PH and Organisms: PH Levels Can Have Significant Effects On The Health of Many Different Organisms

pH and Organisms
pH levels can have significant effects on the health of many different organisms.
What affects the pH of our blood?
The foods we eat can affect the acid-base balance of our bodies and can potentially impact the pH of our blood.
Some types of food that can affect the pH of our blood include:
● Acidic foods: Foods that are high in acid, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar, can potentially
lower the pH of our blood.
● Alkaline foods: Foods that are alkaline or basic, such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seeds, can
potentially raise the pH of our blood.
● Processed foods: Processed and highly refined foods, such as sugary drinks, fast food, and processed
meats, can potentially increase the acid load in the body and lower the pH of our blood.
● High-protein foods: Foods that are high in protein, such as meat, fish, and dairy products, can potentially
increase the acid load in the body and lower the pH of our blood.
While certain foods can potentially affect the acid-base balance of our bodies, the impact is usually small and
temporary. The human body has organs that work together to create feedback loops that help regulate the pH of
our blood, so that it is not typically affected by the short-term variations in the foods we eat. Organs such as the
lungs, kidneys, and brain work together to take different substances and ions out of our blood and put other
substances into it, so that its pH is kept between 7.35 and 7.45.
Deviations from this range can have severe consequences, which can disrupt normal cellular function and lead to
organ failure or death. Low blood pH (acidosis) can occur in conditions like diabetes or kidney failure. In some
cases, overly strenuous exercise, which produces lactic acid, or certain types of infections, can also result in low
blood pH.
High blood pH (alkalosis) can be caused by prolonged dehydration, hyperventilation, or ingestion of too many
alkaline substances. Regular physical exams and related blood tests and/or urinalysis can help detect either of
these conditions, and a variety of therapies are available to treat them.
How can pH affect the water and soil that other organisms use?
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In water, pH levels are critical for the survival of many types of aquatic organisms. It can affect how well other
nutrients and minerals dissociate in the water. This can, in turn, affect the growth and metabolism of those
organisms that live in that water and use it for metabolic processes. Most aquatic species have evolved to tolerate
a narrow range of pH values, typically between 6.5 and 8.5. Extreme deviations from this range can cause stress,
illness, or death. Many people who keep home aquariums regularly monitor and adjust the pH levels of the water
in them.
In soil, pH also plays a vital role in plant growth and development, as it also can affect how well other nutrients
and minerals dissociate in the water that infiltrates soil. This also can affect how much of those nutrients and
minerals the plants can take in through their roots. Different plant species have adapted to grow optimally in
specific soil pH ranges, with most preferring a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. However,
some plants, such as blueberries and rhododendrons, require more acidic soils with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5 to
thrive. Other plants, such as asparagus and spinach, prefer more basic soils with a pH between 7.0 and 8.0. Many
people who grow crops or maintain home gardens monitor and adjust the pH levels of their soil.
References
Chandra, S., Ravula, S., Errabelli, P., Spencer, H., & Singh, M. (2023). No Good Deed: Acidosis in Chronic
Kidney and Liver Disease. Journal of Renal Nutrition.
Yang, H., Wu, Y., Zhang, C., Wu, W., Lyu, L., & Li, W. (2022). Growth and physiological characteristics of four
blueberry cultivars under different high soil pH treatments. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 197.
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pH and Organisms

What affects the pH of our blood?

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