Alkalize your body
Most people think that having acid in their system simply means that they have got and upset stomach or at worst acid reflux. You might have heard that someone is “acidic” before but didn't really know what it meant. Well, there is good and bad acidity in our body. We need certain acids to digest our foods and absorb nutrients but when we have an excess of acids build up, pain & inflammation start occuring and our health declines. By simply reducing acid levels in the body many health problems improve dramatically and in some cases totally clear up.
No doubt you've heard of the increasing popular raw food and whole food diets. Why are people so interested in eating raw foods or whole food? One reason is that eating these types of foods reduces the risk of acid accumulation in you body. Raw and whole foods are usually digested more efficiently than cooked and refined foods. When we cook foods, we destroy the natural enzymes that are part of the food in its raw form. The enzymes are intended by nature to help us digest the food. When we consume food without these natural enzymes, our bodies either digest the food improperly or allow an excessive amount of nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
The negative health conditions associated with acidification are numerous. To effectively deal with the illnesses and symptoms that are brought about by acidification and return the body to an overall state of good health, it's very important to address the root of the problem.
Common health issues associated with acidity are: Arthritis, gout, cystitis, depression, migraines, headaches, insomnia, asthma, hay fever, swelling (edema), food allergies, hyperactivity, acne, constipation, fibromyalgia, PMS, diarrhea, sinusitis, weight gain etc.
How do I know if I am acidic?
The best way to tell if you are acidic is to do a urinary or saliva pH test. You can purchase pH test strips at good health food stores. Ideally, your pH should be around 7. It is best to test your second morning urine or your saliva 2 hours after eating.
How do I alkalize my body?
- Hydrate your body with alkaline water. You can purchase alkaline water in some health food stores or add alkalizing sachets/powder to your drinking water to make it alkaline.
- Reduce acid-forming foods. Alcohol, coffee, tea & soft drinks are all very acidid and need to be eliminated in order to achieve an alkaline pH. Grains are also very acidic so make sure you keep bread, pasta and other grain-containing foods to a minimum.
- Sprouting. Sprouts have the greatest nutrient activity of all raw foods. Raw foods are very nutritious as they contain lots of valuable enzymes, minerals & vitamins and help alkalize the body. Broccoli is considered the new wonder sprout due to the sulforaphane contained therein, which has been proven to enhance cancer-fighting enzymes. You can even juice your sprouts, if you don't like eating them.
- Juicing. Vegetable juices are an easy way to alkalize your body and supply it with lots of nutrients and enzymes. Each of us need raw foods every day, and juicing is an excellent way to make certain you receive large quantities of such raw foods. Make sure you purchase a good, cold press juicer as the high-speed centrifugal juicers destroy some of the valuable enzymes & nutrients.
Recommended products:
- Auto sprouter: grow your own sprouts at home, it's inexpensive & easy to grow.
- Compact Juicer: a cold press juicer, which retains more vitamins, minerals & enzymes.