Healthy Living

Saliva pH has been used by physicians for decades as a general indicator of the body's health. Recent research has linked low saliva pH to poor nutrition, and indicates several leading diseases.

Monitoring pH Levels

Saliva pH is usually measured from 5-9, the lower your score the more acidic, and the more prone you are to health problems. Your ideal saliva pH level should be between 7.0-7.4, and should never be below 6.1. The measurement should be done with pH paper either 1st thing in the morning, or an hour after any food or fluid intake.

Saliva pH may be improved by changing the foods and nutritional supplements you take. The body recognizes foods as either acid , neutral or alkaline based. High protein foods like meats, fish, beans and chicken tend to make the body more acidic. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are more alkaline in nature, and will help raise your saliva pH level. The worst foods in the American diet; coffee, soda, alcohol, sugar, saccharine, processed flour and fried foods are the most acid-forming foods available.

pH Testing Research

Here is what today's leading physicians and researchers have to say about pH testing:

Specific foods balance acid, alkaline levels, stemming aging process and illness
Cosmetic Surgery Times; 7/1/2003; Carraway, Jim
According to Dr. Vince Giampapa, in "Quantum Longevity," acid-producing foods block antioxidant enzymes and reduce our ability to digest food into micronutrients. To maintain a good antioxidant balance, patients need a slightly alkaline pH. In general, acid-producing foods are as follows: sugar, flour, commercial cereals, fish, chicken, eggs, meat. Alkaline-producing foods ate fruits, vegetables, legumes, and soy products.

The effectiveness of a dental/dietitian team in the assessment of bulimic dental health.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association; 8/1/1990; Wampold, Richard L.
This research article reported that bulimic patients were shown to have lower saliva pH. The lower pH found was associated with the lack of nutrients and with a higher incidence of dental erosion and cavities.

Nasal mucociliary clearance and nasal and oral pH in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; 8/1/1999; Kurt, Aynur, et al.
…. we did find that nasal mucociliary clearance and oral pH levels in the diabetic patients were significantly different from those of healthy subjects.

Correlative Urinalysis, Dr. M.T. Morter,
Saliva pH gives an indication of the intracellular environment and is the most accurate indicator of overall health and the condition of the alkaline reserve... Saliva pH should be consistently 6.8 pH or higher.

Healthy pH Foods

The following is a list of common foods, and how they affect the body's acid / alkaline balance.

While lists concerning Alkaline and Acid based foods may vary by researcher, the basics are the same. Acid based foods are high protein foods like meats, fish and chicken. Alkaline foods are whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Like all healthy diets fast foods, fried foods, processed foods, sugar, etc, are all acid forming, and should be avoided. The list below will help you decide on the foods that are best for you. You do not need to avoid acid foods, but use less of them as compared to the alkaline foods.

Remember, while fruits like lemons and oranges are acidic they are alkaline based and or good for you.

This list was taken from Dr. Mortar's book, Correlative Urinalysis.

Along with changing your diet to improve your saliva pH levels, nutritional supplements are important. Saliva pH is based upon the foods you eat, and the availability vitamins and minerals in your system. An acid saliva pH is a good indicator of the need for nutritional supplements. I recommend a multivitamin with minerals, a green product and digestive enzymes for extremely low saliva pH.