I am sure you have heard that that fruits and veggies are good for you. There are many reasons for this, but the reason I want to talk about in this article is how these foods help keep your acid-alkaline balance at a healthy level.
Foods can be categorized as acid or alkaline, this classification is not made based on how they taste, but on the residue left by the food in your body after it has been metabolized. This is like the ashes left after a fire has burnt out.
Basically all degenerative diseases like cancer, arthritis, heart disease and osteoporosis thrive in an acidic environment. Our bodies work hard at keeping the blood pH at 7.4, which is slightly alkaline (anything below 7 is acidic). This is done by making deposits and withdrawals of acid and alkaline minerals from places like your bones, tissues and fluids like your saliva.
As you can see, if most of your diet leaves an acidic residue, your body must tap in to your reserves to keep your blood pH where it need to be, weakening your tissues and bones by pulling out alkalizing minerals.
Test Your pH
Your saliva offers a window where we can easily test the pH in your body. This can be done with a pH paper. When you buy pH paper, look for the kind that shows half steps or smaller gradation, like 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, and so on for a more accurate reading. You can get pH paper at the pharmacy, health food store or online. It is easiest to do the saliva test first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything; it must also be done before exercise or teeth brushing.
Fill your mouth with salvia and then swallow it, do this twice. This is to make sure the saliva you will be testing is clean. The third time put a little bit of saliva on the pH paper. Compare the colour of the pH paper with the included colour chart right away, and record your pH reading. For a more accurate reading, repeat the test over several days and calculate and average. Be sure to mark down the date and pH, so you can measure your progress.
Healthy pH Range
The ideal pH range is 6.6 - 7.4. pH and fluctuates during the day, and tends to be lowest in the morning. If your pH is consistently over 7.5 you may be too alkaline, which is also damaging, balance is key.
Measuring the pH in your saliva is a simple way of keeping a finger on your "health" pulse, and acts as a great incentive for healthier eating habits.
To shift your pH from being chronically acidic, it is recommended that your diet is about 75%-80% alkaline foods and 20%-25% acidic foods, and to maintain a healthy pH level aim for 60% alkaline foods and 40% acidic foods.
5 Easy Ways to Alkalize
1. Eat Your Fruits & Veggies
Eat lots of fruits and veggies. Be aware that most meat, grain and dairy are acid forming, so remember to balance them with greens and other alkalizing foods. Eat your greens raw, cooked or juiced. Juicing is a great way to alkalize quickly.
2. Make Green Drinks a Good Habit
Make it part of your routine to have a Green Drink once or twice daily. This is an easy way to alkalize, and fits busy schedules well. Another easy way to get greens, is to put chlorophyll drops in your water, 10 - 15 drops a day is enough and makes your water bright green.
3. Get Your Minerals
Minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron all support an alkaline environment. Organic and whole foods are higher in minerals, and use sea salt (that is grey and moist) in your cooking.
4. Reduce Stress & Negativity
Stress is acid forming, so take a look at what the stressors are in your life and change them if you can. If you can't change the stressors, change your attitude towards them. All negative states like anger, fear, jealousy and overwork have an acidic effect on your body.
5. Boost Positvie Emotions
Positive thoughts and emotions like prayer, peace, love and kindness all raise your pH. Deep breathing exercises also help induce a calm and health promoting state.
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For more natural ways to boost your health and well being I invite you to get a complimentary copy of my special report "Your Individual Diet - Eating for More Energy, Better Sleep & Clearer Thinking? It will guide you towards a personalized diet in a few easy steps. Just go to
http://www.AnnikaEk.com and get your copy now!
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