Alkalinity And Acidity

Seven years ago, at age 55, I experienced a health crisis. I was having increased joint pain. My energy level was at an all time low. My quality and quantity of sleep was continuously decreasing. I was constipated, irritable, gaining weight, and pessimistic about my health and my life.

I have worked my entire life as a nurse. At no time in nursing school, in my long time of hospital nursing at UW Hospitals, or in a lengthy period of home nursing did I ever hear about acid and alkaline producing food or the terms alkalinity and acidity.

In 2002 I experienced the great blessing of seeing a Naturopath. Seeing Dr. Chad was the incredible beginning of my road to health.

At our first visit, he began by introducing me to the physiology of what different foods do in our body. Dr. Chad began teaching me about alkalinity and acidity.

It was quite embarrassing for me as a 55 year old nurse that I was totally unaware of these facts, except for an instinct to eat raw almonds. I was eating mostly acid-producing foods.

It is important to consume at least 60% alkaline-producing foods in our diet to maintain health. A body with high acidic levels is more prone to illness. The body always strives to balance pH. Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline (7.35-7.45). Below or above this range means symptoms and disease.

Dr. Chad educated and encouraged me about the pH factor of foods. The following is a brief look at what I learned that changed my life:

Acid-Producing Foods

Meat
Sugar
White Flour
Packaged, processed foods
Alcohol
Caffeine
Sodas
Artificial sweeteners
Dairy
Starchy vegetables
Some fruits
Fried foods
Medicinal Drugs
Tobacco


Alkaline-Producing Foods

Greens (any lettuce (i.e., red leaf), except iceberg)
Vegetables
Soy
Raw Nuts
Legumes
Some Fruits
Garlic
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Avocados
Stevia
Cinnamon
Tamari
Sea Salt
Ginger
Noni

Of course, as you look at these two lists, it is clear the acid-producing foods are our traditional American diet--bagels, pizza, mac & cheese, hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, fries, ice cream, cookies, milk, coffee, alcoholic beverages, diet sodas and last, but not least our plethora of packaged foods that fill our supermarkets.

Dr. Chad referred me to a book titled, The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health, a great primer for anyone looking for health and vitality.

I began my journey into a new way of thinking and choosing of life-giving foods. It has been an enormously helpful and transforming 7 years. I was just beginning to understand the terms alkalinity and acidity.

Now, I can immediately feel the difference in my body, mind, and spirit if I indulge in more than a small amount of acid-producing foods. I feel that I have been blessed with a secret. I try to share it with anyone who is looking for health, vitality and longevity.

Still today, I crave raw almonds and eat them everyday as they are a natural way to bring my body back to alkalinity. A successful day is a day that includes organic "greens" at least once, or more.

Do you want to know more about alkalinity and acidity? If you have questions about my experience and recovery, please e-mail me, magnificentmind@gmail.com . I want to spread "the secret" about food!

If you have chronic challenges with heartburn, I recommend a 30-day challenge:

1. Go purchase some raw almonds
2. Anytime you have heartburn, eat 3-5 almonds
3. Notice the results of eating almonds
4. If you still have heartburn, eat more almonds
5. Drink lots of water!

We recommend a couple of very useful websites for natural health and learning more about alkalinity and acidity.:

Dr. Mercola with Natural Health News

Edgar Cayce Natural Health News