Other things that can lead to acidosis are: (7)
- Alcohol and drugs (prescription or otherwise)
- Antibiotic overuse
- Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame
- Chronic stress
- Declining nutrient levels in our foods as a result of industrial farming
- Low levels or lack of sufficient fiberin your diet
- Lack of exercise
- Over-exercise
- Excess animal meats in your diet
- Excess hormones from the food you eat, the health and beauty productsyou use as well as all the plastics in our daily lives
- Exposure to chemicals and radiation from household cleansers, building materials, computers, cell phones and microwaves
- Food coloring and preservatives
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Pollution
- Poor chewing and eating habits
- Processed and refined foods
- Shallow breathing
Acidosis and Your Diet
The typical Western diet lacks enough fruits and vegetables, which contain potassium—a natural buffer for acid.
We also eat far too many processed foods, which contain significant amounts of salt. Studies show that salt not only constricts your blood vessels but also creates acidity in your body. (9)
Plus, westerners tend to eat excessive amounts of animal proteins. These proteins can lead to a sulfuric acid buildup in your blood as amino acids are broken down. (10)
Another primary dietary cause of acidosis is processed grains. Along with our lack of fresh fruits and veggies and high amounts of animal proteins, our diets are full of processed corn and wheat.
These processed grains significantly lead to acidosis, and not only in humans. Numerous studies also show that feeding livestock processed grains is causing acidosis and resulting disease. (11,12)
Another key acid-forming food is dairy products.
In fact, dairy, despite the Dairy Association’s claim that it contains essential calcium, is a key factor in osteoporosis. (13) As your body becomes more acidic, it must leach calcium from your bones in order to counter the acid since calcium is highly alkaline. Just as food can cause acidity, it can also help alkalinize your body.