I think he was just pointing out an (apparently inadvertent) pun: you referred to the pH of lemon juice as a “basic point”.
I eat whole lemons, maybe two or three a week. I also eat at least part of the rinds. I must have a cast iron liver by now.
Tastes damn good. I like them better than oranges.
I will also eat the rind and skin of lemons and oranges. Very refreshing and makes the mouth and breath smell nice.
…stomach by now. :eek:
I’ve heard stuff like that - lemon juice as a remedy for acid indigestion because the citric acid ‘counteracts the stomach acid’. Never any explanation how that might be. Chemistry by magic.
This. Lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit are full of acid. In fact, the sour receptors on the tongue pretty much work by detecting acid. Lemon or orange juice would turn any litmus paper red.
Also known as “Vitamin C”.
I do too, but that doesn’t mean anything other than you and I like sour stuff.
OH! Now that one, I actually can help with. Obviously, it doesn’t “counteract” the stomach acid. But it can *sometimes *work out that drinking acidic stuff will help prevent or relieve acid indigestion/heartburn.
It turns out that some people who feel that burning icky sensation in their throat/chest aren’t hyperacidic (too much acid in their stomach) but *hypoacidic *- called hypochlorhydria. Without quite enough stomach acid, things don’t break down on schedule, the stomach gets overfull with half digested food and bacteria, and urps start coming up through the esophageal sphincter, or stomach contents sit on the stomach wall too long and cause inflammation - called hypoacidic gastritis. While not quite enough acid to digest food well, it’s enough acid to burn your innards. Fun times.
So adding a little acid can help in those particular cases. MDs prescribe an acid called betaine hydrochloride to be taken at meals. I tend to reach for pickle juice myself, 'cause it’s cheap and non-prescription, but lemon juice will work, too.
Sine the OP has been debunked, how about this one.
Earlier up this thread someone stated that no matter the pH level of what you eat, this does not change the body levels,
OK, so why does my cat have to have a specialise diet to counter the formation of Struvite crystals in his bladder? I was told by the vet that by providing a prescription diet, the urine’s acidity is increased and this prevent the production of these irritant crystals.
Seems to me that changing diet can change the pH levels in at least one part of the body, and since urine is extracted from blood it appears to me that some sort of change is going on.
Probably a “me too” post but the big warning flag here is the claim lemon is “alkaline”. It’s not, it’s acidic.
And if drinking one cup of lemon juice a day for 90 days will heal any liver problems was true we wouldn’t have people dying of cirrhosis and no need for liver transplants.
The blood pH amongst species varies less than the urine pH across species, with herbivores having more alkaline urine and carnivores more acidic urine (and it can be truly acidic, less than 7 pH).
Yes, there is a change going on. It has been mentioned in this thread before that the blood is buffered and kept at a constant pH. Well, the kidneys are part of that system that keeps the blood in a tight stable state, and part of what they do is filter the blood, take all the electrolytes from it, and dump back to the blood the electrolytes and other molecules the blood needs. Anything in excess or not needed is excreted. Constantly. That is the job of the kidneys, 24/7 and until they fail or you die. Hopefully the later.
So it doesn’t matter if you acidify your diet, your blood pH will be constant. What will change is the urine, which will become more acidic because all the excess acid you’re adding is being dumped outside.
Now, this is when it is important in dogs, cats, or other animals with stones. The stones are aggregates of various mineral crystals. Those crystals only form in supersaturated solutions with the correct pH. Struvites do not form in less basic, more acidic environments. The crystals dissolve and they have no way of aggregating to form stones. That is the basis of the anti-crystals/anti-stones prescription diets for cats and dogs.
Now, all this crystal formation and such occurs in the bladder, which is, in a way “outside” of the body. The bladder is basically the waste reservoir before being flushed outside.
Thanks for the answer
The very WORST “Lemon and Liver” story I’ve ever heard was a practice recommended on a naturopathic forum.
At bedtime, take a double dose of Epsom salts, the juice of one lemon, and a half cup of olive oil.
SUPPOSEDLY, in the morning you will pass a large number of round objects. According to the naturopath, those objects are gallstones. The purge is prescribed on a monthly basis, to keep your liver and gallbladder clear.
In truth, the ingested ingredients form themselves into something extremely gross called “fecal soap balls.” Those round objects are simply encapsulated feces.
~VOW
I would have thought ingesting Epsom salts would be possibly toxic.
It is a common OTC laxative, and has quite a few medicinal uses besides this – it’s just magnesium sulfate.
I use it as a bath salt and it’s great on dormant roses . . .
Of course I’m sure there is a dosage level which would kill you.
You’re welcome.
As an aside, here is a link with more information about struvites and kitties.
Nope. Not a good idea if you have a kidney condition (too much magnesium), but otherwise a time honored laxative.
What is so seriously wrong with me that I want to try that?