HV, I know you have talked about it, but I am really confused. I have heard different people talk about blood pH range from 6.3 to 7.38! What is really true? All these people I am referring to, are supposedly very knowledgeable and reputed to be good healers!

Blood pH depends on the source of the blood. Arterial blood has a normal pH value of 7.35-7.45. Venous blood has a normal pH value of 7.32-7.42.

Another question. How long does red meat remain in the stomach?

I think the  reason there is so much confusion around this topic is because there is no easy answer. Digestion of proteins requires sufficient stomach acid to allow the protein digestive enzyme pepsin to work. A certain acidic pH also has to be obtained for the stomach to empty properly. The problem is that not everyone produces enough stomach acid for the proper digestion of proteins. Stomach acid tends to decline as we age. After the age of 40 most people are becoming stomach acid deficient. Nutritional deficiencies, especially B vitamins and zinc, also decrease stomach acidity. To top this off low stomach acid leads to acid reflux, which has led to the sales of antacids and acid blockers becoming the largest selling drug class. These drugs further aggravate the problem though as the nutrients needed for stomach acid formation require sufficient stomach acid for absorption. Alcohol and drug use can also decrease many of these nutrients needed for proper stomach acid formation. The lack of stomach acid among other problems leads to incomplete and slower digestion.

A second factor is how well the meat is chewed up. The more it is chewed up the more surface area it has and the better and quicker the digestion. The amount consumed will also play a role.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the breakdown in the stomach is only part of the digestion process. Again chewing is part of the breakdown as well as the rest of the digestive breakdown in the intestines. So your question of how long it takes to leave the stomach? The answer is an average of 2 to 4 hours. How long does it take for the meat to completely digest is something else though. Estimates are 1 to 3 days for meat to completely digest.

What about carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates empty out of the stomach faster than proteins. Although this is not a simple to answer question. Carbohydrates cover everything from simple sugars to cellulose. Simple sugars are rapidly absorbed, and can be completely absorbed within 5 to 10 minutes. Complex carbohydrates such as starch can take an hour to hour and a half to empty out of the stomach. Cellulose is not really digested by the body. Instead some of the cellulose we ingest is broken down through fermentation by our intestinal flora as a food source. This is why I recommend rice bran or oat bran as food sources (prebiotics) for the intestinal flora.

Some medical authorities say that red meat remains in the stomach for 8 hours! Isn't that a very long time? People eat after 4 to 5 hours. And that says that stomach remains very acidic all the time! Sounds like that would be a great strain for the lining of the stomach. Also, how long does it take for the total digestion?

Both answered above.

I have been trying to learn about Conventional medicine's theories about causes of diseases.Reading books and Internet references have left me confused. All I see are circular arguments with no understanding re. causes for most of the illnesses. Can you shed some light on this question.

There is no clear answer here either. Most diseases have microbial origins. Some can also be caused by glandular disorders that can affect a number of things such as immunity. Environmental exposure to toxins or radiation can also play a role. Still there are other things such as chronic inflammation, high homocysteine, nutritional deficiencies or excess levels of certain nutrients, etc. It could be a combination of these such as autoimmune disorders that involve microbial infections and adrenal insufficiency.

This is why I get so upset when sites try to claim that there is one cause of all diseases such as parasites cause all diseases, mercury is the cause of all disease, Candida is the cause of all disease, emotions are the cause of all disease, and the worse myth of all that drives a massive market the acidity causes all disease myth.