Alkalinity, Vibrant Health, & Whole Foods

August 10th, 2008 · 18 Comments

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Hi,

I hope you are having a wonderfuld day!

Today, we are discussing the concept of alkalinity and how it coincides with your health and well being.

From time to time you will hear me mention foods that are alkaline forming and foods that are acid forming to your body. I have found that it is best to eat foods that are alkaline forming. The reason for this is that your body functions at its optimal level when it is slightly alkaline. But first…

Let’s take a look at the acid alkaline pH scale:

The pH scale runs from 0 to 14. Seven is neutral. Anything below 7 is acidic. Anything above seven is alkaline or basic.

Your blood pH is slightly alkaline. It has a pH of between 7.35 and 7.45. If it deviates from this range you will die. If you eat acid forming foods and drink acid forming drinks, such as soft drinks or processed foods, your body will have to use its mineral stores to keep your blood alkaline. These mineral stores and other nutrient stores are part of your body’s defense mechanism. If you rob your body of these vital nutrient stores, you will be more susceptible to sickness disease, cancer and, ultimately, premature death.

Here’s where it gets tricky:

When your body is at an imbalance, you do not drop dead right then and there. On the contrary, your body is very resilient. If your body is forced to live in an acidic environment you will develop warning signs, such as dry skin, inflammatory responses, diabetes, lupus, and hypertension, just to name a few. These are all warning signs. These are signs that you need to take charge of your health by eating alkaline forming foods and exercising effectively.

FIT FACT
An alkaline rich environment has been shown to carry as much as 20% more oxygen in your blood cells. Cancer cells cannot live in an oxygen rich environment. In other words, cancer cells die when they are introduced into an alkaline rich environment. And, you guessed it, cancer cells thrive when they are introduced into an acidic environment.

There is much debate over this, but I have found that when people eat foods and drink water that promotes alkalinity in their bodies, they are much healthier. They look healthier, they have more energy, they appear more vibrant, and they do not get sick easily, if at all. People whose bodies are more alkaline tend to have that special glow. I personally do everything I can to keep my body alkaline and I do not get sick.

I will repeat that last sentence one more time:
I do everything I can to keep my body in an alkaline state an I do not get sick… ever!

Here’s the point:

Eating a diet rich in whole foods from beneficial sources is your key to vibrant health and wellness.

It’s not just about looking good or weighing less.

There are a number of ways to lose weight and have a smaller waist, but most of them are unhealthy.

Achieving vibrant health through alkaline whole foods and moderate exercise is about looking better, feeling better, and living better than you ever imagined possible… free of sickness and disease.

It’s about feeding your body in a way that it is functioning at optimal levels from the inside out.

It’s about having appreciation and respect for yourself and the environment in which you live.

Weight loss and a better appearance, one that you can be proud of, are merely side effects of leading a healthy vibrant life.

Let me know what your thoughts are on this subject. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

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Tags: alkalinity, pH, vibrant health, weight loss, well being, Whole Foods

Tags: Whole Foods

18 responses so far ↓

1 Jeff Iversen // Aug 11, 2008 at 10:18 am

On the other hand, apple cider vinegar destroys microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and others, and prevents poisons from reaching the rest of the systems of the body. It has been proven to inhibit the growth of gram-negative bacilli, Pseudomonas, and Candida. The acid nature of vinegar makes the digestive tract environment unpleasant for germs and fungus. Apple cider vinegar has proven to be a natural treatment (and preventative) in simple cases of avian pediatric digestive disorders. Dr. Jarvis through his own research believes that apple cider vinegar will lower bloods natural alkalinity, bringing it closer to a natural healthy acid state. A naturally acidic digestive tract digestive, with the correct pH balance, will discourage bacteria and is less likely to grow yeast and fungus. Apple cider vinegar can assist the natural process of breaking food in the stomach. The acidic qualities of ACV will help break down protein, in the digestive system, for absorption into the bloodstream.
2 Alexander Morentin // Aug 11, 2008 at 11:16 am

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the great comment.
I agree with you. Apple cider vinegar is very beneficial, but it must be raw.
Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, such as Bragg’s Health Products, has beneficial bacteria (probiotics), life giving enzymes, high amounts of potassium, and a number of other beneficial nutrients and trace elements.

However, Raw apple cider vinegar is alkalizing to your body.
In other words, it adds nutrients to your body without taking any away.

Raw apple cider vinegar purifies your cells by getting rid of toxic wastes. Not just in your blood cells, but the cells of all of the tissues in your body.

Toxic poisons are the cause of sickness, disease, and premature death in our modern culture. Toxic poisons in our cells makes them acidic.

When toxic poisons are removed from your cells and eliminated by your body, all of the tissues in your body become alkaline.

As far as your blood is concerned:
Normal healthy blood pH ranges between 7.35 and 7.45, which is an alkaline pH.
Your blood pH has to be alkaline; it cannot be acidic or you will die.

Dr. Jarvis a “noted Vermont country doctor” wrote a book titled, “Folk Medicine” more than 50 years ago extolling the benefits of apple cider vinegar. He noted the many amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar, but didn’t full understand how it worked on our bodies.
No one did. It was the 1950’s.

He lived in a different world than we do today. the “food like substances” prevalent in our modern diet were not available 50 years ago, nor were all of the toxic chemicals and genetically engineered substances that we are exposed to.

In closing, raw apple cider vinegar, along with citric acid (oranges and lemons), may be acidic in nature, but their effect on the tissues in your body are alkalizing.

Thanks for the great comment. I appreciate it.
3 MAY // Aug 13, 2008 at 5:36 pm

Natural lemon is acid, too, right? It is good for the body, no?
Gastric juice is very acid, althogh we eat alkalinity, it will be diluted with acid?
4 Alexander Morentin // Aug 13, 2008 at 6:36 pm

Hi May,
Let me explain:
Lemon juice and orange juice are acidic in their natural state, but turn alkaline after they have been metabolized (broken down) by your body.

So, for dietary purposes, they are considered alkaline forming foods despite the fact that they were acidic prior to consumption.

Foods are considered alkaline forming or acid forming depending on the type of residue they leave in your body after they have been metabolized (broken down).

Lemon juice leaves an alkaline residue in your body after it has been broken down.

For this reason, it is possible to raise the pH of your bodily fluids (urine or saliva) by drinking a mixture of fresh lemon juice and water.

This is a difficult concept to grasp and is the cause of much confusion.

Let me know if you have any further questions regarding this or any other subject.
5 Ragtree // Aug 16, 2008 at 7:22 am

I just happen to wander upon this blog and found it SO interesting! One point that you made in your post was how there is a difference between losing weight as a side effect of being healthy and feeding your body right and just going on a diet. I wish everyone would understand this point! If you do what is healthy for your body and nourish it, your weight will not get out of control and you will be healthy! If you follow fad diets and live on slim-fast, you are punishing your body and setting yourself up to gain more weight!

I will revisit your blog often!

Renee
6 heidi // Aug 16, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Now I need to go find these foods. I am glad to have read this because I had not heard of this. Do you have any food recommendations?
7 HTNGC // Aug 17, 2008 at 1:22 pm

I love the discussion that’s going on here. I really need to do more research on achieving a proper alkaline ph, and what foods contribute to this.

But seriously thanks for this information, it may have inspired me to do some research and write a post on the topic as well!
8 Brennan Kingsland // Aug 18, 2008 at 6:27 am

Excellent info! I especially appreciated your explanation that certain acidic items produce an alkaline response. It is a confusing concept to the layman.

I have to echo Heidi’s request. Would you share some alkaline-producing foods? No matter how beneficial lemons, oranges and raw apple cider vinegar may be to the body, I doubt that any reader is ready to subsist on them (which of course wouldn’t be too good).

Could you share a beginner’s guide to some foods to add to the diet?

Brennan Kingsland, RN
9 cornelious white // Sep 8, 2008 at 10:24 am

I can attest to this. I helped a friend in the Philippines that had the death sentence (will not live to see June 2006 and it was May 2006). Her cancer was MDR (multiple drug resistant, second time having it), she was told to stop taking chemo. Was told only two working lymph nodes in body. I had her take a teaspoon of Baking soda every morning, and sent her ph test strips. We keep her about 7.4 to 7.8 (by trail and error higher a few times). It took awhile but slowly her lumps devolved. A few months later I also sent her vitamins, and pawpaw she is now 100% cured. Not recessed, cured. No sign after checkups from natural doctor, and oncologist(s) yes two. She is getting married this week, and I will meet her in person for the first time, she is in the USA now. And all you ladies may like to know that ALL her long hair is back! (I say that because she seemed to be more excited by that than anything)
10 cornelious white // Sep 8, 2008 at 10:38 am

Also I had her buy some ‘Lugols solution’ a strong form of iodine, for two weeks. She tried going longer because she noticed it working but I made her stop. This was important because her lymph system for the most part was taken out. And I needed her thyroid to start back working. If I can help a person with that (first time even though I studied obsessively 10-16 hours a day). Then I know that it is superior than the traditional crap. Anyway that is not my site just my favorite fun activity, wallyball try it!
11 cornelious white // Sep 8, 2008 at 10:58 am

Sorry for the third post, but I failed to make it clear that the baking soda was used to make her body PH balanced. All it took was a heaping teaspoon every morning (NO SODA or acid foods for 30-60 minutes). She was small 5′2″ and 43k (96 lbs, pounds)!!! Without the baking soda she was 5.0 ph on the urine test. Then she immediately got in the range with the baking soda. I found during my studying that cancer can not grow, or even start in a ph balanced body. Since she already had it, the goal was to pause it 24 hours at a time, then find a successful way to attack it. I firmly believe that if they did not have baking soda there she would have passed before my first shipment could get to her in time. So does she. You should see her before and after pictures!
12 jwmar // Sep 30, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Being in nutrition - I deal with a lot of folks (18/20) who don’t digest well because of too LITTLE stomach acid (usually due to stress and our standard processed diet). Digestion being the HUGE issue that it is, I’m having a hard time understanding how I alkalize my body with without messing up my stomach pH. My family and I focus on alkaline foods and drink alkaline water because I’ve read the studies coming out of Canada that show cures for cancer with baking soda. Can you help me understand this please?
13 Lill // Nov 4, 2008 at 8:29 pm

How strong is the connection between fibromyalgia and an acidic body?
14 Alexander Morentin // Nov 4, 2008 at 8:59 pm

Fibromyalgia and an acidic body go hand in hand. I have seen amazing results in people who suffer from fibromyalgia with simple adjustments to their diet.
15 Lill // Nov 5, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Thanks for the info……I have been testing my urine today and the more I push the alkaline rich foods the better my pH is and the more the muscle cramping is residing!
16 Lill // Nov 7, 2008 at 5:26 am

Wow….every day gets better!! As my pH strip turns darker, my fibromyalgia pain abates! I was wondering if you know anything about water ionizers? My homeopath said that ionized water would help keep my pH in balance. Is there one brand better than the rest? Thanks
17 Alexander Morentin // Nov 9, 2008 at 9:21 pm

@Lill
I’m glad things are going so well for you.
I have not researched water ionizers that much.

I know that it is important to get one that is high quality.
The internal components should be very high quality.

I have found that eating beneficial whole foods and drinking good clean water is your best bet.

The water ionizer can be an addition to your healthy diet, but it is not absolutely necessary.

This is just my opinion.
There are a lot of gizmos and gadgets available in the alternative health market.
It is hard to decipher which ones are good and which ones aren’t.

Keep doing what you are doing and be proud of yourself for making a positive change in your life.
18 Lill // Nov 13, 2008 at 6:26 am

Thanks for the info/advice. My homeopathic wanted me to buy an ionizer because he feels that bottled water can’t be trusted. He felt this would be the better of the purifiers (reverse osmosis, etc.) because it would augment my diet to keep my pH in balance. I don’t have a home purifier and thought of buying one. I know that eventually it would be cost productive. I know it would not take the place of eating a low acidic diet. I just need a reliable source of clean water and the added benefit of it being alkaline would be nice.

Today my morning pH test was the best (finally @ 7.0) it’s been. My muscle cramping is much better, although I still get “aches”. I have restarted an anti-yeast regimen and some of it could be “die off”. Are yeast and acidity hand in hand?? Thanks for all your help!

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