39 pH.

In children, on average, the acidity of mixed saliva is 7.32 pH, in adults - 6.40 pH (Rimarchuk G.V. et al.).

The acidity of dental plaque depends on the condition of the hard tissues of the teeth. Being neutral in healthy teeth, it shifts to the acidic side, depending on the degree of development of caries and the age of adolescents. In 12-year-old adolescents with the initial stage of caries (precaries), the acidity of dental plaque is 6.96 ± 0.1 pH, in 12–13-year-old adolescents with average caries, the acidity of dental plaque is from 6.63 to 6.74 pH, in 16 -year-old adolescents with superficial and medium caries, the acidity of dental plaque is, respectively, 6.43 ± 0.1 pH and 6.32 ± 0.1 pH (Krivonogova L.B.).

Acidity of the secretion of the pharynx and larynx

The acidity of the secretion of the pharynx and larynx in healthy people and patients with chronic laryngitis and pharyngolaryngeal reflux is different (A.V. Lunev):

Groups of surveyed	pH measurement location
	Pharynx, units pH	Larynx, units pH
Healthy faces
Patients with chronic laryngitis without GERD		The figure above shows a graph of acidity in the esophagus of a healthy person, obtained using intragastric pH-metry (Rapoport S.I.). The graph clearly shows gastroesophageal refluxes - sharp decreases in acidity to 2-3 pH, which in this case are physiological. Acidity in the stomach. High and low acidity The maximum observed acidity in the stomach is 0.86 pH, which corresponds to an acid production of 160 mmol/l. The minimum acidity in the stomach is 8.3 pH, which corresponds to the acidity of a saturated solution of HCO 3 - ions. Normal acidity in the lumen of the body of the stomach on an empty stomach is 1.5–2.0 pH. The acidity on the surface of the epithelial layer facing the lumen of the stomach is 1.5–2.0 pH. The acidity in the depths of the epithelial layer of the stomach is about 7.0 pH. Normal acidity in the antrum of the stomach is 1.3–7.4 pH. The cause of many diseases of the digestive tract is an imbalance in the processes of acid production and acid neutralization. Long-term hypersecretion of hydrochloric acid or lack of acid neutralization, and, as a consequence, increased acidity in the stomach and/or duodenum, causes so-called acid-dependent diseases. Currently, these include: peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive and ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum while taking aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, gastritis and gastroduodenitis with high acidity and others. Reduced acidity is observed with anacid or hypoacid gastritis or gastroduodenitis, as well as with stomach cancer. Gastritis (gastroduodenitis) is called anacid or gastritis (gastroduodenitis) with low acidity if the acidity in the body of the stomach is approximately 5 units or more. pH. The cause of low acidity is often atrophy of parietal cells in the mucous membrane or disturbances in their functions. Above is a graph of the acidity (daily pH gram) of the body of the stomach of a healthy person (dashed line) and a patient with a duodenal ulcer (solid line). Moments of eating are marked with arrows labeled “Food”. The graph shows the acid-neutralizing effect of food, as well as increased stomach acidity with duodenal ulcer (Yakovenko A.V.). Acidity in the intestines Normal acidity in the duodenal bulb is 5.6–7.9 pH. The acidity in the jejunum and ileum is neutral or slightly alkaline and ranges from 7 to 8 pH. The acidity of small intestine juice is 7.2–7.5 pH. With increased secretion it reaches 8.6 pH. The acidity of the secretion of the duodenal glands is from pH 7 to 8 pH. Measuring point Point number in the figure Acidity, units pH Proximal sigmoid colon 7 7.9±0.1 Middle sigmoid colon 6 7.9±0.1 Distal sigmoid colon 5 8.7±0.1 Supraampullary rectum 4 8.7±0.1 Upper ampullary rectum 3 8.5±0.1 Mid-ampullary rectum 2 7.7±0.1 Inferior ampullary rectum 1 7.3±0.1 Stool acidity The acidity of the feces of a healthy person eating a mixed diet is determined by the vital activity of the colon microflora and is equal to 6.8–7.6 pH. Stool acidity is considered normal in the range from 6.0 to 8.0 pH. The acidity of meconium (original feces of newborns) is about 6 pH. Deviations from the norm for stool acidity: sharply acidic (pH less than 5.5) occurs with fermentative dyspepsia acidic (pH from 5.5 to 6.7) may be due to impaired absorption of fatty acids in the small intestine alkaline (pH from 8.0 to 8.5) may be due to the rotting of food proteins not digested in the stomach and small intestine and inflammatory exudate as a result of activation of putrefactive microflora and the formation of ammonia and other alkaline components in the large intestine sharply alkaline (pH more than 8.5) occurs with putrefactive dyspepsia (colitis) Blood acidity The acidity of human arterial blood plasma ranges from 7.37 to 7.43 pH, averaging 7.4 pH. The acid-base balance in human blood is one of the most stable parameters, maintaining acidic and alkaline components in a certain balance within very narrow limits. Even a small shift from these limits can lead to severe pathology. When shifting to the acidic side, a condition called acidosis occurs, and to the alkaline side, alkolosis occurs. A change in blood acidity above 7.8 pH or below 6.8 pH is incompatible with life. The acidity of venous blood is 7.32–7.42 pH. The acidity of red blood cells is 7.28–7.29 pH. Acidity of urine In a healthy person with a normal drinking regime and a balanced diet, the acidity of urine is in the range from 5.0 to 6.0 pH, but can range from 4.5 to 8.0 pH. The acidity of the urine of a newborn under the age of one month is normal - from 5.0 to 7.0 pH. The acidity of urine increases if a person’s diet is dominated by meat foods rich in proteins. Heavy physical work increases the acidity of urine. A dairy-vegetable diet causes urine to become slightly alkaline. An increase in urine acidity is observed with increased stomach acidity. Reduced acidity of gastric juice does not affect the acidity of urine. A change in urine acidity most often corresponds to a change. The acidity of urine changes with many diseases or conditions of the body, so determining the acidity of urine is an important diagnostic factor. Vaginal acidity The normal acidity of a woman's vagina ranges from 3.8 to 4.4 pH and averages 4.0 to 4.2 pH. Vaginal acidity in various diseases: cytolytic vaginosis: acidity less than 4.0 pH normal microflora: acidity from 4.0 to 4.5 pH candidal vaginitis: acidity from 4.0 to 4.5 pH Trichomonas colpitis: acidity from 5.0 to 6.0 pH bacterial vaginosis: acidity greater than 4.5 pH atrophic vaginitis: acidity greater than 6.0 pH aerobic vaginitis: acidity greater than 6.5 pH Lactobacilli (lactobacillus) and, to a lesser extent, other representatives of normal microflora are responsible for maintaining an acidic environment and suppressing the growth of opportunistic microorganisms in the vagina. In the treatment of many gynecological diseases, restoration of the lactobacilli population and normal acidity comes to the fore. Publications for healthcare professionals addressing the issue of acidity in the female genital organs Murtazina Z.A., Yashchuk G.A., Galimov R.R., Dautova L.A., Tsvetkova A.V. Office diagnostics of bacterial vaginosis using hardware topographic pH-metry. Russian Bulletin of Obstetrician-Gynecologist. 2017;17(4): 54-58. Yashchuk A.G., Galimov R.R., Murtazina Z.A. A method for express diagnostics of disorders of vaginal biocenosis using hardware topographic pH-metry. Patent RU 2651037 C1. Gasanova M.K. Modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of serozometra in postmenopause. Abstract of dissertation. PhD, 14.00.01 - obstetrics and gynecology. RMAPO, Moscow, 2008. Sperm acidity The normal acidity level of sperm is between 7.2 and 8.0 pH. Deviations from these values ​​are not in themselves considered pathology. At the same time, in combination with other deviations, it may indicate the presence of a disease. An increase in the pH level of sperm occurs during an infectious process. A sharply alkaline reaction of sperm (acidity approximately 9.0–10.0 pH) indicates prostate pathology. When the excretory ducts of both seminal vesicles are blocked, an acidic reaction of the sperm is observed (acidity 6.0–6.8 pH). The fertilizing ability of such sperm is reduced. In an acidic environment, sperm lose motility and die. If the acidity of the seminal fluid becomes less than 6.0 pH, the sperm completely lose their motility and die. Skin acidity The surface of the skin is covered with water-lipid acid mantle or Marcionini's mantle, consisting of a mixture of sebum and sweat, to which organic acids are added - lactic, citric and others, formed as a result of biochemical processes occurring in the epidermis. The acidic water-lipid mantle of the skin is the first barrier of protection against microorganisms. For most people, the normal acidity of the mantle is 3.5–6.7 pH. The bactericidal property of the skin, which gives it the ability to resist microbial invasion, is due to the acidic reaction of keratin, the peculiar chemical composition of sebum and sweat, and the presence on its surface of a protective water-lipid mantle with a high concentration of hydrogen ions. The low molecular weight fatty acids it contains, primarily glycophospholipids and free fatty acids, have a bacteriostatic effect that is selective for pathogenic microorganisms. The surface of the skin is populated by normal symbiotic microflora, capable of existing in an acidic environment: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes and others. Some of these bacteria themselves produce lactic and other acids, contributing to the formation of the skin's acid mantle. The upper layer of the epidermis (keratin scales) is acidic with a pH value of 5.0 to 6.0. In some skin diseases, the acidity level changes. For example, with fungal diseases the pH increases to 6, with eczema to 6.5, with acne to 7. Acidity of other human biological fluids The acidity of fluids inside the human body normally coincides with the acidity of the blood and ranges from 7.35 to 7.45 pH. The normal acidity of some other human biological fluids is shown in the table: In the photo on the right: buffer solutions with pH=1.2 and pH=9.18 for calibration

According to many experts, very high acidity of the body disrupts the normal functioning of organ systems, and they become defenseless against a variety of bacteria and viruses.

pH is the number of hydrogen atoms in a particular solution. If it is equal to 7, then it is a neutral environment, if from 0 to 6.9, then it is an acidic environment, from 7.1 to 14 - an alkaline environment. As you know, the human body consists of 80% aqueous solution. The body constantly tries to balance the ratio of acid and alkali in this solution.

If the acid-base balance is disturbed, it can cause serious problems in the body. When you eat foods rich in acid and do not have enough water, the entire body becomes acidified. These products include carbonated drinks, cereals, foods containing sugar, substitutes, baked goods, processed meats and meats.

Nobel laureate Otto Warburg received his prize for the discovery that in an environment rich in oxygen, cancer cells do not multiply, and later it was proven that viruses, bacteria and fungi are inactive in such an environment. The higher the alkaline pH level, the higher the concentration of oxygen molecules (calorizer). In an acidic environment, the concentration of CO2 increases and lactic acid is formed, which creates the preconditions for the growth of cancer cells.

Checking your acid-base balance is quite simple using a special test - litmus paper test strips, which can be bought at the pharmacy. The most optimal pH balance is 6.4-6.5. It is best to determine your acid-base balance an hour before meals, or two hours after.

As for the pH of saliva, its value indicates the active work of enzymes in the digestive tract, especially the liver and stomach. The normal acidity of mixed saliva is 6.8-7.4 pH. It is usually measured at noon on an empty stomach or two hours after a meal. Low acidity in the oral cavity often leads to caries, gum disease, and bad breath.

In medicine, there is such a term as “acidosis” - this is increased acidity. This condition is often caused by the consumption of large quantities and complications of diabetes mellitus. With increased acidity, problems with the heart and blood vessels can occur. A person can gain weight quite quickly. Very often in such cases there are diseases of the kidneys, bladder and decreased immunity.

An increase in alkaline levels in the body is called alkalosis. In this case, poor absorption of minerals is also observed. The cause of this condition in the body may be long-term use of medicinal substances containing large amounts of alkali. Alkalosis is quite rare, but it can also cause serious and negative changes in our body. These include diseases of the skin and liver, unpleasant and pronounced odor from the mouth, and others.

To support the optimal acid-base balance of the body (30 ml per 1 kg of body). As for food, there should be several times more alkali-rich foods than acidic foods.

Plant foods, like vegetables and fruits, contribute to the formation of an alkaline reaction, and cereals, meat, processed foods in the form of sausages, semi-finished products, baked goods - sour. To maintain an optimal acid-base balance, it is necessary that plant foods predominate in the diet.

Doctors say that it is in our best interests to maintain the correct levels of acid and alkali in the body. Only with optimal pH balance does our body absorb nutrients well.

Our body has natural mechanisms that improve the acid-base balance. These are the blood buffer systems, the respiratory system and the excretory system. When these processes are disrupted, our body releases acids into the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and lungs, as well as our skin. It is also able to neutralize acids with minerals and accumulate acids in muscle tissue (calorizator). If you feel tired, this may mean that the hemoglobin in your blood is neutralizing the acid. If dizziness, headaches, cramps and insomnia are observed, this may indicate that the nerve endings, muscle tissue and bones are being used.

This is how many health problems can arise due to an imbalance in the acid-base balance. Don’t leave things to chance, take into account that prevention is the key to good health. Monitor your body's pH regularly to avoid many diseases.

The hydrogen index - pH - is a measure of the activity (in the case of dilute solutions, reflects the concentration) of hydrogen ions in a solution, quantitatively expressing its acidity, calculated as the negative (taken with the opposite sign) decimal logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions, expressed in moles per liter.

pH = – log

This concept was introduced in 1909 by the Danish chemist Sørensen. The indicator is called pH, after the first letters of the Latin words potentia hydrogeni - the strength of hydrogen, or pondus hydrogenii - the weight of hydrogen.

The inverse pH value is somewhat less widespread - an indicator of the basicity of the solution, pOH, equal to the negative decimal logarithm of the concentration of OH ions in the solution:

рОН = – log

In pure water at 25°C, the concentrations of hydrogen ions () and hydroxide ions () are the same and amount to 10 -7 mol/l, this directly follows from the autoprotolysis constant of water K w, which is otherwise called the ionic product of water:

K w = =10 –14 [mol 2 /l 2 ] (at 25°C)

pH + pH = 14

When the concentrations of both types of ions in a solution are the same, the solution is said to be neutral. When an acid is added to water, the concentration of hydrogen ions increases, and the concentration of hydroxide ions correspondingly decreases; when a base is added, on the contrary, the content of hydroxide ions increases, and the concentration of hydrogen ions decreases. When > the solution is said to be acidic, and when > it is alkaline.

pH determination

Several methods are widely used to determine the pH value of solutions.

1) The pH value can be approximately estimated using indicators, accurately measured with a pH meter, or determined analytically by performing acid-base titration.

To roughly estimate the concentration of hydrogen ions, acid-base indicators are widely used - organic dye substances, the color of which depends on the pH of the medium. The most well-known indicators include litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl orange (methyl orange) and others. Indicators can exist in two differently colored forms - either acidic or basic. The color change of each indicator occurs in its own acidity range, usually 1-2 units (see Table 1, lesson 2).

To expand the working range of pH measurements, a so-called universal indicator is used, which is a mixture of several indicators. The universal indicator changes color sequentially from red through yellow, green, blue to violet when moving from an acidic region to an alkaline one. Determining pH by the indicator method is difficult for cloudy or colored solutions.

2) The analytical volumetric method - acid-base titration - also gives accurate results for determining the total acidity of solutions. A solution of known concentration (titrant) is added dropwise to the test solution. When they are mixed, a chemical reaction occurs. The equivalence point - the moment when there is exactly enough titrant to completely complete the reaction - is recorded using an indicator. Next, knowing the concentration and volume of the added titrant solution, the total acidity of the solution is calculated.

The acidity of the environment is important for many chemical processes, and the possibility or outcome of a particular reaction often depends on the pH of the environment. To maintain a certain pH value in the reaction system during laboratory research or in production, buffer solutions are used, which allow maintaining an almost constant pH value when diluted or when small amounts of acid or alkali are added to the solution.

The pH value is widely used to characterize the acid-base properties of various biological media (Table 2).

The acidity of the reaction medium is of particular importance for biochemical reactions occurring in living systems. The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution often affects the physicochemical properties and biological activity of proteins and nucleic acids, therefore, for the normal functioning of the body, maintaining acid-base homeostasis is a task of exceptional importance. Dynamic maintenance of the optimal pH of biological fluids is achieved through the action of buffer systems.

3) The use of a special device - a pH meter - allows you to measure pH in a wider range and more accurately (up to 0.01 pH units) than using indicators, is convenient and highly accurate, allows you to measure the pH of opaque and colored solutions and therefore widely used.

Using a pH meter, the concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) is measured in solutions, drinking water, food products and raw materials, environmental objects and production systems for continuous monitoring of technological processes, including in aggressive environments.

A pH meter is indispensable for hardware monitoring of pH solutions for the separation of uranium and plutonium, when the requirements for the correctness of equipment readings without calibration are extremely high.

The device can be used in stationary and mobile laboratories, including field laboratories, as well as clinical diagnostic, forensic, research, and production laboratories, including the meat, dairy and baking industries.

Recently, pH meters are also widely used in aquarium farms, monitoring water quality in domestic conditions, agriculture (especially in hydroponics), and also for monitoring health diagnostics.

Table 2. pH values ​​for some biological systems and other solutions

The biggest challenge an aquarist will ever face is maintaining a constant pH level. Many hobbyists cannot understand why it is necessary to maintain a constant pH level in the aquarium and what factors affect the pH level in the aquarium.

Why is pH important for your aquarium?

Maintaining a constant pH can greatly affect the water in your aquarium. For example, if your pH drops below 6, the bacteria that retain ammonia (a toxic compound to fish) begin to die off.

If you do not maintain a constant pH level, the ammonia level in your aquarium will fluctuate. Total ammonia is a combination of ammonium (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3) ions. The pH value of the water used is a major factor in the relative concentrations of these two compounds. More ammonia (the more toxic of the two compounds) will be present in alkaline water, while more ammonium ions (the less toxic of the two compounds) will be present in acidic water. In any case, after the cycle is completed, there should be no ammonia left in your aquarium.

What pH should be in the aquarium?

When considering pH, you need to know what pH level you will need to maintain in your aquarium. For example, discus fish like to live at a pH level of 7.0. Overall, this is the optimal pH level. Almost all fish develop at a constant level, somewhere between 6.6 and 7.4. For dilution, the level should be pH 6-6.5. But as an example, a stable pH of 6.6 is better than a pH value that fluctuates between 6.6 and 7.0, even for those fish that prefer 7.0.

What should the pH level be in the aquarium?

How to test the pH of tap water?

Many aquarists immediately test their tap water for pH. However, these are not entirely accurate readings. To correctly measure the pH of tap water, you need to pour tap water into a container and place a spray bottle in it to stir it for 24 hours. After this you can take measurements. It would be a good idea to take a second reading 48 hours later to see if there are any further changes. These values, measured after 24-48 hours, are an accurate indicator of the pH of tap water. The sprayer is installed with tap water in order to mix it and cause gas exchange on the surface of the water. This exchange reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in your water and causes the pH to rise. This pH will actually be the one you will measure in your aquarium.

Tip: First calibrate your pH meter

Many beginners in the aquarium hobby often make the mistake of buying a pH test and immediately measuring it. If you bought a controller or electronic pH meter, do not rush, calibrate it before use. If calibration powders or solutions are not included in the package, you need to purchase them. Remember, the first step is to examine the test set you are using to see if it is accurate or not.

Most droplet tests have a life of their own (usually 6 months). If your test kit is older than its expiration date, it may provide inaccurate results.

How to raise the pH in an aquarium?

There are certain steps you can take to raise the pH level in your aquarium:

• Substitutions. If you do not change your aquarium water, the pH in your aquarium will decrease. The most effective method to bring it back up to tap water level is to make regular changes. Siphoning the soil will also help counteract the tendency of the pH to decrease over time.

• Rocks – Add rocks or driftwood to your aquarium to raise the pH. Crushed coral is used as a substrate in many African cichlid aquariums (African cichlids prefer a high pH). Limestone and fossilized corals also help raise the pH.

• Aeration - Increasing the oxygen concentration in your water will serve to reduce the CO2 concentration, lowering the pH. The less carbon dioxide, the higher the pH. Thus, you can increase the aeration in the aquarium to increase the pH.

• Baking Soda - Adding baking soda will also increase the pH, but if you add baking soda once and just forget about it, there will be no effect. You must add baking soda to your aquarium constantly. You also need to be careful not to add too much at once as... this will cause the pH to spike and can kill your fish. The pH level should change gradually, in any direction. The general rule is 1 dissolved teaspoon of soda per 20 liters of water. Results measured by device or tests

How to lower the pH in an aquarium?

The easiest way to lower the pH in an aquarium is to increase the CO2 concentration. This can be done in different ways:

1. Carbon dioxide cylinder. Precise adjustment, easy to use.
2. Braga. Yeast + sugar + tube into the aquarium. It is difficult to control the feed and restart process.
3. Chemical (google “Kipp apparatus”) and electrochemical methods (complex and dangerous)

Can you imagine that the development of many diseases depends on one cause? Many nutritionists and herbalists now describe this hidden danger in two words: acid and alkali.
High acidity destroys the most important systems in the body, and it becomes defenseless against disease. A balanced pH environment ensures normal metabolic processes in the body, helping it fight diseases. A healthy body has a reserve of alkaline substances, which it uses when necessary.

What is pH?

The ratio of acid and alkali in any solution is called acid-base balance (ABC), although physiologists believe that it is more correct to call this ratio the acid-base state. ASR is characterized by its pH value (from Lat. p ondus H hydrogenii - “weight of hydrogen”, pronounced "peh"), which shows the number of hydrogen atoms in a given solution.

The pH value depends on the ratio between positively charged ions(forming an acidic environment) and negatively charged ions(forming an alkaline environment).

PH is a measure of the relative concentration of hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions in a liquid system and is expressed on a scale from 0 (complete saturation with hydrogen ions H+) to 14 (complete saturation with hydroxyl ions OH-), distilled water is considered neutral with pH 7.0.
0 is the strongest acid, 14 is the strongest alkali, 7 is a neutral substance.

Why do we need to know about pH?

The human body is 80% water, so water is one of its most important components. Therefore, how healthy we will be depends on what pH value this water has.

At a pH of 7.0 they speak of a neutral environment. The lower the pH level, the more acidic the environment (from 6.9 to 0). An alkaline environment has a high pH level (from 7.1 to 14.0).

The human body constantly strives to balance this ratio, maintaining a strictly defined pH level. When the balance is disturbed, many serious diseases can occur.

If in any of the body fluids the concentration of (H+) ions increases, then the pH shifts to the acidic side, that is, the environment becomes acidic. This is also called acid shift.
And vice versa - an increase in the concentration of (OH-) ions causes a shift in the pH value towards the alkaline side, or an alkaline shift.
Our body has a slightly alkaline environment. The acid-base balance in our body is constantly maintained at one stable level and in a very narrow range: from 7.26 to 7.45. And even a slight change in blood pH that goes beyond these limits can lead to illness.

Increased acidity in the body.

Due to poor nutrition and consumption of acidic foods, as well as lack of water, acidification of the body. People consume a lot of fats, meat, dairy products, grains, sugar, flour and confectionery products, all kinds of processed foods and other processed, refined foods that contain virtually no fiber, minerals and vitamins, not to mention enzymes and unsaturated fatty acids.

In order to counteract this - to reduce the concentration of acid and remove it from vital organs - the body retains water, which negatively affects metabolism: the body wears out faster, the skin becomes dry and wrinkled.

In addition, when the body is acidified, the transfer of oxygen to organs and tissues worsens, the body does not absorb minerals well, and some minerals, such as Ca, Na, K, Mg, are excreted from the body.

The body has to spend a colossal amount of resources and energy to neutralize excess acids, thereby causing a certain imbalance in biochemical reactions.

Since there are clearly not enough alkaline reserves coming from outside, then the body is forced to use its internal resources - calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium. As a result, hemoglobin decreases and osteoporosis develops.

When the iron in blood hemoglobin is used to neutralize acid, a person feels tired.

If calcium is consumed for these needs, insomnia and irritability appear.

Due to a decrease in the alkaline reserve of nervous tissue, mental activity is impaired.

From a lack of minerals, vital organs suffer, the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases, immunity decreases, bone fragility appears, and much more.

If there is a large amount of acid in the body and the mechanisms for its removal are disrupted (with urine and feces, with breathing, with sweat, etc.), the body is subject to severe intoxication.

What does increased acidity in the body lead to?

On a global scale, acidification of the body leads to more than 200(!) diseases, for example: cataracts, farsightedness, arthrosis, chondrosis, cholelithiasis and urolithiasis, and even oncology.
Knowing this, you stop wondering why humanity has so many diseases, why people grow old and die early.
Think about it: more than 90% of the food we eat is “acidic” foods, and everything we drink (except pure water, fresh juices and herbal tea without sugar) has a pH between 4.5 and 2.5 - that is acidifies our body even more.
The state of increased acidity is called acidosis. If acidosis is not detected in time, it can harm the body unnoticed, but constantly for several months and even years. Alcohol abuse often leads to acidosis. Acidosis can occur as a complication of diabetes.

Acidosis may cause the following problems:

• Diseases of the cardiovascular system, including persistent vasospasm and decreased oxygen concentration in the blood, heart failure, weakening of the heart muscle.
• Weight gain and diabetes.
• Kidney and bladder diseases, stone formation.
• Digestive problems, weakening of intestinal smooth muscles and so on.
• Decreased immunity.
• General weakness.
• Increased harmful effects of free radicals, which can contribute to tumorigenesis.
• Bone fragility up to a hip fracture, as well as other disorders of the musculoskeletal system, such as the formation of osteophytes (spurs).
• The appearance of joint pain and pain in the muscles associated with the accumulation of lactic acid.
• Gradual weakening of the eye muscles, development of farsightedness, which is very common among older people.
• Decreased endurance and ability to recover from physical activity.

Over the course of 7 years, a study was conducted at the University of California (San Francisco), where 9 thousand women were examined. The results showed that with constant elevated levels of acidity, bones become brittle.

The experts who conducted this experiment are confident that most of the problems of middle-aged women are associated with excessive consumption of meat and dairy products and lack of consumption of vegetables, fruits and herbs. Therefore, the body has no choice but to take calcium from its own bones and use it to regulate the pH level.

How does the body manage acidity levels?

• Releases acids - through the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, skin;
• Neutralizes acids - with the help of minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium;
• Accumulates acids - in tissues, primarily in muscles.

What to do if the pH balance is normal?

The answer is simple - to help maintain this balance in a healthy zone.

How to do it?

Constantly monitor what we eat, what we drink, how clean we are from the inside and how we protect our body from harmful influences.

Water.
It is necessary to drink a sufficient amount, specifically 30 ml per kilogram of body weight per day (in the hot summer months, 2-3 times more).
Food.
If the acid-base balance is already disturbed, then you should think about your diet and reduce the consumption of acidic foods (meat and dairy products, bread, sweets, carbonated drinks, any artificially created products) and increase the consumption of alkalizing foods. If it is not possible to change the composition of your diet, then you should think about consuming “smart food” - nutraceuticals that make up for the lack of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and plant enzymes from food.

We also must not forget about regular cleansing of the body, physical activity and the psychology of a positive attitude towards life. All of this is part of a book that simply and clearly explains the causes of most diseases and shows the possibilities of restoring and maintaining health.

Looking younger and becoming healthier over the years is real!

Why is it important to maintain the correct pH balance?

A weakly acidic environment is needed to launch various chemical processes (for example, digestion - in the stomach the environment is slightly shifted towards acidity), but the blood should not be slightly acidic - if the pH balance in the blood is changed, the processes will not go as planned.

After all, the blood contains all our building material (transferred from the liver), proteins, antibodies, fat genes, white blood cells, nutrients and a bunch of other things. They are configured to work precisely in this range (7.35-7.45) and the slightest shift disrupts the operation of the entire system (blood is everywhere, we have 85,000 km of veins and arteries, but only 5 liters of blood).

All regulatory mechanisms of the body (including respiration, metabolism, hormone production) are aimed at balancing pH levels, by removing caustic acid residues from body tissues without damaging living cells. If the pH level becomes too low (acidic) or too high (alkaline), the body's cells poison themselves with toxic emissions and die.

The importance of the balance of this entire system is also emphasized by the following fact: To maintain the balance between acid and alkali, the body takes calcium from the bones(our calcium bank) and magnesium(they are inextricably linked with calcium), to alkalize acid.

What should chroniclers do?

Even the “most correct” nutrition program, or a program for treating any disease, will not work effectively if your body’s pH balance is disturbed.

The constant load on the body's compensatory systems over many years and decades greatly harms the body and wears it out. Gradually and steadily, there is a distortion in the functioning of all systems and metabolic processes.

This cannot continue indefinitely and without consequences. Chronic diseases that arise against this background simply cannot be cured with medications.

Here, the only and best “cure” can be only one thing: completely rebuild the diet, eliminate the acid load, eat mainly raw plant foods for many years - until all functions, all processes in the body return to normal parameters and the imbalance will disappear.

If a person understands the importance of reviewing nutrition, but for some reason he is unable to strictly follow such a diet, then in this case he can use alkalizing food additives (smart food).

To live a full, healthy life, the only way out is to alkalize the body.

How we do this depends entirely on our choice. Someone will be able to fully follow the advice on changing their diet and become a vegan or raw foodist. And someone (like me, for example) will find it difficult for him.

And then the question arises:

WHAT SHOULD I, AN ORDINARY PERSON DO?

I chose for myself a system for restoring acid-base balance from the Coral Club and have been successfully using it in my life for quite a long time. During this time, my body changed both externally and internally.

Read more about the simplest and safest alkalization program here.

If you are interested in this system and want to learn more about it or start using it as soon as possible, please contact us for detailed advice.

Source of part of the text - ecology.md