Restore Health and Prevent Disease with High Alkaline Foods

Have you ever wondered if there is a hidden cause linking many of today's diseases? Many doctors, herbalists and nutritionists will tell you the underlying cause is acid alkaline imbalance. Many times I have heard it said that alkaline foods will make you healthy but acidic foods will make you sick. However, this isn't the case. In their proper balance, acidic foods are healthy and needed by the body. However, when a diet is high in acidic food and low in alkaline food a pH imbalance develops which leads to various health conditions and diseases. This condition is known as acidosis.

Acidosis is very common in our society because the typical american diet is much too high in acid producing foods like meat, eggs, and dairy and much too low in alkaline foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables. North Americans consume large amounts of white sugar and flour products and drink large amounts of acid forming beverages such as tea, coffee and soft drinks. Other commonly used substances that are acid forming are over the counter and prescription drugs, chemical sweeteners, such as Sweet N Low, aspartame and Nutrisweet.

When the body becomes too acidic, it responds by using stored alkaline to restore pH balance. This ends up depleting the alkaline reserves and leaves the body in a vulnerable state, making it susceptable to sickness and disease.

The Importance of pH balance

pH measures the alkalinity or acidity of a solution. Using a scale between 1-14, a pH less than 7 means more acidic and a pH greater than 7 means more basic. A pH of 7 is neutral. The body is constantly trying to achieve balance among the fluids in the body.

Use pH strips to test your bodies alkalinity or acidity

You can take a test with pH strips to find out if your pH is out of balance. This is something you can do at home. If you see a change in your pH, between 6 to 6.5 when you test in the morning and 6.5 to 7 when you test in the evening you have a healthy pH balance. Your saliva needs to be between 6.5 and 7.5 all day to be within the healthy range. For best results test your pH two hours before meals and one hour after meals a couple times a week.

When the body is in an acidic state it is forced to borrow minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from vital organs and bones to neutralize the acids and remove them from the body. This strain can cause damage to the body that is undetected for several years.

Conditions associated with mild acidosis

Bladder conditions and kidney stones

Hormone problems

Premature aging

Slow digestion and elimination

Chronic fatique and low energy

Diabetes

Weight Gain

Cardiovascular damage

Weakened immune System

Osteoporosis

An increase in free radical damage

To restore the body to balance choose a diet consisting of 80% alkaline foods including: most fresh fruits,  fresh green vegetables, beans, lentils, peas, spices, herbs, nuts and seeds and 20% acid foods including: meat, poultry, eggs, fish, grains, and legumes. Once the proper pH is established, alter your diet to consist of 60% alkaline foods and 40% acid foods.

Our bodies need both acid foods and alkaline foods. If there is an imbalance serious health problems will develop. In our society, where acidity is the major concern, alkaline foods are the key to achieve and maintain balance for optimum health.