The Health Benefits of an Alkaline Diet

alkaline diet

The Alkaline Acid Diet for Improved Health

The alkaline acid diet is really starting to become popular due to the health benefits it can provide. Our typical acidic diet can have our system in a funk and the alkaline acid diet can help balance out our overall pH! Our expert drops by to tell us all about the alkaline acid diet!

Need a change? Try the alkaline acid diet

Many people live an acidic lifestyle, we drink our Starbucks, puff on electronic cigarettes, and chow down on heavily processed foods. Eventually, our bodies become a toxic warehouse, with a run-down liver and a dysfunctional digestive system.

Take this inflammation, add stress, depression, a toxic environment, and this formula equates to poor health. Fueling your body with alkaline-based foods will even you out in these terms and help equal you out to a neutral 7.5.

Just like chemistry class, a pH value is associated with your health, and keeping a neutral pH will beat inflammation, give you more energy, and have you looking and feeling your best!

Take it from me, I had a digestive system that was ruined, I had to start from the beginning, build up my stomach acid and bacteria again and I was able to do so with an alkaline-based diet given to me by my Acupuncturist.

Before this, I had leaky gut syndrome, intolerance to many foods including cruciferous vegetables, imbalanced hormones, and aches and pains all throughout my body.

My diet although quite boring and “healthy” tasting consisted of green juices, soups, and purees to force my body into a more alkalized state.

alkaline acid dietFor me living the “green” life was worth it because I knew that in the end my body would be functioning in its prime and I would reap the benefits, I did not have an emotional breakdown because I could not have chocolate for a few weeks or even meat for that matter, I did what was right for my body and it was worth it.

I wanted to write an article and share with you a few ways to incorporate more “green” into your life and why you should do it!

Take care of and love your body

One might wonder how you can test your body’s acidity level? Our bodies have a mechanism that allows them to balance it out and keep it neutral but if your body is constantly being forced to ask the cells to do this it becomes taxing on the body.

So how do you know if your body is acidic?

For me, I can smell it in my urine (GROSS) but true. I know when my body is acidic because my urine smells how do you say “acidy” and your urine will be a very dark color.

This works for me, but the true way to test your levels is through a urine test or saliva test, these can be done with a naturopath or purchasing a kit at a pharmacy or online.

Your blood pH level should be slightly alkaline (balance is key), at a 7.35-7.45, slightly below or above this range means you could experience symptoms of disease and illness.

A pH of 7.0 is neutral, below 7.0 is acidic and above 7.0 is alkaline.

Maintain the balance…

alkaline acid diet greensWhen you eat a diet full of acidic foods the body has to steal minerals back, force your organs to turn on overdrive, and depletes the healthy function of your vital organs (liver, kidney). Once the body’s mineral stores are depleted the body has to rob the alkaline minerals from wherever it can from the body to maintain a healthy pH in the blood.

This is usually “stolen” from the bones and vital organs which by this point taxes out your organs leaves them weak to perform other tasks such as digestion.

Not only does this affect your digestive tract but can also trouble your muscles and bones leaving the body in a stressed state.

We all know what stress does to the body and having a diseased and ill-functioning body leads to premature aging, aching joints, and low recovery from workouts.

Health problems that result from high acidity:

  • Mind-Blowing Acceleration of free radical damage
  • Bladder and kidney becomes overworked so many complications
  • Cardiovascular weakness
  • Unhealthy immune system
  • Joint pain from acid buildup
  • Energy is at an all-time low
  • Osteoporosis: Hip Fractures + Brittle Bones
  • Weight Gain

Diet is the primary cause of acid-alkaline imbalance in the body.

When you eat acid-forming food, toxins are released that your body must deal with during the digestion and elimination phase. Acidic foods (processed foods, alcohol, drugs, etc.) have a negative impact on the pH balance within the body and are often not of any use to your body.

A highly acidic body premature aging through cell degeneration. Most of us live in a state of illness, which is often disguised by shots of espresso and sugar to keep us moving.

What To Do

Whenever I am starting to feel overworked, my urine is dark, I am tired and my muscles become sore for longer periods of time I will eat more alkaline-based foods to balance out my body.

I will add greens to every meal, drop by Sunshine Market, and pick up some spirulina to add to my protein shake and cut back on the meat a bit. To put your body back into balance is simple, just add more greens to your meals, eat a few vegetarian meals, and add foods like sunflower sprouts and mushrooms to any stir-fried noodles recipe.

alkaline acid diet sproutsEating an alkaline acid diet for a few days affects all of my bodily fluids which include urine, saliva, and my venous blood.

When your body is acidic your kidneys have to work hard to maintain homeostasis within the body by excreting acid or alkaline urine so giving these vital organs a break by drinking lots of alkalized water, eating lightly steamed veggies, and tons of green juices.

You may consider cutting down on the vinegar and using organic apple cider vinegar and fresh herbs to flavor your salads and meals.

Overall, the basic general rule of thumb is to eat foods from both sides of the chart with an emphasis on alkaline-forming foods so 70%-80% alkaline and 20-30% acid ash forming foods.

Below is a list of alkaline foods to start incorporating more into your alkaline acid diet.

Time to Eat…

Veggies

  • Garlic
  • Asparagus
  • Fermented Veggies (Kimchi, Pickles)
  • Watercress
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chlorella (ALGAE)
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Kale
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Peppers
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin
  • Spirulina (Algae)
  • Sprouts (Mung)

Fruits

  • Apples
  • Avocado
  • Bananas
  • Berries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Dates
  • Pomelo
  • Limes/Lemons
  • Oranges
  • Pears
  • Pineapple
  • Tomatoes
  • Tropical Fruits

Sweets/Spices

Asian Veggies

  • Maitake
  • Daikon
  • Dandelion Root
  • Shiitake
  • Reishi
  • Nori

Misc

  • Veggie Cold Press Juices
  • Coffee
  • Mineral Water
  • Green and Herbal Tea
  • Kombucha
  • Bee Pollen
  • Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Probiotic

Nuts

  • Almonds/Chestnuts
  • Coconut
  • Millet
  • Flax, Sesame Seeds

Quick Tips:

  • Eat so your stomach is 1/3 food, 1/3 water, and 1/3 air for quick digestibility.
  • Increase Soups and Stews
  • Steam veggies or chop your veggies very fine so you can digest easier and get the nutrients quicker
  • Organic food is best
  • Beans are good for your heart (cooked well and preferably not from cans high protein, low fat, and high fiber)
  • Oats or porridge for breakfast or late at night (calms the nervous system and is very nourishing)
  • alkaline acid diet almondsNuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, seeds are the best) one handful max per day
  • Eat lots of Sea Vegetables or take Algae Supplements: Spirulina, Chlorella, Blue-Green Algae (I add to smoothies)
  • Raw apple cider, lemon, or lime are great to make salad dressings and flavor foods
  • Oil in salads raw: Flax oil, olive oil, coconut (making your own dressing or using something like shown above)
  • Cooking Oil’s: Organic Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Rice Bran Oil
  • Chew your food 30-70 times before swallowing (CHEW for better digestion)
  • Get more info on alkaline herbs and spices

Skip

  • Bread, pasta’s and all flour baked products: like cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, bread, pasta
  • Milk, cheese, and dairy products (goat dairy only if needed) (mucus FORMING)
  • Distilled vinegar (white) aka pickled food
  • Heavily Fried foods: French Fries, Fried Chicken
  • Stimulants: Cigarettes, Coffee (black ok), Booze
  • Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners (Sweet n Low, Splenda)
  • Sodas, Crystal Light, Fake Artificial Waters (Vitamin Water, etc.)

Wrap-Up

Now that you have some general information on the Alkaline Acid diet, what are you personally going to change in your diet?

Is there any way you can start adding more fresh vegetables to each and every one of your meals?

Staying svelte isn’t about starving, smoking and non-stop cardio. Those are lessons motivational coach and personal trainer Courtney Bentley learned the hard way. Now she’s out to prove that every woman can be a shining star and stay healthy. She is certified through NASM as a Personal Trainer, Sport Nutrition through Precision Nutrition and shares her knowledge through speaking engagements all over the world. Check out her website at http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com to learn more about her.
Courtney Bentley
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