THE GREATEST WAYS TO ALKALIZE YOURSELF
If you’ve been eating too much bread, pasta, dairy, red meat, coffee, black tea, sodas or artificial sweeteners – or have been under significant stress (so, all of us?) your body will be releasing acid. When the body is stressed, the digestive system clams up too, and stops eliminating toxins, which instead get stored in fat cells throughout the body. Why should we care? As with all liquids, the liquid of our body has a pH too, which stands for potential of hydrogen. Optimally, the 60% water content of our body functions best in balance: neither acidic nor too alkaline. If the 60% of fluid in our body becomes too acidic, it acts as an irritant on the remaining 40%, which they call a “chronic non-optimum situation.” Sounds bad. What can you do? Alkalize yourself! Here’s how…
Lemons
Lemons have electrolytic properties and a pH level of 9.0, rendering them the most alkalizing food around. They are also the best liver tonic, detoxifying and energizing that gigantic organ that works so hard for us. The electrolytes in lemons can also give the body added strength and endurance. To begin balancing the pH of your body, squeeze the juice of half a lemon into warm water each morning before eating breakfast.
Watermelon
Second to lemons, the next most alkaline fruit is the watermelon, also at a pH level of 9.0. With a high fiber and water content (92% of its entire weight is water), watermelon is a mild diuretic (it helps you excrete toxins), and is a great source of beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamin C. Drink it juiced or fresh to reap some super-alkalizing benefits.
Cayenne and Cantaloupe (Rockmelon)
Cayenne and cantaloupe are both high in enzymes, substances which are utilized by the endocrine system, which in turn releases hormones into the blood stream, which in turn regulates functions like metabolism and mood. Cantaloupe is low in sugar but high in fiber, whilst cayenne has antibacterial properties, and is rich in Vitamin A – an essential soldier in the fight against free radicals arising from stress and illness.
Mango, Papaya, Melons, Limes and Parsley
This clan of foods has a pH of 8.5. Their skill? House cleaning the kidneys. Papaya is a laxative which promotes colon cleansing, while parsley (most potent when eaten raw) acts as a diuretic and is an excellent ‘dirt sweeper’ of the intestines. Limes, mangoes and melons are all vitamin rich and alkaline-forming during digestion.
Seaweed, Watercress and Asparagus
Watercress is known as the natural super food. Best eaten raw, it contains a high level of iron and calcium, like seaweed. (Calcium is often depleted from the body in an overly acidic state.) Asparagus has the highest content of asparagines, an amino acid important to the functioning of the nervous system, as well as for the regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. At a pH of 8.5, this group are anti-acid powerhouses.
Chicory and Kiwifruit
Kiwi fruit have higher levels of vitamin C than the more famous orange and also possess a natural sugar called fructose which doesn’t form acid when digested. Kiwis are alkalizing, providing the body with an increase in energy. Chicory, a bitter-relative of lettuce, supports the pancreas with its possession of insulin, aiding in the prevention of diabetes. Also at a pH of 8.5, this group is rich in flavonoids, a chemical compound found in natural foods which has antioxidant properties.
Pineapple, Raisins, Grapes and Plums
Grapes, raisins and plums are blood-regulating, which lowers blood pressure and the risks of contracting heart disease, while pineapple is rich in L-Carnitine, which uses body fat as an energy source (thus ridding the body of any toxins stored previously in fat cells.) This food group falls at a pH of 8.5.
Apples, Apricots and Alfalfa Sprouts
Highly digestible and full of fiber, these three foods have a pH value of 8.0 and can effectively lower the level of acidity in the body. Enzymes present in these foods are utilized by the body’s endocrine system, which works to harmonize and regulate the balance of hormones in the body. Apple cider and apple cider vinegar are also alkalizing. Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your water to counteract acidifiction throughout the day.
Avocadoes, Bananas, Berries, Carrots, Celery and Garlic
At a pH of 8.0, these foods chemically react to acidic foods of pH 5.0, elevating them to near alkaline levels. Berries and garlic, in particular, possess properties that regulate blood pressure too. Celery quickly neutralizes acids, is full of fiber (which aids digestion) and has a high water content.
Pure Alkaline Water
If you don’t have access to filtered water, the finest choice of which is ionized or distilled using reverse osmosis, add a dash of baking soda to your water, which counteracts acidity through it’s alkalizing properties. Test the pH of your water using pH strips, available at most health food stores, or online. As a guide, adult humans should aim to be drinking approximately 200ml (7 ounces) of water for every 4.5 kilograms (10lbs) of body weight.
Reduce Stress: Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation
When the body is stressed, the digestive system clams up too, and ceases to eliminate toxins, which instead get stored in fat cells throughout the body. Anything we can do to calm the mind and body, release stress, and thereby prevent the build up of toxins in the body, will have a huge impact on our physiological system and quality of life. Take a yoga class, join a tai chi group, or practice meditation. Even a simple, daily mindful breathing practice will lower the blood pressure and relax your system.
Eliminate Toxins
It’s not only food and drink that can contribute to acidification. Some common acid-forming substances widely used by consumers today include Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (in toothpaste and shampoo), Organophosphate (an insecticide found in laundry powder), as well as Blue #1, Yellow #5 and Red #40, which are all coal tar derivatives. Aspartame (in chewing gum and sweeteners), phosphorus (in soda), and caffeine are other chemical substances that create an acidic state in the body. Try stevia instead of sugar or chemical sweeteners.
*You can assist your body in balancing its pH by taking a readily absorbable calcium supplement, aiding the natural process by which our system alkalizes itself. (The body pulls calcium, an “alkaline buffer” from the bones when not readily available, which can lead to osteoporosis.)
By Sophie Ward
