How Your Body’s pH Level Affects Your Mood
Good body health is not just about eating the right food and exercising — it is also about balancing something that is not commonly talked about: the pH level of your body. Most people think of pH in relation to pool chemistry or to skin care products, but it is so much more important than that when it comes to overall health and wellness. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the pH level of your body can affect your mood, and feelings of anxiety, stress and mental clarity.
In this article, we are going to explore what balance of PH means and how it operates within your body: how it influences your emotional and mental health. And we will share some easy ways to help you maintain a healthy pH level to help you instantly feel better.
⚖️ What is pH and Why It's Important
The pH refers to the “potential of hydrogen” and indicates whether a substance is acidic or basic on a scale from 0 to 14:
- 0 to 6.9: Acid (0 being the most acidic)
- 7: Neutral
- 7.1–14: Alkaline (or basic)
Your body fights to keep your blood slightly alkaline, about a 7.35 to 7.45 pH range is ideal. Your organs need this balance in order to work well. If your body is too acidic (acidosis) or too alkaline (alkalosis), this can cause health problems, some of which could directly or indirectly impact your mood.
The Relationship Between pH And Your Body 🏃
There are several systems in your body that control the pH levels, such as the kidneys and lungs. As an illustration, when your body is too acidic, your kidneys excrete more acid with urine. Conversely, your lungs do away with carbon dioxide—an acidic molecule—when you exhale.
Yet your body is designed to maintain an optimal pH but the factors of lifestyle like bad food habits, stress, no exercise and environmental toxins disturb that pH level. As a result, the body has difficulty maintaining equilibrium, which can manifest with physical symptoms such as tiredness, digestive issues, or a compromised immune system.
🧠 How pH levels affect your mind
Now, how does pH actually affect your mood? At first glance, the correlation may not be so evident, but there are many ways that a disrupted pH can affect mental health and emotional well-being:
1️⃣ Acidosis = Fatigue + Depression
An acidic body creates fatigue and low energy, eventually leading to discomfort. We will also feel sad, irritable or may even feel depressed due to loss of energy. As per research, it has been found that acidosis is known to disrupt the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, both of them are responsible for happiness and motivation levels.
Alkalosis could possibly influence anxiety increase (2)
Conversely, when the body is too alkaline, it can over-excite the nervous system. This can then drive symptoms such as muscle spasms, restlessness, and anxiety. Those with alkalosis can feel excessively jumpy or anxious, even in the absence of an external stressor.
CR: pH Imbalance and Sleep Quality: 3️⃣
Mood disorders like anxiety and depression are closely related to poor sleep quality. This imbalance in blood pH can result in breathing irregularities to occur during sleep, muscle cramping or restlessness which will make it more difficult to be able to sleep.
4️⃣ Soil pH Impacts Nutrient Availability
When your pH levels are balanced, your body can use nutrients better. Minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium play a role in the regulation of mood and energy. And if your pH is out, your body may struggle to absorb these nutrients correctly, as a result this may leave you feeling impatient, tired or low.
5️⃣ Acidity — More Inflammation
Acidosis promotes inflammation in the body, which is known to result in mental health problems such as depression. When the body is in a constant state of inflammation, it can impair the brain’s mood-regulating functions, making it more likely that we will feel sad or anxious.
🥑 What Causes pH Imbalance?
Here are some reasons why pH may be imbalanced in your body:
🍔 Bad nutrition — A diet that is high in processed foods, sugar and animal protein creates more acid in the body.
🚫 Exercise Deficiency: The proper movement plays a strong factor in maintaining the pH as the intake of oxygen is worsened without aerobic-based physical activity to look after the metabolic efficiency.
😰Long-term Stress: Cortisol is an acidic compound that enters your body, promoting acidity, especially in people who suffer from long term stress.
🧊 Dehydration: Lack of water makes it difficult to eliminate excess acids from the body.
🚬 Smoking (it lowers your pH level, a more acidic environment) and Alcohol: Each of these habits can take you towards an excessively acidic internal ecosystem.
🌿 How to Tell Your pH Might Be Out of Your Range
These are some symptoms that indicate that the pH of your body may not be normal:
- Always Feeling Tired or Low on Energy
- Increased anxiety, irritability or mood fluctuations
- Muscle cramps or weakness
- Dyspepsia as Backward (acid GERD, distention)
- Difficulty sleeping
- Frequent headaches
- Weakened immune system
And, if you feel any of these periodically, you should ensure with a medical expert to examine your pH level.
How to Get Your pH in Order & Boost Your Mood (🥗)
It can be as simple as changing your lifestyle choices to balance your body’s pH. Some easy ways to support a healthy pH and help lift your spirits are:
🥬 1. Eat More Alkaline Foods
Eating these foods that are rich in alkaline can help bring your body into balance over time. While they do state the need to focus on whole, plant-based foods:
- Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, rocket)
- Good vegetables (broccoli, cucumber, zucchini)
- Another food group (fruits (avocado, watermelon, berries)
- Nuts and seeds (e.g., almonds, chia seeds)
🍋 2. Limit Acid-Forming Foods
Avoiding the intake of foods that cause acid;
- Processed meats
- Refined sugars
- Dairy products
- Caffeinated beverages
- Alcohol
🏃 3. Exercise Regularly
Exercise allows optimal oxygen transportation and the excretion of acidic materials via sweat and the effective function of lungs. Try to get about 30 minutes of moderate exercise (walking, yoga, or biking) at least most days of the week.
💧 4. Stay Hydrated
It helps the body eliminate toxins naturally and maintain a healthy pH level as well. Squeeze adding some lemon to your water will also help alkalize the body.
🧘 5. Engage In Stress-Reduction Strategies
Stress can leave your body more acidic, so proper relaxation methods can aid in keeping the balance:
- Meditation
- Deep breathing exercises
- Journaling
- Listening to music
- Spending time in nature
💊 6. Consider Supplements
Some pH balance references, but not as precise as these● Some relate/detect pH as somewhat adjunct to mood
- Magnesium — Helps to relax and lowers anxiety.
- Potassium: Maintains fluid balance and offers nervous system support.
- Calcium: Helps in controlling muscle functioning and mood stabilization.
🔬 But What Does Science Say About pH And Your Mood?
Although the research is still developing in regards to the direct link between pH and mood there are several studies that point to a highly correlated relationship:
According to a 2015 study published in Nutrients, an alkaline diet may help alleviate fatigue and boost mood in adults.
Imbalances in pH levels behave harmful to brain function which may be associated with mood disorders, according to research in Biological Psychology.
In another study published in The Journal of Inflammation Research, an overly acidic body environment was found to promote inflammation, which in turn is associated with depression and anxiety.
Although this requires further research, it shows just how important maintaining an optimum pH balance is for mental/emotional health.
Is Your pH really Tied to your Pro Mood?
Actually, the relationship between the acidity of your body and mood is more substantial than it seems. An unhealthy level of pH in the body does not necessarily trigger anxiety or depression, but it can lead to physical and emotional stress, poor sleep and low energy levels that can trigger a change in your mood.
Luckily, making small changes such as towards a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, regular exercise and manage your stress can help you keep your pH levels healthy. Your body will be physically healthier, and your mood will be more balanced and positive, simply by taking steps to support its natural homeostasis.
So next time your in a down mood or stressed maybe consider: Could it be your bodies pH playing a role? 🌿😊
