The Importance of Acid- Alkaline Balance
Hello!
This blog post is a topic that I’ve wanted to discuss for quite some time, and it is one of Acid-Alkaline Balance in your diet! Is this topic new to you? THAT’S OK! That’s why I’m here! This topic can get a little confusing, but I am going to do my best to explain!
Acid: pH below 7
Alkaline: pH above 7
Our body tissues and blood are slightly alkaline, so we should be eating more foods that BREAK DOWN into alkaline elements. The ash or residue that remains after a food has been metabolized influences the body’s acidity level. Anything above or below your body’s natural “slightly alkaline (ph 7.35) level can result in symptoms of disease. Many degenerative diseases that we associate with aging have been scientifically linked to calcium and other mineral deficiencies that happen when our body tissues become too acidic! Some of these degenerative diseases include
cancer
arthritis
oseoporosis
heart disease
allergies
kidney stones
gall stones
The way foods break down is NOT THE SAME as their pH (or level of acidity) which is where some of the confusion comes into place. WOULD YOU BELEIVE that LEMONS are actually alkaline when they digest?
A diet that is too acidic affects blood and tissues, the body will try to clear these unwanted elements through the colon, kidneys, skin, sinuses and other mucous membranes. A body that is too acidic will contribute to CONGESTION, as the body begins to try to protect itself from these levels of acidity.
The balance of acid- alkaline foods will depend on each individual, the time of year, and geographical location, but generally, we should focus the diet on 60% alkaline to 40% acidifying foods. You can’t and shouldn’t eliminate all acid forming foods, but rather form a balance between them and alkalinizing foods.
This list is NOT exhaustive, and there is a range within each category, but for the sake of simplifying for this blog, it is a great tool! Acid-Alkaline content of foods is just one of the many elements of balance I look at when I am creating meal plans for my clients! If you think your body could be more acidic than you’d like, lets chat! Book yourself in for a discovery call below!