The Acid/Alkaline Balance of our Bodies
Something most of us never think about is the acid/alkaline balance of our bodies. This is due partly to the fact that it is rarely talked about. Until you do a little simple research on the topic you may have no idea of the huge role it is playing in your health and well being. An acid/alkaline imbalance is known to be a factor in many diseases, infections, and disorders including but definitely not limited to cardiovascular problems, auto immune diseases, irritability/ depression, diabetes, many cancers, premature aging, kidney stones, pains/inflammation, and an overall weakening of the immune system hampering your body's ability to protect itself from any on setting illness.
We are alkaline beings and in order to attain optimal health we should be eating a diet that is 70-80% alkaline and only 20-30% acidic, then to maintain that good health a ratio of 60% alkaline and 40% acidic is recommended. It is important to note here that not all foods that you might think are highly acidic actually are, for example, lemons and limes are a part of the very short list of great alkaline fruits. A food can start out acidic but once processed by the body it will actually have an alkalinizing effect and this is what is important, not the ph of the food itself. Seem confusing? You can find plenty of lists breaking down the ph levels of foods and I will include below some of my personal favorites. Believe it or not reducing stress and correcting our breathing are also good ways to nurture a more balanced ph level. Bottom line, if we are not helping our bodies maintain this alkaline state then the body is forced to extract it from our cells, thus making the cells acidic and diseased.
I came to learn of this delicate balance because I was having reoccurring infections. I did not understand why, in a matter of a couple years, I fell ill with strep throat numerous times. I always followed the doctor's orders which usually included taking an antibiotic. This is how a vicious cycle was set into place until I finally started doing some research of my own. Holistic healing is a way of getting to the root of the problem rather than relying on these quick fixes prescribed by the doctor. You may be surprised at some unforeseen benefits. I am happy to report that I have not only been strep free since making some of these changes but my acne has significantly cleared up and more importantly I am now completely off of the steroid, Prednisone, that was prescribed to control an autoimmune disorder that I suffered from called autoimmune progesterone dermatitis. Many of you will be understandably reluctant because we have come to put so much trust in doctors and you should in some aspects, but what we have to understand is that these holistic methods are not as popular with medical professionals only because they are in no way profitable to them or to pharmaceutical companies. One of the best parts is eating right does not come with a scary list of side effects like most medications do!
This is only meant to start the thought process and hopefully some conversation on the topic. It would of course be impossible to include all of the facts pertaining to this subject in this one article so I would encourage you to do more research of your own.
Here is my list of alkaline, neutral, or only mildly acidic foods that I myself enjoy.....
Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Bell Peppers, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cayenne, Celery, Cheeses, Cherries, Chili Pepper, Chives, Coconut, Cucumbers, Dill, Eggplant, Fresh Green Beans, Garlic, Ginger, Grapes, Lemons, Leafy Green Herbs, Limes, Nectarines, Okra, Olive Oil, Onions, Oranges, Peaches, Peas, Pears, Pineapple, Plain Yogurt, Potatoes, Raisins, Raspberries, Romaine Lettuce, Soybeans, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Water Chestnuts, Watermelon
General rule of thumb.... Grains, eggs, poultry, meat, and fish tend to be acid forming. There are of course some obvious nutritional benefits to incorporating these foods in your diet, just in moderation.
Artificial sweeteners, beer, black tea, cake, carbonated soft drinks, cigarettes, coffee, liquor, pastries, and wine are popular vices many of us have come to know and love but unfortunately they are all very highly acidic. I am not suggesting you completely cut out all of these, as I definitely have not, but maybe at least consider cutting back.
