Acid pH?

[kdeschen]

Hello,

Yet another anecdotal report of the dangers I'm bringing on by eating LC. An acquaintance told me her Dad "did Atkins" and lost 65lbs getting to his goal weight. However, she said that eating so much protein changed his body to an acid pH causing tooth decay among other things. Has anyone heard of this? I couldn't find anything about it with a search and really didn't know what to say. All I could say is, "Hmmm...I've never heard of that...interesting."

[Scars]

Hello,

Yet another anecdotal report of the dangers I'm bringing on by eating LC. An acquaintance told me her Dad "did Atkins" and lost 65lbs getting to his goal weight. However, she said that eating so much protein changed his body to an acid pH causing tooth decay among other things. Has anyone heard of this? I couldn't find anything about it with a search and really didn't know what to say. All I could say is, "Hmmm...I've never heard of that...interesting."

The acid/alkaline food theory is bunk. Nothing escapes the "acid soup" of our stomachs. Taking an entire bottle of TUMS will only change the acidity in your body briefly. If your kidneys function properly, there should be no issue whatsoever. Our bodies maintain pH in a very narrow range as large variances can kill you.

Vegans use the acid/alkaline theroy in an attempt to validate their way of eating and shun meat eating.

[tom sawyer]

Maybe he had kidney problems, and developed mild ketoacidosis. It doesn't happen in healthy people though.

[Trunky]

Not heard of the acid thing but i have noticed that my teeth get coated with plaque quicker.

I bought some of that Plax that you swish around your mouth before brushing. It works great.

Maybe he didn't brush his teeth or he had underlying problems as suggested by the other replies. He may of been on medication that affected his teeth.

There was a thread on here not so long ago that mentioned that after a day of doing Atkins, a girl was getting pins and needles in her hands. No diet could have that effect in a day! She obviously had a problem that needed looking at by a doctor. She will probably tell people for the rest of her life that she tried Atkins and got pins and needles in her hands!

[Dodger]

Read this article (http://www.chem1.com/CQ/ionbunk.html). The body can't vary its acidity without dying.

[CindySue48]

Acidosis and Alkalosis:

Acidosis is excessive blood acidity caused by an overabundance of acid in the blood or a loss of bicarbonate from the blood (metabolic acidosis), or by a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood that results from poor lung function or slow breathing (respiratory alkalosis).
Metabolic acidosis develops when the amount of acid in the body is increased through ingestion of a substance that is, or can be metabolized to, an acid—such as wood alcohol (methanol), antifreeze (ethylene glycol), or large doses of aspirin.
Metabolic acidosis can also occur as a result of abnormal metabolism. The body produces excess acid in the advanced stages of shock and in poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus.Even the production of normal amounts of acid may lead to acidosis when the kidneys are not functioning normally and are therefore not able to excrete sufficient amounts of acid in the urine.
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch159/ch159b.html

Alkalosis is excessive blood alkalinity caused by an overabundance of bicarbonate in the blood or a loss of acid from the blood (metabolic alkalosis), or by a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood that results from rapid or deep breathing (respiratory alkalosis).
Metabolic alkalosis develops when the body loses too much acid or gains too much base. For example, stomach acid is lost during periods of prolonged vomiting or when stomach acids are suctioned with a stomach tube (as is sometimes done in hospitals). In rare cases, metabolic alkalosis develops in a person who has ingested too much base from substances such as baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). In addition, metabolic alkalosis can develop when excessive loss of sodium or potassium affects the kidneys' ability to control the blood's acid-base balance. For instance, loss of potassium sufficient to cause metabolic alkalosis may result from the use of diuretics or corticosteroids.
Respiratory alkalosis develops when rapid, deep breathing (hyperventilation) causes too much carbon dioxide to be expelled from the bloodstream. The most common cause of hyperventilation, and thus respiratory alkalosis, is anxiety. Other causes of hyperventilation and consequent respiratory alkalosis include pain, cirrhosis, low levels of oxygen in the blood, fever, and aspirin
overdose (which can also cause metabolic acidosis).
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch159/ch159c.html

Acidosis can occur if the kidneys are damaged, but in normal healthy individuals, intake of protein is not dangerous. The biggest "danger" of too much protein intake it that it could be stored as fat!

[Luzyanna]

Here's another link. No one knows who is right. LOL Maybe none of them are. :p
It's nonsense (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral2.html)

[Ottawa]

I have to disagree with several of the comments here. Our blood pH is changing all the time.

http://www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/pHrange.gif

Being prone to kidney stones since I was a kid, I have my blood PH monitored and measured twice a year and I check my urine at least monthly and more often if I feel discomfort that could be caused by a moving kidney stone. Calcium-Oxalate stones are formed from “Bone Detritus” (small pieces of bone which break off/dissolve from our bones. It happens to everyone, much more as we age, if we do not eat in such a way to balance out that PH.

What foods cause lower PH (higher acidity)?
Carbonated Drinks, Excess Protein, Cereals, Sugars, Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol, and in general, most processed foods.
As we digress from “Whole Foods” in the form of natural vegetables our blood becomes more acidic. In essence we are similar to a battery and we determine the electrolyte composition by what we put in it.

As blood changes to more acidic, bone becomes more vulnerable to leaching of the calcium in it. Although I have never related it to tooth enamel, it makes sense that a lower ph from ingested foods would affect saliva since urine shows up more acidic quite quickly after consuming soft drinks with fizz (phosphoric acid). The blood follows more slowly.

I am not condoning any of the hype around Metabolic Typing Diets although there seems to be some science to it. At first impression, The Atkins diet definitely lowers pH, (more acidic). I know that eating meat protein with little else lowers pH since I can measure it with a Chem-Stik, later in the day or the next morning. Protein will be up, pH down and little else changes.
An easy and natural way to keep a balanced PH is with more leafy greens and wise carb choices in how we meet our ECC throughout the day. Spinach, Chard, and so on raise pH quickly. Drinking adequate water helps as well and serves to promote better health and definitely reduces the acidity of mouth saliva immediately.
One thing I found surprising was that the food pH itself is quite different from the pH affect is has on the body. Citrus fruits which are acidic, do not raise pH, but instead lower it after being digested.

If you check out the effects of lower pH at http://www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/pH.html you find that, Yes: several conditions such as Tooth Decay, Kidney Stones, susceptibility to infection and so on, are related to blood pH.


Does this mean that LC/Higher Protein diets are to be discouraged?
Definitely not! Staying closer to whole foods, choosing LC fruits and veggies to fill your carb limit will do more than keep your pH where it should be. It rounds out most programs with essential nutrients in many positive ways.

[Dodger]

Ottawa,

Urine PH can certainly change, but blood PH is tightly controlled by the body. From the article that you cited "The blood pH has to be kept within a tight range of with a normal range of 7.36 to 7.44"

The site trans4mind.com is not a medical site and one whos's medical advice I would be leary of. It is an irritating site in that I keep getting a popup type box urging me to sign-up for their services. The box is hard to close.

[Ottawa]

That was the only online link that I could easily find, but both my Endocronologist and Renal specialist agree with it. I have a better link at work I'll try to pick up Monday.

As for "From the article that you cited "The blood pH has to be kept within a tight range of with a normal range of 7.36 to 7.44", my range moves out of this range often in the summer when holiday meals, dehydration and other factors can lead to lower pH.

I know that my condition of recurring kidney stones is not that common but even vets have been treating sheep with calcium suppliments for over 100 years. It raises pH (lowers acidity) and strengthens bone material to reduce bone detritis.

The medical community only caught up to the vetrinarians on this a few years ago. Most males carry kidney stones but they never leave the kidney.
The most common stone is the Calcium Oxilate stone and it is composed of broken down bone material, related directly to pH level.

BTW: I do not endorse any of these pH Diet Programs but it is easy to incorporate, and actually is ideal for a program like Protein Power since it encourages a wide variety of LC choices in fruits and veggies which are all alkiline foods. Most of the links providing this information are like the one above pushing a specific plan, but most internists that I have met place a high merit on blood pH.

Again most of the links you find on this are Specific diet related http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/acidalkfoods.html, but it is being used much more often in cancer treatment as well and in no way detracts from most low carb programs.

[locarbbarb]

Hi Ottawa!
What foods cause lower PH (higher acidity)?
Carbonated Drinks, Excess Protein, Cereals, Sugars, Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol, and in general, most processed foods.
Citrus fruits which are acidic, do not raise pH, but instead lower it after being digested.
I'm a little confused, so I just have a question..

If I'm drinking adequate water (more than 72 oz. a day), eating green veg., such as spinach and brocolli, but I eat 1 orange a day and add fresh lemon juice to all my water (it's not too sour, just for flavor), am I consuming too much acid?

I've been thinking about just this subject. Thanks!

[Lisa N]

The medical community only caught up to the vetrinarians on this a few years ago. Most males carry kidney stones but they never leave the kidney.
The most common stone is the Calcium Oxilate stone and it is composed of broken down bone material, related directly to pH level.

pH level of urine, yes, but not of blood. Your urinary tract and your cardiovascular system are distinct from one another and while the pH of urine can vary widely from 4.6 to 8.0, Mike is correct in that the pH of your blood is tightly controlled by the body between 7.35 and 7.45 and if it goes outside those bounds, you would quickly be quite aware that something was very much amiss.
Acidosis or Alkalosis are serious conditions and symptoms of either can be felt quite quickly when the boundaries of normal are crossed.
http://chemistry.boisestate.edu/rbanks/inorganic/acid-base/acid_base5.htm
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch159/ch159a.html

Like Mike, I'm suspicious of sites that make all types of health claims without any sort of references to where that information came from (like studies, for instance ;) ). I'm a bit skeptical of claims that we should eat foods that are alkaline or acid to change or correct body pH or avoid 'stressing the blood pH buffers'. That's a little like saying we should avoid excercising because it stresses the heart. ;)

[ItsTheWooo]

Hello,

Yet another anecdotal report of the dangers I'm bringing on by eating LC. An acquaintance told me her Dad "did Atkins" and lost 65lbs getting to his goal weight. However, she said that eating so much protein changed his body to an acid pH causing tooth decay among other things. Has anyone heard of this? I couldn't find anything about it with a search and really didn't know what to say. All I could say is, "Hmmm...I've never heard of that...interesting."

Most likely her dad heard this from a "naturopath" or some other self-titled practitioner of superstitious delusions. Those quacks seem real big on vegan diets to "make the body more alkaline", and other garbage psuedo-science practices.

In reality the body maintains its pH level in a very narrow range at all times. Failure to maintain this state of homeostasis will result in swift decline in health, or even death. It will only happen as part of some serious disease or extreme environmental deprivation. This will never happen under normal conditions. BTW, eating eggs without toast, salads without croutons and tacos without shells classify as "normal conditions" ;). Toast, cakes, taco shells etc is not "an essential environmental need" :lol: .

[ItsTheWooo]

There was a thread on here not so long ago that mentioned that after a day of doing Atkins, a girl was getting pins and needles in her hands. No diet could have that effect in a day! She obviously had a problem that needed looking at by a doctor. She will probably tell people for the rest of her life that she tried Atkins and got pins and needles in her hands!
Actually, restricting foods suddenly and extremely (total or carbohydrate specifically) can cause a massive diuretic effect in the body. This causes the "induction woosh" of 8+ pounds some people get.

For most people they'll experience mild discomfort, but some who are sensitive to hypotension and problems regulating minerals in the body... it can cause more extreme issues. When you lose water, you lose minerals and electrolytes. Your cardiovascular system depends on these to maintain consistent normal rythm. If this system is disrupted due to diet-induced electrolyte imbalance, it is very realistic that one would experience pins and needles sensations, and numbness in extremities, and/or dizziness/blackness when rising suddenly. It could even cause a heart attack (but this is very very rare).

It's not an atkins-specific thing. Well to a certain extent it is, since low carb makes it more difficult for the body to regulate and retain minerals (which is an insulin-dependent process... which is the reason hyperinsulinemia is notoriously associated with hypertension and bloating by the way). But a healthy person with no extraneous diseases/hormone deficiencies should be able to regulate electrolytes and minerals just fine in the context of a carbohydrate restricted diet.

On these forums, it's related mostly to under eating or eating a dramatically new diet (starting induction) or eating a really unbalanced diet (read: getting your carbs from splenda / maltitol and not the good foods loaded with potassium and other minerals). Most of us on this forum who experience it are both not eating enough (because we are losing weight) and not eating ideally balanced diet (I don't know about you but a lot of my carbs, when eating very carb restricted, weren't coming from carrots and lettuce and greens ;) ). I never ever have those problems anymore now that I eat more and eat more carbs.

[JAnn]

Most likely her dad heard this from a "naturopath" or some other self-titled practitioner of superstitious delusions. Those quacks seem real big on vegan diets to "make the body more alkaline", and other garbage psuedo-science practices.

My doctor who is a well respected internist in our community as well as a naturopath would take exception to your description of naturopaths. Although he is a vegetarian himself, he told me in no way should I try to be one and recommended a lc diet for me.

I have a friend who is very acidic, the saliva test strip indicated a ph of 6.0, and was put on an alkaline diet by her doctor. She will be going back shortly but in the meantime the swelling in her hands and arms have disappered, she can walk up steps unaided, her pain has almost disappeared, and she feels better all the way around. Can't argue with success.

[Lisa N]

Saliva testing? Uh oh:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/reams.html

Let's think about this from a physiology standpoint. Whatever the pH of the foods you eat, the pH of stomach acid will override the majority of it and the chyme (food you ate mixed with digestive juices) that enters the small intestine has a pH of around 2 (very acid). Soon after entrance into the small intestine, the pancreas and gallbladder do their job and neutralize chyme so that the contents of the small intestine become slightly basic.
Bottom line..no matter what we eat, our digestive systems take over and pretty much determine what the pH of our digesting food is based on the location within the gastrointestinal tract.

I would suggest that any improvement in symptoms from a change in diet is due to removing a food or foods that the person was sensitive to and substituting them with foods they are not. ;)

ETA: Yup...I just checked the list from one of the links attached earlier and sure enough, the 'acid foods' are those that many people are sensitive to such as dairy, nuts and grains so it shouldn't be a huge surprise that removing them from the diet would make a person who is sensitive to them feel better almost immediately. Nothing to do with pH, but with allergy. ;)

[Dodger]

Saliva PH.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/dental/oralbiol/oralenv/tutorials/bicarbonate.htm

The site explains why it is bicarbonate that controls saliva PH, and theatbicarbonate varies with saliva flow rate and that carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI (CA IV) is what seems to control everything. They have equations and graphs and all sorts of science sounding stuff.

And for a scientific paper says esssentially the same thing try this journal (http://jp.physoc.org/cgi/content/full/520/2/315).

[Ottawa]

One more entry and I'll let this one go. There are definitely a few people here who take exceptions to Naturopath's. I have never used one but I would likely have more faith in their methods than most of the medical professionals that I have dealt with. From what I have read and heard they tend to work with promoting "Wellness" vs. "Procedures" and that has my backing any day.


My pH level was been as low as 6.8, which going by posts above would have me dead or keeled over. I'm definitely not and since going LC and getting adequate water in I have never been tested that low again.
How does it get that low (Acidic)? Eating Carby food along with protein and taking part in sports activities without replenishing your water.
None of my posts were anti - Low Carb, since I believe it to be an extremely healthy way to eat, particularly when overweight or with a Lipid problem. If there was a healthier or more nutritional way to eat I would definitely be there.

What has happened in my case is that I am possibly more prone to a lower pH since my first stones at 18, and lower blood pH works away at pottassium and calcium stores, (in my case bones) causing small particles to collect as "Bone Detritis" to form Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones. My stone production may have actually increased during my first 18 months on LC (Protein Power), since I met my Protein Target and relied heavily on bars and fake foods as I overcame the initial sweet withdrawal. I have not had a large stone in a year now and believe it relates to increased water consumption and more fruits and vegetables for my carb choices.
I have never tried a saliva test for pH, although I do use Chem Stiks, almost monthly to check for Hemoglobin and Protein in the urine (both indicators of stone movement along the urinary tract). The Excess protein on the strip is partly from ingested protein but mainly from new tissue building (Scarring) when stones are passing. The strips also check pH, Ketosis, sugar, and other things including Leukocytes and the pH changes there are minimal.

The only reason that I spoke up on this issue is that I and many others who have posted on board, initially went strictly by meeting their protein targets and paid little attention to where their carb limit came from. When I was doing this my blood pH was more acidic (lower). When I eat more fruits and veggies it is closer to neutral or halfway.
Even though slightly more acidic than most, I would still class my health in the top 5% of my age group based on Lipid Profile, Coronary Event Marker, how fast I heal and many other factors. Eating LC does this for most of us.

To answer LowcarbBarb "If I'm drinking adequate water (more than 72 oz. a day), eating green veg., such as spinach and brocolli, but I eat 1 orange a day and add fresh lemon juice to all my water (it's not too sour, just for flavor), am I consuming too much acid?"

As mentioned earlier in another post, the stomach neutralizes or transforms much of this into new nutrients. I was surprised but an orange, although acidic, has an alkaline effect on the body/blood. Getting your water in and healthy choices in fruits and veggies definitely balances pH.

Some of these links come from doctors, some from Health Food Nutritionists, but all affirm their belief in eating in such a way to balance blood pH.

Problems with low pH Blood
http://www.cleanse.net/newsite/articles/minerals.html

Acid-Alkaline Balance and Your Health
http://www.price-pottenger.org/Articles/Acid_alk_bal.html

OVERACIDITY AND OVERGROWTH OF YEAST, FUNGUS AND MOULDS
http://www.snyderhealth.com/summary_Young.htm

Balancing the body’s pH - Small changes make big impact on metabolic functions
http://www.naturalfoodsmerchandiser.com/asp/articleDisplay.asp?strArticleId=1479&strSite=NFMSite

Alkalize for Health
http://www.biotherapy-clinic.com/alkalize.html

Role of pH in All Health Conditions
http://altmedangel.com/ph.htm

Again I am not a health freak (aside from being in the Low Carb Camp) ;) .
I have not read the Atkins books but have read a several others and they have all stressed the importance of healthy choices in your carb selections and of those that I have read, they all showed a preference for whole foods in the form of LC fruits and vegetables which are almost all alkaline foods as far as blood pH goes. I know fellow low carbers who live off shakes, bars, various meats and fake foods. I was in there eating that way as well.

[Rosebud]

My pH level was been as low as 6.8,
Sorry, Ottawa, but a blood pH level of 6.8 is incompatible with life. Your saliva or urine may well have been 6.8, but never your blood, or you would be dead. No ifs, buts or maybes.

As others have mentioned, normal blood is kept (mostly by the kidneys) at a range of between 7.35 and 7.45. A blood pH of 7.2 is considered extremely acidotic, and the patient would be in Intensive Care having the underlying condition aggressively treated.

Rosebud:rose:

[Lisa N]

My pH level was been as low as 6.8

Your pH level of what? Urine? Saliva? Blood? Sweat? Seminal fluid? Tears? Muscle tissue? How was it measured?
I can assure you that if the pH level of your blood was 6.8, you would be dead or very near it. Here is a quote from one of your own links above:
Different parts of the body have different pH levels. Although some can have a wide pH range, others, such as the blood, are narrowly maintained—the healthy arterial blood range is 7.35 to 7.45, venous blood 7.31 to 7.41.
It seems to me that you are making the assumption that all fluids of the body have or should have the same pH level and nothing could be farther from the truth.
A pH of 6.8 is actually within normal range for urine and would not be considered 'low' by any lab in the country.


I was surprised but an orange, although acidic, has an alkaline effect on the body/blood. Getting your water in and healthy choices in fruits and veggies definitely balances pH.

Again, balances the pH of what? Urine? Saliva? Blood? Here is another quote from one of your links:

Dr. Hawkins found that the pH and mineral composition of the saliva and urine were affected by diet, but that the pH of the bloodstream was more influenced by digestion and other metabolic and lifestyle factors.

In other words, what you eat has little (if any) effect on the pH of the blood.
I'm not arguing that the pH of urine and saliva don't vary to a fairly wide degree and those are, to a certain extent, influenced by what you eat but that's not the only thing that can influence pH of urine or saliva.
For example, if I don't drink enough fluids, I can predict with fairly good certainty that the pH of my urine will be quite different than if I had drunk 2 liters of water in the span of a few hours and then checked.

[ItsTheWooo]

I agree with others, most likely you are confusing the pH of some other fluid (like urine) with blood pH. Perhaps urine that is relatively more acidic might contribute to your stones (possibly), but, this probably depends on a few factors like whether or not one has a susceptability to kidney stones. One could have a susceptaiblity to stones for reasons unrelated to the pH level of your urine - in other words, the pH level is triggering a preexisting sensitivity, not a cause for concern itself, or indicative of disease. Sort of how if I eat sugar sweetened branflakes, skim milk, and bananas for breakfast, I'll get an earth-shattering hypo. But it's not that the branflakes/bananas themselves are a problem, it's more that my body's sugar metabolism is FUBAR and I need to eat lower carb to avoid the FUBARness of my metabolism. This is probably the same thing with kidney stones. Foods that increase acid pH of urine might trigger this problem, and cause the unpleasantness of stones... even if the pH of urine is normal, it's relatively acidic enough to cause stones for susceptable people.

[dina1957]

Foods that increase acid pH of urine might trigger this problem, and cause the unpleasantness of stones... even if the pH of urine is normal, it's relatively acidic enough to cause stones for susceptable people.
Woo,
it depends what kind of stones one has, like calcium oxalate stones (most common) thrive in more alkaline urine, so lowering urine pH helps to prevent new from forming. But stones made from uric acid love acidic environment.
I think the most acidic food are those with high carb and sugar content, the worst being soft drinks and colas that are loaded with sugar and phosphoric acid. Too much protein can result in uric acid stones in suseptable individuals or make existing condition worst.
It's more than just eating acidic/alcaline food, some food that taste acidic (like lemon) is actually alkaline but banans are highly acidic. I can only tell that banans especially combined with cereal and /or oatmeal give me inbearable heartburn while lemons are fine.

[DietSka]

Lemons are acidic.
The lemon, Citrus × limon, is a citrus tree, a hybrid of cultivated origin. The fruit are cultivated primarily for their juice, though the pulp and rind (zest) are also used, primarily in cooking or mixing. Lemon juice is about 5% citric acid, which gives lemons a sour taste. Its pH is 2.3, so because of their acidity, lemon juice is commonly in chemistry experiments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon
Bananas probably give you heartburn for the same reason any carb-laden food gives me heartburn and for the same reason heartburn vanishes on LC: it's the carbs.

[drjanni]

Hi Guys,

In order to determine if a person is in acidosis or alkalosis, health professionals with draw an ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) This lets them know a few things: Percent of oxygen, percent of carbon dioxide. We also want to know what the pH is and the bicarb level. There are different types of acidosis and alkalosis (metabolic and respiratory). If you are in metabolic acidosis (let's say that your bicarb level is low), your body will compensate and cause your to hypervenilate to blow of excess CO2 and increase pH. pH, by the way, stands for powers of Hydrogen. It's a measurement of hydrogen.

Blood pH is maintained within a very narrow margin. The body will compensate for altered metabolic conditions by changing respirations. In turn, your metabolism can be altered in response to respiratory malfunctions (COPD, asthma, CO2 retainer). Cells cannot live, divide, and function properly if the blood pH is altered. You need to take into account that electrolytes play a key role in body functions. Levels of Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Magnesium, and Calcium influence every body system. Normal cardiac function cannot be maintained if Sodium and Potassium levels are not what they should be. Calcium also plays a huge role in blood pressure regulation. We all know that Sodium is lost through our renal system (ie we pee it out). Potassium follows Sodium. Many of the medications people take to control edema and high blood pressure alter electrolyte levels. Electrolyte levels and blood pH go hand in hand, interconnected.

So, if our water loss during induction causes us to pee out Sodium (and therefore also Potassium), we might experience some side effects. Muscle cramps might be one of them. Of course, many of the foods now available to us such as nuts, bacon, sausage, etc are high in sodium and potassium.

My point is this: Our bodies are very complex systems that *somehow* work to make us live. We have fail-safes and redundant "back up" systems internally in place. (for example, the conduction system of the heart has at least 2 "back-ups" by which electrical pulses can be sent if our primary AV node fails to conduct a pulse) Cutting out carbs on induction probably isn't going to have any poor effects on an otherwise healthy individual, even if we end up losing electrolytes initially.

Just my two cents (keep the change)