Science and Health Series
Article 29 - Obesity and Soft Drinks

Obesity is among the fastest growing (pun intended) health problems in this country.  Garment manufacturers are down-sizing the labels on garments from large to medium and medium to small, etc.  The average sizes are getting bigger and bigger!

We put the blame on diet and lack of exercise as the cause of obesity.  They do have a lot to do with obesity; however, there is one more important element that we overlook: 'soft drinks'.  It is not the calories in soft drinks that I am addressing, but the acidity caused by non-caloric compressed carbon dioxide. 

Here is the scientific explanation.  When we eat food, our stomach pH goes up; that is because food is not quite as acidic as the stomach.  When stomach pH goes up, stomach cells must create hydrochloric acid and interjects it into the stomach to return it to its original acidic state.  The question is, 'How do stomach cells make hydrochloric acid''  Pathologists know the answer.

Three common molecules in the stomach cells - water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sodium salt (NaCl) - are combined to produce hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃):  H₂O + CO₂ + NaCl = HCl + NaHCO₃.  The hydrochloric acid goes into the stomach and the sodium bicarbonate goes into the bloodstream.  Bicarbonate in the blood acts as an alkaline buffer and maintains the blood pH constant by neutralizing acid in the blood. 

When there is a lack of bicarbonate in the blood, the blood converts liquid acid into solid acid such as fatty acid, uric acid, kidney stones, and cholesterol. This is the body's survival mechanism to maintain a constant blood pH, because acid blood pH means death.  Acid accumulation coagulates blood and blood circulation becomes poor, resulting in the development of degenerative diseases.  This is the process of weight gain and aging.

What does this have to do with soft drinks'

Hydrochloric acid is produced by stomach cells when food is consumed and stomach pH increases; however, if highly acidic soft drinks were to be consumed with a meal, the stomach pH would not increase, stomach cells would not produce any hydrochloric acid, and the bloodstream would not receive any sodium bicarbonate.  Contrary to this is drinking high pH alkaline water with a meal; which would induce the production of more hydrochloric acid, thereby putting more sodium bicarbonate in the bloodstream.

We are extremely concerned about calories and fat contents of fast foods, but we are in complete denial when it comes to consuming highly acidic soft drinks served at fast food restaurants.  In addition to diet and exercise, if we would stop drinking carbonated drinks, and, instead, drink high pH alkaline water, we would win the battle against the bulge.  Diet soft drinks do not make much difference when it comes to acidity caused by compressed carbon dioxide.  Just like regular high caloric soft drinks, diet ones block the interjection of sodium bicarbonate to the bloodstream.

Medical science has discovered that as we age, especially after the average age of 45, the bicarbonate concentration in our blood diminishes.  This explains why around the age of 45, a 'healthy' person suddenly discovers that he or she has symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, etc. 

The world considers the loss of bicarbonate in our blood as the inevitable result of aging.  I have, however, discovered that bicarbonate loss is not the result of aging, but it is the very cause of physiological aging.  Therefore, if we can replenish bicarbonate to our blood, just like re-charging a battery, we can remain healthy and live longer.  This is my new theory on 'Aging and Reverse Aging'.  AlkaLife International has developed products to add bicarbonate to the blood.

For more information please read article 25.

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