Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved and Beautiful Sisters of the Asiatic Black Nation of the Tribe of Shabazz!
Dear Sisters, my son, Hakim is studying Chemistry and in his lessons today, he learned about acids and bases. The text mentioned pH, but it did not go into the details of what pH means.
Now, I’m sure we have all heard the term “pH” or “pH balanced” all our lives, right? I know I have. But I never knew what pH and pH balanced meant.
So, I just asked Google. I cannot express how much delight I feel due to the technology of today. We can ask Google anything! And I ask it any and everything I can think of. We have no excuse to ever not know anything anymore!!
But I digress, pH is an abbreviation for “potential Hydrogen” and it is a measure of a substance’s acidity or basicity. When an acid is added to water, hydrogen ions are released and combine with the hydrogen atoms in the water to form H3O+ or the hydronium ion. When a base is added to water, it forms OH- or the hydroxide ion.
The pH of a solution is a measure of the hydronium ion concentration in the solution. The scale ranges from 0-14, with 7 being neutral. If a substance has a pH above 7 it is a base and a pH below 7 is an acid. Water has a pH level of 7 which means it is Neutral.
Acids have a sour flavor, react with metals and conduct electricity. Lemons, limes and other citric fruits have citric acid. Ascetic acid is the main ingredient in vinegar. The citric acid in Lemons has a pH of roughly 2.2.
Bases have a bitter flavor and a slippery feel. They are often used for cleaning or removing dirt and odors. Sodium hydroxide (lye) is the main ingredient in soap. Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) is well-known for its odor-removing capability. The pH of sodium hydroxide (lye) is 14.
But this still does not tell me what pH balanced means?
pH balanced is when the levels of acidity and basicity in a substance neutralize each other leaving the substance with a neutral pH of 7 – like water.
There has been a trend for the past few years, encouraging people to eat more alkaline or “basic” foods because most people have an unbalanced pH that leans more toward the acidic. This is due to the fact that most people eat acidic foods, like meat and potatoes and soda. Most fruits and vegetables are alkaline. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad (PBUH) in his book How To Eat To Live, taught us that we should be vegetarians and eat only beans, certain types of fish, vegetables, fruits, whole-wheat bread, milk and butter. This will help maintain the pH balance in our digestive system.
Most health advocates say our pH should be slightly alkaline, probably to encourage people to stop eating so many acidic foods. While doctors, say “normal” is slightly acidic, probably because most people are slightly acidic. However, common sense tells you it should be 7 – NEUTRAL – Like water. Ideally, we should eat a balanced amount of acids and bases so that they neutralize each other, leaving us with a digestive pH of 7 – BALANCED.
I have yet to see a scientist or health advocate just come out and say this. But, you can test your urinary pH by using litmus paper which can be found at health food stores, so I’ve heard. I’m sure you remember using litmus paper when conducting experiments in school. It turns red for acids and blue for bases.
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While the urinary pH is a measure of the balance of acids and bases in our digestive system, other areas of our bodies naturally have different pH levels. Our blood, for example, has an alkaline pH of 8, while the digestive juices in our stomachs have an acidic pH of 2.
We women, however, have a unique situation in that we have a very special area of our body that requires extra-special attention and tender loving care to maintain its acidic pH.
Our vagina is the conduit through which we bring new life to our Nation. It is the physical connection allowing us to become one with our husband. Sisters, it is crucial to maintain a healthy and productive vagina. A healthy vagina is naturally acidic with a pH of 3.5 to 4.5 and contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria that help fend off infections and maintain a normal pH level.
Whenever we suffer from vaginal discomfort it is due to an imbalance in this very delicate and perfect part of our reproductive physiology. When the balance is disrupted, it can cause odor and discomfort. Accordingly, it is very important to maintain a healthy pH to reduce your risk of vaginal issues.
So, how do you maintain a healthy pH? The best way is knowing and preventing the factors that lead to an imbalance in its normal low acidic pH. Unfortunately, the main things that cause the pH to go up are the ordinary everyday things associated with it.
Semen has a pH of 8, which is a big jump from the 3.5 pH of the vagina. However, most of the pH issues that arise due to semen are as a result of sexual deviancy. So, this shouldn’t really be a problem for the Blackwoman because we are righteous by nature. However, if for some reason you do experience a condition termed Bacterial Vaginosis (where the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria), there are medications you can take to restore the balance.
As I mentioned earlier, blood has a pH of 8. So, during menstruation, you want to make sure you change your pad frequently. I change mine five times a day when I make wudu (ablution) before Hakim makes prayer. NEVER EVER USE TAMPONS. This is bad for your health and prevents the blood from leaving your body causing the vaginal pH to rise.
Soaps are made from Sodium hydroxide (lye), a base, and if overused can raise the pH of the vagina. Use soap sparingly. NEVER USE DOUCHES. Douching can interfere with the vagina’s pH levels, reducing its acidity and setting the stage for bacterial infections. If your vagina has a strong or unpleasant odor, see your doctor; a douche will only mask the smell without curing the underlying problem that’s causing it.
So Sisters, I hope I didn’t make you too uncomfortable reading this. But we members of The Nation of Islam, The Black Nation, are Scientists and it is important that we know and understand ALL of the Sciences in Life and sometimes they can be pretty uncomfortable. But knowing is always better than guessing. Educate yourself in all matters relating to your body, your home, your planet and your universe, so that you can better inform your children and also share your own wisdom with your Sisters and Brothers.