Acidity-alkalinity and sodium-potassium balance

Question
My naturopath thinks I'm acidic and he recommended that I take 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate 4 x daily to alkinalize my body. I am wondering if this will disrupt my sodium-potassium balance. Should I talk a potassium supplement? If so, what kind of potassium and how much?

Thank you for your time

Answer
Dear Kat,

There are several different problems in your question.

1. The problem of balancing the pH
2. The problem of getting enough potassium
3. The problem of acidity and alkalinity of foods
4. The problem of potassium supplement

First of all, I am surprised that it's possible to change your body's pH. By the way, in which parts of the body? even in gastrointestinal system, there are parts that should be acid for proper digestion while other parts, in intestines, are alkaline, this is how digestion enzymes work. I am not sure at all that putting an antacid in your stomach is go good idea unless you have a bad heart burn. The other thing is watching the foods you eat. But the lists of potassium-related and pH-related foods are so long that you better go and read more following these links:

Acidity-alkalinity of foods:
http://atkinszone-faq.blogspot.com/2008/10/which-foods-are-acid-and-which-alkali...

http://atkinszone-recipes.blogspot.com/2009/07/ph-of-common-acid-foods.html

Food Sources of Potassium
http://atkinszone-recipes.blogspot.com/2008/09/food-sources-of-potassium.html

As to the supplements, please note that there is no RDA for Potassium.

Over-the-counter potassium supplements usually contain 99 milligrams per tablet. The average American diet provides two to six grams of potassium per day, so you see how little you can get actually get with these supplements. If you doctor advised you on prescription-strength potassium formula, then by all means, follow his or her recommendation.

If you have plenty of these foods and plenty of water, you're postassium intake is probably fine:

   * Fish, especially salmon, cod, flounder and sardines
   * Meats
   * Vegetables, particularly broccoli, tomatoes, potato skins, spinach, lettuce and parsley
   * Fruits (you can have lemons, half of a tart green apple, or a quarter of a grapefruit on a low-carb diet)

Watch for These Signs of Potassium Deficit!

The most common symptom of potassium deficit is fatigue; initial symptoms of potassium deficiency include slow reaction, muscle weakness and dry skin.

Be especially attentive to the signs of potassium deficit if you are diabetic, pregnant or suffer from alcoholism.

Sources

American Family Physician, 60(5):1468-76, 1999
Endocrinology & Metabolism Clinics of N. America, 22(2):209-19, 1993
Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrif, 104(9):359-65, 1997

Tanya Zilberter

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