Acidosis can be prevented by maintaining a proper ratio between acid and alkaline foods in the diet. Certain foods leave alkaline ash and help in maintaining the alkalinity of the blood, while others leave acid ash which reduce the blood alkalinity.
All flesh foods leave highly acid ash and lower the alkali reserve of the blood and tissue fluids to a very large extent. Eggs do the same but less strongly than meats. Cereals of all kinds, including breads, are also acid forming foods, though much less than meats.
All fruits, with exceptions like plums and prunes, and all green and root vegetables are highly alkaline foods and help to alkalize the blood and other tissue fluids.
Thus, our daily diet should consist of four-fifths of alkaline forming foods such as fresh fruits, tubers, legumes, leafy and root vegetables, and one-fifth of acid forming foods such as meat, fish, bread and cereals. Eating sensibly in this manner will ensure the necessary alkalinity of the blood, which will keep the body in perfect health.
Whenever a person has acidosis, the higher the ratio of alkaline-forming foods in his diet, the quicker will be the recovery. Acids are neutralised by alkalis It is therefore imperative that persons suffering from this disorder are given adequate alkaline-forming foods to offset the effects of acid-forming foods and leave a safe margin of alkalinity.
The most agreeable and convenient means of alkalizing the blood are citrus fruits and fruit juices. The alkalizing value of citrus fruits are due to the large percentage of alkaline salts, mainly potash, which they contain. About half a litre of orange juice contains 0.8 gms. of potassium. Lemon juice contains 0.55 gms. and grape juice 0.5 gms. of this alkali in half a litre.
In the diet during acidosis, breakfast may consist of fresh fruits, lunch may comprise raw vegetables, with acid and sub-acid fruits and for dinner, raw and cooked green vegetables or light-starchy vegetables like beet, carrot, cauliflower, egg-plant and squashes may be taken. Sweet fruits may be added to this after a week or so.
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of acidosis. The foremost among these remedies is the use of raisins (munaqqa). This dry fruit, with its excess of alkalinity, is helpful in maintaining the acid balance of the body.
Studies conducted by Saywell in the University of California have shown that the free use of raisins, say about 100 gms. daily, will greatly reduce the acidity of the urine. The urinary ammonia is also reduced. The organic acid of the raisins is completely oxidized.
The use of spinach (palak) is valuabe in combating acidosis. This leafy vegetable is a rich source of calcium and other alkaline elements, which are helpful in keeping the tissues clean and for preserving the alkalinity of the blood.
Tomato (tamatar) is another effective remedy for acidosis. It is essentially an alkaline vegetable. This vegetable increases the alkalinity of the blood and decreases that of the urine and neutralises the acid compounds of the body such as phosphates, urea and ammonia. Its regular use is therefore, highly beneficial in the treatment of acidosis.