Acid vs Alkaline-how do we balance our bodies for optimum health?

Almost all foods that we eat, after being digested, absorbed, and metabolized, release either an acid or an alkaline base into blood. How do we balance our bodies for optimum health?

Our bodies are healthiest at a slightly alkaline state. Unfortunately, grains, fish, meat, poultry, shellfish, cheese, milk, and salt all produce an acid environment in our bloodstream. Many North Americans eat an overabundance of  these foods which  causes our bodies to become overly acidic, which, in turn  strips it of minerals. .

Processed foods that contain sugar and starches actually compound the acidity of the typical North American diet. Most acidic foods are also generally lacking in fiber, which helps control blood sugar and improves our digestion. The good bacteria in our digestive system needs fiber to function-13 kinds of soluble and insoluble fiber. Without them, not only does the digestive system suffer, but our immune system suffers as well.

 

Over a life time, if we do not balance the acid producing foods with foods that are alkaline(vegetables and fruits, primarily) we become prone to osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and a host of other skin & health problems that cause the body to age faster than it needs to. Our optimum health and longevity have everything to do with the bodies acid-alkalinity.

 

So, what can we do to reduce the impact of an acidic diet?

An easy solution is to reduce the serving sizes of the more acidic foods, and increase the amount of greens and other alkaline veggies during a meal. This has a double bonus as, at the same time as we reduce the acid produced in the body we will also reduce the total number of calories

Here are a few tips that can help you add more alkaline foods to your diet –

• Start the day with a glass of warm water with squeezed lemon .
• Have a big salad at least once a day using green leafy vegetables (especially collard or mustard greens, endive and kale) and add sprouts, broccoli, parsley, asparagus and peppers. Grind black pepper on everything savory.
• Squeeze lemon or lime juice on fish, salads or in your water.
• Munch on sunflower & pumpkin seeds or add them to salads. Use sea salt (Celtic, French or Himalayan preferred) rather than regular table salt.
•  Use Apple cider vinegar rather than Balsamic vinegar.
•  Drink herbal tea instead of coffee. At the least it is helpful to limit your coffee to a cup a day only
• Learn to like  radishes.
• The most alkaline fruits are cantaloupe, tangerines, mandarins and assorted berries.
•  Let vegetable juices be your summer thirst quencher.
• A great snack idea is  celery filled with almond butter.
• Spread half of an avocado on toast, instead of butter or margarine. Avocado is also a wonderful essential fatty acidAdding green leafy vegetables and the foods mentioned above can make a major difference in the balance of things and protect the bones, joints, muscles, heart, brain, liver and kidneys. Alkaline bodies are also much more resistant to infection and cancer.
• A green smoothie drink makes a wonderful breakfast or snack. Watch for some super food recipes in the coming newsletters
• Take pharmaceutical grade Calcium/Magnesium tablets with breakfast and dinner. The average person needs 800 mg of Calcium and 400 mg daily. Over 45 we need almost double that in our diet (1200-1500mg/day)