Causes of Acidity

• Acidity in the body can lead to a wide range of health issues.acid image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
  
  Acidity, also known as acidosis, occurs when the body's natural pH balance becomes overly acidic. For optimal health, the human body must maintain a pH balance that is just over seven on the pH scale or slightly alkaline. When the body becomes overly acidic, it is more susceptible to a wide range of deadly health problems, including cardiovascular disease, liver failure and cancer. A number of lifestyle habits contribute to acidosis. You can counteract the condition by making a few simple changes.
  
  

Alcohol Intake

• Drinking excessive alcohol is one known cause of acidity. Alcohol produces acid in the body when ingested and your body treats it like any type of toxin. In addition, the liver and kidneys, the body's main organs for the removal of toxins, are inhibited when you drink alcohol. You can suffer long-term damage as a result. Without the proper functioning of these organs the body more easily becomes overly acidic.
  
  

Smoking

• Smoking is a known cause of acidity and can lead to a condition known as respiratory acidosis. Smoking inhibits blood flow and the body's ability to remove toxins from the body. Smoking also produces acid-forming compounds in the body.
  
  

Poor Diet

• An overly acidic, poor diet is a major cause of acidity. Certain foods such as leafy green vegetables, avocados, cucumber, garlic, banana, almonds and ginger produce alkali in the body, while other foods like cheese, beef, sugar, coffee, cola, and white bread produce acid. To prevent acidity, you need to eat a balanced diet of mostly alkaline foods and a smaller percentage of acidic foods. According to innerself.com, the ideal diet consists of between 75 and 85 percent alkaline foods and between 15 and 25 percent acidic foods.
  
  

Digestive Problems

• Digestive problems are caused by and contribute to acidity in the body. Peptic ulcers, hypersecretion of hydrochloric acid, valve weaknesses, lack of blood flow to the stomach, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome are considered possible digestive causes of acidity. Irregular or abnormal eating habits can also cause acidity.
  
  

Stress

• Acidity tends to be more common in individuals who lead highly stressful lives that leave them nervous and restless. Adequate sleep is important to all bodily functions, including the successful removal of toxins and breaking down of acids. Stress may cause insomnia and other sleeping problems, which in turn lead to acidity.