Author: Maria Alfano
Your body alkalinity levels are far more important than you could imagine in midlife and beyond. Although there are no scientific studies done there is evidence that alkalinity does help with medical issues we can experience as we get older. I am not a proponent of the vegan or vegetarian diet because I do enjoy eating meat, poultry, and fish. Having said that, I do enjoy both vegan and vegetarian meals a couple of times per week. Growing up Fridays were meat-free days in our home. While I am not strict on the Friday rule today, I do take advantage of this rule at various times throughout the month.
Introduce alkaline foods into your diet slowly if you are not accustomed to a diet rich in fruits and veggies. Start with adding a couple of new items to the menu each week and you will be surprised at the changes you see. You might even expand your palate in the process and become a more worldly eater. All the foods you hated as a child could turn out to be your new favorites.
There is no scientific evidence that agrees or refutes the claims of increasing body alkalinity being good for your overall health. One thing is for sure, it can’t hurt to replace some of the highly acidic foods eaten by Americans. The benefits will far outweigh the risks of not being more alkaline.
This post is all about your body’s alkalinity levels, how the alkaline ash diet can help you, as well as the pros and cons of alkalinity.
Your Midlife Body Alkalinity Levels Are Vitally Important To Your Health
So what is alkalinity you ask? This refers to the pH levels (potential of hydrogens) in the human body. It measures the number of hydrogen ions. Why should you care about this anyways? Hydrogen ions help the stomach produce enough acid to digest food and help proteins do their job for you.
Body Alkalinity Levels
The body’s natural state is alkaline. Measuring your pH levels is as simple as peeing on a stick or spitting on a paper to measure your alkaline levels. The alkaline pH will vary depending on the foods you eat. Also, it is important to note that different parts of your body require different pH levels to function.
Stomach – must be acid for it to digest the food you eat. Contrary to popular belief, heartburn, and acid reflux means you don’t have enough acid in your gut and it is crying for more. Put a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into 8 oz of water and chug-a-lug. You will feel better within a few minutes. Alkaline levels are normal from 2 – 3.5 pH in the stomach.
Blood – natural alkalinity in the blood is between 7.3 and 7.44 pH. If these levels fall below 7.3 this is extremely dangerous and can kill you. Cells stop working which means the body will shut down. Lower levels are often brought on by diabetic ketoacidosis, starvation, or heavy alcohol intake.
pH Levels
Acidic – 0 to 6.9
Neutral – 7.0
Alkaline 7.1 -14.0
Developed by a Danish chemist in the early 1900s when he determined the alkaline levels in the water he was using impacted the flavor of his beer. This scale was adopted globally and continues to be used today.
Alkaline Ash Diet
Ok, this sounds weird but it is really a metaphor for how the body discards metabolic waste. This process has been likened to the ash left behind by a raging fire. Your body will take the food you eat and absorb all the nutrients it wants and needs and discards the rest. This is similar to the fire that is eating up everything in its path and leaving behind what it cannot consume. Depending on what you consume, the metabolic ash will be acidic, neutral, or alkaline. The more alkaline, the less vulnerable you are to illness and disease.
Alkaline Water Benefits
Water is considered alkaline if it has a pH level of 8 or 9. Although this is not much higher than the blood levels of 7.3 to 7.44 pH, it is enough of a difference to blood’s viscosity. It doesn’t change the blood pH but it does help it to move better through the venal and arterial systems. And, it helps increase blood oxygen levels. A little goes a long way when it comes to body alkalinity. Advocates (not scientists) swear that alkaline water has anti-aging properties since the lipids are absorbed much faster into the body. It has colon cleansing properties, supports the immune system, and helps with skin health due to better hydration factors.
Alkaline Foods
Please note the foods will not change your blood pH levels. They will change the alkalinity of your urine and saliva based on what you eat. A healthy pH level in your mouth will help prevent cavities as it protects your teeth’ enamel. Too much alkaline in your urine can leave you exposed to bladder infections.
Add the following to your diet to increase your alkaline levels:
Fresh fruit
Green leafy vegetables
Seeds
Legumes like lentils
Tofu
Avoid the following foods:
Dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream
Processed foods
Meat and eggs
Alcohol and sodas
Grains
The alkaline diet reduces the copious amounts of processed foods that have made their way into the American diet. People today work hard and don’t always have time to prepare home-cooked meals. Going to the local fast food joint to pick up a bucket of chicken, or going to the frozen food section to pick up a ready-made lasagna is super convenient and not healthy. Think of all the additives and preservatives that are in these foods that make their way into the human body. It’s no wonder there is an epidemic of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes!
Pros of Body Alkalinity
Lose weight – it is easier to lose weight when you are eating a diet rich in healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. This is not a direct impact of the pH levels in the foods but rather the choice to eat a better range of foods that happen to be higher in alkaline.
Blood pressure – is regulated by the increased levels of viscosity that allow the blood to flow better through the veins and arteries.
Kidney function – improves with higher alkaline levels in the urine. The kidneys are responsible for the production of bicarbonate ions that neutralize the acids in the blood. And, when combined with acids, ions form the carbon dioxide which we breathe out. Both release the acids from the body through urination or simply by breathing.
Bone health – is critical as we age, with the levels of hormones changing so dramatically, having a diet rich in alkaline and calcium-rich foods helps maintain good bone health. More fresh fruits and veggies consumed lower the amount of calcium expelled through urination.
Cancer – there is no science-based evidence that body alkalinity will prevent, reduce the risk f, or get rid of existing cancer, there is some evidence that alkalinity helps enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drug treatments. No matter how alkaline your body is, cancer cells produce their own acidity thus making them somewhat immune to alkaline levels.
Cons of Body Alkalinity
Eating a plant-based diet has as many risks as benefits. Enjoy as many fresh plant-based foods as you can but don’t forget to supplement the proteins you are lacking with this diet.
Fragile bones – lack of protein will cause muscle weakness which in turn affects their ability to support bones, leaving them exposed to breaks
Calcium deficiency – will lead to more cavities than you care to count and bone shrinkage.
Acid reflux – nothing is more painful than having acid reflux or GERD. Acid is missing in your stomach so it gives you acid reflux. I suffered from it for years until I discovered apple cider vinegar. Now I am free from acid reflux and the over-the-counter drugs I used to use to relieve it.
Summary
Scientists have not proven nor have they dispelled the value that body alkalinity gives to your overall health. Proponents of high pH levels truly believe they are doing the right thing with increasing their alkalinity. It may not be scientifically proven but many folks are seeing results. If nothing else, you are indeed becoming healthier with the introduction of the alkaline ash diet. Even if alkalinity is not the full factor, the benefits of trying to become more alkaline will far surpass the benefits of a junk food diet. Please ensure that you contact your primary caregiver if you ever are uncertain of your physical health conditions.
This post was all about body alkalinity, the alkaline ash diet, and the pros and cons of alkalinity.
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