Do you often feel low on energy, like you cannot get full or have weird cravings for something sweet or salty? Maybe you easily catch colds, feel achy, or have a regular upset stomach, ulcers, or gluten intolerance. All things, no fun. All things can be controlled by what you put in your body.
A balanced diet is key to good health. Strength, longevity, and many internal body functions rely on the nutrients and types of food you consume on a daily basis. I have recently started better monitoring just what I eat. Eating healthy has always been a big focus for me, but what I learned recently has changed everything.
A dear friend of mine introduced me to It Works! Chocolate Greens, and after a few days of mixing that with my Bone Broth shake, I could tell a major difference in how my body was feeling and just what I wanted to eat. Prior to the Greens shake, I was craving sweet foods, then something salty, even if I wasn’t hungry. When I started the shakes, those cravings went away and my energy lasted longer. I mentioned this to her and she said “Yes, our products help to balance what your body needs or is missing.” I felt better, wanted even healthier snacks, and was able to stay awake after 9pm. I knew she was on to something!
Ironically enough, I have been reading “Pretty Happy” by Kate Hudson. She cleared up everything I was wondering about and explains why balancing is so important:
“Our bodies are one large chemistry experiment. One way that our bodies try to assert their internal intelligence is by keeping pH Levels in check. pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. Our blood pH needs to maintain a slightly alkaline level to keep us healthy. The problem is that all processed foods, and even some whole foods, can cause a highly acidic impact when ingested. We help our bodies maintain inner harmony by eating more alkaline-forming foods and fewer acid-forming foods.
Alkaline-forming foods include most fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, and herbal teas.
Acid-forming foods include most grains, beans, meats, dairy products, fish, fast foods, and processed foods.
Why is this important? When we eat acid-forming foods, our body has to work hard to bring our blood pH back into balance. It does this by releasing alkaline-rich minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium into our bloodstream.
If we are not eating enough alkaline-forming foods, our body has to pull these important minerals from our bones, teeth, and organs. This can compromise our immune system, cause fatigue, and make us vulnerable to viruses and diseases.
But like most things, eating more alkaline does not mean all or nothing. A good rule of thumb is to try to go for the diet of 60 to 80 percent alkaline foods and 20 to 40 percent acid-forming foods.” Think of a those old pendulum balance scales with the what you need the most of!
Here is a list of ALKALINE-FORMING FOODS:
Vegetables
Asparagus
Broccoli
Chili
Capsicum/Pepper
Courgette/Zucchini
Dandelion
Snowpeas
Green Beans
String Beans
Runner Beans
Spinach
Kale
Wakame
Kelp
Collards
Chives
Endive
Chard
Cabbage
Sweet Potato
Mint
Ginger
Coriander
Basil
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Carrot
Beetroot
Eggplant
Garlic
Onion
Parsley
Celery
Cucumber
Watercress
Lettuce
Peas
Broad Beans
New Potato
Radish
Squashes
Pumpkin
Fruits
Avocado
Apple
Dates, dried
Fig, dried
Tomato
Lemon
Lime
Grapefruit
Grapes
Orange
Fresh Coconut
Pomegranate
Grains & Beans
Amaranth
Buckwheat
Chia/Salba
Kamut
Millet
Quinoa
Lentils
Lima Beans
Mung Beans
Pinto Beans
Red Beans
Soy Beans
White Beans
Grasses
Wheatgrass
Barley Grass
Kamut Grass
Dog Grass
Shave Grass
Oat Grass
Sprouts
Soy Sprouts
Alfalfa Sprouts
Amaranth Sprouts
Broccoli Sprouts
Fenugreek Sprouts
Kamut Sprouts
Mung Bean Sprouts
Quinoa Sprouts
Radish Sprouts
Spelt Sprouts
Breads
Sprouted Bread
Sprouted Wraps
Gluten/Yeast
Free Breads & Wraps
Nuts & Seeds
Almonds
Coconut
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Oils
Avocado Oil
Coconut Oil
Flax Oil
Udo’s Oil
Olive Oil
Other
Alkaline Water
Tofu
Goat & Almond Milk
Herbal Tea
Buckwheat Pasta
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACIDIC FOODS Meat
Bacon
Beef
Clams
Corned Beef
Eggs
Lamb
Lobster
Mussels
Organ Meats
Venison
Fish
Oyster
Pork
Rabbit
Sausage
Scallops
Shellfish
Shrimp
Tuna
Turkey
Veal
Dairy & Eggs
Butter
Cheese
Milk
Whey
Yogurt
Cottage Cheese
Ice Cream
Sour Cream
Soy Cheese
Eggs
Sauces
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Mustard
Soy Sauce
Pickles
Vinegar
Tabasco
Tamari
Wasabi
Fruits
Currants
Mango
Peach
Pear
Prunes
Raisins
Raspberries
Strawberries
Tropical Fruits
Cantaloupe
Cranberries
Currants
Pineapple
Plum
Nuts & Seeds
Cashews
Peanuts
Pecans
Pistachios
Walnuts
Brazil Nuts
Chestnuts
Hazelnuts
Macadamia Nuts
Oils
Cooked Oil
Solid Oil (Margarine)
Oil Exposed to Heat,
Light or Air
Drinks
Alcohol
Black Tea
Coffee
Carbonated Water
Pasteurized Juice
Cocoa
Energy Drinks
Sports Drinks
Colas
Tap Water
Milk
Green Tea
Decaffeinated Drinks
Flavored Water
Sweeteners
Saccharine
Sucrose
Sucralose
Honey
Maple Syrup
Artificial Sweeteners
Carob
Corn Syrup
Fructose
Processed Sugar
Other
Mushrooms
Miso
White Breads, Pastas,
Rice & Noodles
Chocolate
Chips
Pizza
Biscuits
Cigarettes
Candy
I was actually quite surprised at some of the foods on either of the pH balance. Even if you are eating healthy, you may not be giving your body exactly what it needs, the way it needs it if your acidic intake is higher than your alkalizing intake. Like fruits. I could live off them… actually I could not, because the sugar content, even though it’s natural, makes most fruit moderately acid-forming foods. Bummer!
Since balancing my diet more I have noticed a tremendous improvement in how I feel and the way my body performs. I can also tell when I don’t balance well. I am on the 80% alkaline foods at each meal and all snacks are alkalizing foods now. It makes a big difference!
I make out the grocery list with the alkaline-forming foods first then acidic. It is tough with meats but if I have a meat at a meal everything else is alkalizing. It is not as hard to do as you would think! Get creative and you can come up with some good meals and help your body for better digestion, energy, bone health and more!
A Few Benefits of Having a Balanced Body pH:
Skin more elastic, youthful
Deeper more restful sleep
Abundant physical energy
Fewer colds, headaches, flu viruses
Good digestion
Less arthritis
Decreased chances of osteoporosis
Increased mental acuity, mental alertness
Symptoms of Being Too Acidic
1. Digestive issues:
Excess stomach acid
Acid reflux
Gastritis
Ulcers
Saliva acidic
2. Unhealthy Skin, Nails and Hair:
Nails are thin and break easily
Dry skin
Cracks at the corners of the lips
Hair is dull with split ends, and falls out
Hives
Very pale face
3. Teeth and Mouth Issues:
Loose teeth
Teeth sensitive to hot, cold, or acidic foods
Teeth have a tendency to crack or chip
Sensitive gums
Mouth ulcers
Infections in throat and tonsils
Tooth nerve pain
4. Eyes, Head and General Body:
Headaches
Low body temperature (feels cold)
Tendency to get infections
Leg cramps and spasms
Eyes tear easily, conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelids and corneas
5. Nerves and Emotions:
Low energy; constant fatigue
Being continually depressed with a loss of joy and enthusiasm
Excessive nervousness
If you are feeling a number of those on the acidic list and haven’t been able to figure out why. Try adjusting your diet! It’s natural, it’s easy, and you will be in charge of noticing the difference.
Here’s to your health! Feel free to share some recipe ideas or how taking these steps have helped you feel your best!