Question: from Meliss

Warren what do you think about this..It was sent to me?

“Dear Meliss:

Probiotics are bacteria and enzymes are acids. To be healthy
you need less bacteria and less acid with more alkaline electron
rich foods and drinks.

High blood pressure is caused by increased acidity and a deficiency of
sodium, magnesium and potassium.

pHour salts and pHlavor salts will help.”

Answer: from Warren

I don't know who sent you this but unfortunately it is typical of the uninformed comments and half truths that circulate the health supplement business.

Probiotics are indeed bacteria but they are friendly bacteria. Your body needs friendly bacteria otherwise you would become very sick. Normally you do not need to take probiotics unless you have been on a course of antibiotics. But, if you do take them they will certainly not do you any harm. So, that was a very misleading statement.

As for enzymes being acids and indirectly suggesting you should avoid them, then that is another irresponsible statement. Enzymes are crucial to life and most of us do not get enough in our diet alone.

In so far as alkaline drinks to reduce acidity are concerned they may be helpful but I would reserve my opinion on that.

One of the best remedies to increase alkalinity in the digestive system is to drink a blended mixture of lemon and limes. If you put a pH paper in the blend you will find it is acid. Then drink it and later on test your urine. It will have become more alkaline. So, in other words in this case acid turns to alkaline in the body.

I can't see how high blood pressure is caused by acidity. It is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries constricting the flow of blood thus forcing the heart to work harder. The pH of the blood is always within a very narrow band otherwise you would die.

However, it is possible that the surrounding tissue may be excessively acidic and thus cause inflammation which in turn could cause artery restriction, but for that to happen someone would have to be right over the top with regard to their acid levels and that would be relatively rare.

Some people think that if you focus on being highly alkaline that you will never get a disease. That is a somewhat over the top exaggeration. It is all about balance and excessive alkalinity can be as damaging as excess acidity.

You can test your acid/alkaline levels quite easily by going to the chemist and getting some pH strips and testing your level both with saliva and urine. If you are excessively acid start taking some lemons and lime and it will soon come right.