3 killer recipes to alkalise your body
Heard of the alkalising diet? It’s not really a diet…it’s a way of eating. It entails leaning towards foods that help to alkalise your body. I like to lean. As opposed to doing a violent about-face with my eating. Essentially, diseases – like cancer and AI – can’t exist in a fully alkalised system. The closer you can get to this utopic state, the better you’ll be. Simple.
Alkaline Sisters' kale salad, recipe below
I’ve done this before, when I was 21. I had Grave’s disease at the time. After three months of eating acid-free (nothing from a can, no deadly night shades – mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes – etc), I was fixed. Seriously. I avoided radioactive iodine treatment, put on weight again and got on with my life.
This post has been updated:
Where does this sit with my eating today? And where does it fit with Paleo eating? As per my post last week, my take on Paleo eating is this: I eat a stack of vegetables – mostly greens – dairy in moderation, and eggs and meat in moderation as well. This still fits with an alkaline mentality, but is not strictly an alkaline diet. But I don’t stick to any diet, I choose my own way. The main thing I take from the alkaline diet is lots of vegetables, especially green ones, no sugar, no processed foods, no trans fats. Which is also Paleo in it’s thinking.
I thought I’d get The Alkaline Sisters to share a bit of a 101 and some recipes. Jo grilled Julie recently:
Why should we be alkalising our bodies?
Alkalizing or ‘balancing the pH of your body’ will provide your body with a level of nutrition that it can use to maintain optimal health.
it is vital for our survival to maintain a blood pH of 7.365
There are other varying pH levels within our body that also need to be maintained, but have greater fluctuation, like our urine. They reflect quite directly the food we consume. A poor diet is very taxing on your body as it has to constantly maintain homeostasis, which it undergoes at all times, struggling to obtain alkalizing nutrients from organs and bones thus depleting their necessary stores.
What does too much acid do to our bodies?
A prolonged acidic diet will eventually make small incremental changes to our blood, making it more acidic. Even the smallest variation in our blood = big problems. An overly acidic body provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria & disease.
bacteria & disease, especially cancer cells, cannot thrive in an alkaline body
Immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis – which is an acid build up in the joints, an imbalance of the pH of the blood – can be relieved if not resolved.
How to eat alkaline – in a nutshell?
Enjoy lots of alkaline foods and minimize acidic ones.
80% alkaline, 20% acidic foods each day is ideal
unless you already suffer from disease, then one needs to super alkalize until you resolve the issue. Our bodies were designed to heal themselves, but can only do so when they are provided with wholesome nutrients that will nuture this process.
Is it more than just food?
Those of us who eat incredibly healthy may still lead very stressful lives, which constantly leaves our bodies in a fight or flight mode of stress. This hormonal response was designed for us to deal with sudden short occasions of stress as in our ancestors when they encountered dangerour situtations ie a bear or a tiger to tackle or run from. This fear also causes our bodies to secrete acidic fluids that then need to be balanced. Getting a handle on your stress will make a huge difference to your health.
Activities like yoga, meditation, long walks, pampering baths, quiet reading and healthy relationships is the other half of the battle in maintaining a healthy body for a life of longevity, free of disease
What are your top five tips for alkalising?
- Veggies, veggies and more veggies! Veggies are whole foods minus the extreme sugars that feed disease, and are packed with the nutrients from the soil- that are meant to be transferred to our bodies via our crops. Choose organic to be sure that you get the maximum nutrients possible, as organics pack 25% more nutrients than conventionally grown produce. Enjoy a proportion of 80% veggies either raw, lightly cooked, blended and juiced and be sure to focus on lots of green chlorphyll rich veggies that convert to greater amounts of energy!
- Low sugar fruits. Lemons, limes, grapefruit, avocados, and berries are the most ideal fruits to consume. Sugar feeds disease, so moderation is necessary to maintain health. Enjoy other fruits as an occasional treat to minimize your intake, and avoid fruit juice altogether unless freshly pressed in small quantities on occasion.
- Consume only 20% each day of acidic foods. This should represent only whole unprocessed foods including plant and organic animal protein, whole grains (preferrably sprouted), nuts, seeds, and some fruit.
- Water, water, alkaline water. By increasing your water intake each and every day you will increase all body functions that all require water in some way. If this water is pure and alkalized it will optimize these functions. Flushing toxins is vitally important and without water we can’t eliminate these properly and they become lodged and cause problems. Shoot for 3-4 litres a day, one upon waking, two between meals and one in the evening. Adding lemon will increase the alkalinity, as will a little pinch of Himalayan sea salt, if you don’t have the means to get an alkaline filter which will filter & increase the pH of your water.
- Reduce your stress and erase negative thoughts. I have to work at this daily to maintain a healthy state.
What are the biggest things we should avoid?
- Sugar. One of the most acidic things to the body is sugar. It’s a poison that kills. All sugars, even those from fruit, are recognized as sugar by the body and an excess causes disease.
- Dairy. It is highly mucous causing although it is slightly alkaline in nature. In the rare case that one could acquire raw dairy one might argue it’s benefits, but realistically we shouldn’t be drinking the milk of other animals that is meant to nuture the lives of their offspring as we don’t have the enzymes to break it down properly after about the age of 2. [please note, this is Julie's opinion. I personally respond well to some dairy. I think it's an individual thing - Sarah]
- Stimulants like coffee, alcohol, sodas, chocolate, sugar – these should be avoided altogether for those in a disease state and used only on occasion otherwise. It takes 32 glasses of alkaline water to balance 1 can of pop, and 8 glasses for one glass of wine, so imagine how difficult it is for our bodies to correct the imbalance when you have these.
- Processed foods. Since the introduction of processed foods in the 1950′s disease rates have been climbing steadily especially the top two fatal ones like cancer & heart disease. As tempting as they may be packaged foods are mostly poison – filled with non-food and chemicals. Do your best to only shop the outside of the grocery store and minimize your purchases of packages. Your cart should be mostly filled with veggies and whole foods. In a restaurant setting do your best to include a salad and/or veggies in your choices.
- Living in a constant state of unhappiness & stress. Only you can change your life and choosing not to improve your situation is a recipe for disease.
You mentioned lemon juice in water – isn’t lemon acidic?
Many folks misunderstand the way alkaline food affects our bodies. On the outside or our body a lemon is acidic, but once consumed it leaves an alkaline ash which supports body functions within. Adding lemon to your water, warm or room temperature is an excellent way to alkalize your body.
How can we test our system to see how alkaline we are? And what are we aiming for?
It’s quite simple. A stip of yellow litmus paper (availble at most health stores) will react with your urine and show on a scale the degree of alkalinity in your body fluid. Testing your saliva is not nearly as acurate.
average pH of around 7.0-8.0 is a good place to be. Even higher is ideal for reversing disease.
Testing your urine at varying times of the day will yield varying results. After a night of rest your body has been busy detoxing thus your first pee of the day will reflect a greater level of acidity. The second one, before ingesting food, only water, will give you a more acurate picture. Mid afternoon is a good time to measure especially after a balanced meal. Be sure to take your pH for a few days and chart it and take a look at the fluctuation to see how you are doing depending on your diet. This is an indication of how your body is correcting your pH depending on your diet.
Anything else you think we should know?
1. With an alkaline lifestyle there is no portion control or calorie counting. Just by consuming a diet with a high proportion of veggies and a small balance of acidic foods you will see pounds melt away as you nourish your body with the food it is crying for. Conversely you will gain a couple of pounds if you are under weight as the body adjusts to it’s normal healthy weight.
2. The reason cholesterol levels soar in the body is to repair the severe damage caused to the arteries by acidic blood, which scours your arterial walls like a harsh scrub with steel wool. By simply following an alkaline diet cholesterol levels have been known to drop with in days and weeks.
3. Most diseases and inflammation are caused by an acidic body. They can be reversed by alkalizing the body, and will not occur in an alkaline body. Any nasal drip in an alkaline body is a natural oriface for detoxing and is a sign that your body is highly efficient in eliminating any toxins you may be exposed to or may have ingested. This is not a cold, it is the natural detox process.
4. If you’re wanting to read some more, check out some of these articles:
- Dr. Robert O. Young, author of The pH Miracle has a site jammed with info.
- Ross over at Energize for Life has a number of blog posts that will help you.
And a few (more complex) scientific studies:
Help preserve bone and muscle mass- More evidence to Prove Alkaline lifestyle
Alkaline Minerals Prevent Cancer Growth
Diet, evolution & Aging
Alkaline Minerals Critical to Prevention of CVD
Sodium Bicarbonate Improves Swimming Performance
3 killer alkaline recipes
Kale caesar salad
- 1 very large bunch of curly Kale
- 1 cup sunflower seeds (save a few for a garnish if desired)
- 1/3 cup almond nuts, raw
- 1/8 tsp chipotle powder or to you liking – it’s spicy
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 1/4 filtered water
- 1 1/2 tsp agave syrup (substitute to rice malt syrup if you’re sugar free)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Wash and pat dry kale leaves, removing center membrane just up to where it thins out, tearing kale leaf into bite size pieces. Place in a very large bowl. Measure remaining ingredients into blender and combine until creamy and smooth. Pour half the mixture over the kale leaves. Using two spoons or your hands, toss kale to coat, adding remaining mixture and ensuring that leaves are coated in folds and curls,working the mixture thru the leaves really well. Allow to stand for 10 minutes to tenderize the kale leaves. Plate the greens and sprinkle with sunflower seeds if desired.
Fennel, jicama and macadamia salad
This is a super pretty salad. For the recipe, click here.
Coriander and avocado soup
A great cooling lunch. For the recipe, click here.
Have you tried alkalising? Did you notice a difference in your health?
I started to eat more salads and green drinks after I took an alkaline test last year and found out I was a little off balance. I feel great now, I can’t believe i used to survive from eating so little greens before!
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Wow Sarah, I was just searching for information such as this on your site yesterday!! Amazing how the universe works!! Thanks so much for sharing…
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After reading the article, I feel having an Alkaline Test is what I need. I have two auto immune disorders (under active thyroid and Lupus). Do Dr’s do this test? I live in Singapore.
Thanks!
Jenny
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April 10th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Hi Jenny, you just need to pick up a roll of litmus paper for under 10.00 and pass it thru your stream of urine and then assess the colour that it turns with the colour chart that accompanies the paper. This will indicate the amount of acids your body is flushing out and how acidic your urine is. The more alkaline it is the better, as you are consuming better foods that don’t yield acidic ash in your body that then has to be dumped or buffered with your own alkaline resources, thus depleting your own stores.
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April 9th, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Do it Jenny!
I also have lupus and a friend suggested I go on the diet and now I feel fantastic! The rash on my face has faded, aches and pains gone and no more foggy brain or headaches. The changes occurred quite quickly and I have heaps more energy now.
Robyn
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What a load of crock! Now people will rush out and waste more money.
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I am confused, how does an alkaline diet fit in with Paleo eating?
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April 10th, 2012 at 10:23 am
I’m not sure about Paleo, but from what I can gather Weston Price was skeptical of the alkaline diet as he believed our bodies had a mechanism for maintaining proper acid alkali balance in the body ( http://www.westonaprice.org/basics/the-right-price scroll down to ‘The Acid-Alkaline theory’)
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April 10th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
exactly!
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April 10th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Essentially the body will at every expense maintain homeostasis by alkalizing the blood because if it doesn’t maintain a tight variable you will die. But to maintain it when only acidic food is coming in means it must pull alkalinity from your organs and bones where the alkaline minerals reside. Thus they deplete these organs & bones thus causing a disease state over time of being called upon. This is science. All you need to do is read some of the studies. I am in school and it is text book material! It’s nothing new, it’s been explored for decades. And it works…. perhaps give it shot, see how you feel!
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April 12th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Ok, a bit different to what I learnt at uni. I’m not looking for an argument or any more links/info, but can I ask what you studied?
Anyway, I’m glad you’ve found what works for you.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:31 am
I was wondering about this too. Especially since ionly eat seasonal Paleo. I won’t be eating kale unless they’re in season.
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April 10th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I am confused about the dairy being bad for us now. I thought Sarah said it was good..
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April 10th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Hi Kez, if you are eating paleo you are essentially eating a in good alkaline balance but with out the grains as long as your fruit intake isn’t too high. Paleo is similar if the vegetable intake for each meal is 70-80% of your plate with your protein as the balance.
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April 10th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Julie the Alkaline Sister, you didn’t answer Kez’s question. She raised confusion about dairy, based on what Sarah has previously advised. You talked about grains and protein but not calcium.
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April 11th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Thanks Julie the alkaline sister and thanks Josie for clarifying
April 11th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Ooops sorry, it was late:( The thing with dairy is that it is mucous forming, is acidic for the body and it constantly causes your body to draw alkalinity from the bones messing up your mineral sources especially calcium so ironically it’s doing the opposite of what most think it is. Where the most milk is consumed, the osteoporosis incidence is highest. This has to do with the acidic nature of milk and also over consumption of calcium that interferes with the proper functions of osteoclast and osteoblasts (special cells that bring and carry away calcium to/from the bone) this article below extensively explains osteoporosis & dairy consumption if you need further clarification.
http://www.4.waisays.com/ExcessiveCalcium.htm
Calcium is in most every vegetable, notably broccoli -one cup of cooked broccoli contains 74 mg of calcium, plus 123 mg of vitamin C, which significantly improves calcium’s absorption. Although this is less than milk by about 2/3rds, if you eat a variety of veggies thru the day along with legumes, nuts & seeds you will most certainly reach your daily calcium intake with healthy alkalizing foods. Hope this answers your question:) Sorry to have missed it.
April 11th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Top CALCIUM veggies:
Basil
Turnip
Thyme
Spinach Greens
Broccoli
Swiss Chard/Silverbeet
Romaine Lettuce
Kale
Celery
Cabbage
Green Beans
Asparagus
Brussels Sprouts
Garlic
where are they wasting money, Rubbish? On kale and lemons? Litmus paper is pretty darn cheap, so if that’s what bothers you…
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It sounds like paleo and an alkaline diet are compatible if you reduce the meat to a small, side portion, and eliminate dairy. What about eggs? Keep them to a minimum? These eating plans are all so confusing.
I don’t know about the science behind the alkaline theory. Like so much of these diet and lifestyle ideas, like paleo, it’s not a definitive, proven fact, just ideas. I don’t take anything as gospel these days when it comes to diet. Everyone who follows a certain plan or principle believes that their way is right, so it’s hard to wade through the rhetoric sometimes.
The common (and most important thing) factors in all of these eating principles seems to be to eat vegetables, avoid sugar. So for me, and I’m basically in good health to begin with, the best thing is to ignore the rules of the movement itself (like paleo, alkaline, whatever) and just eat more veggies, less junk. Simple.
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April 10th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Casey, you have it right. It’s much simpler than most think especially when they are first adjusting. Eggs are fine as long as they are organic and in moderation. And FYI the alkaline diet is scientific, not just a good idea. It’s how the body is designed and it is necessary to maintain a healthy alkalinity, and when you don’t, your body has to go to great lengths to do it for you since you didn’t give it the nutrients that it needed. Thus disease develops with an over taxed system. Your body balances it’s alkalinity at every given moment to keep you alive. We can make it’s job a whole lot easier and let our body focus on building a strong immunity to fight bacteria and viruses if you alkalize and if you encounter either of these you won’t provide the cess pool of acids that they require to thrive. Cancer cells can’t survive in an alkaline environment but they grow like crazy in acidic fluids. This has been proven time and again. Hope this helps clarify:)
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April 10th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Thanks for your response, Julie. That does sound more sensible. I’m just a natural skeptic! I’m interested to know more, especially about cancer cells and acidic environments, so I’ll look in to it a little more.
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The alkaline approach is pretty much the basis for Ayurvedic eating… and I have to say that, as someone who tests as a Pitta type and who has suffered since the age of 2 from really bad eczema (overheating in the body which manifests as inflammation), eating low-acidic foods really does work. I need to eat this way more in winter, than in summer, for some reason…
And there’s no reason to avoid meat – I LOVE meat and eat a lot of good-quality beef, chicken, turkey (as well as fish). Animal protein is one thing that has never spiked my allergies/eczema, so I refuse to cut it out of my diet. Eating alkaline is more about reducing stimulants such as cheap sugars, coffee, the deadly nightshade family, and red wine (dammit) – a ‘calm’ diet, in other words.
PS: There’s a great Australian cookbook available called ‘Warmth’, which offers loads of recipes along the alkaline/Ayurvedic line (from http://www.muditainstitute.com).
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April 10th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
hi amanda,
what’s the deadly nightshade family??!!
is that mushrooms or something?!
thanks for this post sarah, more helpful info, leans, links etc …
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April 10th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Hi Seeker, the deadly nightshades are: potato, eggplant, tomato, chilli and Capsicum. All are acid forming foods and should be eaten sparingly.
When I first started seeing my naturopath these were the first food group to go to try and assist with digestive issues.
I am now on balanced path (most of the time) and can eat these foods occasionally. I find Capsicum however still gets me in to trouble.
Hope this helps.
If you search ‘nightshade’ on this blog you will find more info.
Cheers
Erin x
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April 11th, 2012 at 8:26 am
thank you erin! shame about the spuds etc! but good to know what to limit!
Hi all, I’m answering your questions about the paleo diet now by updating the blog post. Stay tuned!
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April 10th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Ooops didn’t see your comment, but I have answered a few questions. Thanx for such a great post. I hope it is helpful for your readers. I’ll keep an eye out here for more discussion:)
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Thanks for clarifying, it makes sense. I do eat a lot of fish, but also 2-3 free range eggs daily. My diet is fairly clean by paleo standards, but I often throw in a glass of water/lemon juice for good measure if I’ve had a meaty day.
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Cut and pasted from http://www.quackwatch.org written by Dr. Mirkin, who practices medicine in Kensington, Maryland, is board-certified in four specialties: allergy and immunology; sports medicine; pediatrics; and pediatric immunology. He has served as a teaching fellow at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, and Associate Clinical Professor in Pediatrics at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He has written 16 books on sportsmedicine, weight control, and low-fat eating. His Web site offers broadcasts and reports on thousands of topics. He also offers a free weekly e-mail newsletter.
All foods that leave your stomach are acidic. Then they enter your intestines where secretions from your pancreas neutralize the stomach acids. So no matter what you eat, the food in stomach is acidic and the food in the intestines is alkaline.
Dietary modification cannot change the acidity of any part of your body except your urine. Your bloodstream and organs control acidity in a very narrow range. Anything that changed acidity in your body would make you very sick and could even kill you. Promoters of these products claim that cancer cells cannot live in an alkaline environment and that is true, but neither can any of the other cells in your body.
All chemical reactions in your body are started by chemicals called enzymes. For example, if you convert chemical A to chemical B and release energy, enzymes must start these reactions. All enzymes function in a very narrow range of acidity. (The degree of acidity or alkalinity is expressed as “pH.”). If your blood changes its acidity or alkalinity for any reason, it is quickly changed back to the normal pH or these enzymes would not function and the necessary chemical reactions would not proceed in your body.
For example, when you hold your breath, carbon dioxide accumulates in your bloodstream very rapidly and your blood turns acidic, and you will become uncomfortable or even pass out. This forces you to start breathing again immediately, and the pH returns to normal. If your kidneys are damaged and cannot regulate the acidity of your bloodstream, chemical reactions stop, poisons accumulate in your bloodstream, and you can die.
Certain foods can leave end-products called ash that can make your urine acid or alkaline, but urine is the only body fluid that can have its acidity changed by food or supplements. ALKALINE-ASH FOODS include fresh fruit and raw vegetables. ACID-ASH FOODS include ALL ANIMAL PRODUCTS, whole grains, beans and other seeds. These foods can change the acidity of your urine, but that’s irrelevant since your urine is contained in your bladder and does not affect the pH of any other part of your body.
When you take in more protein than your body needs, your body cannot store it, so the excess amino acids are converted to organic acids that would acidify your blood. But your blood never becomes acidic because as soon as the proteins are converted to organic acids, calcium leaves your bones to neutralize the acid and prevent any change in pH. Because of this, many scientists think that taking in too much protein may weaken bones to cause osteoporosis.
Cranberries have been shown to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, but not because of their acidity. They contain chemicals that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract cells.
Taking calcium supplements or drinking alkaline water will not change the pH of your blood. If you hear someone say that your body is too acidic and you should use their product to make it more alkaline, you would be wise not to believe anything else the person tells you.
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April 11th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Tam, perhaps take a read here of what I have studied that I believe to be true…
quoting Dr. Young http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.ca/2012/02/can-you-over-alkalize.html
What is “latent tissue acidosis”?
It is the buildup of acidic dietary and/or metabolic acids that are not properly eliminated through the four channels of elimination – bowels, kidney, lungs and/or skin which are then eliminated or deposited into the connective and/or fatty tissues. The body must eliminate its dietary and/or metabolic waste products from the blood via these four channels of elimination or the blood will lose its alkaline iso-struture and an the result would be death.
Current medical savants are absolutely wrong when they state that the body needs absolutely no help in adjusting its pH. The body needs a continued supply of alkalinity to buffer or neutralize the acids of environment, stress, diet and metabolism. Everyday the body produces more acids then the body can keep up with. Metabolism of a normal adult diet results in the generation of 50 to 100 meq of H+ or proton or acid per day, which must be excreted if the alkaline acid-base balance is to be maintained. A meq is a milliequivalent which is an expression of concentration of substance per liter of solution, calculated by dividing the concentration in milligrams per 100 milliliters by the molecular weight. This process involves two basis steps; 1) the reabsorption of the filtered sodium bicarbonate or NaHCO3 and, 2) excretion of the 50 to 100 meq of H+ or proton or acid produced each day by the formation of titratable acidity and NH4+ or ammonium. Both steps involve H+ or proton or acid secretion from the cells of the kidney into the urine. That is why we age. Aging is actually a fermenting and acidic process. The body has an alkaline buffering system which helps to maintain alkalinity, but when this becomes compromised from an over acidic lifestyle and diet, you start having the symptoms of dis-ease or disease caused by metabolic acidic waste products. It is absolutely essential that you make daily attempts to increase alkalinity with alkaline ionized water with a pH of at least 9.5 and food to prevent and/or reverse dis-ease or disease.
How does a person measure the acid/base of the blood when the blood is always maintaining its delciate pH balance at 7.365?
Any excess acidity from diet or metabolism is eliminated from the blood and out into the connective tissues to preserve its delicate pH balance. The biochemistry in maintaining blood alkalinity is quite extreme. The body will sacrifice all other organs and organ systems to maintain the delicate pH balance of the blood at 7.365.
Sodium bicarbonate is produced by the body as the #1 buffer of dietary and/or metabolic acid to maintain the alkalinity of the blood and then the tissues. In the body, tt takes 20 molecules of sodium bicarbonate to buffer or neutralize 1 part of carbonic acid (metabolite of metabolism) in order to maintain a blood and/or tissue pH of 7.35 to 7.4. That is a staggering 20 to 1 ratio. You would have to do some serious excessive alkalizing just to keep up with the body’s need for more alkalinity. But that is why we age–or should I say “ferment” from over-acidity. Which by the way, I might add, is why ALL disease or most dis-ease is a result of excess acid and NOT excess base (alkalinity).
This was proven by Alexis Carrel in his chicken heart experiment in 1908. Carrel received a Nobel prize for this research. He was able to keep a chicken heart alive for 20 years until he decided to stop changing the alkaline mineral salts every 48 hours. What we learn from Alexis Carrel’s work is that you can keep the body cells alive indefinitely if you maintain the alkaline mineral salts daily. The health of human cells that make up tissues and organs are only as healthy as the alkaline fluids in which they are bathed. The human cell cannot tolerate low alkalinity and can never tolerate ANY acid condition. The cell begins its biological transformation becoming bacteria in the first stage; then yeast in the second stage; then mold in the 3rd stage of transformation until the anatomical elements of the organized cell (microzymas) are released to become part of some other organized cell.
In the ph Miracle book I share what I call the “fish bowl metaphor.” The fish bowl metaphor begins with a question. The question is this; “If the fish is sick what would you do, treat the fish or change the water?” The logical answer is, you would change the water. Why? Because the fish is only as healthy as the water it swims in. The fish is the human cell and the water is the fluids around the cell(s). The ocean has a delicate pH balance of 8.3 and is maintain by alkaline mineral salts. Our internal fluids are like the ocean and are maintained by the same alkaline mineral salts – sodium, chloride, magnesium, potassium and calcium. At the present the ocean pH because of global warming has gone from 8.3 to 8.2. This huge decrease in the ocean pH has caused potential health risks to all sea life including the loss of the coral reefs. The same thing is happening to many of us with body warming, as dietary and/or metabolic acids are causing the loss of bone and muscle in order to maintain the delicate alkaline pH of the blood and tissues. The result is an array of health challanges from arthritis, osteoporosis to cancer all caused by the buildup from dietary and/or metabolic acid that the body could NOT manage!
Current medical science teaches that the pH of blood and most body fluids is near seven, which is close to neutral. They suggest that the pH is under very tight biological control because all of the chemical reactions that maintain life depend on it. They wrongly teach that unless you have serious respiratory or kidney problems, body pH will remain in balance no matter what you eat or drink.
Normally, the pH of the blood and most all body fluids has an alkaline pH at 7.365. Any change in this pH is the result of dietary and metabolic acids that have not been properly eliminated through the four channels of elimination – the bowels, kidneys, lungs and skin. When we over-burden our body with an acidic lifestyle and diet this causes stress and breakdown of these elimination organs not only kidney and lung dysfunction and degeneration but also breakdown in the bowels and on the surface of the skin. This is when dis-ease and so-called disease will be manifested as an effect of the acidic cause. All your organs that filter or eliminate dietary and/or metabolic acids, including the bowels, skin, kidneys and lungs will begin to breakdown from excess tissue acidity and this will result in the symptoms that medical doctors call disease. Life depends on daily doses of alkalinity from ingesting alkaline foods and drinks. Exercise is also critical in helping the body remove tissue acids out through the pores of the skin in the form of sweat. When the body cannot remove its own acidic waste products they are then stored in the fatty tissues, i.e. the hips, thighs, buttocks, waistline, breast and brain. The body will pack on more and more fat to store more and more bodily acids if the lifestyle and diet does not change to an alkaline lifestyle and diet.
I could go on and on so if you wish to read further follow the link above.
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April 14th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
This all makes sense to me and is in line with my experience !
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That first part isn’t true. Plenty of diseases can exist in an alkaline body. Bone diseases, some cancers and many infections are caused by an unbalanced body that is too alkaline. Also, severe vomitting (caused by gastrointestinal upset or bulimia) and having a heart attack will MAKE your body and blood alkaline. None of this is indicative of health.
To suggest we combat the largely acidic Western diet of fried foods and heavy grains and sugar with more vegetables is very wise. More vegetables are usually a good idea. But unbalancing the body to be more alkaline than necessary is a very bad idea. Every part of the body from your bones and blood to your reproductive parts requires a different pH in order to function optimally.
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April 11th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
You cannot be sick and alkaline. This is what I have studied and understand from contemporary research.
-Alkalosis occurs when blood pH rises above 7.45. It can be due to electrolyte disturbances caused by, for example, prolonged vomiting or severe dehydration, administration or consumption of base, and hyperventilation (with increased excretion of acid in the form of CO2).
-Acidosis occurs when blood pH falls below 7.35. It can be due to increased acid production within the body, consumption of substances that are metabolized to acids, decreased acid excretion, or increased excretion of base.
You can be over alkaline but it is very uncommon in comparison to the overwhelming population who are suffering cases of acidosis, and many don’t even realize it.
Thus is the correlation of acidosis with disease. It has also been scientifically proven again & again that cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment. See papers below for evidence.
-Alkaline Minerals Prevent Cancer Growth
In March 2009, Robey, Baggett, Kirkpatrick et al published a paper in the American Association for Cancer Research Journal proving that alkaline minerals (in this case NaHCO3 – sodium bicarbonate) that raise the extracellular pH of cancer tumor cells and prevent metastasis. Their research shows that the pH of the tumors are always acidic and by using highly alkaline minerals to raise the pH – the growth of the cancer (and involvement of lymph nodes) is prevented.
Source: Cancer Research 69, 2260, March 15, 2009
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/69/6/2260.abstract
-Cancer Thrives in an Acidic Environment
Also in Cancer Research Journal, in 2006, Gatenby, Gawlinski et al researched and discovered that “chronic exposure of normal tissue to an acidic microenvironment produces toxicity by: (a) normal cell death… and (b) extracellular matrix degradation”. They proffer that glucose imbalance (an acid lifestlye) leads to a chronically acidic microenvironment (the normal cells and molecules that surround a tumor cell) which provides the perfect base for cancer.
Source: Cancer Research 66, 5216-5223, May 15, 2006
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/66/10/5216.abstract
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April 11th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Dr. Young says, I believe the most important factor for maintaining
incredible health, energy and vitality is the
“pH factor”. If you maintain the alkaline design
of your body and keep your body fluids free from acid at:
1) Blood pH – 7.365
2) Lymphatic fluid pH – 7.365 t0 7.4
3) Extracellular fluid pH – 7.365 to 7.4
4) Urine pH – 7.2 or better
5) Bowel elimination pH – 7.2 or better
6) Saliva pH – 7.2 or better
7) Stomach pH – 7.2 or better
8) Small intestine pH – 8.2 or better
9) Large intestine pH – 7.2 or better
10) Sweat pH – 7.2 or better
11) Tears pH – 7.2 or better
you will live a long, vibrant, fit and healthy life.
To prevent any cancerous state of the body, you must maintain the body’s alkaline
design through proper elimination of dietary and metabolic acids.
If acids are not properly eliminated through the elimination channels, then those acids are thrown out into the tissues and then cause disease.
There is extensive info at this link below.
http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.ca/search?q=eliminating+acids
[Reply]
April 11th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
You seem to be making things up now. A quick glance at those figures can see they are ridiculous. The pH of the stomach is acidic, hence the term stomach ACID. Hydrochloric acid? Ever heard of it? The pH is about 2, more like between 1.5 – 3. If your stomach acid was as neutral as 7 you would probably be dead, which is saying nothing for the rest of your figures. You clearly have no right to be giving medical advice, let alone telling people how to treat cancer.
Too far under OR over the proper pH and you will get very sick. The human body has a balance for a reason. Ever heard of gardnerella, a nasty bacterial infection caused by too much alkalinity in the vagina? Or alkilosis, a condition where any number of bodily systems (kidney, respiratory system, etc) become too alkaline and can result in seizure, comas or other dangerous symptoms? The idea that more alkaline = more health is a MYTH.
A quick google search on what the REAL pH numbers in the body are, will prove that this woman is lying. I encourage anyone who is tempted to believe this scam to do so. Make up your own mind, because to trust someone this ignorant is dangerous!
By the way… a blog post does not count as “extensive info,” more like another uninformed opinion.
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April 11th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
I agree, those figures are absurd and made up. From what I know stomach ph is around 2. I have personal experience being “too alkaline”. I ate a completely unprocessed, high raw vegan diet (full of green smoothies and whatever superfood were in at the moment) for almost a decade and ended up in the worst health I have ever experienced. My salivary ph was consistently 7.5. I finally saw a doctor who figured out I was malnourished and because of being so alkaline could not digest any minerals in my food. The best thing I have done is take hcl supplements when I eat and introduce grass-fed lamb, fatty fish and organic eggs into my diet. I also make bone broth. I have an autoimmune disease, didn’t cure that, just made it hella worse. People should be careful reading information like this on the Internet that is not from a doctor.
April 12th, 2012 at 1:33 am
HI Mickey
Although the alkaline design of the body is not new, most certainly this is a subject of intensity as there is always new scientific evidence being learned about the body, daily, in fact! That said, there is only so much research money to verify all the advances in learning to satisfy the desire of needing more evidence.
Yes there are acidic secretions in the body in various degrees however the new info is suggesting that the stomach is a place of buffering acids.
This post along with scientific abstracts may help those that are curious about these new perspectives of the new biology. I have noted my findings in most cases that refer back to scientific studies if you have time to read over the papers.
I am learning too, thus I appreciate your opinions as there are many ways to interpret the body and it’s functions, this perspective being newer of course is bound to cause a stir!
Take it as you may but the alkaline lifestyle has helped thousands and thousands of people IF it is done correctly.
That said, eating 100% alkaline as in a raw vegan diet is not what this lifestyle is about. It’s about a balance of ideally 80% alkaline to 20% acidic foods on a daily basis. Most certainly, eating a completely raw vegan diet can lead to issues as it may inhibit natural HCL secretions.
100% alkaline protocols are for serious acidosis situations where disease is rampant and alkalizing quickly is needed but it is not recommended for the long term.
Hope this helps somewhat.
kindly,
Julie
April 12th, 2012 at 1:37 am
Oooops I forgot this link for the article discussing stomach digestion and buffering of acids.
http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.ca/2012/02/stomach-does-not-digest-food-it.html
This is studied info posted by a Ph.D.
thx
April 12th, 2012 at 1:42 am
….and this is in addition to the above and has 2 scientific papers linked as well.
http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.ca/2012/02/stomach-secrets-bicarbonates-to.html
cheers:)
April 12th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
I agree Mia, I seriously can’t believe they are saying the stomach should be 7.2 or better. I am highly skeptical that Julie the Alkaline Sister would have a stomach ph of above 7.2. Maybe one of them should get an NG tube and aspirate some of their stomach acid to prove basically everything you read about the stomach in any physiology textbook wrong.
April 17th, 2012 at 9:38 am
THANK YOU MIA !!
I have been so confused and trying to work out why i feel like crap..Thanks for clearing this all up…i am an Ain,so not exactly full of knowledge about the above,as its out of my scope of practice.Nor would i give advice unless i was Fully Qualified.
To do so is irresponsible.
.
December 27th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
small amount of further research, just wiki, seems though stomach makes both acid and base, so i guess we both need to look into more???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_acid
April 12th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
I like your style Mia! Sometimes I just don’t know what to believe with all the hype about diet and nutrition. I love the fact that you question things and don’t just accept everything that’s being said, which is hard sometimes not getting caught up in the hoopla of it all. I like generally your ideas about diet…you don’t seem follow anything too strictly (other than along the paleo lines) but you just go with what’s right for you…and that’s refreshing.
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I agree with Mia.
In our body, there are both acidic environments and alkaline environments. One is not better than the other. It’s just how it should be.
Also, some bacteria and fungi thrive in an alkaline environment.
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April 11th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Please see replies to other readers comments if you like:)
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Um, if you’re really into Paleo… do you really think Paleolithic man wasted time on energy sparse green leaves?? I mean, really??? I thought most of the Paleo big wigs advocated “veggies as a condiment” to your meat and fat…
Very skeptical, sorry.
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And yes, the stomach should DEFINITELY be acidic – most GERD sufferers actually have too little hydrochloric acid production in the stomach (and most people in general) which causes major digestive grief.
…
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I am honestly so confused by all this I really don’t know what to believe anymore.
And in fact confusion has led to quite a bit of stress over it all which is ironic since that’s one of the very things that causes health issues.
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And for as many doctors as you see, you will get as many opinions. Ditto research papers. And I would be wary of quoting “research” in which the opening statement includes “based upon his theory” (Robert O. Young). It is dangerous to dish out medical advice based on one’s own personal experience.
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April 13th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Perhaps give Dr.Robert O. Young’s name a Google and you will see his numerous books and studies:)
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May 4th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
As per your suggestion I thought I would Google this person…
Are you referring to the same Robert O. Young who has been charged with multiple felonies in the United States related to practising medicine without a license, and claiming he can cure cancer when he cannot?
I can see numerous references to him being a fraud and a con artist who scams cancer patients. Including:
“His alleged “doctoral degrees”—two of them—were acquired from credential mills. For nearly 30 years, he operated a network of enterprises that included a Mexican clinic that offered quack treatments, a company that marketed dubious drugs and dietary supplements, a “research institute” that did no significant research, and a nonaccredited “medical school” that operated for about five years [3]. In 2011, Bradford, his wife, and their company (American Biologics, doing busines as C.R.B., Inc) were convicted of conspiring to violate federal food and drug laws and defraud individuals seeking medical care. The indictment states that he marketed bogus Lyme disease products and a microscope system that was falsely claimed to diagnose the disease.”
The Bradford they refer to above is of the Bradford Research Institute, where Young studied blood analysis. Bradford isn’t actually a doctor, and has a very extensive history of defrauding sick people, which makes very interesting if sad reading.
Also, this was interesting: “Claims that Robert Young is a distinguished researcher are preposterous. The National Library of Medicine’s database contains no articles authored by “Young RO” that were published in a recognized scientific journal.”
And this: “A sign of Young’s competence was given when he proclaimed that he had reversed Kim Tinkham’s breast cancer with his pH miracle treatment. Tinkham apparently believed she was cured before she died of the disease.”
From: http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/young3.html
I hope anybody who is reading this discussion and suffering from chronic illness does not give this “Dr” Young person a second thought. I’ve had members with cancer, and keeping my fingers crossed as we speak for a friend of a friend whose last chemo treatment was yesterday. The idea that there are quacks out there preying on those who are in such a vulnerable state makes me unspeakably angry, and I am finding it very hard to control my temper in relation to this post, so I think I’m done for now.
I encourage everyone to thoroughly research ANYTHING they read before changing their diet or any aspect of their personal health plan.
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December 27th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
hi, this is an interesting thread and brings up some healthy points. i am not particularly a fan of Dr Young, however you do learn a few things and observe as you get older.
i imagine that dr young probably has some good points, he may be right about somethings and wrong about others. as to the above, i would be wary of quack watch, he is a psychiatrist, i believe, not a medical doctor, and endorses the use of mercury fillings, from memory, and discredits hair analysis and chelation therapy. i had chelation therapy and it was incredibly helpful for me – it cleared up my skin (i had severe acne), and i absolutely know for a fact it was no “co-incidence” and paved the way for further healing though dietary measures. (although i personally would not chelate again – i would mineral balance, for where i was at it was helpful) he also advocates a number of other things i believe are wrong. so in light of personal experience and personal probability i would not so closely align myself with the writer of quack watch in supporting an opinion. maybe you should further research the claims of quack watch, rather simply quoting him as fact? or possibly read her links supporting her claims rather than doing a random “google” search and quoting the writer of quack watch. its more unbalanced than what you accuse the writer of this column of.
it is unfortunate that you believe that just because someone is publicly discredited, that this actually might be the case. i did a bit of surface research on the wakefield trial, dr wakefield was fully discredited, i believe after researching that at the most he was stupid. i feel that he didn’t fully disclose as he might have (note i dont say should, but he would have been wiser to, and was stupid not to) and i feel that he did set out to profit through his findings. however off memory his findings where replicated, despite published claims that they where not, and further a more recent study also replicated his findings in a study done with monkeys. you will find the truth will lie somewhere more in the middle of these debates.
there is no guarantee with cancer, “it is disease of stealth” dr wilson. even if one chooses the most mainstream medicine there is no guarantee, outcomes and survival rates (cures) are measured with statistics and % of survival rates. even so there is always something outside of what you are measuring as we live in a complex world, s while these serve as a measure there are always confounders. i feel as sad for someone who has had poor luck with alternative medicine as someone who has had bad luck with mainstream medicine, statistically it just going to happen on both sides. so its not really fair to take random anecdotal accounts of people not having a successful outcome as someone who took conventional medicine and died. but i guess if they took conventional medicine and died “that must just be the way it is”?
i would be interested to hear the perspective of Julie in regard to dr youngs training and the accusation on quack watch. i would also be interested to hear about where Julie studied. my (highly trained) Dr follows the alkaline sisters, so if they are the very same i would be interested to hear her opinion in this regard.
i was also very sorry to hear about mikey’s experience and can relate to his anger on a number of levels. the first level i to feel angry when i see vegans handing out animal rights notices encouraging people to become vegan with NO advice on good nutrition and links to sights that advocate tofu, no talking about ORGANICS, and have been most concerned to how these are interpreted with junk food vegans, or vegans not aware that this might not be the right sort of eating for health.
certainly it is a maze of information, and life is a journey – as much as i dislike some of the things we must suffer on a journey – i am sorry for any one who gets hurt on either side of the debate. so on the second level certainly i know what it feels like i had 1980′s orthodontics and the people in the alternative camp where right and the mainstream was wrong. it has left my face permanently disfigured and my cranial bones all jammed up against each other.
http://damagedfaces.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=54
(and in this case my anecdotal opinion in regards to orthodontic care is very wise)
so Mia your advise to be moderate and do further research is a great one, one it doesn’t seem you are practicing.
i had a flick through the links that where supplies through julie and they looked really interesting. and i look forward to reading them further and synthesizing them into what i already know – or putting them aside in my mind – as i can always change it later.
i worry about you mia, julies advise was moderate, and highly possible she may have some valid points, and not be so dissimilar to what you already know if you were not so quick to discredit dr young rather than read her links.
without looking through the links and threads again, i think what she might be trying to say is that digestion doesn’t just occur in the stomach, and that after digestion that the stomach becomes alkaline through bi-carbonte secrections. although as said i just had a look at the title of her links not the actual links.
i am sorry that my opinion is not more fully supported with links, and slightly anecdotal but i do not have time ( a whole afternoon to chase them down.) personally i do not follow dr young, i am also more of a meat eater, although not a heavy one. i am interested to hear about what Julie is saying as it does seem to fit in even with the stuff from Sally Fallon and Donna Gates, and look forward to reading them.
mia i do not have the time to endlessly debate with you, i merely added my comments as i felt that this thread required some balance. I too would be worried if people didn’t have a holistic viewpoint on the issues and felt that “quackwatch” is the ultimate authority on all that is. that’s really really scarey!
December 27th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
actually reread links, and i dont agree that it fits with sally fallon or donna gates, as i stated nor do i have an opinion either way on the stomach is acid or the stomach should be alkaline, however i still stand that quoting that someone is discredited from quack watch is REALLY silly!
December 27th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
however further reading, and even the less than mainstream also agree his credentials are not as he says… so i am now tending to agree somewhat, as there does not seem to be a “debate about it”. i still hold and will always hold that there is much that is positive in the alternative camp, and do not agree with mia on many of her points.. i think this link from curezone is interesting, although i do see that maybe mia wouldnt agree with listing it.
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1104921
December 27th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
quackwatch info
http://liberationwellness.com/2012/06/02/hair-apparent-the-case-of-the-quackbuster/
December 27th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
http://www.raysahelian.com/quackwatch.html
December 27th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
http://orbisvitae.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=435&site_id=1
December 27th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
http://www.quackpotwatch.org/WisconsinWar/who_are_these_so.htm
OK – my question (which I hope no-one can turn into an argument …) is – what is the Australian alternative to jicama ?
Googling has suggested that the baby boab is the closest substitute, but I can’t imagine that to be readily available !
I’m keen to make this beautiful red & white salad – any suggestions ? Thanks all …
[Reply]
Ive been alkalising like a good thing since Jan and discovered last night I had a repeat of a bladder infeection that i have already taken double-dose anti-biotics for (hate taking them but needs must)
What got me thinking was am taking some Hiprex – over the counter drug for UTIs which I was reading work by acidifying your urine, creating formaldehyde, thus working as an anti-biotic, killing the infection.
This got me thinking I’m working so hard at alkalising my body then why does my urine need to be acidic to fight this infection and is this perhaps why Ive had a relapse?
Anyone got some insight?
[Reply]
April 13th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Have you tried apple cider vinegar? Works wonders for me.
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Sarah,
“Essentially, diseases – like cancer and AI – can’t exist in a fully alkalised system.”
I’m guessing your intention is good, but articles like this spread misinformation. It’s a dangerous message. All a person has to do is Google alkaline diet to find out.
Why promote Paleo and then run something like this?
A friend had cancer and believed this rubbish about eating an alkaline diet. What it resulted in was a crazy vegan diet with lots of food like watermelon to maintain pH, or so they believed. Eating like this isn’t great for blood glucose control and that’s not great for cancer. She passed away too soon and too young.
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April 13th, 2012 at 11:49 pm
I agree. Cancer feeds off of sugar. All of the vitamins and minerals help strengthen the body to help it fight but it’s no use if you are providing it a steady fuel.
Anyone with a serious illness should be in the hands of a qualified health care professional, not bloggers or the Internet. Hopefully people have enough common sense to figure that out.
I am sorry about your friend.
[Reply]
Hi There
I would like to know more and have more recipes to feed kids with green vegis -my kids love mostly the nightshade vegis and brocolli and potatos. we eat organic and try to limit our grains but eat alot of tomatos capisicums and potatos. What meals do kids love with lots of leafy greens
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I am vegetarian and gluten free so I rely on potatoes quite a lot instead of pasta/ bread. Not sure what I could eat instead? I also love chilli. I’m starting to feel like I can’t eat anything safely.
Also just wanted to point out that it is mentioned that milk of other animals is only suitable for under twos. Actually cow’s milk causes all sorts of health problems for infants and is not recommended. Breastfeeding the milk of our own species is the healthiest.
[Reply]
April 15th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
HI Tammy, I am with you on the milk issue but what I have studied is that we do make the enzyme called lactose up until around the age of 1-2 yrs to be able to digest milk, however I don’t recommend it for a variety of reasons even though it is possible for infants to digest it. Mothers milk is ideal and me personally, I’d make a young coconut water/coconut meat, coconut oil milk of some sort for a young baby as it is chalk full of amazing nutrients if I were unable to nurse for long and then transition to nut milks or a combo. There are varying perspectives here of course but for sure I wouldn’t use soy.
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May 23rd, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Julie,
Isn’t it “chock full of amazing nutrients” not “chalk full” ??
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December 27th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
my goodness, never made a typo?
The first recipe uses agave syrup. I’ve done some research on it when I went sugar free and was surprised that it was in the recipe, as I don’t think it is actually that good for you. Even though it is used like a ‘natural’ sweetener, the effects it can have are not entirely dissimilar to sugar?
[Reply]
April 13th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
It’s nothing but pure fructose.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food.aspx
[Reply]
Thanks for that great article and your helpful follow up comments.
I have been studying the helpful Alkaline food chart. There are a few things which don’t get a mention. Could you please tell me whether the following foods are considered to be alkaline:
Oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)
Green tea and white tea
Sweet Potato
Almond milk and rice milk
Cacao nibs
Thanks !!!
[Reply]
April 21st, 2012 at 11:32 am
Hi Silvia
-The fish is acidic but very healthy with all it’s good oils and protein, include it in your 20-30% acidic balance
-The Green tea and white tea are better if limited as they contain caffeine which is a stimulant. Herbal tea is best.
-sweet potatoes would be around the border between alkaline and acidic, perhaps more acidic because of their sweetness, but they are full of nutrients even more so than white potatoes so DO include them in your 20-30% acidic balance, raw or cooked!
-almond milk if home made is for sure alkaline and the store bought will lean toward acidic as there is often sugar added and preservatives.
-rice milk is acidic but both rice and almond are far better choices than dairy in my opinion.
-raw cacao nibs should be alkaline as they are full of magnesium which is an alkaline mineral. Dark chocolate will usually be considered acidic because it usually has added sugar but is still a better treat than most any other candy. Dried dates are my favourite treat though!
Hope this helps clarify:)
Julie
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I know that my body feels much better if I’m eating lots of veggies and a little bit of fruit each day. If I have eaten too much fatty greasy food it feels yukky and craves the freshness of veggies and salad – so on the whole I’d have to agree with what is being said in the article here. Of course we need energy foods each day too. I have been sticking to avoiding sugar and eating wholemeal foods for a long time now and my digestion feels pretty good, My one craving is my daily 1 cup of coffee! Can’t give it up
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I have been drinking Kangen Water (Ph 9,5) for 2 years now. Have also eaten 100 % raw tha last 2 months and I am in love, totally…
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Sarah just a quick question in relation to going totally alkaline for 3 months, besides almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc ..did you eat any other protein. I have rhemotoid arthritis I have gone of my medication and suffering so I need to go alkaline my ph is 6.5. I have a slight allergy to soy and have read it is not good for autoimmune diseases.
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To Julie, Alkaline Sister – I am confused about the “Deadly Nightshade family” – ie tomatoes, potatoes etc. Your list of foods gives tomatoes an 13.6+ (which is alkaline) and potatoes 2+ (also alkaline) …. so why are they considered acidic? I was also informed – by a doctor and nutritionist – that the acid is concentrated in the tomato skin and also that cooking tomato reduces acidity … so are they acidic or alkaline? Thanks.
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April 21st, 2012 at 11:18 am
Hi Cathy, the nightshades MAY cause inflammation related to arthritis (no real concrete evidence or scientific studies exist as far as I know, although many people follow this theory) because of the alkaloids in them that some consider to be anti nutrients. See this link for further discussion if you wish
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/4-myths-about-nightshade-vegetables
However, all the veggies you mention are alkaline as they leave an alkaline ash of the number that they are assigned. The higher the number the more alkaline for the body. Tomatoes though, become acidic when cooked but the flip side is that the lycopene is more bio available. Tomatoes, as well as lemons and limes are acidic outside of the body but once consumed leave an alkaline ash. All alkalinity of foods refers to how your body metabolizes them. But remember unless you are chronically or suffer terribly from symptoms of disease the goal is to have a balance of 70-80% alkaline foods and 20-30% acidic foods. If one is very ill, it is possible to consume purely alkaline foods for a specific time frame to lower the bodies pH more rapidly, but with the guidance of an expert, of course. I hope this is more clear for you:)
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Thanks for clarifying Julie!
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Thanks so much for the information given it has been so helpful for my rhemotoid arthritis following the alkaline has helped with the inflammation and the pain since giving up my medication. I have found the cookbook and the book written by Dr Young to be great.
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[...] shared about why eating more alkalising foods is a good thing before. Legumes tend to be acid forming but by sprouting them you are effectively [...]
Definitely, what a fantastic blog and revealing posts, I surely will bookmark your site.All the Best!
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I just bought one of these….BRILLIANT
http://www.waterscoaustralia.com.au/
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[...] Aussie, Narelle Chenery. After 30 minutes on the phone, Narelle had me convinced of this whole alkaline diet hoopla. Go juice some kale, people. Or if that sounds disgusting, take Narelle’s DeepGreen [...]
Mushrooms are not nightshades but fungi.
On a related issue of ignorance, alkaline and acidic have well-defined and established meanings. Instead of completely redefining them, can you use some other terms for good and bad in your belief system instead of these two? It would avoid confusion.
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November 27th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
I am a little late in on this conversation, but acid-alkali is not a belief, its the science. It is the varying and uninformed “explanations” of what food does that causes the confusion. For example, the acid or alkaline “ash” or residue, is rubbish. An acid food (properly termed “acidogenic” is one whose composition forces (or encourages) more H+ ions into the blood, thus attempting to make it more acidic. In contrast, an alkaline (properly, alkalogenic) is one which encourages (or forces) H+ out of the blood. The chemistry is complex, but the test is simple. Test the pH of the urine.
The defining aspect of the chemical composition of the food is simply [Ca+Mg+Na+K]-[Cl+SO4+PO4+Lactate]. if this equation is positive, the food is alkalising. If this is negative, the food is acidifying.
I hope this helps
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Mushrooms are not nightshades but fungi.
On a related issue of ignorance, alkaline and acidic have well-defined and established meanings. Instead of complete redefinition, can you use some other terms for good and bad in your belief system instead of these two?
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How does fermented food come in all this? I’ve started making sourdough breads by first fermenting rye flour until it’s quite acid to taste and using this to make bread without yeast ,naturally. Is this to be avoided if i want to increase alkaline foods?
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November 27th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Fermented food is interesting. The honest truth of it is that is little different to its non-fermented equivalent, as fermenting per se has no affect on the mineral content of the product. However, a fermented product may, depending on the final composition, go either way. This is determined by the strength of the organic acids produced in the body after digestion and metabolism. So the easiest way to sort this out is to eat some, then monitor urine pH every hour for the next 3 hours. Make certain that you dont change other eats or drinks so you compare like with like. The version with the smallest decrease (or highest increase) in pH is the more alkaline.
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Hey dude. what kind of wordpress theme are you using? i want it to use on my blog too.
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[...] Link: 3 killer recipes to alkalise your body | Sarah Wilson [...]
Hi all,
It was suggested to me recently to read the ph miracle and go onto the diet.
I did my ph test and scored a low 5.5. So I thought it best to do some research and find out more.
This blog was interesting and the exchanges within the comments illuminating.
I’m now very confused. I did some more searching and found a link the suggests the acid alkaline to be the second worst diet after the lemon detox.
Dietitians rate lemon detox, OMG Diet, Acid Alkaline Diet among …
http://www.news.com.au/…/dietitians…diet…/story-fneuzkvr-12265492176...
Jan 8, 2013 – The Lemon Detox Diet was deemed the worst by a survey of Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) members, followed by the Acid Alkaline …
I was beginning to believe the logic of acidity but am now not so sure.
Why would the DAA members rate it so low and can anyone dispute them.
Andrew.
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Good morning all,
thank you for your feed back .. i just start to change my diet … i would like to know if you could help to provide information about this diet because i m doing a lot of gym, marathon… and i need fuel … energies for what i m doing.. and i will extremely sad to giving up what i m doing..
thank you for your help and our time..
Warm regards
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Good morning all,
thank you for your feed back .. i just start to change my diet … i would like to know if you could help to provide information about this diet because i m doing a lot of gym, marathon… and i need fuel … energies for what i m doing.. and i will extremely sad to giving up what i m doing..
thank you for your help and our time..
Warm regards
Fab
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