How An Alkaline Diet Can Improve Health

ACID ALKALINE BALANCE

During the last 35 years that I have been practicing as a Naturopath I have noticed that people are becoming more acidic. Having spoken to other practitioners who were treating people 30 years ago, they agree with me. I personally remember having to treat people who were too alkaline, however it has been many years since I have needed to do this. I am not necessarily talking about a severe over acid condition like acidosis which is a more serious condition. Even if the body is a little acidic it can cause various health problems. The main reason being over acidic is harmful is because over acidity creates inflammation, and inflammation can cause damage to the body that can create illness. Inflammation is involved in every illness from common infections to more serious conditions. Virus and bacteria love an over acid condition and also contribute to acidity!

THERE ARE TWO MAIN LIFESTYLE REASONS WHY PEOPLE HAVE BECOME MORE ACIDIC

The first is chronic stress. Over the past 30 years the pace of life has increased dramatically. Our bodies were not meant to deal with this type of stress, and when under stress the body produces acids as a natural response. In particular, the adrenal glands secrete the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. These hormonal secretions lead to an accelerated metabolic state which creates acids as a by-product. The second is the food we eat. Balance plays an important factor, especially when it comes to our body’s pH levels. pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is, and our blood pH needs to maintain a slightly alkaline level to keep us healthy. We help our bodies to maintain this pH balance by eating more alkaline-forming foods and fewer acid-forming foods. Alkaline-forming foods include most fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds and herbal teas. Acid-forming foods include most grains, beans, meats, dairy products, fish, fast foods and processed foods. DON’T MAKE YOUR BODY WORK HARD TO MAINTAIN ITS pH BALANCE

When we eat acid-forming foods, our body brings our blood pH back into balance by releasing alkaline-rich minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium into our bloodstream. If we are eating enough alkaline-forming foods each day, then our body has easy access to these minerals from our diet. If we are not eating enough alkaline-forming foods, then our body has to pull these important minerals from our bones, teeth and organs. This can compromise our immune system, cause fatigue and make us vulnerable to virus and disease.

A BALANCED DIET

It is advised to eat a diet of 60-80% alkaline-forming foods and 20-40% acid-forming foods.

For the acid-forming foods, skip junk food and processed foods. Instead choose healthier options like beans, grains and other fresh foods. Pesticides tend to be acid-forming, so choose organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

WATER

Unfortunately our tap water is usually acidic because of the chemicals they add to the water and the lack of alkaline reacting minerals. I have tested the tap water myself and have also had it electronically tested and it shows as 6.5, which is acidic. This is y