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The Acid-Alkaline Myth: Part 1

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Many of you have probably heard of the "alkaline diet." There are a few different versions of the acid-alkaline theory circulating the internet, but the basic claim is that the foods we eat leave behind an "ash" after they are metabolized, and this ash can be acid or alkaline (alkaline meaning more basic on the pH scale).

acid alkaline, alkaline myth
Smoothies containing vegetables are alkali forming. Derkien/iStock/Thinkstock

According to the theory, it is in our best interest to make sure we eat more alkaline foods than acid foods, so that we end up with an overall alkaline load on our body. This will supposedly protect us from the diseases of modern civilization, whereas eating a diet with a net acid load will make us vulnerable to everything from cancer to osteoporosis. To make sure we stay alkaline, they recommend keeping track of urine or saliva pH using pH test strips.

In this two-part series, I will address the main claims made by proponents of the alkaline diet, and will hopefully clear up some confusion about what it all means for your health.d

Will eating an alkaline diet make you and your bones healthier? #alkalinediet #bonehealth

Foods Can Influence Our Urine pH

Before I start dismantling this theory, I want to acknowledge a couple things they get right. First, foods do leave behind acid or alkaline ash. The type of “ash” is determined by the relative content of acid-forming components such as phosphate and sulfur, and alkalis such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. (1, 2) In general, animal products and grains are acid forming, while fruits and vegetables are alkali forming. Pure fats, sugars, and starches are neutral, because they don’t contain protein, sulfur, or minerals.

It’s also true that the foods we eat change the pH of our urine. (3, 4) If you have a green smoothie for breakfast, for example, your pee a few hours later will likely be more alkaline than that of someone who had bacon and eggs. As a side note, it’s also very easy to measure your urine pH, and I think this is one of the big draws of the alkaline diet. Everyone can probably agree that it’s satisfying to see concrete improvements in health markers depending on your diet, and pH testing gives people that instant gratification they desire. However, as you’ll see below, urine pH is not a good indicator of the overall pH of the body, nor is it a good indicator of general health.

Foods Don’t Influence Our Blood pH

Proponents of the alkaline diet have put forth a few different theories about how an acidic diet harms our health. The more ridiculous claim is that we can change the pH of our blood by changing the foods we eat, and that acidic blood causes disease while alkaline blood prevents it. This is not true. The body tightly regulates the pH of our blood and extracellular fluid, and we cannot influence our blood pH by changing our diet. (5, 6) High doses of sodium bicarbonate can temporarily increase blood pH, but not without causing uncomfortable GI symptoms. (7, 8) And there are certainly circumstances in which the blood is more acidic than it should be, and this does have serious health consequences. However, this state of acidosis is caused by pathological conditions such as chronic renal insufficiency, not by whether you choose to eat a salad or a burger. In other words, regardless of what you eat or what your urine pH is, you can be pretty confident that your blood pH is hovering around a comfortable 7.4.

A more nuanced claim has been proposed specifically regarding bone health, and this hypothesis is addressed somewhat extensively in the scientific literature. It supposes that in order to keep blood pH constant, the body pulls minerals from our bones to neutralize any excess acid that is produced from our diet. Thus, net acid-forming diets (such as the typical Western diet) can cause bone demineralization and osteoporosis. This hypothesis, often referred to as the “acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis,” is what I will discuss for the rest of this article. I’ll address some of the other health claims in part two.

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The Kidneys—Not Bone—Regulate Blood pH

While more reasonable than the first claim, the acid-ash hypothesis seems to completely disregard the vital role the kidneys play in regulating body pH. The kidneys are well equipped to deal with “acid ash.” When we digest things like protein, the acids produced are quickly buffered by bicarbonate ions in the blood. (7) This reaction produces carbon dioxide, which is exhaled through the lungs, and salts, which are excreted by the kidneys. During the process of excretion, the kidneys produce “new” bicarbonate ions, which are returned to the blood to replace the bicarbonate that was initially used to buffer the acid. This creates a sustainable cycle in which the body is able to maintain the pH of the blood, with no involvement from the bones whatsoever.

Thus, our understanding of acid-base physiology does not support the theory that net acid-forming diets cause loss of bone minerals and osteoporosis. But just for argument’s sake, let’s say that our renal system cannot handle the acid load of the modern diet. If bones were used to buffer this excess acid, we would expect to see evidence of this taking place in clinical trials. Alas, that is not the case.

Clinical Trials Do Not Support the Acid-Ash Hypothesis of Osteoporosis

At first glance, some of the studies may look convincing, because higher acid diets often increase the excretion of calcium in the urine. Some researchers assumed that this extra calcium was coming from bone. (8) However, when calcium balance (intake minus excretion) was measured, researchers found that acid-forming diets do not have a negative effect on calcium metabolism. (9) Some studies found that supplementing with potassium salts (intended to neutralize excess acid) had beneficial effects on markers for bone health, which would tend to support the acid-ash hypothesis. However, these results were only observed in the first few weeks of supplementation, and long-term trials did not find any benefit to bone health from these alkalizing salts. (10)

Finally, even though the hypothesis holds that higher intakes of protein and phosphate are acidifying and therefore detrimental to bone health, multiple studies have shown that increasing protein or phosphate intake has positive effects on calcium metabolism and on markers for bone health. (11, 12) Summarizing the clinical evidence, two different meta-analyses and a review paper all concluded that randomized controlled trials do not support the hypothesis that acidifying diets cause loss of bone mineral and osteoporosis. (13, 14, 15)

So, it appears that neither physiology nor clinical trials support the acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis. But again, just for argument’s sake, let’s suppose that these trials are imperfect (which they are, of course; no science is perfect!), and thus we can’t depend on their conclusions. If the acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis were true, we would expect to see an association between net acid-producing diets and osteoporosis in observational studies. Yet again, this is not the case.

Observational Studies Do Not Support the Acid-Ash Hypothesis of Osteoporosis

Observational studies have not found a correlation between dietary acid load and bone mineral density (BMD) or fracture risk, nor have they found a correlation between urine pH and BMD or fracture risk. (16, 17, 18) Additionally, higher protein intakes are correlated with better bone health in multiple studies, even though high-protein diets are generally net acid forming. (19) In fact, animal protein in particular (the most acid-forming food of all) has been associated with better bone health. (20, 21) Imagine that! One study included in a recent meta-analysis did find an association between higher protein intake and greater risk for fracture (22), but compared to the numerous more recent studies showing the opposite, this evidence isn’t very strong. Overall, the acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis is not supported by physiology, clinical trials, or observational data.

Hopefully I’ve given you a decent understanding of how our bodies handle pH balance, and have reassured you that you don’t need to worry about the acidity of your urine with regards to bone health. Click here for part two, where I tackle some of the other claims of the alkaline diet!

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1,191 Comments

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  1. The type of ash, you have discussed, I didn’t fully understand, if you could write in detail, it will be very helpful to me.

  2. Well, isn’t it amazing we Homo Sapiens have managed to live
    (healthily) for 200,000 years without knowing we needed to drink alkaline water, eat a blood type/Paleo/vegetarian/low fat/high carb/low carb/whole grain/no grain diet! While drinking gallons of that water. I’ve studied nutrition for 40 years and most of what is pushed on the public is hogwash.
    Yes, science progresses but some ideas were Bad science to begin with: (i.e. the low-fat diet based on a falsified study about fat and the resultant use of dangerous statin drugs, truly one of the worst crimes perpetrated again human health. No one should be taking them. Always question when someone has something to sell. Every animal on the planet drinks when it’s thirsty, including us. But now we don’t Know when we’re thirsty?! We’re all dehydrated if we’re not drinking liters and liters of (bottled) water all day long? Ridiculous! If you are gagging trying to drink down a glass of water, Hint: you’re NOT Thirsty. Stop the insanity and listen to your own body, and not to what advertisers tell you.
    I asked a PhD, a scientist from Princeton U., about those expensive water machines. He told me if American’s had even a basic understanding of science they would know what an waste of money they are. Luckily, my common sense told me they are useless.
    Thanks James for your insights. You’re a breath of fresh air. But please don’t fall into the mindset of “bad cholesterol” you mentioned in one of your notes. That phrase was perpetrated by the drug companies to make you want to buy their drug to get rid of that “bad” cholesterol (which is a very bad idea). LDL is as necessary and vital for us as HDL.

    • So if I my body gets used to a higher suga rlevel and demand more and more sugar. Or if my body demand a higher coffee or salt level, I should go for it since my body want’s whats best for it?

      • Your health will to survive will make you crave water. Craving sugar and coffee is an addictive response. Not the same type of message from the body. For the most part though, listening to your body is the best idea, such as thirst, hunger, intuition, need for sleep. If your body tells you it wants a donut abd some vodka, well then not so much.

    • Nicely said Trish – thank you for the reminder and the perspective. I agree that we should beware of unnecessary prescriptions, be aware of and honest about our lifestyle choices, and strive to make positive changes, before beginning medications.

    • well… we lose 1- 2 litres of water just by doing nothing… WATER, not water containing foods.

    • Trish: “Thanks James for your insights. You’re a breath of fresh air. But please don’t fall into the mindset of “bad cholesterol” you mentioned in one of your notes. That phrase was perpetrated by the drug companies to make you want to buy their drug to get rid of that “bad” cholesterol (which is a very bad idea). LDL is as necessary and vital for us as HDL.”

      I wold have to see what you are referring to. That does not sound like my writing as I have talked about the benefits of cholesterol numerous times and the side effects of low cholesterol, which include a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke. I have also discussed the dangers of statin drugs for cholesterol numerous times, which includes increased risk of heart failure.

      There could be some confusion because I am not the only one that is posting on the comments under the name James.

  3. So much misinformation here. First of all bone is one of the three buffer systems of the body. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15199293 Second, blood has a tight PH range because it has to have a tight PH range to work, but it is less than 10% of the body by weight. Next what your kidneys excrete depends on the PH of your urine, this is such a well established fact for drugs that I can’t believe few people ask the question..if it affects drugs so much-what else is it affecting?? As it turns out heavy metals and fluroide. I found one study that showed a 15x increase in the excretion of fluoride with an alkaline urine vs acidic. Alkaline urine increases the excretion of lead and urainium, and possibly increases the uptake of aluminum. Two studies found a 30-40% decrease in adrenaline excretion. These are hardly small effects.

      • I don’t have all at hand but heres a few, heres the fluoride one. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7457982 Here’s the merck manual explanation of the elimination of drugs by the kidneys http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/clinical-pharmacology/pharmacokinetics/drug-excretion (you can get on pubmed and find reams of the studies on individual drugs).
        Heres an example of the effect of urinary PH on amphetamine excretion..so in this case making the urine very acidic can treat an overdose(notice that the excretion rates have a similar difference with fluoride. http://tmedweb.tulane.edu/pharmwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php/phurinaryexcretion.png
        Here is one on adrenaline, although I suspect changes in the blood maybe even more interesting. Its a small study..even so the effects are so pronounced that it reaches statistical significance. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1429495/pdf/brjclinpharm00242-0089.pdf

        • hum… your first story states that <Metabolic acidosis, which occurs DURING RENAL FAILURE, renal insufficiency or renal tubular acidosis, results in decreased systemic pH and is associated with an increase in urine calcium excretion. So, yeah… when your kidney stop working, they you should worry about acidosis…

          • I’m not sure what “story” you are talking about. Although it seems that you aren’t aware that acidosis can actually cause kidney damage. This is what sometimes happens to ultramarathoners, and can happen to people with high fever and a few other problems(look up rhabdomyolysis). Myoglobin from muscles breaks down and at a low enough PH the iron disassociates and causes hydroxyl radicals to form. No surprise that urinary PH was found to both predict the likelyhood and speed of kidney failure in diabetics.

            • Bo Jangles: “I’m not sure what “story” you are talking about. Although it seems that you aren’t aware that acidosis can actually cause kidney damage.”

              Proof to this claim?

              Bo Jangles: “This is what sometimes happens to ultramarathoners”

              Again proof? Ultramarathoners are putting a lot more stress on the kidneys simply from the fact that a lot more blood is being forced through the kidneys to begin with. On top of that the cells being damaged and destroyed can lead to an increased uric acid load, which is not the same as acidosis, and top that off with some dehydration and yes kidney damage can occur.

              Bo Jangles: “and can happen to people with high fever”

              Again proof this is linked to acidosis? There are several reasons a high fever and kidney dysfunction can be associated such as meds given to lower a fever or the fever from a urinary tract infection to name a few.

              Bo Jangles: “and a few other problems(look up rhabdomyolysis).”

              Again proof of your claim that this is from acidosis?

              Excess myoglobin from rhabdomyolosis can cause kidney damage from things like renal tubular obstruction or decreased kidney blood flow. So once again you need to back up your claims with some real evidence.

              Bo Jangles: “Myoglobin from muscles breaks down and at a low enough PH the iron disassociates and causes hydroxyl radicals to form. ”

              Radicals form all the time in the body.

              Furthermore you state “and low enough pH”. So if the pH has to be low enough then what is causing that low pH? Maybe pre-existing kidney failure?

    • Bo Jangles: “So much misinformation here. First of all bone is one of the three buffer systems of the body. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15199293

      First of all there is more than 4 buffering systems used to maintain blood pH. See:

      http://medreview.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/top-5-worst-internet-health-information-sites-curezone-org-part-2-alkalineacid-support-forum-part-2/

      Secondly they are talking about extreme metabolic acidosis. Are you even aware of how rare metabolic acidosis is? And how even more rare extreme metabolic acidosis is? So rare that most doctors will not see a case of this in their entire careers.

      Furthermore, buffering by the bones is only used as a very last resort, which is why it is only seen in extreme cases of metabolic acidosis.

      Bo Jangles: “Next what your kidneys excrete depends on the PH of your urine”

      Actually the pH of the urine is dependent in large part on what is being excreted through the kidneys. The other factor is bacteria. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infections secrete urease to form ammonia, which alkalizes the urine.

      I looked at your links you provided later and I don’t see where they back your claim. One problem with the hypothesis is that they are simply measuring the urine pH. What if the urinary pH itself is the result of the drug? Some drugs are known for altering urine pH. And things like fluoride could have a higher solubility and elimination simply from the other compounds they introduced to alter the pH of the urine. For example, it is well known that sodium increases the solubility of uric acid. Potassium to an even greater extent.

  4. Ive been following this back and forth with a small amount of interest for some time now. Its highly amusing to watch someone come onto someone else’s “blog” to correct them and then shill for their product. Really, Ian? How could you not see the disingenuous nature of such a thing?

    “James, I say you’re wrong, now let me shill my product!” And he’s supposed to not be annoyed if not outright angry that you/anyone would do that? Use his space to sell your cr/p!? Now that’s arrogance personified.

    So far, I have to read one convincing argument that undermines James’ overall argument.

    • I agree. I have a rare condition, and we keep the FB site on this condition for those that have it and for parents of children who have it. We never get phrma companies popping up with ads, but we get natural ones all the time. When indeed the only way they can do this is saying they have the condition or having a child that does. Then they will be invited in and all of a sudden ads for natural products appear. It has been a lesson for me. People are quick to nail drug companies yet not one has done this…

      • That’s because it’s the same people doing it. Snakes shed skin but leopards don’t change their spots.

      • Ted Hutchinson tell me one thing where in links you provided is statment about diet which cause chagne in blood ph?.

    • Wow do you even understand what you reference?
      You provide us epidemiological studies where correlation dont imply causation? If you like epidemiological studies look maybe at most healthiest nations? in the same time they have most acid diet like for example Japan. About second reference osteoporosis Chriss describe this so I dont think need do the same read his reference and then you will see flaws in study provided by you. Tell me one thing about your source why person whch call themself a DR wrote in disclaimer “The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. It is by no means intended as professional medical advice. Do not use any of the agents or freely available dietary supplements mentioned on this website without further consultation with your medical practitioner.” Little diging and I found what I thinking he dont have any medical degree.

    • Pls read one more time this articles I argue with authors of this site and he completly dont understand how body ph regulation work he forgot about most basic knowledge like correlation dont imply causation. P.S About more info read my second comment to Ted.

  5. Interesting and passionate thread. I know a few individuals and even a few nutritional consultants swear by alkaline water, having experienced some amazing results. So, I was curious to read what James had to say. I found his explanation helpful since I did have my doubts. I also don’t want to encourage clients to spend a lot of time or money on things that probably won’t work.

    • Christine, it’s helpful to understand the difference between the water all lumped together under ‘alkaline water.
      1. Alkaline water is water with high levels of alkaline minerals dissolved in the water. It’s the same water millions already drink if they live in ‘hard water’ areas and a metastudy available on our site shows it is a healthier water than neutral or acid.
      2. High pH water means a higher than normal level of hydrogen ions. This may be caused by alkaline minerals, by electrolysis, or by reaction of water and magnesium. High pH water that does NOT have alkaline minerals is termed ‘unbuffered’ water because unlike alkaline water, it quickly neutralises when meeting an opposite element in the body. Alkaline water is a way of adding to your alkaline buffer or storehouse. This buffer is used as first resort when excess acid is taken up in food or beverages.

      3. Molecular Hydrogen infused water.
      This water comes from either an electronic water ionizer or a magnesium based water filter. H2 is infused into the water, which gives it a high pH reading. However there is now a fourth type of water.

      4. Low pH High H2 water
      This uses a differently technology to infuse H2 into filtered water, but does not affect the pH or alkalinity of the water.

      Latest research is centred on Hydrogen infused water and you’ll find plenty of scientific reports – over 400 in all – on the subject at molecularhydrogenfoundation dot org. H2 has now been isolated as the ‘active ingredient of water ionizers, rather than alkalinity or ORP, the other measurement often touted as ‘proof’ of therapeutic antioxidant effect.

      My declaration of interest is that we designed and invented the first all-in-one water filter and hydrogen infusion system. It sells at $699.

      • Ian Hamilton: “Alkaline water is water with high levels of alkaline minerals dissolved in the water. It’s the same water millions already drink if they live in ‘hard water’ areas”

        Not necessarily. Alkaline water can be naturally alkaline or made alkaline artificially and there can be major differences.

        Naturally alkaline water is made alkaline primarily from carbonates in the water such as magnesium and calcium carbonates.

        Artificially produced alkaline water can be made alkaline with the addition of carbonates or as in the case of ionized alkaline water by the production of caustic mineral (metal) hydroxides.

        The mineral hydroxides are especially dangerous as they not only neutralize stomach acid, which can lead to all sorts of health issues, but there is also the caustic nature of the hydroxides that can damage tissues and the fact that the hydroxides can dissociate forming the hydroxyl radical linked to cancer formation among other issues.

        Look at it this way. Would you add Red Devil Lye or Drano to your water to alkalize it? Of course not. But these are some of the same caustic mineral hydroxides formed by water ionizers.

        Ian Hamilton: “High pH water means a higher than normal level of hydrogen ions.”

        No it does not. When water is made alkaline from naturally occurring carbonates or from hydroxyl ions this is not the same as hydrogen ions, nor do they prove an increase in hydrogen ions. Here is a link that will explain it to you:

        http://www.horiba.com/application/material-property-characterization/water-analysis/water-quality-electrochemistry-instrumentation/the-story-of-ph-and-water-quality/the-basis-of-ph/concentration-of-hydrogen-ions/

        Ian Hamilton: “High pH water that does NOT have alkaline minerals is termed ‘unbuffered’ water because unlike alkaline water,”

        ??????!!!!!! High pH water IS alkaline water. And both acidic and alkaline solutions can be buffered so your statement is ridiculous.

        Ian Hamilton: “Alkaline water is a way of adding to your alkaline buffer or storehouse.”

        Ridiculous statement especially considering the fact that the body DOES NOT have a alkaline buffer “storehouse”. Again, virtually all pH regulation is maintained by respiration followed by hydrogen ion retention to increase acidity or elimination to increase alkalinity by the kidneys. Neither of these involve any type of alkaline reserve.

        Ian Hamilton: “This buffer is used as first resort when excess acid is taken up in food or beverages.”

        More nonsense. If you ingest a food that contains acids the food will simply become more acidic in the stomach along with foods or drinks having an alkaline pH. Then as the chyme (food, drinks, stomach acid and enzymes) leave the stomach the pancreas releases bicarbonate that then neutralizes the acids in the chyme. In the long run all foods get metabolized in to acids, which again are kept in check by respiration and kidney function except in rare circumstances.

        Ian Hamilton: “Molecular Hydrogen infused water.
        This water comes from either an electronic water ionizer or a magnesium based water filter. H2 is infused into the water, which gives it a high pH reading.”

        Go back and read the link again I posted for you.

        Ian Hamilton: “Low pH High H2 water
        This uses a differently technology to infuse H2 into filtered water, but does not affect the pH or alkalinity of the water.”

        Since truly pure water has a pH of 7 (neutral) and alkaline water has a high pH over 7 then how can the pH or alkalinity NOT be affected as you claim if the water has a low (acidic) pH, which is the opposite of alkaline and a pH below neutral? Again your comments are contradicting themselves.

        Ian Hamilton: “H2 has now been isolated as the ‘active ingredient of water ionizers, rather than alkalinity or ORP, the other measurement often touted as ‘proof’ of therapeutic antioxidant effect.”

        Neither alkalinity nor ORP were ever “proof” of antioxidant effect. That was just bogus sales hype. In fact, the ionized alkaline water contains caustic mineral (metal) hydroxides that dissociate in to the powerful free radical known as the hydroxyl radical associated with the formation of cancer and other diseases.

        Ian Hamilton: “My declaration of interest is that we designed and invented the first all-in-one water filter and hydrogen infusion system. It sells at $699.”

        So you are just here to sell crap based on bogus information?

        • Wow, James, you haven’t changed. One constant in this thread has been just one aggressive man sans the ability to express himself without denigrating others.

          James, we love you, as much as you probably hate it.

          Ian Hamilton: “Alkaline water is water with high levels of alkaline minerals dissolved in the water. It’s the same water millions already drink if they live in ‘hard water’ areas”

          James:Not necessarily. Alkaline water can be naturally alkaline or made alkaline artificially and there can be major differences.
          Naturally alkaline water is made alkaline primarily from carbonates in the water such as magnesium and calcium carbonates.
          Artificially produced alkaline water can be made alkaline with the addition of carbonates or as in the case of ionized alkaline water by the production of caustic mineral (metal) hydroxides.

          Ian: Of course, my friend! No need to split hairs on this one. Bottom line; alkaline water is any water with alkaline minerals in any form. Except.. the comment about ionized water. Ionized water as it is referred to in the industry is water with some alkaline minerals that passes through a process of electrolysis. If there are no alkaline minerals in the input water electrolysis is not possible. There is a long held idea in some quarters that minerals are added to cause alkalinization. This is simply not true of all mainstream electronic water ionizers.

          James: The mineral hydroxides are especially dangerous as they not only neutralize stomach acid, which can lead to all sorts of health issues, but there is also the caustic nature of the hydroxides that can damage tissues and the fact that the hydroxides can dissociate forming the hydroxyl radical linked to cancer formation among other issues.

          Ian:
          Exactly WHAT mineral hydroxides are you referring to? I ask because after 16 years supplying water ionizers both electric and natural, I have never seen anyone attribute stomach problems to this form of water. That would be a sample of at least 10,000 customers. And please also give us links to the scientific studies you use to back up your assertion.

          Ian Hamilton: “High pH water means a higher than normal level of hydrogen ions.”

          James:
          No it does not. When water is made alkaline from naturally occurring carbonates or from hydroxyl ions this is not the same as hydrogen ions, nor do they prove an increase in hydrogen ions. Here is a link that will explain it to you:
          High pH water IS alkaline water. And both acidic and alkaline solutions can be buffered so your statement is ridiculous.

          Ian:
          James, I assume you are referring to this statement in the link you provided..
          “Next arises the question of what determines the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
          Actually, it is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions, the percentage of hydrogen ions contained in the solution.”

          To quote one James Drever on Wiki, “Alkalinity roughly refers to the amount of bases in a solution that can be converted to uncharged species by a strong acid.”

          We appear to be arguing over nomenclature rather than physical characteristics. All I am saying is that general usage often mistakes alkalinity and high pH. Even in your link, ‘alkalinity’ is seen as the same as pH. But we can have high pH water with low alkaline minerals, as in a water ionizer where electrolysis created higher levels of hydrogen ions aka H2.

          Alkaline water may = alkaline minerals
          High pH water may = alkaline minerals
          but
          High pH water does not always = alkaline minerals.

          Ian Hamilton: “High pH water that does NOT have alkaline minerals is termed ‘unbuffered’ water because unlike alkaline water,”

          Ian:
          Water containing alkaline minerals is referred to as a buffered solution. (Wiki: A buffering agent can be either a weak acid or weak base. Buffering agents are usually added to water to form a buffer solution, which only slightly changes its pH in response to other acids and bases being combined with it, particularly a strong acid or a strong base. ) A buffered solution is different to unbuffered in that it has ‘potential’ in the form of minerals that can be used by the body to neutralise the opposite pH minerals in the body.
          Again, as Wiki says, “Another example is buffered aspirin which has a buffering agent, such as MgO or CaCO3, that will help maintain the balance between the acid H-A (protonated) and the salt A− (deprotonated) forms of aspirin as it passes through the acidic stomach of the patient.”

          Ian Hamilton: “Alkaline water is a way of adding to your alkaline buffer or storehouse.”

          James:
          Ridiculous statement especially considering the fact that the body DOES NOT have a alkaline buffer “storehouse”. Again, virtually all pH regulation is maintained by respiration followed by hydrogen ion retention to increase acidity or elimination to increase alkalinity by the kidneys. Neither of these involve any type of alkaline reserve.

          Ian: here’s where I get to agree with James.Respiration is certainly the most important buffering system as it converts carbonic acids to CO2. But this does not mean it’s the only one, and alkaline water does provide a Buffer of alkaline minerals that are used to assist neutralisation of over or under normal balance. The body’s acid–base balance is normally tightly regulated by buffering agents, the respiratory system ( as James said) , and the renal system, keeping the arterial blood pH between 7.38 and 7.42.
          3 factors:
          1. Buffering agents
          2. Respiration
          3. Renal system.

          Ian Hamilton: “This buffer is used as first resort when excess acid is taken up in food or beverages.”

          James:
          More nonsense. If you ingest a food that contains acids the food will simply become more acidic in the stomach along with foods or drinks having an alkaline pH. Then as the chyme (food, drinks, stomach acid and enzymes) leave the stomach the pancreas releases bicarbonate that then neutralizes the acids in the chyme. In the long run all foods get metabolized in to acids, which again are kept in check by respiration and kidney function except in rare circumstances.

          Ian: James is right regarding food in the stomach, but the stomach’s major role is to emulsify food to a point where it becomes available ion a form ready for metabolic conversion. The real digestion as such begins in the intestine, after alkaline pancreatic fluid is injected into the food by the pancreas. James, I agree that in the long run all foods get metabolised into acids mainly amino acids, but what does that have to do with the pH of the original food? If you are correct, then there should be no beneficial effect from calcium supplements or magnesium supplements. UC has done some great work on this.

          Ian Hamilton: “Molecular Hydrogen infused water.
          This water comes from either an electronic water ionizer or a magnesium based water filter. H2 is infused into the water, which gives it a high pH reading.”

          James: Go back and read the link again I posted for you.
          Ian: I did read it, James. Thank you.

          Ian Hamilton: “Low pH High H2 water
          This uses a differently technology to infuse H2 into filtered water, but does not affect the pH or alkalinity of the water.”

          James: Since truly pure water has a pH of 7 (neutral) and alkaline water has a high pH over 7 then how can the pH or alkalinity NOT be affected as you claim if the water has a low (acidic) pH, which is the opposite of alkaline and a pH below neutral? Again your comments are contradicting themselves.

          Ian: Perhaps they do contradict themselves to you James. I’ll try to make it simple, even demonstrable. I can easily produce neutral pH water with high H2 levels. (1.0+ppm. The unit that does this is here in our lab. I use a combination of electrolysis and RO.

          Ian Hamilton: “H2 has now been isolated as the ‘active ingredient of water ionizers, rather than alkalinity or ORP, the other measurement often touted as ‘proof’ of therapeutic antioxidant effect.”

          James:Neither alkalinity nor ORP were ever “proof” of antioxidant effect. That was just bogus sales hype. In fact, the ionized alkaline water contains caustic mineral (metal) hydroxides that dissociate in to the powerful free radical known as the hydroxyl radical associated with the formation of cancer and other diseases.

          Ian: Agree that that alkalinity (although shown to be beneficial to health in a (large scale metastudy of drinking water worldwide available from me) and ORP are not proof of antioxidant effect.
          I also agree that thousands of MLM independent distributors were told that alkalinity and ORP were the antioxidant effect. Totally on the same page, James. Still, I have no proof either scientific or empirical of your claim of the damage caused by hydroxyl ions. However the TWENTY ONE studies on this page
          http://www.molecularhydrogenfoundation.org/studies/antioxidant/
          demonstrate the ability of H2 water to selectively neutralise hydroxyl radicals in the body.

          Ian Hamilton: “My declaration of interest is that we designed and invented the first all-in-one water filter and hydrogen infusion system. It sells at $699.”

          James: So you are just here to sell crap based on bogus information?

          Ian: Whatever you make of it James. Sad indeed that you need to see everyone here as your enemy. You make a good contribution ad spend many hours on it.

          • My response is too long for a single post so it being done in multiple parts.

            Part 1:

            Ian Hamilton: “Wow, James, you haven’t changed. One constant in this thread has been just one aggressive man sans the ability to express himself without denigrating others.”

            Wow Ian, you haven’t changed. You still have not developed the intelligence to realize that I AM NOT the topic even after this fact has been explained to you. And you still continue with the bogus personal insults in a poor attempt to divert attention away from your lack of intelligence, which I will further prove in this response.

            Ian Hamilton: “Except.. the comment about ionized water. Ionized water as it is referred to in the industry is water with some alkaline minerals that passes through a process of electrolysis. If there are no alkaline minerals in the input water electrolysis is not possible.”

            Again not true. Electrolysis of water can be done with the addition of any electrolyte. This can include acidic minerals, colloidal metals, acids, etc.

            Ian Hamilton: “There is a long held idea in some quarters that minerals are added to cause alkalinization. This is simply not true of all mainstream electronic water ionizers.”

            Not necessarily. Minerals are sold by some water ionizer companies to add to water. Especially if the water being used has been purified of minerals first since as already pointed out some type of electrolyte must be present.

            Ian Hamilton: “Exactly WHAT mineral hydroxides are you referring to?”

            More proof of how clueless you really are. What do you think makes the water alkaline? In fact, if you really think about your earlier false statement where you wrote ” If there are no alkaline minerals in the input water electrolysis is not possible” you would realize how ridiculous your statement really is. If the water is also full of alkaline minerals to allow electrolysis as you falsely claim then why would electrolysis be needed at all? After all the water would already be alkaline from the presence of the alkaline minerals already in the water that you claim need to be present!!!

            Now that your ridiculous claim has been pointed out again let’s look at what happens in the electrolysis and why this leads to the formation of the caustic mineral (metal) hydroxides. Don’t worry, I will keep it down to a third grade level for you.

            Water is HOH (H2O). As we can see there is a positively changed hydrogen (H) combined to the negatively charged hydroxyl group (OH). As we know opposite charges attract with this why the positively charged H binds to the negatively charged OH.

            When the water is split with an electrical process known as electrolysis the positively charged H is separated from the negatively charged OH. But these unpaired charges are going to seek out opposite charges to balance themselves. The OH again is negatively charged and thus needs to find something positively charged to balance. Where does that positive charge come from? The metals of the minerals in the water. For example the positively charged sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in the water. Therefore the negatively charged metals bind with the negatively charged hydroxyl group forming the corresponding mineral (metal) hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide ( same as Red Devil Lye), potassium hydroxide (same as Drano), calcium hydroxide also known as “caustic lime” used to make cement and magnesium hydroxide (same as Milk of Magnesia used as an antacid and as a laxative since it burns the intestinal wall leading to an influx of water and increased peristalsis.

            How these mineral (metal) hydroxides are formed by electrolysis are well known in science.

            Ian Hamilton: “James, I assume you are referring to this statement in the link you provided..
            “Next arises the question of what determines the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
            Actually, it is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions, the percentage of hydrogen ions contained in the solution.”

            LOL!!!! I see you deliberately left the link off and stopped short on the quote to make it incorrectly appear that you know what you are talking about. So what was the rest of that quote that you fell short on quoting? :

            “Let’s take water as an example.

            As you know, the formula for water is H2O. Most of the molecules in water are in that extremely stable form we know as H2O.

            However, a very tiny percentage of those molecules have broken up into hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions, (OH-), as illustrated in the figure.

            Actually, this balance of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions determines the pH of the water.

            When the hydrogen ions outnumber the hydroxide ions, the solution is acidic. If the reverse is true, then the solution is alkaline.”

            So why did you purposely leave out the rest of that quote? Simple, because it proved your earlier incorrect quote “High pH water means a higher than normal level of hydrogen ions.” wrong. As stated in this link a higher level of hydrogen ions means a LOWER pH, not higher as you falsely claimed.

            Ian Hamilton: “To quote one James Drever on Wiki, “Alkalinity roughly refers to the amount of bases in a solution that can be converted to uncharged species by a strong acid.””

            Another attempt to mislead people The discussion was about pH, not alkalinity. Again you falsely claimed “High pH water means a higher than normal level of hydrogen ions”. Note that there is no mention of bases. So what James Drever said is irrelevant to what was said and is just another desperate attempt to hide your most recent error.

            Ian Hamilton: “Even in your link, ‘alkalinity’ is seen as the same as pH.”

            LOL!!! How do you come up with that. Alkalinity IS NOT the same as pH as pH can also include neutral or acidic pH levels. Go back the link I posted for you again. It explains what pH actually is.

            Ian Hamilton: “But we can have high pH water with low alkaline minerals, as in a water ionizer where electrolysis created higher levels of hydrogen ions aka H2″

            Again go back and read the link I posted for you. It will explain pH to you. Hydrogen ions create acidity. When water is subjected to electrolysis there are both hydrogen ions (H+) released making the water in this side of the chamber acidic and hydroxide ions (OH-) making the water on the other side alkaline. OH- IS NOT a hydrogen ion.

            By the way, H2 is not a hydrogen ion either, it is a hydrogen molecule. So once again you are proving that you have no clue what you are talking about.

            Ian Hamilton: “Alkaline water may = alkaline minerals
            High pH water may = alkaline minerals
            but
            High pH water does not always = alkaline minerals.”

            Correct because as I said you can use other electrolytes, such as acids, to produce the alkaline hydroxides. So minerals are not needed for the alkalinity and the hydrogen MOLECULE H2 DOES NOT make the water alkaline as you incorrectly claimed.

            Ian Hamilton: “Water containing alkaline minerals is referred to as a buffered solution. ”

            So hard tap water is referred to as a ‘buffered solution”? Of course not!!! So once again you are wrong.

            Ian Hamilton: “A buffered solution is different to unbuffered in that it has ‘potential’ in the form of minerals that can be used by the body to neutralise the opposite pH minerals in the body.”

            I take it that you once again don’t see the error in your claim again. A buffered solution, which DOES NOT mean water with alkaline minerals would simply be neutralized by stomach acid when ingested.

            Furthermore, minerals are best absorbed when acidified. So alkalizing the minerals would simply make them harder to absorb. Look up the research for example of why alkaline calcium carbonate or alkaline magnesium oxide are so poorly absorbed compared to the acidified forms such as the malates and citrates.

            Ian Hamilton: “.and alkaline water does provide a Buffer of alkaline minerals that are used to assist neutralisation of over or under normal balance.”

            No it does not. Again, the caustic mineral hydroxides are neutralized by the stomach acid forming salts. The stomach acid is also neutralized in the process leading to a long list of health problems that will develop from infection from ingested pathogens to decreased methylation. These problems include cancer, heart disease, arthritis, suppressed immunity, hormone disorders, neurotransmitter imbalances, deceased cellular energy production, etc. Since methylation that is inhibited by the ionized alkaline water is also dependent on methyl groups for production the inhibited production of more stomach acid will simply further increase the risk of these problems.

            Ian Hamilton: “.3 factors:
            1. Buffering agents
            2. Respiration
            3. Renal system.

            Ian Hamilton: “This buffer is used as first resort when excess acid is taken up in food or beverages.”

            Once again you are not only wrong, but you clearly do not understand the digestive or buffering systems of the body. I already explained how digestion works. Here is my write up on how the body maintains its pH, which IS NOT from ingested caustic hydroxides:

            http://medreview.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/top-5-worst-internet-health-information-sites-curezone-org-part-2-alkalineacid-support-forum-part-2/

          • Ian: “James, we love you, as much as you probably hate it.”

            Me: “James, I am not “we”. I don’t love you, I am now quite bored with you constantly stalking the comments section. I wish you would get out more (out of this blog, that is).

    • Really James may be right about the over picture & the blood bone thing, but its still better for the body overall’ to be alkaline. So its still a winner as far as i’m concerned.

  6. James et al,
    I have a problem I hope you can help. I have had 3 kidney stones in the last month. Couldn’t catch a stone for analysis. I noticed my urine pH runs on the low side of normal, between 5 and 6 (I bought a pH meter and have been analyzing a few times a day). I know crystal formation is very sensitive to pH so I want to raise my urine pH about one unit, to between 6 and 7. What are the options for raising urine pH? I thought drinking alkaline water might work but after reading the comments posted here I doubt it. I read taking potassium citrate would raise urine pH but I went to CVS and the pharmacist said it was prescription only. I am eating more fruits and vegetables but I don’t think this will raise pH by one unit. If I get an Rx for potassium citrate do you think it will raise urine pH much? Other ideas on how to raise urine pH as much as one unit? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    • I think raising your ph will make it even worse. Antacids are a gallstone culprit, and they push your ph up.

    • Hi Tom,

      It would help a lot to know what kind of stones you are passing. Some form in more acidic urine and some in more alkaline urine.

      In general though I like nettle leaf and magnesium malate for the two most common forms of kidney stones which are uric acid stones and calcium oxalate stones. Both dissolve both forms of stones.

      James

      • Check out this website, it actually has a liquid ionic mineral complex that is suspended (extracted from volcanic rocks) in sulfuric acid an water, hence it is charged, and has an alkalizing effect on the body. There is a testimonial by a Canadian DC who his staff member passed kidney stones with no pain (they dissolved), using these minerals.

        James, I think you will appreciate the science behind them, as this liquid normalizes the VARIOUS PH levels in the body via the correct form of sulphate minerals (which form is found in fruits and veggies, yet at 5-6% of what it was in the 1920’s).

        I know these minerals are successful at decalcification, and they also purify water from several toxins, chemicals, bacteria etc, hence they are effective on dissolution of kidney stones.

        Scroll down to the first video testimonial: http://www.black-mica.biz/testimonials.html

        I also know that these minerals where under attack beginning a few years ago, and then yet what on this planet that is actually real, effective, pure, clean, and really does what it says consistently, won’t be under attack? especially if it delivers REAL science rather than electricuting water and charging an arm and a leg for it.

    • I started taking sodium bicarbonate, and I peed tiny crystals for a week. Sodium bicarb is probably the cheapest way to raise it.

    • Just drink plenty of water! Simple! I had a huge stone removed from my ureter tube many years ago. My specialist told me to drink at least 2 litres of water a day. It worked!

      • I had the stone risk assessment done and it did not indicate that low urine volume was an issue. It showed high uric acid, confirming the low urine pH issue. I can drink more water but then I’d have to sleep on the toilet. Plus there are times when you lose more water than you can drink (sweating on a hot humid day in FL, like today). I’ve been taking 3 99 mg potassium citrate pills a day plus a magnesium/potassium citrate pill and so far so good. Coming up on a year with no stones.

        • I live in between the Philippines and Australia (Darwin). I lived in PNG before that where the temp never dropped below 35 with 90% humidity. The climate in both Subic Bay and Darwin is extremely hot and humid. I drink an average of 4 litres a day in the hottest months. Yes I have to urinate at least 3 times during the night and I drink more water before I go back to sleep. However, I have not had a problem for 30 years so drinking lots of water is working. I don’t drink coffee or tea and certainly not juices or soda. I don’t drink alcohol either.

  7. Could you explain to me then how a persons sweat can bleach the sheets they are sleeping on and the female secretions burn the skin of the male? I’ve experienced this first hand and have no plausible explanation other than I became to acidic.

  8. Hi:
    Who is James? The article states that “Chris Kresser” wrote it…. I like it very much. Though I couldn’t prove much of it. James/Chris seems to have way more knowledge of metabolism and cause/effect regarding blood ph etc. I’m a little confused about the vaccines not being proven. Polio?… When I was young I knew of actual cases of polio. I don’t anymore. If i do not get the flu vaccine I typically get much sicker when the flu season comes around. If I get the flu vaccine I often don’t get sick at all. Bottom line i have tried to go without the flu vaccine because I don’t like the Thimerosal. Its basically a preservative that has mercury in it. My wife has been cured of near death mental illness (4 month long hospitalizations) by prayer (Gods wisdom not ours) , correcting thyroid issues (without medical help) because Doctors today do not treat based on symptoms as they did years ago, they rely on insufficient testing protocol and are nearly killing people with insufficient treatment, or improper treatment ie.T-4 only treatment. and the biggest one in my opinion removing mercury sources from her life. Four to be specific. 1. a mouth full of mercury fillings. 2. Vaginal contraceptives (Thimerosal) 3. Vaccines (Thimerosal) and 4. nearly stopping fish intake for a time. The mercury clue came from mercury’s history or creating mental illness. including intentional. I didn’t read it myself but I believe she did read that during one of the world wars one side used to put a drop of mercury in the ear of a prisoner and they would go almost instantly insane.
    I said all this about Mercury because I agree that we should not be taking vaccines because of it but I have never come by the opinion that vaccines are not proven. And James/Chris seems very adamant about their not being proven and seems to fall strong on the side of not using them. Any comment by James/Chris would be very much appreciated. I only stumbled on this site so I’m hoping that I’ll get an email notification if a comment is made. The reason I’m here is because I was considering the Alkaline diet routine, but am now not convinced there is any merit to it. I have very serious butt problems caused by what i believe is either a caustic or acid situation and don’t know what to do about it. I have trouble with bad coffee, pasteurized milk (but not unpasteurized milk) Tomato’s, non organic corn non organic spinach all of these seem to cause my burnt to bleeding problem info on this of course may be extremely helpful as well. Sorry for the specifics but it’s bad.
    Thanks:
    Andrew

    • Why would you cast out researching an alkaline diet further because some yahoo spouts off a bunch of data that most people don’t know anything about and just assume he must be right because he “sounds” smart?

      This guy brings up out of context pieces that make his claims appear valid. Why not consider the research of doctors who support a balanced pH diet in contrast to what’s being said here? If you just look at the blood panels of those who eat 70-80% alkaline, the proof is in the pudding.

      Furthermore, people’s bodies respond differently. Until you give your body 30-60 days to see how it responds to upping the alkaline percentage of your diet, everything is just speculation.

      Here’s the kind of results that are typical…

      Increased size, frequency and ease of regular bowl movements.
      Relief from most gastrointestinal symptoms (If any were present)
      Weight loss
      Stabilized, normal blood sugar levels
      Deceased bad cholesterol
      Increased good cholesterol
      Lower triglycerides
      Lower blood pressure
      Higher and more consistent energy levels
      Increased mental clarity

      The list goes on. Some tell stories of their experiences. Others prove these results through medical tests… Of course their doctors just say whatever you’re doing is working so keep it up… Most are so brainwashed by the institution of medicine that they don’t take interest in learning how their patient healed themselves.

      Just research more, or better yet adapt your diet for a month or two and then you’ll know. Don’t take yourself out because of what’s being said here. You deserve to find out for yourself.

      I’ve instituted 80% alkaline diet and personally experienced increased energy, better bowl function, mental clarity and best of all, effortless weight loss… And then I’ve gone off of it and allowed coffee and other acids back in and experienced all of those benefits going away. Worst of all, in the more acidic periods of my life I’ve gotten sick more often and struggle to wake up energized, only to need adrenal stimulants to get through the day… Maybe you’ll be the exception and not get such good results, but I’d put my money on you experiencing a much healthier and vibrant body.

      P.s. He is on to something about the vaccines. They have NOT ever been proven safe or effective. There’s tons of smoke and mirrors around it. The safety and efficacy has only ever been implied and those compensated for vaccine injury represent only a small percentage of those who’ve been injured. Just because the average person does not experience severe reaction or death doesn’t mean it isn’t happening and doesn’t mean they’ve studied or been honest about what happens after the vaccines are in our system.

      • Amber: “Why would you cast out researching an alkaline diet further because some yahoo spouts off a bunch of data that most people don’t know anything about and just assume he must be right because he “sounds” smart?”

        LOL!!! Even if people use 3rd grade level words this still will not change the facts. Did you ever stop and think though about your own wording you have been spouting off from the Kangen sales propaganda that were so far over your head? Such as ORP (oxidation reduction potential) that you did not know what it meant. “Positively charged free radicals” not realizing that free radicals can be negatively charged or even have a neutral charge. Then there was your comment “The point of an alkaline diet is to make the interstitial fluids of the body more alkaline”, which is also completely false as I pointed out in my response to this post. In the same post you falsely claim “Many microorganisms form in the blood of a body that is too acidic and often the negative charge around the red blood cells is lost, causing them to clump up and distort in shape”. Again I already addressed this sales propaganda. The fact is that most pathogens thrive in an ALKALINE environment. This is why acidosis is so EXTREMELY rare yet pathogen induced diseases are rampant. The whole point is the hypocrisy of your bashing people who know what they are talking about for using big words while you use big words and claims that you found on a sales propaganda site and that you clearly don’t understand just to try and make yourself appear smarter.

        Amber: “Why not consider the research of doctors who support a balanced pH diet in contrast to what’s being said here?”

        Supply the research then if it exists. So far the research that has been provided DID NOT back people’s claims. The findings of the studies were being misinterpreted just because the words “alkaline diet” were in the study and in one case I recall the study was highly flawed to begin with and again the results were highly misinterpreted to make their point. So if you think there is solid research proving that the so-called “alkaline diet” alkalizes the interstitial fluid then present it for review. Good luck!!!!!!!

        Amber: “If you just look at the blood panels of those who eat 70-80% alkaline, the proof is in the pudding”

        Again show us the evidence that this diet alkalizes interstitial fluid. Anyone can make bogus claims, we want to see the evidence.

        Amber: “Here’s the kind of results that are typical…

        Increased size, frequency and ease of regular bowl movements.”

        Which has nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. The diet is higher in fibers that help increase size, frequency and ease of bowel movements due to increased bulk, and stimulating the intestine duet to abrasive irritation, increased serotonin production from the flora feeding on the fibers and the beneficial acids formed from the fermentation of the fiber.

        Amber: “Relief from most gastrointestinal symptoms (If any were present)”

        Which has nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. The increased fiber again helps prevent constipation and maintains the normal acidity of the colon that helps with nutrient absorption and controlling of pathogens. The higher level of ascorbic acid and pantothenic acid also help support the adrenal glands that among other things will help reduce inflammation in the body including intestinal inflammation, which also reduces leaky gut.

        Amber: “Weight loss”

        Which has nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. Weight loss is aided by the laxative effect of the fiber as well as the fact that fiber slows down blood sugar absorption preventing insulin spikes that increase weight. In addition, the higher level of ascorbic acid and pantothenic acid support the adrenal glands preventing cortisol spikes that also lead to fat deposits. The diet is also higher in nutrients such as magnesium, chromium and vanadium that help with blood sugar regulation and B vitamins that help with metabolism.

        Amber: “Stabilized, normal blood sugar levels”

        Which has nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. Already explained why above.

        Amber: “Deceased bad cholesterol

        Increased good cholesterol

        Lower triglycerides”

        Which has nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. Sterols in plants bind cholesterol from food and from bile in the intestine forming an insoluble complex to prevent absorption or reabsorption thus lowering cholesterol.

        Good cholesterol is raised due to the high level of beneficial fatty acids.

        Triglycerides are lowered due to the balanced blood sugar levels since long term elevated blood sugar increases triglycerides.

        Amber: “Lower blood pressure”

        Which has nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. Sterols and the higher magnesium intake both help relax blood vessels lowering blood pressure.

        Amber: “Higher and more consistent energy levels

        Increased mental clarity”

        Which have nothing to do with a change in interstitial pH as you claim. Higher and more consistent energy levels are from better adrenal function, higher B vitamins, better blood sugar control, etc.

        Increased mental clarity from increased blood flow to the brain from sterols and magnesium in particular improving blood flow.

      • Ah l am not so sure about this except to say in life if you eat a balanced diet its supposed to be beneficial.
        To say either way on this topic would be wrong as many who have advocated for things in the past have been right and many medically proven concepts have been wrong.

        To me its about experimenting with what you eat to get a better result for you personally.

        l have always been a big fan of grains in my daily life but this caused reflux, once cut out all grains all is good.

        Well my problem is that ben there and done that so l actually went on a higher protein eating binge for the last 12 weeks.
        Cut out all Sugar drinks (well 90%)
        reduced carbs by 80% or as much as l can
        And eat certain vegetables

        My outcome:
        26LB weight loss
        Feel much more energy
        More alert
        My hip hurts less (arthritis)
        My joints don’t ache

        Do l measure Acid-Alkaline, no i don’t, but thats not something l will ignore either- ill try it and see if make a difference

        • NOBODY has questioned the benefits of a good diet. The topic is the myth that diet can alter your blood pH. It can’t!!! Blood pH is not regulated by diet. It is regulated almost entirely through respiration followed by hydrogen ion retention or elimination of hydrogen ions.

          The benefits of the so-called alkaline diet comes primarily from the high nutritional level. The removal of caffeine products such as coffee also help reduce inflammation by reducing stress on the adrenal glands.

          • Of course you can change your blood PH by drinking enough of anything acidic enough or basic enough(and yes there have been studies on this). Blood PH is a red herring because it HAS to be in a tight PH range in order for hemoglobin to work(just like in your car your engine needs to be in a specific range, while your trunk temp doesnt matter much). Everyone quotes blood PH, while intracellular PH varies more(6.9-7.4), and urine PH varies even more. The average person breathes out acid(CO2), urinates acid, sweats acid, and while feces are usually alkaline they are generally less alkaline than the blood. So if everything we are giving out is usually acidic, is it really so hard to believe that we just might surpass our ability to excrete acid, and that a subclinical acidosis is the result?. If you have a chemist talk about the PH buffer systems of the human body it is clear that system is greatly adjusted to resist acid loads, not basic loads(for example in blood the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid). Also look at animals read up on cows and acidosis and tell me its just something that does not happen.

    • Andrew,

      As to vaccines… I also grew up in the era when polio was still considered to be the scourge. What is interest to note though is that the incident rate for polio was on a significant steady decline BEFORE the salk vaccine. Also, the salk vaccine introduce the virus SV-40 to all of the people receiving the salk vaccine. SV-40 is one of the viruses that has the potential to produce cancer. In fact, as of a few years ago, no animal injected with the SV-40 failed to have a significant increase in the cancer incident rate.

      Incidentally, the sabin vaccine, while also having the SV-40 virus probably did not infect people with the virus as ingestion has proven to be pretty good at killing the virus.

      There is plenty of evidence and research to suggest that there are plenty of problems with vaccines, strenuously denied by the pharmaceutical industry and the CDC. As to the flu vaccine, research show that the vaccine usually turns the recipient into a carrier (think Typhoid Mary) for a few weeks and is rarely effective (they are guessing what flu strain will be the problem).

      Anecdotal of course, but my personal reaction to the flu vaccine is to become bedridden. The Navy even marked my medical records to NOT be given the flu shot.

      There are also administration problems such as giving vaccines to new borns.

      • Go to the Philippines and you will see first hand the results of unchecked polio! In Australia, your child cannot start school unless he/she is immunised. The recent influx of uneducated migrants and the rise of the “unbelievers” has unfortunately led to outbreaks of previously unheard of mumps, measles, whooping cough and chicken pox. I personally would love to drag the “unbelievers” through the childrens’ wards to see first hand how a baby dies of preventable diseases!!!!

  9. James, I want to thank you for convincing me that as a blogger I do not have the expertise to write on most health subjects. Hence, I will stick to what I do know. A bit of advice though James, tone down your attitude. Nice goes a long, long way to getting people to listen to you. I now have a headache just trying to read all of the information posted to this thread. (Another clue that I am not an expert)
    You very well may be an expert and I have learned a thing or two from your articles, at least the ones I could actually get through, but again, in order for people to listen to you, you must be more than an expert. You must be likable and I do not feel that you are. Of course that is just my opinion but I think a lot of people agree with me. AND, I am entitled to my opinion.
    I also want to point out the scientific studies are not the begin and end all as many times they are flawed or misinterpreted. I am not saying the ones you cite are, as I do not know because I did not view a single one. I just know that studies are often guilty of not using the proper basis for comparison when performing them so the results are not always what is claimed.

    • I’m using this thread – to show my students your (and others’) condescending attitude(s) and backwards thinking toward James. First, your ‘thank you’ is a derisive and mean spirited backhand; a phony and sanctimonious ‘bit of advice’. It’s people like YOU that should tone down the attitude; perhaps that’s the cause of your headache. The fact you learned a thing or two from him but then in the next breath chide him about his technical knowledge makes YOU unlikeable to people. Like James said, you and others make it all about him as you babble on about HIM, HIM, HIM. Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, but it is no defense for the fact that people like you act like children and remain recalcitrant over changing your beliefs. So you act out. Simple as that; grow up. When your feelings get hurt because you may be wrong or have trouble understanding something – YOU people accuse him of forgetting the ‘human’ side of things. Classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. Saying, “a lot of people agree with me”, makes you petty. You sound like a teenage saying, “All my friends do it”, and you use this mentality as if this way of expressing your mean spirited behavior makes you somehow ‘better’ or ‘more human’. Backwards thinking. The most bitter medicine is one’s own; thought I’d give you a dose.

    • Wow, nice chip…on that shoulder.

      The fact that some studies might have some problems is not a reason to use that as a rebuttal to anyone’s attempts to relay information – especially about pop-culture diet myths. Which is what the acid-alkaline issue is – mythical!

      If you’re not reading scientific studies, you shouldn’t be trying to demean them all or in part, when a very small number are flawed – by citing a rather inane POV. (did you discover chewing food all on your own? were you funded for that one?)

      Its tiresome listening to so many people these days vilifying the Sciences, because of the FACT that the scientific method self-corrects. And media outlets, and worse Bloggers – attack them like the flaws are the “be all and end all” of the hard work, and good work, being done in the many diverse disciplines. The media and Blogosphere rarely mentions the wins. Instead it chews on the self-corrections like they’re the pinnacle of failure.

      • And Tee, thank you for making my point for me. Your sarcasm about “forgetting to chew and learning on my own” just proves that you have indeed lost touch with the human side of things. I know VERY FEW people that actually chew their food long enough. Most rush through their meals out of habit and have lost touch what meal time is about. But (and this is sarcasm) I truly appreciate your input.

        • Beth;

          1] First of all, to ME, your ‘thank you’ to James WAS in earnest, [although I don’t think he deserves as much as he gets.]

          2] To ME, there is no way you came across with a “chip on your shoulder”. You had total sincerity with very appropriate criticism.

          3] Chewing one’s food may well be the single most important thing one can do to be healthier, especially for those who eat dead animals, which as I’ve stated before, is not meant to be eaten by humans.

          I remember in the early 70’s attending a lecture of 1800 people, by a very highly advanced Spiritual leader / teacher. Someone asked a question, “what can I do to get my parents to meditate”. After some silence, all the teacher said was, “Have them chew their food better.”

          To me that meant, the parents would be healthier, in turn their minds would be clearer, then able to, more likely, recognize the benefits of meditation.

          • It amazes me how people want to keep making things personal instead of staying on topic. Of course they do that because they do not like having their false beliefs, such as humans not being designed to eat animals. Clearly everything from the design of our teeth to our digestive systems are designed to eat both animals and plant matter.

            • James we have a turkish saying.
              Wits have fallen from the sky, everybody took his own.
              So there is a factor of ego in every discussion. People do not like to lose. They instead can choose to be ridiculous till the very end.

            • it seems that if humans we designed to eat animals then we would thrive on an animal diet. we don’t. strictly eating flesh sickens us and leads to disease. we successfully thrive strictly eating plants. we make medicine from plants. plants heal us. flesh does not. i’ve eaten vegan for the past five years. at 46, i feel better than i did in my 20s -more fit, more energetic. extensive and in depth analysis of my health from participating in various studies shows that i’m amazingly healthy -according to the doctors who reviewed the results. it confounds them.

              i seem to become healthier each year. i go years with any illness and when i do, i passes quickly -typically within 24 hours. i sleep 4-6 hours per day. stopped using an alarm several years ago. less 8% body fat. have tons of energy and simply feel better -more joyful and calm. i exercise little. diet matters waaaay more than exercise -my experience. personally, i attribute most all of these results to eating a plant based diet consisting mostly of raw vegetables. i don’t know about all the studies you cite. i know my experience and story. perhaps, you can produce a study that demonstrates how humans thrive on a diet based on animal flesh. be well.

              • We are designed to eat both plants and flesh and don’t thrive on either alone. People who are strict vegetarians tend to develop a B12 deficiency anemia is about 2 to 6 years if they do not supplement with B12 since it takes this long for liver stores of B12 to deplete and you cannot get B12 from plants.

                I often hear people claim just because think they are healthy this must mean what they are doing must be good. Let me give you an example of why this is not proof of anything. Using that same reasoning one could argue that smoking cigars and drinking are healthy since George Burns did both and yet lived to be over 100.

                There are always multiple factors involved in health. Assuming something is healthy because you feel better is as ridiculous as claiming because you feel healthy that this will work for everyone. Cocaine and methamphetamine make people feel better. Does this make these healthy?

                And taking this further you also mentioned you eat a lot of raw vegetables. Are you aware that raw vegetables are harder to digest and contain higher levels of thyroid suppressing phytoestrogens than cooked vegetables?

                These are great examples of why people need to base their statements on actual research showing how things work instead of assuming things are beneficial based on how it makes them feel as an individual, which again does not apply to everyone else.

              • Healthy, fit? Can you actually define those terms? In a general sense? No, no you can not.

                Exercise matters more then the new less is more trendoids want to sell you. Movement is the only thing the fitness industry and all the diet fads ever got right. Move! And move often!

                Okay you feel better eating all vegetarian. Fine. Let me offer you this, its simply due to the fact that you stop eating cr/p foods. Of course you feel better, get more healthy each month. Duh! Does it mean over the long haul you’re eating correctly, properly for optimal health? No!

                Oh and there’s another buzz word, optimal!! And no, I don’t have a general definition for the term. Because self diagnosis is bullshyte! Most blood work at your Dr. is for shyte!

                Not eating the cr/p that is the basic American diet of fast, processed foods is always going to feel better. Always! But once you detox and deplete the few reserves you have – then what? It’s a fact about vitamin and mineral defienciecies in a majority of vegetarian/vegan diets. It’s a fact the human species evolved to eat meat – flesh – and plant foods. OMNIvores is what we are! Fact!

      • This seems like a good place to add this comment.

        In many areas of science, the reliability of the scientific method has been compromised by the scientific process. The distinction is made abundantly clear in the following New Yorker expose/article.

        In a nutshell, human nature has introduced conscious and unconscious bias to many areas of the scientific process, greatly diminishing the value and trustworthiness of peer reviewed studies.

        As a strong believer in evidence over hype or feelings, I was dismayed to learn this…

        http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/12/13/the-truth-wears-off

  10. Denisa….I went through a very stressful time and all my good teeth went bad. I believe stress effects the saliva a lot. Forgiveness and peace make all the body’s functions work properly. Good supplements are only one factor. I would say emotions have trumped food in my experience.

  11. I understand that the ph of your blood has nothing to do with alkaline/acidic diet but I have a serious problem with my saliva: the ph of my saliva is constantly 5,5 -6 ph …this is unfortunately really bad for your teeth!!!! they are attacked by the acid and they basically get destroyed by your own saliva. I eat no sugar, no honey, no other sweeteners. I am lost and do not know what to do???? I take vitamin D and K2 supplements and magnesium oil since I believe those are important for teeth. I need help otherwise I will loose my teeth!!!! It started happening 2 years ago, before I had no problems , no holes, perfect enamel for 20 years!!!! thanks for your help

    • Hi Denisa,

      First of all saliva itself is alkaline. The mouth is made acidic from a lack of or insufficient saliva to wash away the acids or from an excess of acid forming bacteria in the mouth.

      People with dry mouth syndrome for example from Sjogren’s disease tend to have a lot of problems with their teeth due to the lack of saliva.

      Same when we do not take care of our teeth by brushing, etc. This allows acid forming bacteria build up.

      If you do not have dry mouth syndrome then chewing gum is one simple way to increase saliva. A sugar free xylitol gum is preferred and the xylitol also helps reduce bacteria.

      Brushing your teeth with a little baking soda is another good idea as is rinsing your mouth occasionally with a small amount of 3% peroxide. This is best done after brushing with the baking soda since the brown bottle peroxide contains acidic stabilizers. Or make your own 3% solution from the food grade 35% peroxide by diluting with purified water.

      As for supplements the most important supplement to maintain healthy teeth as well as bones, skin, hair, nails, tendons, ligaments, arterial walls, etc. is silica. Bamboo powder is the best herbal source being 7 times higher in silica than horsetail grass (shavegrass). I also prefer bamboo over horsetail grass since horsetail grass constricts blood vessels while bamboo dilates blood vessels.

      Although my absolute favorite silica source is food grade diatomaceous earth added to water. This delivers more silica to the body per day than taking capsules of a silica source due to silica’s poor absorption. And it is cheap. An ounce of food grade DE is about $0.40 and used this way will last many, many years. I posted on how to use DE here:

      http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2800

      And some more related information on silica:

      http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3463&highlight=diatomaceous

      http://www.medcapsules.com/info/Silica.htm

      http://www.medcapsules.com

      http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3575&highlight=bamboo/info/Silica_Diatomaceous%20Earth%20vs%20Horsetail%20Grass.htm

      http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3461

      Alfalfa herb (not sprouts) and nettle leaf are also great as they provide various nutrients needed to strengthen the teeth.

      James

    • Denisa – I’ve been having the exact same problem for the last 15 years. Perfect decay free teeth for 30 years no matter what I ate then bang – acidic saliva all the time dissolving my teeth over the last 15 years. I take vitamin d, vitamin k, bamboo silica, drink raw milk, drink vegetable juice, eat cheese and cod liver oil, chew xylitol gum – and nothing helps. I clean my teeth like a freak – just seems to make it worse.

      I don’t know if it’s from the pregnancies I’ve had or not but I’ve long since been done with those and I’m still acidic. I also had something called a “Rhogam shot” during my pregnancies because of my blood type. Did you happen to ever get this shot? My problems seemed to start after those shots (got 4 of them).

      Anyway if you ever figure this problem out let me know. I want to stop this decay process so I don’t have to be in dentures!

  12. A lot of smart people here think they know everything..Its very basic but DRUG CARTEL make very complicated when you have a cancer (cancer cell) sugar or acitic food feed the cancer cell..Means dont eat acitic food eat all alkiline base foods plus drink baking soda with alkaline water (not more than 12 gr a day)..I give you gurantee this way may be you cant kill cancer but less you dont throw gasoline over fire either..This article look like wrote by someone dont care humanity!!Only care money and cancer DRUG companies!!! Who make billions over save this information from everyones!! English is not my first language but I know for sure Alkaline food water baking soda stop the cancer cell grow.

    • The real problem is that there are a lot of people who do not know how to do proper research that think they known more than they really do.

      For example, ALL foods are metabolized in to acids. Despite this fact there are still those people who falsely think there is such a thing as an alkaline food.

      They also do not realize that cancer cells, which already have alkaline internal pH levels that help them to survive and thrive, can feed on various fuels. These are sugars, some amino acids, ketones and lactate.

      The worse are the ones that recommend ingesting baking soda just because they read this dangerous propaganda somewhere. They clearly do not understand the fact that ingesting baking soda can not only lead to cancer, but also promote existing cancers for several reasons. When the baking soda is ingested both the baking soda and the stomach acid are neutralized. The neutralization of the stomach acid increases the risk of infection from cancer causing pathogens. In addition, the neutralization of the stomach acid also decreases the absorption of nutrients, especially those required for methylation. Decreased methylation leads to an increased risk of cancer and promotion of existing cancers by suppressing the immune system, inhibiting DNA repair and by increasing inflammation and thus free radicals from increased homocysteine levels.

      Ionized alkaline water poses the same problems and further increases the risk of cancer due to the caustic nature of the water and the very dangerous hydroxyl radical it forms.

      This is a great example of why I always encourage people to research health claims they see or read. Even mine. I have no issues with this because i have been doing the research for 36 years and feel confident in what I am saying.

      • Hi James,

        I have a preteen child who has been on an acid reducer (Prilosec) for over a year due to IBS–prescribed by GI doctor. It has effectively treated the IBS but I worry that it will cause nutrient loss and the risks you mentioned with baking soda use. Whenever we try to withdraw the Prilosec (even very gradually), she experiences terrible heartburn and a return of IBS. Any advice you have is welcomed—

        • Hi SW,

          IBS has been linked to low intestinal flora, which serves a number of functions in the intestines. The flora help to maintain peristalsis, kill pathogens, produce certain vitamins and maintaining a proper pH in different parts of the intestine.

          My primary recommendation is cultured foods and increased fiber intake. Cultured foods include kefirs, cultured vegetables, miso, tempeh, etc. These will replace some of the strains of the beneficial bacteria. The fibers are used to feed the good bacteria. The best fibers are rice bran, oat bran and vegetable gums such as guar, konjac (glucomannan), xanthan, etc.

          Intestinal anti-inflammatories such as licorice root or yucca root, which are also good for the flora.

          My recommendation for the stomach acid for a child who has been on PPIs would be betaine HCl after meals.

          Normally I prefer digestive bitters, but these would be harder to get a child to do since they are so bitter and have to contact the tongue to work.

          When the body gets back to producing its own stomach acid then the betaine HCl can be slowly reduced.

          James

          • IBS and fiber? James, do you have IBS or ever had IBS? I would say you have not, so why are you advising to ingest fiber? As someone with extremely horrible IBS-C, starch and fiber are the two most things that should NOT be eaten. You have a lot of comments on this article and thread about baking soda, which you are wrong about. You seem to do a lot of reading but someone that sits there and reads and doesn’t actually experience things for themselves are at a loss to someone like myself who has benefited from zero carb/ low carb, avoiding starch and fiber completely and supplementing baking soda/sodium bicarbonate. The only thing I have seen you mention all these lines that was correct, as far as my physical experience goes, is cultured foods. Getting more probiotics and good bacteria is a good idea – however, most foods that are cultured include ingredients that would make IBS worse.

            • Karuna,

              Obviously you:

              1. Have no clue what IBS is.

              2. Have no clue what can cause IBS.

              3. Have no clue that there are different forms of fiber.

              4. Have no clue how many different things that can cause constipation, which means that the constipation may or may not have anything to do with the IBS.

              And NOBODY said anything about starches. So I don’t even know why you are bringing that up.

              Also makes me wonder what you are eating as a diet since plants contain fibers and starches. And if you are eating something like beef the iron could be causing your constipation.

              And if you really understood IBS, which has been linked to a lack of flora and the fact that you have to feed the flora then you would have realized I was not wrong.

              And if you bothered to take the tume to educate yourself on things such as basic chemistry and human physiology then you would also have been aware that I was actually correct about the dangers and lack of effectiveness when ingesting baking soda. For that matter you should have learned by at least 3rd grade science that if you mix an acid with baking soda the baking soda gets neutralized. And this is EXACTLY what happens when the ingested baking soda comes in to contact with the stomach acid. Thus it has NO alkalizing effect on the blood pH and thus DOES NOT kill already alkaline cancer cells.

              And as pointed out the neutralization of stomach acid increases the risk of cancer and numerous diseases as well as promotes existing cancers for a number of reasons. This includes increasing risk of infection by cancer pathogens, nutritional deficiencies leading to decreased methylation that leads to immune suppression, higher estrogen levels and inhibited DNA repair to name a few.

              This is why you keep claiming I am wrong but can never post any evidence as to why you think I am wrong. You are basing your false assumption on whatever bogus propaganda you heard and chose to believe, such as that from Sircus, instead of the reality of facts proven by science. This is a common tactic among uneducated gullible individuals. Since they never learned the facts they simply accept what they hear and sounds good to them. When they find out from a credible source that they were gullible enough to fall for some bogus crap they don’t want to admit they are gullible and wrong so they attack the messenger and claim over and over that the messenger is wrong even though no evidence exists to prove that claim.

              At least you are catching on to the role the beneficial bacteria play. The problem is that you still have not figured out that the bacteria have to be fed. What you are talking about is like having a baby then leaving it to fend for itself. It DOES NOT work that way. The primary food source for these beneficial bacteria that help treat and prevent IBS are FIBERS!!!!

              Therefore I suggest you spend less time falsely claiming I am wrong to protect your ego and spend more time learning some real chemistry and human physiology so you stop making yourself look so foolish.

        • SW, chewing slowly and intently until her food becomes a puree is also extremely important to aid in the digestive function. I was on prilosec for 15 years and now do not ever need it.
          Also no electronic devices while eating. Focus on the activity of eating.
          I agree with James as he offers great medical advice, but he often forgets the more human side of things.

          • I am not forgetting the human side of anything. The problem is a lack of stomach acid. Slow chewing to a puree does not increase the stomach acid. Slow chewing does help to increase surface area and mixing of enzymes for digestion and extraction. But again, these were not the issue being asked about.

            • Chewing IS a very important aspect of digestion as is breathing, which I failed to mention the first time. I think that whether or not someone asks something directly it is your responsibility as an self proclaimed educator to give the entire picture after all, some people just don’t know everything to ask.

              • Uh…so chewing is important…isnt that sorta common knowledge?

                Does an educator have to to a complete recap of common knowledge with ever presentation? “Okay ladies and gentlemen Im going to discuss strength training and muscle overload principles, but first lets review the human body muscle by muscle…”

                ???

                • I see what Beth is saying, though — often times we forget to chew. Our GI tracts get “bombed” with foods suddenly without preparation, and often times they get bombed with “gulped” or “swallowed” foods that have a high surface area to volume ratio. Beth and James are talking about two sides of the same coin. Giving the body time to anticipate a meal and methodical, thorough chewing can help mitigate low stomach acid or other digestive issues.

                • Ehan,

                  Slow chewing is not going to mitigate low stomach acid. The formation of stomach acid begins even before you start eating. Something as simple as thinking about food starts the secretion of stomach acid. And for gastric emptying the stomach has to sufficiently acidic. Therefore stomach acidity will continue to rise as the food sits in the stomach. This is a primary reason why when we eat our stomach does not immediately empty out. It takes time for the stomach acid to reach proper levels to allow proper gastric emptying.

              • Beth,

                I am not here to write books on every aspect of a part of human physiology.

                And if you are going to expect something like that from others then why don’t you set an example. I did not see you give an entire picture. Where is your information detailing the reasons chewing is so important? Why people with no or some missing teeth have problems? The role of saliva and salivary enzymes?……….. So again, where is the complete picture? Seems to me you left a whole lot out of your original response.

                James

      • Alkaline ionized water is negatively charged due to an abundance of free elections that neutralize free radicals. It’s measurable by an ORP monitor… The same instrument that shows positively charged free radicals in just about everything else we drink.

        Add to that the long list of those who’ve experienced improved health and have blood test results to prove it. Whatever you think you know about the science of ionized water, is incomplete at best.

        And no, I don’t sell water. I was just smart enough to research it and drink it for 9 years… If it was loaded with free radicals then why have I not aged at the rate of anyone around me over nearly a decade? It’s actually kind of annoying. Because when people here that I have 14 year old twins they look at me like I had them when I was 12 or 13. I’m almost relieved when I get to tell them I’m pushing 40.

        It’s all good if people want to believe this nonsense being spread here. I have nothing to gain or lose by anyone else’s choice. I just sit back and laugh as my doctor commends me for my exceptional blood test results and I watch everyone else age quickly as I maintain my youthful appearance.

        • Amber: “Alkaline ionized water is negatively charged due to an abundance of free elections that neutralize free radicals. It’s measurable by an ORP monitor”

          I really wish people would stop repeating the same old bogus Kangen sales propaganda and trying to present it as fact.

          Ionized alkaline water contains caustic mineral (metal) hydroxides that dissociate forming the dangerous free radical known as the hydroxyl radical associated with the formation of cancer among other things. This is only one of the reasons ionized alkaline water increases the risk of cancer and other diseases.

          And ORP DOES NOT measure antioxidant activity!!!!! Again, that is just bogus sales hype as Kangen keeps lying to the public. ORP is simply a test that measures impurity content and ability to destroy contaminants. That is in no way near to measuring anti-oxidant activity as the Kangen scammers keep falsely claiming.

          Amber: ” If it was loaded with free radicals then why have I not aged at the rate of anyone around me over nearly a decade? ”

          Ever hear of things called “anti-oxidants”?!!! We can get these from our diet and our bodies even produce a variety of them since free radicals are essential to health, but only become dangerous if they exceed antioxidant capabilities of healthy cells.

        • Hi, Amber, I am not criticising your honest attempt to talk about ionized water but i feel the need to help you with some misconceptions you and many other people have about so-called ‘alkaline ionized water.
          1. “Alkaline ionized water is negatively charged due to an abundance of free elections that neutralize free radicals. ”

          It is NOT negatively charged. Good water from a good system that has been properly maintained adds molecular hydrogen to water. There is no such thing as negatively charged or ‘ionic’ water. Electronic water ionizers must be regularly cleaned to continue to add H2.

          2. “It’s measurable by an ORP monitor… The same instrument that shows positively charged free radicals in just about everything else we drink.”

          An ORP monitor only measured the electrical charge in water, and a negative electrical charge is an indication only of the presence of H2. Because an ORP meter shows a positive charge has absolutely nothing to do with free radicals in the water. It ONLY means that the water itself has a positive elecytical charge. Yes, many sellers will say different and agree with you. They are all wrong. Sorry.

          Please, for the sake of good hydrogen water and the true science that supports it, go to molecularhydrogen foundation.org and read up.

          It is the H2 that gives you the effect, and the same H2 is available in non-electric systems and even tablets. There’s no longer any need to invest in an electronic ‘ionizer’.

          Ian Blair Hamilton
          http://www.alkaway.com

      • Well James you have an ocean full of fish to educate. You see the ocean has a PH of 8.2 primarily from bicarbonate and phosphate. Many fish aggressively drink sea water. Interestingly rainbow trout when changing from fresh water to sea water start ingesting I think the figure was 50x more water, and their metabolism goes up 30%. So maybe you can set up a sea front tent and explain to all the ignorant fish how very bad sodium bicarbonate is for them and their stomachs. “You there Mr Shinypants spit that out its harming your stomach!”
        .

  13. Very informative. Thanks for doing the research for all of Us. You make it easy to read and understand especially for those with limited knowledge of science of metabolism and how our body works. Keep it up and more power to you.

  14. Thank you for the article and the research. It makes an assumption that you have well functioning kidneys. I have PKD and my nephrologist has pushed me very hard towards a diet that reduces the acid that my low functioning kidneys have to process. As my urine PH moved more to base (vegan diet) my eGFR and other numbers that rule my life and lifestyle (no dialysis) improve or sustain, as my urine PH moves to acidic my numbers go the wrong way. Eventually, my kidneys will give out, but the more alkaline urine PH has extended their life in my opinion, and that of my doctor.

  15. This guy James needs to win some type of Webby award for laying all of his scientific knowledge on the table and going back and forth with brainwashed anti-science armchair experts. This lack of emphasis on science and critical thinking skills in the classrooms is the true cancer in society.

    I know how easy it is to buy these crazy scams, I briefly bought into the anti-GMO propaganda until I quickly realized how dumb GMO=bad/Organic=good rhetoric was and the paranoia that grips those who can’t buy anything without a fucking “organic” sticker, even though it is meaningless and isn’t regulated by anyone (which, ironically people don’t trust govt regulators anyways lol).

    Now, I can spot these pseudo-science arguments a mile away. It just takes a little more than clicking the first article or wikipedia entry whenever you’re skeptical about something. I know, that’s asking for someone’s firstborn, when you’re trained to pick the first answer that confirms your own fears or bias.

    From this James to that James: You’re a good dude, your passion to help others understand is making a difference, despite half the commenters spewing misinformation. I came here not knowing about this new trend, but as with virtually all diets, I knew it was based in fantasy.

  16. I am doing research into acid-alkaline balance in the human body and came across your myth articles. Thank you for all of your reference material. Since I am a purist when it comes to research, I am a little disappointed that you seem to freely accept one study that supports your belief (high protein diet improves nitrogen balance) and just as freely disregard a study that does not support your belief (one observational study concluding that alkaline diets improve lean muscle mass). I also am a little leery of someone who refers to research and use phrases like “multiple studies have shown”. I was taught that studies are designed to “find evidence to support” or “find no evidence to support”. Stating that “studies have shown” is not what I am used to nor did I find that statement within the referenced article.

    With these examples from your articles in play, I am grateful for the reference material but do not trust your analysis of the material.

    Thank You,

    • Don: “I am a little disappointed that you seem to freely accept one study that supports your belief (high protein diet improves nitrogen balance) and just as freely disregard a study that does not support your belief (one observational study concluding that alkaline diets improve lean muscle mass). ”

      How is that contradictory? Plants contain protein as well, and in some cases have higher protein contents than meats.

      Also keep in mind that there is more to maintaining muscle mass that simply the amino acids present. For example, you can eat high protein from animal or plant sources all day long and still not improve muscle mass without exercising the muscles. Testosterone levels are another big factor.

    • I’ve had digestive problems for many years including ulcerative colitis . I’ve read widely on the subjective of digestion . For me the acid alkaline balance is largely dependent on stomach acid , Hcl. If there’s too little, eating a high acid diet will in the end lead to all sorts of issues , including autoimmune diseases , an alkaline diet might stave off disaster for a while . What struck me about the ph miracle , which has many merits , was that it seems to say that Hcl is a byproduct of digestion , not a vital digestive juice secreted by the stomach . Although I was on ppi’s for years I have low stomach acid .The point I would like to make is that whatever you eat adequate Hcl is vital . After taking 4 625 mg Hcl and pepsin capsules with a meal , an acid meal at that , my urine ph rose to neutral several hours later .Also I had much less stomach upset . Amazing , for me this proved that what was happening was that the chyme leaving my stomach was now acidic enough to activate alkalizing pancreatic enzymes . My allergies are clearing up , my digestion is improving . How could doctors get this so wrong ?

      • Alan Whitham: “I’ve had digestive problems for many years including ulcerative colitis ”

        Ulcerative colitis and the closely related Crohn’s disease are autoimmune disorders triggered by mycobacterium avium complex. The autoimmunity itself has NOTHING to do with pH nor is it the result of an overactive immune system as doctors claim. The immune system is actually doing its job just as it is designed to do except one exception, which is the adrenal glands are not working properly leading to an overproduction of low affinity antibodies. I explain this more in depth here:

        http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=24454

        Alan Whitham: “For me the acid alkaline balance is largely dependent on stomach acid , Hcl. If there’s too little, eating a high acid diet will in the end lead to all sorts of issues , including autoimmune diseases , an alkaline diet might stave off disaster for a while .”

        Stomach acid has nothing to do with blood pH. Again, blood pH is maintained almost exclusively through respiration followed by hydrogen ion retention or elimination through the kidneys. See:

        https://medreview.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/top-5-worst-internet-health-information-sites-curezone-org-part-2-alkalineacid-support-forum-part-2/

        What people need to realize is that EVERY SINGLE FOOD you consume is metabolized in to acids. There is NO such thing as an alkalizing food or diet. Even many of the so-called alkalizing foods have acidic pH levels to begin with.

        Therefore, it is also a myth that acidity promotes disease and alkalinity prevents it. In fact, research has shown that not only do many pathogens thrive in an alkaline environment, but also that when healthy cells are made excessively alkaline the healthy cells morph in to cancer cells.

        As for autoimmunity, this again stems from adrenal insufficiency. The most common nutritional deficiencies that lead to adrenal dysfunction are ascorbic ACID and pantothenic ACID. Acids are actually essential to our very existence. Acids are needed to form cells, to provide energy to cells, for detoxification, for digestion and absorption, to maintain healthy bones, to protect us from pathogens, to maintain circulation and to allow oxygenation of tissues, and the list goes on and on. People need to stop reading the alkalizing propaganda sites and get over their phobias a acids. Again, we cannot even exist or function without a number of acids.

        Alan Whitham: “What struck me about the ph miracle , which has many merits , was that it seems to say that Hcl is a byproduct of digestion , not a vital digestive juice secreted by the stomach . Although I was on ppi’s for years I have low stomach acid .The point I would like to make is that whatever you eat adequate Hcl is vital .”

        You are absolutely correct. Stomach acid is not a byproduct of digestion or a waste product as some propaganda sites claim. It is an essential component of digestion and absorption as well as a first line defense against ingested pathogens including some that cause cancer since most pathogens thrive in alkalinity. Same reason the ulcer and cancer producing bacteria Helicobacter pylori and the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections secrete urease to alkalize their environment for their survival.

        When you took the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) you were blocking stomach acid, which inhibits the absorption of nutrients needed for methylation. Methylation is required for about 4,000 processes in the body including protecting us from cancer, maintaining the immune system and cellular energy production, neurotransmitter and hormone production, etc. It is also required to produce stomach acid. Therefore the long term use of antacids or acid blockers leads to an inability for the body to produce more stomach acid, further increasing the risk of numerous diseases from ingested pathogens, nutritional deficiencies and decreased methylation.

        Alan Whitham: “After taking 4 625 mg Hcl and pepsin capsules with a meal , an acid meal at that , my urine ph rose to neutral several hours later .Also I had much less stomach upset . ”

        Urinary pH does not correlate to blood pH.

        The correction of upset stomach is from the acidity promoting digestion and decreasing fermentation in the stomach. Same reason behind digestive bitters, which raise stomach acid, to treat heartburn.

        Alan Whitham: “Also I had much less stomach upset . Amazing , for me this proved that what was happening was that the chyme leaving my stomach was now acidic enough to activate alkalizing pancreatic enzymes . ”

        Enzymes do not alkalize. The pancreas releases bicarbonate to neutralize acids in chyme. This is the so-called “alkaline response”, which occurs with the ingestion of ALL foods. It does not matter if you are ingesting lemon, a candy bar or steak.. All will cause the same alkaline response, which is a normal part of digestion.

        Alan Whitham: “My allergies are clearing up , my digestion is improving . ”

        Allergies are improving because the acidity not only allows for the proper digestion of proteins to prevent food allergies, but also through increased methylation that reduces histamine responses.

        Alan Whitham: “How could doctors get this so wrong ?”

        For the same reason so many people have fallen for the alkalize for health myth. People tend to believe what they are told without ever bothering to research the claims to see if they are factual or not.

        • You’re right about auto immune disease . I started out with Ankylosing Spondylitis . Anti-inflammatories caused me terrible stomach upset and I was put on and left on , first zantac then ppi’s omeprazole . I believe the anti inflammatories and the ppi’s caused my u.c. not auto immune disease . The ppi’s were also mis-prescribed , I have low stomach acid , I know because I now take Hcl and pepsin which gives me more relief than ppi’s ever did. The point I was trying to make is that low stomach acid has to be addressed or nothing will work properly . The environment in the colon should be alkaline . If stomach acid is absent or virtually absent the colon will become acidic , because alkalizing pancreatic enzymes will not be activated if the ph of the chyme leaving the stomach is too high . I have B12 deficiency , magnesium deficiency , anemia , all associated with low stomach acid . So low Hcl is involved in many diseases , in my view even cancer . The ph balance between the stomach and lower digestive tract is crucial and is not properly addressed by western medicine .Giving ppi’s to patients with digestive disorders without a Heidleburg test to make sure of the cause of the problem is , in view of the possible consequences , criminal incompetence , it’s going on on a massive scale . and is hugely profitable . Whether low stomach causes the blood ph to drop , I don’t know but it definitely raises acidity in the lower digestive tract . As Hippocrates said death begins in the colon , maybe more accurately it begins with low stomach acid . It’s time they got this right even if that means that big pharma lose trillions . I think Chris Kresser’s is the right approach ,not the ph miracle .

          • Alan….you are so right! It all starts with stomach acid in many of these dis-eases…..and docs have it all wrong in terms of prescribing PPI’s at such a high rate……it’s destroying peoples digestive systems and immune systems. Yes, yes, yes!!!

          • Apologies , I made the same mistake again . of course it’s the Sodium Bicarbonate that does the alkalizing not the enzymes .

        • Hi James…..one last question for you regarding stomach acid. I have several clients whom I know would benefit from increasing their stomach acid production (it’s likely ALL of my clients, really), but in particular one lady who is struggling with advancing osteoporosis. She is doing the diatomaceous earth now and eating well, taking bitters, exercising etc etc….but my question to you is, since PPI’s will increase parietal cell production in the stomach (and correct if I am wrong about this) and going off of them cold turkey will cause issues with too much production of acid, will taking an HCL pill decrease parietal cells? Will taking HCL make the stomach lazy? The body is an amazing thing and like with taking steroids or SSRI’s this can make the body lazy with adrenal gland atrophy and reduce serotonin production, respectively……what are your thoughts or knowledge pertaining to HCL. I want her to take these b/c I think she is deficient, but perhaps a Heidelberg test would be appropriate first…..

  17. Why aren’t we talking about what the kidneys really do and that is to filter. They filter cellular waste. If we have clear urine why do we think this is good? (well if you are drinking tons of water during the day you may) but in the am if you pee in a jar and see no sediment you are not filtering your cellular wastes. In turn then we are not getting that waste out correctly. So as anything that needs to get out and it doesn’t it stays inside. Maybe as we sweat it will come out a bit but if the kidneys are not filtering you will have acidosis. See in 2 minutes how you can check your filtration.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0OznrAVGCY&list=PLAmZ0Av0CC5S9pLz2eutPvISRQBJnwWJO
    ANd Dr.CHris can you please discuss this further. Why aren’t doctors doing this easy check on patients?
    If you have kidney issues in the family you need to know. Also if your bp is over 115/75 the top number is adrenals and bottom number is kidney function/filtration. If you have high bp even a little you probably need to fix the adrenals and kidneys and without meds, boom . it can normalize. I know it because it happened to me. After slightly high bp reading I learned my kidneys don’t filter very well. Take time and check, fix kidneys and bp goes down. Awesome stuff this healing body we have.

    • Thank you Laurie, VERY practical, helpful and interesting information. As to your question. I think you already know the answer.

    • The kidneys have more functions than simply filtering. Calcium balance and producing a hormone for red blood cell production for example.

      Acidosis has more than one cause as does high blood pressure. This are not strictly kidney or adrenal related.

  18. The most intelligent comment so far was by Christine
    OCTOBER 16, 2013 AT 11:44 AM

    Whatever you read regarding health , diet etc basically it all comes back to a very simple rule . For good health eat natural foods , stay away from anything that has been processed . Nothing more complicated than that .

    Also AVOID ALL Big Phama drugs, vaccines, chemotherapy, radiation. cosmetics, toxic chemicals and stress. Get plenty of exercise, sun and sleep and drink lots of fluoride free water…..The one factor everyone here has failed to mention – COMMON SENSE!

    • I missed Christine’s comment so thank you for mentioning it again. I back it up 100%. I know it is a good general guideline so I’ll throw in a few details.

      1] “Natural foods” does NOT include dead animals. So if you eat them, I suggest you work towards eliminating that from your diet. Take your time and do it gradually if needed, but DO IT.

      2] “Natural foods” COULD include a daily drink of super foods which could, depending on what you need, included healing herbs. [feel free to ask me for suggestions]

      3] Work at eliminating your negative thought processes or emotions. If you do that you WILL get healthy. [there may be a correlating improvement of the diet as this happens]

      • Dead animals, like dead plants, are completely natural and, if they are not adulterated with additives or from things the animal was fed, a very healthy and necessary part of the human diet. I was a vegetarian for something like 30 years before self preservation and an article by Barbara Kingsolver overcame my ethical misgivings.

        • [Sorry about the delayed response]

          Very involved subject but here are the basics

          If you are asking about the natural human diet, then it would be foods that are not altered by heat or processing. This would be fruit and some vegetables, [spouts], which is the most natural foods for humans and very easily digestible.

          Two of the healthiest foods are sunflower seeds and almonds. They are natural but really should be soaked, allowing them to be easily digestible.

          Slightly less natural are vegetables that require mild heating by steam.

          As far as eating dead animals, it is not even CLOSE for a natural food for humans. Just because many humans eat it and often contains much nutrition, does not mean that it is natural for the human diet.

          If one cannot use common sense to understand this then there is overwhelming, scientific evidence showing this fact.

          • That is not a fact, it is hypothesis.

            Secondly, humans are designed as OMNIVORES, not herbivores or carnivores.

            In addition, we cannot get true B12 from plants. We get this from meats. Strict vegetarians who do not supplement with B12 will develop a B12 deficiency anemia in an average of 2-6 years since the liver stores an average 2-6 year supply of B12.

            By the way, vegetables are just as natural as nuts, seeds and meats.

            • You are incorrect and again, hurting people with your ignorance.

              Humans are absolutely NOT meant to be meat eaters.

              As I said, it does not mean that we cannot gain from eating it and even be relatively healthy, eating it in moderation. That does not mean that we are designed to eat it or it is our optimal food any more than Twinkies are.

              Once again, you are not able to THINK. You need to use logic, common sense and get the bigger picture.
              As we evolve, meaning the as the “dweller” within the physical body evolves, then the need to eat meat will become less and less and eventually, there will be no need or desire for it.

              • Dennis,

                I have read the various propaganda sites and seen the various propaganda videos claiming we are designed as vegetarians Ironically it those people who fail to use common sense or think for themselves.

                For example, common sense tells us that since we are designed as omnivores neither a strict meat diet nor a strict plant diet is optimal. A mixture of the two is optimal.

                And again using some common sense a person would have to ask themselves where would we get sufficient B12 if not from meats since real B12 is not found in plants? These days we can get real B12 from supplements but we were not designed as recent as supplements have been available. Therefore, we had to obtain our B12 from meat prior to supplementation. As I mentioned before strict vegetarians will develop a B12 deficiency over time if they do not supplement with B12 since you CANNOT obtain true B12 from plants. Therefore, common sense also tells us that humans have always depended on meat since this was once the ONLY source of B12.

                Common sense tells us that our closest animal relatives, the bonobos, have virtually identical digestive systems as humans and bonobos like humans are omnivores.

                Bonobos, which are our closest animal relatives also have short canine teeth just like humans. Canine teeth are ONLY required by animals that also consume meat such as bonobos and humans. Herbivore mammals such as horses and cows lack canine teeth altogether and instead have flat grinding teeth instead strictly for plant matter..

                Common sense tells us that we have the same body length to intestine length as most omnivores and carnivores. Not the ratio of herbivores as the propaganda sites falsely claim.

                Bottom line is that I have argued the myth that we are supposedly herbivores for years with people who are simply regurgitating the bogus propaganda they have seen. And I have NEVER lost a debate with these people. Therefore, if you want to claim I am wrong you better come up with some really solid evidence to prove your claim because a major pet peeve of mine are people who want to simply claim others are wrong with ABSOLUTELY NO evidence to back their claims. That just shows a complete ignorance of the subject and shows the person is trying hard to make themselves appear more intelligent than they really are. That is like someone making up a ludicrous claim such as Twinkies (since you brought them up) are the perfect food for the body since they provide the body with the protein, fat and sugars the body needs to survive. See, anyone can make any absurd claim. It takes actual intelligence and understanding of the topic to actually back up the claims with real and solid evidence as I just did proving humans are omnivores

                James.

              • Uh…youre simply making claims, not backing them up.

                Also, you did not define what natural means, but simply gave a few limited examples of what are commonly called natural foods.

                And what is this, dweller stuff? Define that as well…

              • Perhaps if you tried actually backing your arguments up instead of simply stating others are wrong, you’d get somewhere Dennis.

                Explain why we have these
                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxillary_canine

                Anyone applying your argument of ‘common sense’ (which in itself is not an argument) would be able to see not too many (if any) herbivores have canines. Feel your mouth, you’ve got 4 yourself. They’re the ones that stick up above the rest so you can tear meat.

            • James

              July 7, 2015 at 5:15 pm

              That is not a fact, it is hypothesis.

              Secondly, humans are designed as OMNIVORES, not herbivores or carnivores.
              ……………………………..
              Not true James…

              • Walter: “Not true James…”

                Simply saying something is not true with no evidence whatsoever to counter what was originally said shows the person claiming it is not true has no knowledge of the subject. The facts are simply countering their faulty belief system. If what I said was really not true then there would be some real evidence to the contrary and you would have presented it.

          • Natural Food-If there is anyone who would love to be vegan, that would be me!! I love nuts and beans, but I have a condition Mast Cell Activation that causes me to react to many foods, smells, pollen, virus’s, etc. Nuts seem to be the worst and I go into anaphylactic easily from them although I am not allergic. Also if I have beans more than a few times I week, no matter how they are soaked or how organic they are, I start to react terribly; the same goes for too much dairy. Peas are a very high histamine food, which also triggers my reactions to other foods, so pea protein is not even a choice. But since I have cut out 95% of grains, (I cheat a little with a gluten snack occasionally), but since cutting grains, nuts along with coconut, and trimming back my bean consumption, my anaphylactic reactions have been cut down considerably. I have never been a fan of meat, but since acquiring this condition, a few means are my only choice for protein. I still eat more greens than meat, but so grateful I can at least consume meat to get my proper protein. I get frustrated when people get a bit judgmental of those who eat meat. I hope some can remember that not everyone has choices, I know many others just like me.

            • Hi Maiysa,

              Sounds like you are referring to mastocytosis. Have you looked in to methylation and methyl donors such as trimethylglycine? Low DNA methylation has been linked to mastocytosis and also leads to increased histamine levels.

              Also look in to straight quercetin, not the quercetin, bromelain and vitamin C (QBC). The bioflavonoid quercetin is a fantastic and safe antihistamine.

              James

          • Try telling the Inuit peoples of the world as well as other tribals peoples who rely on mainly meat that they were never meant to eat animals. Direct your bleeding heart at the mistreatment of animals for food and leave out making preposterous claims.

            • You know its interesting, those meat eating diets are as you say acid producing and healthy. Surprisingly people on them seem to go through an acidosis/alkalosis cycle just like people who are fasting.

      • I may have missed it. So much information to process, but what is a normal pH level. I have had a kidney transplant and because of it I have high blood pressure. My last pH count was 5.5. I can just about anything I out my mind too, but I have got to stop eating chicken. I need healthy feeling alternatives. My fear is that the anti-rejection drugs I am on can cause me to have/get cancer.

        • Hi Michelle,

          The pH of 5.5 you mentioned cannot be your blood pH. Normal blood pH is 7.35 to 7.45 and death occurs if the pH drops below 6.8.

          You are right about the anti-rejection drugs. The vast majority of cancers are viral in origin and most of the remaining from other pathogens. Therefore, immune suppressants like anti-rejection drugs do increase the risk of cancer.

          And it is very tricky since most of the holistic therapies regarding cancer center around boosting the immune functions or do this indirectly.

          The only thing I can recommend for now is a diet rich in vegetables and grains, which both contain various anti-cancer compounds without any significant immune boosting effects.

          James

    • You say avoid chemotherapy to stay healthy. Well, as a survivor (6 years now) of acute myeloid leukaemia and having gone through 6 rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant, I have to say that I’m grateful for chemo! I simply wouldn’t be alive without it. Yes, it’s a bastard of a treatment and it took me a while to get over it (with the help of lots of herbs and supplements) but I am still here. And I wouldn’t have been otherwise.

    • Mediterranean diet I was brought up eatong. Also read Edgar Cayce regarding the acid/alkaline diet. everything in moderation.

    • Vaccines are absolutely necessary, chemotherapy saved my uncle’s life and many other, I need medication, and despite eating processed foods people are living considerably longer than when they were forced to eat all natural.

        • Thanks to people refusing vaccines diseases that have almost been eradicated are resurfacing. Also modern medicine is probably the single biggest contributor to a long life expectancy in a modern society. More importantly it’s very easy for people in the first world to talk about how these fad diets prove that modern things are bad for you but I come from a third world country where people who live in rural areas with only some farm animals and crops they plant themselves do not live longer than city people even though everything they eat is organic. Why? Because it’s often not enough, because there is no medicine and host of other modern conveniences that make life easier, safer and longer. Just giving birth outside a hospital is highly risky and people in poor countries like mine that have to face that would do anything for the security a safe, medical environment would bring to them during just that one event in life.

          • Maria Lozada: “Thanks to people refusing vaccines diseases that have almost been eradicated are resurfacing.”

            What a crock!!!! Although this does bring up a really good point. If vaccines really worked then why are the vaccinated people so scared of the people who have not been vaccinated.

            What the people making such ludicrous claims as vaccines have been proven to work keep overlooking are the facts that people can still get the same diseases they have been vaccinated for and many diseases that have mandatory vaccines for are on the rise.

          • Its a myth, easily seen in two statistics. A) The average person lives longer than the average doctor(do you really believe he can’t help himself but he can help you?). And when hospitals go on strike the average death rate in the area goes down, and go back up to normal when they come back online. They’ve tried to explain away these statistics in so many ways..tried and failed.

      • Maria Lozada: “Vaccines are absolutely necessary”

        Why? They have never even been proven to work. And are you aware of the fact that you can still get the diseases you you are vaccinated for? In fact, mumps is on the rise despite mandatory vaccines. And are you aware of the potential side effects that include neurological problems and even death. It is claimed these are rare, but not all cases are being reported as such and rare or not does it really matter when it happens to someone close to you? Keep in mind also that it is the same idiots telling us that vaccines are safe that also lied to us claiming Thimerosal was taken out of all childhood vaccines and even worse yet are vaccinating newborns. See:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLh-UOwAc88

        Are you also aware of the fact that the first cases of AIDS were ALL linked to vaccine programs? The WHOs Expanded Program on Immunization in Africa during the late 1970s. There were also outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg’s disease and Lassa fever in the same villages receiving the smallpox vaccines being given by the WHO. These three diseases started in the same African villages receiving the vaccines and died out on their own when the vaccine trials were halted. This also shows that viruses can die out on their own accord without any human intervention. Although the WHO had been warned several times that their vaccines were contaminated with viruses the WHO did nothing to change this fact. In fact, if you read the Bull of the WHO and the Fed Proc of 1972 you will find the WHO was deliberately trying to create synthetic viruses to introduce during vaccine programs to “selectively destroy the immune system” by wiping out T cell, B cell or antibody function.

        And as reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) with the experimental hepatitis B vaccine in New York City in 1978. In fact, the later vaccine trial was also conducted in Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis and Miami in the 1980s, which were the other original hot spots for the initial AIDS outbreaks that were linked to the vaccine.

        The polio vaccines given to over 95 million American in the 50s and 60s were contaminated with the SV-40 virus linked to various cancers in humans.

        The HPV vaccine has already killed how many hundreds of people? That is not even counting other adverse effects caused from the vaccine.

        The list can go on and on. Although the fact remains that vaccines have neither been proven nor is testing for safety or effectiveness required for most vaccines as is required for other drugs.

        Maria Lozada: “chemotherapy saved my uncle’s life and many other,”

        Yes, it works SOMETIMES, especially on easy to treat cancers such as leulkemias and lymphomas that have an 80% success rate by the use of the antiviral drugs Vincristine and Vinblastine derived from the plant Madagascar periwinkle.

        The majority of the time though chemotherapy and radiation therapy fail for several reasons. For one most chemo drugs and radiation therapy are carcinogens, in large part from the immune suppression they cause allowing cancer pathogens to cause secondary cancers. The other problem reported in the medical journals is the fact that cancerous tumors contain both well oxygenation and hypoxic regions due to the irregular vasculature. Since most chem drugs and radiation therapy are reliant on an oxygen radical principle they can ONLY work on the well oxygenated areas of the tumor. Since the hypoxic regions survive they continue to grow again reaching detectable levels usually within a few years. These are also often chemo and radiation resistant tumors by this time.

        Maria Lozada: “and despite eating processed foods people are living considerably longer than when they were forced to eat all natural.”

        And one of the major reasons for this is better hygiene. Also better sanitation.

        • “They (vaccines) have never even been proven to work.”

          All reliable scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccines are effective, to the point of almost eradicating some diseases like smallpox and polio, and have no major side effects. Diseases like Ebola are indigenous to those areas so outbreaks are not surprising. There is also no verifiable link between vaccines and any disease not even autism. I know this doesn’t mean anything to a group of people prepared to look other way of study after scientific study that proves all of what I’m saying in order to continue believing their personal conspiracy theory about medicine. I will continue to believe in actual science.

          Chemotherapy is not perfect. Radiotherapy is not perfect. They are grueling and knock-out the recipient. If there were more effective treatments outside of surgery I would love to hear it. But there are not. They are still the gold standard. Also the idea leukemia is easy is completely crazy, a lot people die from leukemia and many others require more than just chemo like a bone marrow transplant. My uncle had colon cancer. For the record it’s not antivirals it’s retrovirals and they’re for viruses like the name implies not for cancer which an autoimmune disease from one’s own cells.

          • Maria Lozada: “All reliable scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccines are effective, to the point of almost eradicating some diseases like smallpox and polio”

            I went to go post a response to this nonsense but the response was too long so it would not post so I will have to address it in several parts.

            You clearly missed some important facts I brought up. For example, the fact that viral outbreaks that have no vaccines available have died out on their own in history. Therefore the claim of diseases being diminished r eradicated by vaccines is very faulty reasoning used by pro-vaccine supporters because they don’t understand scientific process or evidence.

            Secondly, diseases for which vaccines are mandatory are on the rise.

            And finally they are overlooking the problem that VIRUSES MUTATE through several mechanisms, which would prevent vaccines from working anyway. This is the reasoning they are giving for the high failure rate of the last round of flu vaccines. This has always been a major problem to begin with, but unfortunately the pro-vaccine proponents who seem to only rely on vaccine propaganda don’t seem to grasp these simple concepts.

            Maria Lozada: “and have no major side effects.”

            Wow!!!!! You really don’t consider deaths, neurological damage and cancers that all have been linked to vaccines are not major side effects?!!!! So what do you consider “major”?

            And have you ever known anyone who had any of these side effects from vaccines? I have known quite a few.

            Of course the pro-vaccine propaganda will claim these are rare but there is no mandatory adverse event reporting for vaccines and thus most adverse effects from vaccinations are never reported to begin with. And when it happens to someone that is close to you does it really matter if the side effects are really rare or not?

            Maria Lozada: “Diseases like Ebola are indigenous to those areas so outbreaks are not surprising.”

            Again you are overlooking a lot of facts. The sudden outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg’s and Lassa fever in the late 70s in Africa all had one thing in common. They ALL appeared in the same villages receiving the WHO’s smallpox vaccines during the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Not only did all three of these diseases first appear in the same villages as the EPI was being performed, but they appeared in all these villages at the onset of the EPI and ALL of these diseases disappeared on their own when the EPI was halted. Again, no vaccines for any of these. The first outbreaks of AIDS in Africa also occurred in the same exact villages receiving the EPI vaccines. Blood samples taken prior to the EPI in these villages showed no HIV present according to medical journal reports that you apparently never read.

            Did you even look in to the references I told you about in my previous post where the WHO talks about producing synthetic viruses to selectively destroy the immune system then wanting to introduce these immune destroying viruses during routine vaccines of humans? Since it appears you don’t know how to research such facts let me give you a little booster to make it super simple for you:

            Bull WHO 1972. 47:257-63

            Fed Proc. 1972, 31:1087

            Of course you probably believe in the HIV came from monkeys myth. Of course if people who believe in this myth actually read the medical journals they would have found out the fact that AIDS appeared in 18 countries all at the same time (All participating in the EPI) and the HIV virus is not even a close relative to the SIV virus as is claimed. The SIV virus has only 43% of the same genetics as HIV. Anyone knowing any basics of mutation knows that mutations do not occur in such major jumps meaning HIV DID NOT come from SIV. According to the medical journals the closest known relative of HIV is sheep maedna visna virus, with 53% of the same genetics. Next is bovine leukemia virus with 51% of the same genetics, including the same exact gene for reverse transcriptase. Combined these two viruses have 100% of the same genes as HIV and produce the same symptoms in animals as is produced in humans with AIDS.

            The first AIDS cases in the US were also in vaccine (experimental hepatitis B) recipients, which was reported on several times in the prestigious medical journal the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Surprising what people can find and learn when they actually read medical journals instead of pro-vaccine propaganda sites.

            The next outbreaks of AIDS in the US occurred in LA, San Francisco, St, Louis and Miami and again all in the vaccine recipients.

            If you want to read up on the US governments involvement in the production of the AIDS virus see Senate Subcommittee Hearings for Chemical Biological Warfare Appropriations for 1970, part 6, July 1, 1969
            page 1, which is the request for funding for the production of the virus. Several years later after Nixon outlawed biological warfare the virus was given to the WHO under article 10 of the ban treaty. Again, you actually have to get your nose out of the pro-vaccine propaganda sites to find these medical journal articles and government documents like I did.

            Maria Lozada: “There is also no verifiable link between vaccines and any disease not even autism. I know this doesn’t mean anything to a group of people prepared to look other way of study after scientific study that proves all of what I’m saying in order to continue believing their personal conspiracy theory about medicine. I will continue to believe in actual science.

            Pretty ironic coming from someone who has not even looked at the medical literature and thinks actual science is guessing based on flimsy evidence and personal opinion.

            Evidence of vaccine damage and deaths is very abundant. Everything from cancer and neurological damage to deaths.

            For example the hundreds of deaths already attributed to the HPV vaccine.

            The swine flu vaccine fiven back in the early 70s cost the government over $1 billion to settle lawsuits from the deaths and neurological damage caused by the vaccine. And that did not include military personnel who were harmed from the forced vaccinations since they were barred from suing.

            The smallpox vaccines of the 50s and 60s contaminated with SV40 virus known to cause various cancers in humans and given to over 90 million Americans alone.

            The list goes on and on, but only people who know how to actually do research and read medical journals are likely to know these facts.

            As for autism the jury is still out. The “science” you believe in again involves propaganda and guessing.

            What do we know in science and medicine about mercury? That is very damaging to the brain, especially to rapidly dividing brain cells of infants.

            And before anyone tries to argue methylated vs other forms of mercury I suggest you research the methylation process in the body.

            And if we look at the statistics there is very clear and significant rise in the cases of autism when the mercury compound Thimerosal was added to childhood vaccines.

            And again, if you actually read the medical journals instead of pro-vaccine propaganda sites you will also find that we were lied to when they claimed there was no change in autism rates when Thimerosal was removed from “all” childhood vaccines. Problem with this claim is that it was not true. Thimerosal was only removed from SOME of the childhood vaccines, not all of the vaccines. And these proven liars are the ones you are trusting over the vaccine debate? Not a very scientific method now is it?

            So go ahead and continue believing in your science fiction based on the propaganda sites you follow. I prefer to remain grounded in reality backed by research from medical journals and other credible sources of information.

          • Maria Lozada: “Chemotherapy is not perfect. Radiotherapy is not perfect.”

            Correct, and they both have very low success rates for most cancers.

            By the way, have you ever worked in a cancer ward like I have and seen what these therapies really do to people? Have you ever watched someone die not from their cancer but rather their therapies as I have? If not then try it then get back to me!!!

            Maria Lozada: “ If there were more effective treatments outside of surgery I would love to hear it. But there are not.”

            Again, if you got your nose out of your bogus propaganda sites and did some actual research you would know that this assumption of yours is also false.

            There are numerous therapies out there with plenty of research showing safety and effectiveness for cancer. My favorite is ozone therapy that is the safest and most effective therapy for cancer ever devised. Ozone not only destroys cancer cells specifically without harming healthy cells, but also does it in a chain reaction while addressing the causes and other aspects of cancer.:

            Science. 1980 Aug 22;209(4459):931-3.

            Ozone selectively inhibits growth of human cancer cells.

            Sweet F, Kao MS, Lee SC, Hagar WL, Sweet WE.

            Abstract

            The growth of human cancer cells from lung, breast, and uterine tumors was selectively inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by ozone at 0.3 to 0.8 part per million of ozone in ambient air during 8 days of culture. Human lung diploid fibroblasts served as noncancerous control cells. The presence of ozone at 0.3 to 0.5 part per million inhibited cancer cell growth 40 and 60 percent, respectively. The noncancerous lung cells were unaffected at these levels. Exposure to ozone at 0.8 part per million inhibited cancer cell growth more than 90 percent and control cell growth less than 50 percent. Evidently, the mechanisms for defense against ozone damage are impaired in human cancer cells.

            As where chemotherapy and radiation therapy can lead to severe immune suppression, which contributes to the recurrence of cancers ozone boosts the immune system by increasing cytokines, white blood cell activity and immune enzymes.

            As where chemotherapy and radiation therapy destroy healthy tissue ozone therapy helps promote healing.

            As where radiation therapy and most chemotherapy drugs are known carcinogens, ozone therapy does not cause cancer.

            In fact, a study conducted on ozone safety followed over 6.5 million doses of ozone given. Just over 30 adverse events were reported and were generally mild such as redness or irritation at the injection site. Name even one allopathic cancer therapy that even comes close to that kind of safety record.

            Ozone therapy is highly effective against ALL cancers alone or can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation therapy to enhance their effectiveness as studies have shown. It does this by helping to oxygenate the hypoxic regions of the tumor which prevent radiation therapy and most chemotherapy drugs from working as explained earlier and again evidence of is found in the medical journals.

            Here is just a small fraction of the medical research publicly available on the benefits of ozone on cancer:

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18224691

            http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhumares.de%2Ffiles%2Ffallbeispiele%2FMedicalAspectsofOzone-therapy.pdf&ei=6BwRU6LaHOjhyQG8ooDgBQ&usg=AFQjCNGXMj2oWLLs-xQq4zilV9gplGdVzg&sig2=tW6EObRAOzQbLjDu9hASLA&bvm=bv.62286460,d.aWc

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22470237
            Ozone therapy: A clinical review.
            Elvis AM1, Ekta JS.
            Author information
            Abstract
            Ozone (O(3)) gas discovered in the mid-nineteenth century is a molecule consisting of three atoms of oxygen in a dynamically unstable structure due to the presence of mesomeric states. Although O(3) has dangerous effects, yet researchers believe it has many therapeutic effects. Ozone therapy has been utilized and heavily studied for more than a century. Its effects are proven, consistent, safe and with minimal and preventable side effects. Medical O(3) is used to disinfect and treat disease. Mechanism of actions is by inactivation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast and protozoa, stimulation of oxygen metabolism, activation of the immune system. Medication forms in a gaseous state are somewhat unusual, and it is for this reason that special application techniques have had to be developed for the safe use of O(3). In local applications as in the treatment of external wounds, its application in the form of a transcutaneous O(3) gas bath has established itself as being the most practical and useful method, for example at low (sub-atmospheric) pressure in a closed system guaranteeing no escape of O(3) into the surrounding air. Ozonized water, whose use is particularly known in dental medicine, is optimally applied as a spray or compress. Diseases treated are infected wounds, circulatory disorders, geriatric conditions, macular degeneration, viral diseases, rheumatism/arthritis, cancer, SARS and AIDS.
            Free PMC Article

            The post is too long so I will post more ozone references for cancer in my next post.

            I don’t get people who want to simply state others are wrong because they are too lazy to do the research or simply don’t want to see it since it will burst their “I believe in ‘unicorns’ belief system if they ever saw the truth. So they wish to hide in their bogus propaganda beliefs where they feel safe from the real world.

            Maria Lozada: “ Also the idea leukemia is easy is completely crazy, a lot people die from leukemia and many others require more than just chemo like a bone marrow transplant. ”

            Another simple concept that flew WAY OVER your head. Look up the success rate of treatment for leukemias and lymphomas. It is around 80%, which makes these some of the easiest cancers to treat since many other cancers have less than a 3% success rate with chemo and radiation. Do a lot of people still die? Of course. Use some common sense for once. How many millions have been diagnosed with leukemias and lymphomas? And again the success rate is only 80%, which means that 20% of those millions will still die. Yes, that is a lot of people. Not a difficult concept for an intelligent person to grasp!!!

            By the way bone marrow transplants do not have a high success rate, especially since they don’t address the viral origins of these cancers.

            Maria Lozada: “My uncle had colon cancer. ”

            And your point? Colon cancer if caught early is very curable since they can simply cut out the cancerous tissue then do chemo to target any potentially metastasized cells.

            I noticed you left out details such as level of advancement, how long he has supposedly been cancer free, etc. Therefore, we do not even know if the cancer was caught very early or if he passed the 5 year mark required to even claim a cure. Having left those details out makes it appear you are deliberately trying to mislead people.

            Maria Lozada: “For the record it’s not antivirals it’s retrovirals and they’re for viruses like the name implies not for cancer which an autoimmune disease from one’s own cells.”

            For the record this proves 100% that you don’t have the faintest clue of what you are talking about.

            First of all my terminology was absolutely correct. If you knew anything about medicine then you would have known that not all cancer causing viruses are retroviruses.

            Secondly, drugs used to target retroviruses such as the cancer co-factor HIV virus, formerly known as the human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 3, do not destroy the viruses. They are used to inhibit replication. And they are referred to as anti-retorvirals, not retrovirals as you incorrectly claim. Since most of the viruses that cause cancer are not retoroviruses anti-retrovirals are not going to do squat for these viruses.

            As for your claim that cancer is autoimmune, where do you come up with this crap?!!!! Do you even have a clue what an autoimmune condition is? Autoimmunity is the result of a suppression of the immune system due to adrenal gland dysfunction. Since the adrenals regulate the production of high affinity (specific) antibodies vs low affinity (nonspecific) antibodies the dysfunction of the adrenals leads to the overproduction of low affinity antibodies that can can tag tissues and other things for destruction by the remainder of the immune system doing its job just as it is designed to do. There is a lot more involved that I will not get in to due to space limitations. In autoimmune conditions though tissues are destroyed by the immune system. This IS NOT the case in cancer since cancer is not even close to being an autoimmune condition as you falsely imply.

            • More ozone references for cancer:

              Int J Cancer. 2008 May 15;122(10):2360-7. doi: 10.1002/ijc.23382.
              Treatment with ozone/oxygen-pneumoperitoneum results in complete remission of rabbit squamous cell carcinomas.
              Schulz S1, Häussler U, Mandic R, Heverhagen JT, Neubauer A, Dünne AA, Werner JA, Weihe E, Bette M.
              Author information
              Abstract
              Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) represent a group of metastasizing tumors with a high mortality rate in man and animals. Since the biomolecule ozone was found to inhibit growth of various carcinoma cells in vitro we here applied the highly aggressive and lethal VX2 carcinoma HNSCC tumor model of the New Zealand White rabbit to test whether ozone exerts antitumorous effects in vivo. Therapeutic insufflation of medical ozone/oxygen (O(3)/O(2)) gas mixture into the peritoneum (O(3)/O(2)-pneumoperitoneum) at an advanced stage of tumor disease led to a survival rate of 7/14 rabbits. Six of the seven surviving rabbits presented full tumor regression and the absence of local or distant lung metastases. Insufflation of pure oxygen (O(2)) resulted in a survival rate of 3/13 animals accompanied by full tumor remission in 2 of the 3 surviving animals. Of the 14 sham-treated animals only 1 had spontaneous tumor remission and survived. No adverse effects or changes in standard blood parameters were observed after repeated intraperitoneal insufflations of the O(3)/O(2) or O(2) gas. Animals with O(3)/O(2)-induced tumor eradication developed tolerance against reimplantation of the VX2 tumor. This could be reversed by immune suppression with a combination of dexamethasone and cyclosporin A suggesting an antitumorous effect of O(3)/O(2)-mediated activation of the body’s own immunosurveillance. Although the exact mechanisms of action are still unclear the present data point to O(3)/O(2)-pneumoperitoneum as a promising new strategy in anticancer therapy.

              Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
              Volume 1 (2004), Issue 3, Pages 321-325
              http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh038

              Original Article
              Adjuvant Ozonetherapy in Advanced Head and Neck Tumors: A Comparative Study
              Bernardino Clavo,1,7 Ana Ruiz,1,7 Marta Lloret,1,7 Laura López,1,7 Gerardo Suárez,1,7 David Macías,2,7 Victor Rodríguez,6 Maria A. Hernández,1,7 Roberto Martín-Oliva,2 Santiago Quintero,3 José M. Cuyás,4 and Francisco Robaina5,7
              1Department of Radiation Oncology-Research Unit, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              2Department of Medical Physics, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              4Department of Otolaryngology, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              5Department of Neurosurgery and Chronic Pain Unit of the Dr Negrín Hospital, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              6La Paterna Medical Center Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              7Canary Islands Institute for Cancer Research (ICIC), Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
              Received 13 March 2004; Accepted 20 August 2004
              Copyright © 2004 Bernardino Clavo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
              Abstract
              Advanced head and neck (H&N) tumors have a poor prognosis, and this is worsened by the occurrence of hypoxia and ischemia in the tumors. Ozonetherapy has proved useful in the treatment of ischemic syndromes, and several studies have described a potential increase of oxygenation in tissues and tumors. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical effect of ozonetherapy in patients with advanced H&N cancer in the course of their scheduled radiotherapy. Over a period of 3 years, 19 patients with advanced H&N tumors who were undergoing treatment in our department with non-standard fractionated radiotherapy plus oral tegafur. A group of 12 patients was additionally treated with intravenous chemotherapy before and/or during radiotherapy. In the other group of seven patients, systemic ozonetherapy was administered twice weekly during radiotherapy. The ozonetherapy group was older (64 versus 54 years old, P = 0.006), with a higher percentage of lymph node involvement (71% versus 8%, P = 0.019) and with a trend to more unfavorable tumor stage (57% versus 8% IVb + IVc stages, P = 0.073). However, there was no significant difference in overall survival between the chemotherapy (median 6 months) and ozonetherapy (8 months) groups. Although these results have to be viewed with caution because of the limited number of patients, they suggest that ozonetherapy could have had some positive effect during the treatment of our patients with advanced H&N tumors. The adjuvant administration of ozonetherapy during the chemo–radiotherapy for these tumors merits further research.
              Full article and citing articles available- http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2004/581750/abs/

              Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
              Volume 1 (2004), Issue 1, Pages 93-98
              http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh009

              Original Article
              Ozone Therapy for Tumor Oxygenation: a Pilot Study
              Bernardino Clavo,1,5 Juan L. Pérez,2,5 Laura López,1,5 Gerardo Suárez,1,5 Marta Lloret,1,5 Victor Rodríguez,3 David Macías,2,5 Maite Santana,1,5 María A. Hernández,1 Roberto Martín-Oliva,2 and Francisco Robaina4,5
              1Radiation Oncology and Research Unit, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
              2Medical Physics, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
              3La Paterna Medical Center, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
              4Chronic Pain Unit, Dr Negrín Hospital, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
              5Canary Islands Institute for Cancer Research (ICIC), Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
              Received 17 November 2003; Accepted 4 February 2004
              Copyright © 2004 Bernardino Clavo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
              Abstract
              Tumor hypoxia is an adverse factor for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Ozone therapy is a non-conventional form of medicine that has been used successfully in the treatment of ischemic disorders. This prospective study was designed to assess the effect of ozone therapy on tumor oxygenation. Eighteen subjects were recruited for the study. Systemic ozone therapy was administered by autohemotransfusion on three alternate days over one week. Tumor oxygenation levels were measured using polarographic needle probes before and after the first and the third ozone therapy session. Overall, no statistically significant change was observed in the tumor oxygenation in the 18 patients. However, a significant decrease was observed in hypoxic values ≤10 and ≤5 mmHg of pO2. When individually assessed, a significant and inverse non-linear correlation was observed between increase in oxygenation and the initial tumor pO2 values at each measuring time-point, thus indicating that the more poorly-oxygenated tumors benefited most (rho = −0.725; P = 0.001). Additionally, the effect of ozone therapy was found to be lower in patients with higher hemoglobin concentrations (rho = −0.531; P < 0.034). Despite being administered over a very short period, ozone therapy improved oxygenation in the most hypoxic tumors. Ozone therapy as adjuvant in chemo-radiotherapy warrants further research.
              Full article and citing articles available- http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2004/437019/citations/

              Mediators Inflamm. 1998;7(5):313-7.
              Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 8. Effects on the total antioxidant status and on interleukin-8 production.
              Bocci V1, Valacchi G, Corradeschi F, Fanetti G.
              Author information
              Abstract
              Ozone (O3) is a controversial gas because, owing to its potent oxidant properties, it exerts damaging effects on the respiratory tract and yet it has been used for four decades as a therapy. While the disinfectant activity of O3 is understandable, it is less clear how other biological effects can be elicited in human blood with practically no toxicity. On the other hand plasma and cells are endowed with a powerful antioxidant system so that a fairly wide range of O3 concentrations between 40 and 80 microg/ml per gram of blood (approximately 0.83-1.66 mM) are effective but not deleterious. After blood ozonation total antioxidant status (TAS) and plasma protein thiol groups (PTG) decrease by 20% and 25%, respectively, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increases up to five-fold. The increase of haemolysis is negligible suggesting that the erythrocyte membrane is spared at the expense of other sacrificial substrates. While there is a clear relationship between the ozone dose and IL-8 levels, we have noticed that high TAS and PTG values inhibit the cytokine production. This is in line with the current idea that hydrogen peroxide, as a byproduct of O3 decomposition, acts as a messenger for the cytokine induction.
              Free PMC Article

              • Even more references for ozone therapy for cancer:

                J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 1998 Jul-Sep;12(3):67-75.
                Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 7. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after exposure of human blood to ozone.
                Bocci V1, Valacchi G, Corradeschi F, Aldinucci C, Silvestri S, Paccagnini E, Gerli R.
                Author information
                Abstract
                The acceptance of any complementary medical approach is conditioned by the results obtained after the same scientific scrutiny applied in orthodox medicine. Otherwise any claim of efficacy remains in the realm of fiction. In the case of ozone therapy, the mechanisms of action have remained nebulous and in a series of publications we are trying to present the biochemical, immunological and morphological evidence in favour or against ozone therapy. We have now shown that ozone (O3) dissolved in the water of either plasma or serum or physiological saline generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), of which hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be unequivocally demonstrated by using specific methods for its detection. Lipids present in plasma preferentially those present in lipoproteins, undergo peroxidation that is somewhat O3-dose dependent and can be observed by the measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). While the generation of H2O2 is crucial in activating both biochemical (hexose monophosphate shunt) and immunological (via the transcription factor NF-kB) mechanisms, the role of lipid oxidation products (LOP) remains to be investigated. We have shown here that there is a small but consistent induction of some cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-2) when human blood is directly exposed to O3 concentrations up to 100 micrograms/ml per g of blood. On the other hand, isolated blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in tissue culture medium are far more sensitive to the oxidant action of O3 as shown by a progressive reduction of the proliferation index with comparatively far lower O3, concentrations. On the whole, these results support the concept that much of the O3 toxicity is neutralized by the powerful antioxidant system of blood. The minimal hemolysis supports this idea but as far as platelets are concerned, we must mention that they tend to aggregate in heparinized blood, even when it is exposed to an O3 concentration of 40 micrograms/ml. In spite of the lack of side-effects after autohemotherapy, this drawback must be kept in mind and avoided in clinical practice.

                Oxygen-ozone therapy in medicine: an update
                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19752…00m,isrctn

                Does ozone therapy normalize the cellular redox balance? Implications for therapy of human immunodeficiency virus infection and several other diseases.
                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8692040

                Mediators Inflamm. 2004 Dec;13(5-6):307-12.
                Reversion by ozone treatment of acute nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rats.
                González R1, Borrego A, Zamora Z, Romay C, Hernández F, Menéndez S, Montero T, Rojas E.
                Author information
                Abstract
                BACKGROUND:
                Ozone therapy has become a useful treatment for pathological processes, in which the damage mediated by reactive oxygen species is involved. Several lines of evidence suggest that cisplatin-induced acute nephrotoxicity is partially mediated by reactive oxygen species
                AIMS:
                To analyze the effect of ozone administration after cisplatin-induced acute nephrotoxicity.
                METHODS:
                Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with five intra-rectal applications of ozone/oxygen mixture at 0.36, 1.1 and 1.8 mg/kg after cisplatin intraperitoneal injection (6 mg/kg). Serum and kidneys were taken off 5 days after cisplatin treatment. Creatinine was measured in the serum and the activities of antioxidant enzymes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and glutathione content were analyzed in renal homogenate.
                RESULTS:
                Ozone treatment diminished the increase in serum creatinine levels, the glutathione depletion and also reversed the inhibition of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities induced by cisplatin in the rat kidney. Also, the renal content of thiobarbituric reactive substances was decreased by ozone/oxygen mixture applied after cisplatin.
                CONCLUSION:
                Intrarectal applications of ozone reversed the renal pro-oxidant unbalance induced by cisplatin treatment by the way of stimulation to some constituents of antioxidant system in the kidney, and thereby it decreased the renal damage.
                Free PMC Article

                Mediators Inflamm. 2004 Feb;13(1):13-9.
                Protection by ozone preconditioning is mediated by the antioxidant system in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
                Borrego A1, Zamora ZB, González R, Romay C, Menéndez S, Hernández F, Montero T, Rojas E.
                Author information
                Abstract
                BACKGROUND:
                Acute renal failure is a dose-limiting factor of cisplatin chemotherapy. Here, we show the protective effect of ozone oxidative preconditioning against cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction in rats. Ozone oxidative preconditioning is a prophylactic approach, which favors the antioxidant-pro-oxidant balance for preservation of the cell redox state by increasing antioxidant endogenous systems in various in vivo and in vitro experimental models.
                AIMS:
                To analyze the protective role of ozone oxidative preconditioning against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
                METHODS:
                Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with 15 intrarectal applications of ozone/oxygen mixture at 0.36, 0.72, 1.1, 1.8 and 2.5 mg/kg before cisplatin intraperitoneal injection (6 mg/kg). Serum and kidneys were extracted and analyzed 5 days after cisplatin treatment for determinations of the renal content of glutathione, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, renal concentration and enzymatic activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.
                RESULTS:
                Ozone pretreatment prevented the increase in serum creatinine levels, the glutathione depletion and the inhibition of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities induced by cisplatin in the rat kidney. Also, the renal content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was decreased by ozone therapy. These protective effects of ozone were dose dependent.
                CONCLUSIONS:
                Intrarectal ozone therapy prevented effectively the renal antioxidant unbalance induced by cisplatin treatment.
                Free PMC Article

                Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2014 Aug;14(3):e342-8. Epub 2014 Jul 24.
                Ozone-Oxidative Preconditioning Prevents Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley Rats.
                Delgado-Roche L1, Hernández-Matos Y1, Medina EA1, Morejón DÁ1, González MR2, Martínez-Sánchez G3.
                Author information
                Abstract
                OBJECTIVES:
                Induced dilated cardiomyopathy is the main limitation of the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, which causes oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte death. As ozone therapy can activate the antioxidant systems, this study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of ozone-oxidative preconditioning against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
                METHODS:
                The study was carried out from September 2013 to January 2014. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed in the following treatment groups: Group 1 were treated with 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.) of doxorubicin twice a week for 50 days; Group 2 were treated with 0.3 mg of ozone/oxygen mixture at 50 μg/mL of ozone per 6 mL of oxygen by rectal insufflation and then treated with doxorubicin; Group 3 were treated as Group 2 but only with the oxygen, and Group 4 were treated with oxygen first, and then with sodium chloride i.p. as the control group.
                RESULTS:
                The results showed that ozone therapy preserved left ventricle morphology which was accompanied by a reduction of serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels. The cardioprotective effects of ozone-oxidative preconditioning were associated with a significant increase (P <0.05) of antioxidant enzymes activities and a reduction of lipid and protein oxidation (P <0.05).
                CONCLUSION:
                Ozone-oxidative preconditioning prevents doxorubicin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy through an increase of antioxidant enzymes and a reduction of oxidised macromolecules. This establishes the background for future studies to determine if ozone therapy can be used as a complementary treatment for attenuating doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.
                Free PMC Article

                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312702/

                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8692040/

                http://www.aepromo.org/en/Scientific_papers.php

                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781866/

                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19260079

                http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2004/594205/abs/

                • James…thank you for all of your thoughtful and thought provoking replies. I cannot tell you what a breath of fresh air your views are…..I agree with many of them and tout the very things you say to my clients and students, but do not always understand all of the science. You explain it beautifully, so thank you. (RE: your take on vaccination, cancer, etc)

                  My question for you is what is your opinion of internal use of colloidal silver? I asked this question on your medcapules site, but have not gotten a reply and see you are very active on this site. I treat many with Lyme Dis-ease (I am an herbalist) and have an online page (on Facebook) with people commenting all the time about colloidal silver and how ‘it is the only thing that helps’.

                  This is my opinion: I do not like it and think it is mostly hype. Topical use has been documented as useful and effective, but internal use is being touted as not only safe, but better and safer than antibiotics. Seems to me there is a bit of cognitive dissonance going on with this mind-set…..don’t use antibiotics, but use silver instead….which can kill good and bad micro-organisms……it seems to me it does not discriminate any better than antibiotics. Many with Lyme use it and some even admit to using it daily!! I say, if you have to use it daily, it isn’t working…..my gut tells me this stuff can and does accumulate in the body. I understand it is used to treat water and medical devices and such and that many of us have quite a bit of silver already accumulated in our bodies…..but I would love to hear what you have to say about this subject. Thanks in advance.

                • Hi Sara,

                  You are correct to be skeptical about colloidal silver. I have never been a big fan of it for several reasons.

                  First of all it costs less that $0.50 a gallon to make yet when it first became popular on the market it was being sold for about $60 an ounce, which works out to $7,680 a gallon. Price gouging is supposed to be illegal and regardless is highly unethical. If the people are making this stuff are that unethical why would I trust anything they have to say about the product?

                  There is also so much sales hype surrounding colloidal silver.

                  The funniest one I ever heard was someone trying to convince me that they had the smallest silver particles on the market being smaller than the silver atom!!! Amazing what people will fall for.

                  Then they claim that no microbe has ever built up a tolerance to silver, which is also false. I found studies on PubMed discussing pathogenic bacterial resistance to silver.

                  By their same argument as well then they wold also have to admit that the silver is toxic to our beneficial bacteria.

                  As for build up of silver in the tissues you are correct. Silver will build up in the tissues, but to build up to a level that would lead to argyria would be next to impossible for most commercial colloidal silvers since they contain virtually no silver in them.

                  The risk of argyria is more of a risk with homemade silver products, especially the units using 9 volt batteries since these do not produce sufficient power to produce a really true colloid. These solutions will settle out with a gray mud after a short time since they are not true colloids. These larger particles trap easier in the tissues.

                  Other problem with many colloidal silver solutions is that during their making people will sometimes add salt to get the electrical process going. This can lead to the formation of larger silver salts. And I have also seen products on the market using gelatin as a protein stabilizer. True colloids do not require stabilizers.

                  Basically manufacturing became a big free for all of people, most of which did not have the faintest clue of what they were doing.

                  I have made my own about 20 years ago but used it externally with high voltage through a neon tube to help stimulate the regrowth of what was left of the last digit of my thumb after a table saw accident. It took 6 months but it worked and I grew the whole end back. From what I was able to figure out is that it was not the silver stimulating the regrowth but rather the silver merely increased conductance for the electricity that stimulated the regrowth. I just don’t recommend it internally. There are numerous better choices than silver for various infections.

                • Hi James…..thank you. Just a couple more questions…..What are you thoughts regarding the accumulation of this metal in the body causing other issues besides argyria? Our environment contains so much metal already (mercury & lead for example) do you think silver could accumulate and be as dangerous as these (although I realize that lead and mercury act differently in the body in terms of toxicity) but cause a cumulative affect in terms of reducing liver function and other bodily functions? When researching, I found issues with oxidation of the silver particles in the body (on PubMed) but what about long term affects, which seems to be lacking in the research. I can find tons of info on argyria, but what about all these metals in our bodies causing things like cancer, autoimmune dis-eases, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s…..many of these diseases show a clear connection to liver function….in particular the pathway that requires P450 enzymes. Can the accumulation of metals affect the bodies ability function properly, specifically liver detox? Also, is it even possible to really detox the body of metals? Does chelation really work? thanks again.

                • Hi Sara,

                  “What are you thoughts regarding the accumulation of this metal in the body causing other issues besides argyria?”

                  Silver can accumulate in the tissues, but it generally does this as silver salts. I have seen cases, such a s Rosemary Jacobs, where colloidal silver was blamed for her argyria. Although the argyria was really from the use of pharmaceutical silver salts.

                  Argyria from true colloidal silver would be next to impossible as again most commercial colloidal silvers contain very little silver and are not in silver salt form.

                  There is a risk with some of the homemade units that utilize 9 volt batteries. These do not have the power to form true colloid and produce much larger particles of silver.

                  “Our environment contains so much metal already (mercury & lead for example) do you think silver could accumulate and be as dangerous as these (although I realize that lead and mercury act differently in the body in terms of toxicity) but cause a cumulative affect in terms of reducing liver function and other bodily functions? ”

                  I have never seen any evidence of silver being toxic per se or causing any dangerous diseases. Just the risk of argyria.

                  “Can the accumulation of metals affect the bodies ability function properly, specifically liver detox? ”

                  Silver? Not likely. Some other metals though can be toxic. But this has variable such as the form of the metal. Hexavalent chromium for example is highly toxic and carcinogenic as where trivalent chromium is essential to health. Organic germanium is very beneficial to the body and a great cancer fighter as where germanium dioxide or elemental germanium will cause kidney failure.

                  Different metals can also affect different parts of the body. Lead and uranium for example can accumulate in bones. Mercury has a high affinity for brain tissue. Cesium chloride can lead to heart and liver problems.

                  So there is no simple answer to your question.

                  “Also, is it even possible to really detox the body of metals? Does chelation really work?”

                  There are ways to remove metals from the body. These include binding with the metals so they can be removed or displacement. Again, it depends on the metal.

                  Chelation can remove metals, but this also includes beneficial ones like calcium and magnesium.

                  I prefer binding heavy metals with phytates from grains, pectins from fruits and vegetables and algins from seaweeds.

                  Silica can help displace lead from bone and more reactive metals like potassium, sodium and calcium can help displace a lot of heavy metals.

                  The herb amla berry can help protect DNA from heavy metal damage during detoxing of heavy metals.

                  James

            • First I used my uncle as an example to say chemo can work in cancers that are not easy because he is elderly and was around 70 when he got cancer. He has been more than five years without cancer.
              Second, if there is a better treatment for cancer than chemo that is great, it should be made widely available. But you’re ignoring that for many years chemo was the best option since better methods are relatively new.
              If I got some terminology wrong I am sorry but I still don’t believe medical techniques should be vilified when they’ve represented the best option for so many people for so long. We should find better alternatives but we can’t condemn what we already have wholesale.

              • Maria Lozada: “First I used my uncle as an example to say chemo can work in cancers that are not easy because he is elderly and was around 70 when he got cancer. He has been more than five years without cancer.”

                And again, colon cancer can often be treated with surgery. So how is this scientific proof of the effectiveness of chemo? Hint, it ISN’T!!!!

                And again, you are leaving out various import facts such as the stage of the cancer, which is indicative of someone trying to mislead people.

                Maria Lozada: “Second, if there is a better treatment for cancer than chemo that is great, it should be made widely available. ”

                I totally agree, but that is not the way things work in the real world. Government is run by big business who basically tells the government what they are going to do.

                Look at the complete farce known as Obamacare, which did nothing but to help the insurance companies financially and who lobbied for the change.

                Obamacare raised insurance costs and gave outrageous deductibles to prevent most people from even using the insurance in most cases.

                Then there are other problems such as there was a lady locally who found out that she was not covered for her breast cancer under Obamacare.

                Then there is the FDA, who is in bed with and caters to the pharmaceutical industry.

                For example, remember a few years back when the FDA was caught approving untested drugs in exchange for payoffs? Then the FDA targeted the whistle-blower also in violation of the law. Yet not one FDA official spent even one day in jail for the multiple violations of the law.

                That is just one example of many illegal activities by the FDA to protect pharmaceutical profits. In fact, ex-Commissioner for the FDA Herbert Ley testified before Congress that the FDA was using governmental police powers to protect the profits of the pharmaceutical companies and in turn the FDA officials were being rewarded by the pharmaceutical companies with money, and gifts including high level positions within the drug companies. In fact, have you ever looked in to how many FDA officials have gone to work in high level positions within the drug companies after pushing for approval of drugs that were later proven to be worthless or more dangerous than the public was told?

                And then there is the fact that it has been reported for over 4 decades that there are over 150 FDA officials that own stock in the same pharmaceutical companies they oversee in direct violation of insider trading laws. Yet once again nothing has ever been done about this illegality and not a single FDA official has ever gone to jail over it.

                Also did you know that the FDA was Court ordered in 1969 to remove 710 FDA approved prescription drugs from the market because they were found to be ineffective or too dangerous for human use. The FDA found a loophole and left all the drugs on the market. Furthermore, many of these worthless or dangerous drugs have since been changed to over the counter from prescription only. This includes dextromethorphan (DM), which is used in cough medicines and was shown in multiple studies to be no more effective than placebo.

                Along the same lines let’s see how smart you really are. Can you answer this question? What is the PRIMARY cause of AIDS? Hint, it is not HIV. In fact, under the original definition of AIDS HIV CANNOT cause AIDS. Due to this fact the definition of AIDS was changed in the early 80s to fit the HIV virus after one of the government’s top scientists, Robert Gallo, who had already been busted for scientific fraud lied to the world that HIV was the cause of AIDS. Gallo did this for financial reasons since he held the patent rights on the highly inaccurate HIV antibody test. Still he was gong to majorly embarrass the government again so the only way the US government could prevent this was to change the definition of AIDS to fit the HIV virus.

                The reason I bring all this up is that medicine is driven by big business, which is about profits.

                When I first started in to cancer research 36 years ago what really caught my attention was the fact that I found cure after cure for cancer that has the research backing their effectiveness yet the FDA was banning every single one of them. In fact, if you look in to it you will also find the same exact thing with AIDS therapies that have been shown to be effective such as hyperthermia and ozone. In both cases despite positive results in initial testing the FDA blocked all further testing stating there was no evidence of effectiveness. Of course this was a lie and further research would have only solidified that fact and thus these therapies were illegally “banned” by the FDA to protect pharmaceutical profits.

                The more banned cures I found the more intrigued I became and the more I started researching FDA and pharmaceutical corruption. For example, the JAMA report and other sources showing the drug companies dropping patients who died or did not respond to chemotherapy drugs from the final results to make the worthless chemotherapy drugs appear effective. A practice still going on to this day.

                As an example they were doing a documentary on the development of a new anti-angiogenesis drug derived from rat urine. In the documentary they followed three participants. One died during trials, who I am sure was dropped from the study especially considering the fact that a second participant was dropped citing his “tumor grew beyond the parameters of the study”. In other words the drug failed to stop or slow the growth so they simply eliminated that participant from the study to make the drug appear more effective than it really was.

                As long as medicine is dominated by a make a profit attitude instead of a cure the patient attitude effective cancer therapies for cancers in general are not going to reach the market.

                In fact, imagine what would happen to the economy. It has been said that if an effective general cancer cure were to come on the market every single medical school in the nation would go under due to the loss of research grants. And look at the losses to cancer associations like the highly corrupt American Cancer Society (ACS), who receives over $4 billion in donations. Yet they have never come up with a single advancement in cancer treatment, but have been associated with the blackballing of researchers who do come up with effective cures.

                As another example I used to post on the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society message board. That was until I was banned for providing proof that these cancers were viral induced. One of their other posters was being sarcastic telling me to tell his doctor that since his doctor had never heard of leukemia or lymphoma viruses. So I told him he needs to find a new doctor since leukemia and lymphoma viruses, such as HIV (human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 3), have been well known for about 25 years. Then I proceeded to post numerous medical journal abstracts about the various known human leukemia and lymphoma causing viruses. I was immediately banned from the message board and all of my posts were erased while all the posts calling me a quack, which were in clear violation of their posting rules were left up. The problem is that if they admitted that leukemias and lymphomas were primarily viral in origin then they would also have to admit the cures already exist since we have numerous pharmaceutical and herbal antivirals that are highly effective in treating leukemias and lymphomas and thus there is NO reason for the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to exist. Therefore, they had to get rid of me and my posts before people started to catch on to what a major scam they had going.

                Do you really think these societies such as the ACS, American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Susan G Komen, etc. really want a cure when it means they will no longer exist either?

                I also find it very interesting when a German ozone doctor was bring interviewed he mentioned how many members of groups such as the National Cancer Institute and their families were coming to Germany for ozone treatments and even mentioned a US president that had come over. Why would these people be going clear to Germany for ozone therapy if things like chemotherapy have really been proven to be that effective?

                Maria Lozada: “But you’re ignoring that for many years chemo was the best option since better methods are relatively new.”

                You are assuming a lot again.

                First of all ozone therapy, which is significantly better than chemotherapy or ozone therapy has been around since 1892. Thus it is far from “relatively new”. Same with herbs that have a very long history of being used to cure cancer that were around long before ozone therapy. Modern research is proving the effectiveness of these herbs all the time. Try looking at PubMed and you will find all sorts of studies showing the effectiveness of various herbs for cancer.

                Speaking of ozone being around for so long this brings up another point. Did you know that ozone therapy is perfectly legal to use? According to the law any therapy in use prior to the induction of the FDA (1909) that shows no unreasonable risk to human safety has a grandfathered approval status. This ozone and most herbs used in medicine have grandfathered approval status and thus are LEGAL to use.

                Yet the FDA has arrested people and immediately seizes their bank accounts illegally for performing ozone therapy. They seize bank accounts without due process in violation of constitutional law to prevent the people from hiring good attorneys to challenge the FDA’s completely illegal activity.

                And why is the FDA once again outright breaking the law and violating people’s rights? To protect the profits of the drug companies and thus their own cash, gift and high level job source.

                Maria Lozada: “We should find better alternatives but we can’t condemn what we already have wholesale.”

                We don’t need to look for better alternatives, they already exist. And they are cheaper and more effective than chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

                For example, an ozone setup can be purchased for less than $1,000 and each treatment uses about $0.05 worth of oxygen and electricity while actually getting rid of the cancer and its cause preventing recurrence. Compare that to the over $100,000 for chemo and radiation treatments that are carcinogenic, generally have low success rates and do not address the cause of the cancer. On top of that there is the cost of more treatment when the cancer comes back or secondary treatment induced cancers occur, which is VERY common for chemotherapy and radiation therapy. By definition this makes chemotherapy and radiation therapy quackery.

        • James, if you are going to comment, please check your facts. I’m not going to pull you up on ALL the rubbish that you’re writing, as there’s way too much. But I will comment on one thing that I have personal knowledge of. You say about chemo:

          “Yes, it works SOMETIMES, especially on easy to treat cancers such as leulkemias and lymphomas that have an 80% success rate by the use of the antiviral drugs Vincristine and Vinblastine derived from the plant Madagascar periwinkle.”

          Well I had acute myeloid leukaemia 6 years ago and they don’t use antiviral drugs for it. I had a combination of Idorubicin, cytarabine and ectoposide. The only antivirals that they use aren’t for chemotherapy but to prevent viral infections after chemo! And trust me, leukaemia and lymphoma are NOT easy diseases to treat. I had 3 rounds of chemo, went into remission and then relapsed 6 months later. I had another 3 rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant.

          Please don’t comment on things you know nothing about. Your ranting could cost lives if it affects decisions on vaccination, in particular! If you must comment, at least get your facts from a reputable source!

          • Jenny Graves: “James, if you are going to comment, please check your facts. I’m not going to pull you up on ALL the rubbish that you’re writing, as there’s way too much.”

            Tell you what. If you are going to attempt to argue I suggest you actually learn something about medicine first.

            Secondly, it is a major pet peeve of mine when people who don’t have the faintest clue what they are talking about try to claim someone else is wrong without providing any real evidence to back their claims. People do this when they are clueless to the subject so they throw out the claim the other person is saying rubbish in the vain hopes that other clueless people will also think this because they are too lazy to check the facts as well.

            Jenny Graves: “Well I had acute myeloid leukaemia 6 years ago and they don’t use antiviral drugs for it. I had a combination of Idorubicin, cytarabine and ectoposide.”

            Again, if you want to argue medicine learn something about medicine first.

            Idorubicin has antiviral properties!!!! See:

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3344904/

            By the way this drugs is also highly toxic to the heart, liver and kidneys.

            Cytarabine also has antiviral effects:

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10639751

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC444574/

            http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/drug-database-site/Drug%20Index/Cytarabine_monograph_1May2014.pdf

            Ectoposide also has antiviral properties against cancer viruses:

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10571395

            Ectoposide is also a plant derived antiviral compound being derived from the antiviral podophyllotoxin. I found some research on podophyllotoxin several decades that were reported in JAMA and JACS stating in the 1950s. The reports found that podophyllotoxin, initially derived from mandrake and later from savin junipers was found to be “highly effective against 6 forms of cancer including breast cancer”. Of course naturally occurring substances are not as profitable sue to patent issues so the drug never came to market. It was not until 50 years later and countless deaths from these curable cancers that the University of North Carolina altered the podophyllotoxin to make the patentable semi-synthetic drug that was used on you.

            Podophyllotoxin has a very long history of being used as an antiviral and anticancer agent in holistic medicine.

            So what was it you were claiming to have “personal knowledge of”?

            Jenny Graves: “The only antivirals that they use aren’t for chemotherapy but to prevent viral infections after chemo!”

            Of course that myth has already been disproven.

            As further proof though I mentioned Vincristine and Vinblastine earlier, which are also used to treat leukemias and lymphomas. And as I pointed out these are also antiviral drugs as well.

            Unlike you I have a very extensive medical background and spend a considerable amount of time researching medical journals. So unlike you I am not guessing at things or simply making things up to sound like I know what I am talking about. Therefore, if you wan to argue with me you better come up with some serious evidence to back your claims

            Jenny Graves: “And trust me, leukaemia and lymphoma are NOT easy diseases to treat.”

            What I was referring to was the higher success rate of treatment for leukemias and lymphomas compared to most other cancers. The treatment success rate for leukemias and lymphomas is about 80%. Compare that to liver, pancreatic, small cell lung carcinoma, etc., which generally have under a 3% treatment success rate.

            Does this mean all cases of leukemia and lymphoma will be successfully cured? Not at all.

            Jenny Graves: “Please don’t comment on things you know nothing about. Your ranting could cost lives if it affects decisions on vaccination, in particular! If you must comment, at least get your facts from a reputable source!”

            Look in the mirror then repeat that statement to yourself because it is EXTREMELY clear that you don’t know near as much on this subject as you think you do!!!

        • One place where I agree with you James. Vaccines are no longer treated like the drugs that they really are. A PR war has been won, and we no longer need to look at each individual one? Its a vaccine, therefore it has to be good! And we’ve set up a perverse legal system for it where the same people who brought us all these drugs that have been recalled and sued for, can’t be sued for bringing crappy subpar vaccines. Get your flu shots!(ahem in the insert your doctor throws away, no double blind studies have found this to be effective..hush hush blah blah).