The pH level of the body is believed to be a major contributing factor in Candidiasis. We explore some of the most effective ways to balance pH in this question from a site visitor.

Hi Cynthia,

I was wondering if balancing my pH would help with Candida. I tested my pH and it is very low-5.5 approx. I read that chicken is very acidic. -Susan

Hi Susan,

Yes, it is believed that pH plays an important role in not only Candidiasis, but cravings for sweets and a variety of other health conditions like chronic fatigue, moodiness, foggy brain, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, cancer and much more. A pH of 5.5 is indeed very acidic.

There is a great deal of conflicting information out there on pH, so it can be hard to know which way to go. Here is my opinion.

The most significant impact on pH is sugar, white flour, refined junk food, antibiotics, alcohol, coffee and other caffeinated products, soda pop and artificial sweeteners. So removing these products from the diet should improve the pH level quite drastically.

The next most significant step to alkalize is to reduce complex carbohydrates, because they break down into sugar in the body.

Many people encourage removing meat from the diet, but I completely disagree. I am a firm believer in eating meat for numerous reasons, but with a Candida issue, the bottom line is that the diet must consist primarily of meat and vegetables or progress cannot be made in reducing overgrowth.

Meat should be accompanied by an abundance of steamed vegetables. Lots of vegetables will help balance pH. If fruit is tolerated, it too will alkalize.

It is also believed that drinking ionized water will help reduce acidosis, as well as supplementing the diet with a teaspoon of Umeboshi plum paste or 1 Umeboshi plum daily, drinking green drinks, deep breathing exercise or ingesting alkalizing drops. Many people with Candida have trouble with Umeboshi plum so that may not be the best choice. Some people believe drinking unrefined apple cider vinegar will balance pH, but that didn’t work for me. It made my Candida worse.

Saliva pH is considered to be more reliable than urine pH, so when testing your pH levels it’s better to test the saliva. Also, some practitioners are not aware, that a very high alkaline pH actually means you are acidic as well.

I encourage you to read the following page from a trusted source on pH, however I do disagree with the advice on not eating meat:

Read more on pH*

Many people find the pH drops suggested at the link above to be a very effective and easy way to balance pH.

It’s also important to note that the toxins that Candida emits in your body will also make the body acidic, so we may be asking the chicken or the egg question here. When you’re actively killing Candida in your body, your pH level may go down and you’ll be more acidic. However, regardless of whether the chicken or the egg came first, taking steps to make your pH level more alkaline can only be beneficial.

However, like every healing method, we are all different and each of us has a unique set of circumstances biochemically that impacts how we respond to a particular treatment approach.

By raising your pH level and making it more alkaline, you will create an environment that yeast doesn’t want to be in. Although, this won’t be a “cure all” in and of itself, it is believed to be “one” important component of a successful treatment plan for overcoming Candidiasis.

Best Regards
Cynthia