Consequences & Opinions

Consequences in Daily Life

The main consequence that we can extract on the pH is the importance it has on our body and how vital it is to keep acidity and alkalinity in balance. For example, the activity and proper function of our enzymes (who are the ones that help us function, in simple words) depend on our pH. If our pH changes radically, they will stop working correctly and may give way to a series of inconveniences and even diseases of the individual's body.

For a correct function of the organism, the blood must have a slightly alkaline pH: between 7.35-7.45.

What can happen if the pH turns acidic?

It is considered acidic when it has a value between 7 and 7.35 pH.

  • The immune system becomes depressed.

  • Cardiovascular calcification (altering the regulation of blood pressure). It can lead to heart and / or vascular disease.

  • Decreases the absorption capacity of nutrients.

  • Decreases the detoxification capacity of the organism.

  • Greater probability of suffering degenerative organic states.

  • Loss of bone mass and muscle mass.

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Muscle aches and pains.

  • Hair loss and nail weakness.

  • Irritated skin.

  • Drowsiness.

Why can it happen?

  • Deformations or injuries to the thorax.

  • Weakness of the thoracic muscles.

  • Chronic lung disease

  • Neuromuscular disorders.

  • Excessive use of sedatives.

  • Methanol, antifreeze, or aspirin poisoning.

What can happen if the pH turns alkaline?

It is considered alkaline when it has a value between 7.45 and 7.8 pH.

  • Arrhythmias

  • Heart failure.

  • Renal problems.

  • Shaking hands

  • Confusion (can lead to stupor and even coma)

  • Dizziness

  • Muscle contractions

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet.

  • Tetany (prolonged muscle spasms).

  • Electrolyte imbalance (due to lack of potassium, which helps the correct functioning of the cell)

Why can it happen?

  • Fever.

  • Being at very high heights.

  • Lack of oxygen.

  • Liver disease.

  • Lung disease, causing hyperventilation

  • Aspirin poisoning

And in what things in everyday life can you see the pH?

It can be seen in such common things as: when you make a red cabbage salad and add vinegar, this causes the color of the food to change, going from a purple to a more reddish one. Or for example, when in a commercial for soaps or skin care creams they mention that it has a "neutral pH". They do this since our skin has a neutral pH, and when using products of the same level of acidity it does not harm us or kill the beneficial bacteria that our skin has, which is why they make so much mention to imply that they prevent acidization of our dermis.

And even in the flavors, without going any further. When we taste lemon juice it burns our throat because it is "acid", and instead we say that the water "has no taste", or that the tomato has a "slight acid taste". All this is due to the pH, since as it is said, the lemon has an acid pH (2), the tomato has an acid pH but lower than that of the lemon (4), and the water has a neutral pH (7).

Our Opinions

What We Have Learned?

Fernanda Pino: it seems to me in addition to having learned about the pH itself, we have managed to understand in greater depth how our body works and our environment itself, since knowing their level of acidity you can know a lot about them, such as the taste, what happens when they are mixed between different pH, and how they are visible in our environment (such as water, which has a neutral pH and is vital for us and any living being). I find it to have been a good activity and personally I have had a great time (despite the stress).

Best Thing for Us

Fernanda Pino: the best thing for me was doing the experiment and ordering the website, as well as communicating with our colleagues from other countries. It is a very rewarding experience and it helps us expand our knowledge to other levels, ones that we would hardly achieve if we had not done this work.

What do We Want to Improve

Fernanda Pino: what I would like to improve for the following challenges is communication. We have had a very banal understanding between all of us and therefore we have not been able to give our 100% in the development of the activity, creating more stress. It is something that yes or yes I would improve, and I would like my colleagues to also, to be able to have a good collective work.

What I've Done

Fernanda Pino: for my part, I have made the website, including the search for information and the preparation of each section, in addition to communicating with foreign members.