Now, you’ve probably heard the anti-fat message before. Cutting back on fat is definitely an important step for anyone who wants to lose weight. Unfortunately, anti-fat zealots took that message to an extreme by urging people to cut their fat intake to an unreasonable degree, and by ignoring the fact that not all types of fat are equally bad. (Some, in fact, are quite good for you.)

What about protein? Most weight-loss gurus act as though protein is a miracle food that helps you effortlessly shed unwanted pounds. The truth is more complex. As with all other foods, whether or not protein is good for you depends upon how much you are consuming, and in what proportion to the other ingredients in your diet. Some protein is definitely essential for building strong muscles, strong bones, and even for promoting intracellular communication. But too much protein can be harmful, because protein has a strongly acidifying effect on your body’s internal chemistry.

Why is this the case? Because protein is rich in phosphorus- and sulfur-containing amino acids, such as methionine. When these amino acids are digested and assimilated, the minerals that they contain are released into your body, making it more acidic. Many people lose weight on low-carb diets, at least temporarily. But these diets have a tendency to leave you lacking in energy, and suffering from constipation and other unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. Alkaline diet experts have raised even more serious objections, warning that low-carb diets may increase the long-term risk of kidney disease and cardiovascular problems.

In contrast, the alkaline diet is not only beneficial for weight loss, but for overall health as well. The alkaline diet is designed to keep your body’s pH level in proper balance, helping to stave off illness. The alkaline diet can also help promote normal blood pressure, healthy bones, and a youthful, attractive appearance.

The scientific basis for the alkaline diet begins with the fact that our body operates best at an internal pH of around 7.35. Different organs and tissues within the body each have their own proper pH range. Sometimes it’s on the acidic side, and sometimes it’s on the alkaline side. On the whole, however, it is accurate to say that a healthy human body is a slightly alkaline body. A slightly alkaline state keeps your body’s cells and organs functioning optimally, because it ensures that they have access to plenty of life-giving minerals. As long as this balance is maintained by a healthy alkaline diet, the stage is set for good health. But when your body becomes too acidic, trouble usually ensues. Virtually every organ and system in your body is harmed by excessive acidity.

Since your body works best in an alkaline state, it logically follows that a high-alkaline diet promotes optimal health. In fact, eating more alkalizing then acidifying foods is the only effective method of ensuring that your body will have a proper pH balance throughout your life. In simple terms, this means eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, while minimizing animal products. No, you do not need to become a vegan, although the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can certainly be compatible with an alkaline diet. But most people will need to at least cut back on the amount of meat and dairy products that they consume. You can also include certain whole grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes as part of your diet.

In general, it is recommended that you consume a ratio of at least 65% alkalizing foods, and no more than 35% acidifying foods. If you are ill or dealing with a lot of stress, you may need to increase the percentage of alkalizing foods still further, in order to give yourself the best chance of achieving optimal health.

The acid alkaline diet can not only help you to drop extra pounds, but more importantly to regain your health and lead a longer, healthier, and happier life. The alkaline diet can be especially beneficial for people who suffer from fatigue, stress, and a general feeling of always being under the weather. It can also be helpful for those who suffer from frequent infections, nasal congestion, skin problems, aches and pains, and other nagging complaints that are too often dismissed as the price of growing old.

I don’t have time to go into all of the benefits of the alkaline diet, but I want to discuss one or two so that you can see the science behind this approach. The alkaline diet can help you to lose weight because it emphasizes foods that are low in caloric density. For example, an apple contains fewer then 9 calories per ounce, but most fats and oils contain nearly 250 calories per ounce. This means that it is much easier to keep your caloric intake to a reasonable level by eating fruits and vegetables, rather than the high-calorie snacks and convenience foods that most of us eat too much of. Luckily, the alkaline diet emphasizes precisely these healthy low-calorie foods.

To take another example, how can the alkaline diet help increase your energy level? Because energy is actually manufactured inside your cells by tiny mechanisms called mitochondria. Not surprisingly, mitochondria function best in a specific range of acid-alkaline balance, which means that by eating correctly, you will be helping your body to create the energy you need for work and play.

With the alkaline diet, you can improve your overall health, increase your energy level, lose excess weight, and reduce your risk of getting many chronic diseases. It does not have to be complicated or difficult, so why not start today and see what the alkaline diet can do for you.

In order to understand the science behind the acid alkaline diet, we need to take a look at the two basic concepts of acidity and alkalinity. Don’t worry, we’re not going to get too deep into chemistry, mathematics, or other geeky subjects. You may remember from high school chemistry class that an acid is a substance that releases hydrogen ions. Acids turn pH test paper red, and have a sour taste. (Think of vinegar and lemon juice, for instance.) In contrast, alkalis absorb hydrogen ions. They turn pH test paper blue, and have a bitter taste. (Think of baking soda.) Acidity and alkalinity are measured on a 14-point pH scale. Seven is in the middle of this range, and therefore it is considered neutral. Any substance that has a pH reading lower than seven is acidic, and any substance with a pH reading higher than seven is alkaline.

The acidity and the alkalinity of foods are affected by many factors, including how food is stored, processed, and cooked. Making things more complicated, foods that are acidic or alkaline outside the body can have the opposite effect once they have been eaten and digested, and the elements they contain have been absorbed.

The goal of an alkaline diet plan is not to focus exclusively on alkalizing foods, but rather to achieve an optimal balance between the two extremes of pH. Unfortunately, few people in Western societies achieve this highly desirable state of acid-alkaline balance. It is technically possible to consume an overly alkaline diet, and this could potentially happen if you went off the deep end with the alkaline diet. However, the vast majority of people have the opposite problem. In other words, the standard Western diet is highly acid-forming. To consider two examples, coffee and soft drinks are two of the most popular beverages, and they’re both so highly acidic that you would have to drink more than 20 cups of alkaline water to counteract the effect of just one cup of coffee or soda pop.

But it isn’t just beverages that are to blame for the overacidity of the average person’s body. Shopping carts and restaurant menus are dominated by acidifying foods, including meat and poultry, dairy products, and processed foods that are made with sugar, white flour, and artificial ingredients. In contrast, alkalizing foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are sadly lacking in the Western diet.

What Exactly Is the Alkaline Diet?

The alkaline diet emphasizes whole foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates, along with moderate protein and a healthy amount of high-quality fats. The most important foods on this plan are fresh fruits and vegetables, along with some whole grains and legumes, nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices to provide abundant flavor. The alkaline diet is highly compatible with a vegan or vegetarian approach, but it is also possible to include dairy products, eggs, fish and seafood, even meat and poultry, and still have an alkaline diet, provided that strict moderation is exercised. The foods recommended on the alkaline diet are rich in alkalizing minerals, but relatively low in the organic acids and phosphorus- and sulfur-containing amino acids that are responsible for promoting overacidity within the body.

There are many benefits to a diet that is rich in alkaline diet food–too many, in fact, to list in this brief article. The alkaline diet improves cellular function, because all of your cells function best within a specific pH range. Energy is manufactured within your cells by tiny “power plants” called mitochondria. When your body is within an optimal pH range, the functioning of the mitochondria is optimized, resulting in plenty of energy for all of your body’s functions. If, like many people, you suffer from fatigue or a general feeling of always being under the weather, then adopting an alkaline diet can make a big difference in how you feel.

Immune function is also enhanced by proper acid-alkaline balance. When your internal pH becomes too acidic, your body becomes more susceptible to infectious microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Despite what many people believe, we do not automatically become ill simply because we are exposed to harmful microorganisms. If that were the case, everyone would be desperately ill, because we are all exposed to countless potentially pathogenic microorganisms every day. Fortunately, most of us are able to keep these microscopic invaders in check, thanks to our ever-vigilant immune systems. It is only when our immune function becomes suppressed that we are at risk of a serious infection. What does this have to do with the alkaline diet? Well, a proper alkaline diet helps to increase the levels of oxygen in the blood, creating an environment that is antipathetic to potentially pathogenic organisms.

Overacidity can cause inflammation, because acids have a corrosive effect on tissues and organs. If the inflammation is permitted to continue, it can lead to a number of health problems, including arthritis, skin problems, and painful urination.

Lastly, it is a well-known fact that overacidity can lead to bone loss, technically known as osteoporosis. This occurs because the body draws minerals from the bones in order to meet the immediate crisis of excess acid in the blood. This is a rational response, but if it continues for too many years, it can leave the bones brittle and susceptible to fracture. This is why many experts are now recommending the alkaline diet as a natural approach for preventing osteoporosis.

The end result of following the alkaline diet is that you will experience more energy and improved overall health while also achieving and maintaining a healthy weight without depriving yourself or following a dangerous crash diet. That’s something that we can all feel good about!

Why exactly does overacidity cause these symptoms? The answer is that, when your body becomes too acidic, it tries to adapt by pulling the minerals from your bones and other tissues in order to neutralize the excess acid. Unfortunately, this leads to a long-term decline in mineral reserves, since any new minerals that you consume are used to neutralize acid, rather than to replenish the lost mineral reserves. Acidosis is the technical term for the state of illness caused by high levels of acidity in the body.

If you’ve ever left a nail sitting in a container of vinegar, you have seen first-hand that acids are highly corrosive. Imagine, then, what too much acid can do to your body. Among other things, it can affect your vascular system, respiratory system, and musculoskeletal system. When a system becomes affected, various symptoms can result. For example, when you are not following an acid alkaline diet for optimum health, the musculoskeletal system can be affected insofar as both muscle and bone are often cannibalized to provide the raw materials needed to neutralize excess acid. There are many causes of excess acidity, but one of the most important ones is excessive protein in the diet. Protein is rich in amino acids which contain the minerals phosphorus and sulfur. Once the protein has been digested, these minerals remain in the body and cause it to become more acid. On the other hand, acid alkaline diets can help to maintain a correct acid-alkaline balance.

Even if you have plenty of alkaline minerals in your body right now, this doesn’t mean that you have enough to last you through the rest of your life. Bodily processes constantly generate excess acid, which must be neutralized and eliminated if good health is to continue. The alkaline diet emphasizes healthy, low-calorie, alkalizing foods, including fruits and vegetables, certain nuts and seeds, and some whole grains. As you can see, it is the polar opposite of the high protein, high fat, and low-carb diet which has been undeservedly popular in recent years. The high alkaline diet is less well known, but it is increasing in popularity as people become more aware of the drawbacks of the low-carb diet.

But while people are just beginning to learn about the benefits of the alkaline diet, it is not the case that this way of eating is just a fad, or even an innovation. On the contrary, this is how healthy societies have eaten for thousands of years. They were eating an alkaline diet all along, they just didn’t use that word. Fortunately, we can experience the benefits of proper pH balance, without giving up the conveniences of our modern way of life. All of the ingredients necessary for eating an alkaline diet are already available from your local grocery store. In some cases, it can be helpful to visit a natural food store for certain specialty items, or a farmer’s market to obtain high-quality organic produce. But it is not strictly necessary to purchase your food from these venues. Even if you do all your shopping at a regular grocery store, it is still quite possible to eat alkaline, provided that you know what to look for.

Who is the alkaline diet for? The truth is that this way of eating can benefit virtually everyone, from young children to the elderly, from busy college students to equally busy soccer moms, and from competitive athletes to sedentary folks who just want to shed a few extra pounds. If you have tried the low-carb diet, but found yourself feeling tired, constipated, and generally lousy, you will very likely have greater success on the alkaline diet. If you currently consume the Standard American Diet, which consists largely of processed foods, the alkaline diet can make a dramatic difference in your health.

Some of the early adherents of the alkaline diet, such as the psychic Edgar Cayce, made their nutritional suggestions on the basis of personal experience, not science. However, the alkaline diet has since been verified by scientific studies, which demonstrate that an overly acidic body does indeed increase the risk of certain harmful conditions, including muscle wasting and bone loss, which if allowed to continue, can eventually lead to a crippling or even fatal hip fracture.

Your body’s pH balance is affected by many factors, but the most important factor is the food you eat. Every food contains minerals and other substances which, after being digested and assimilated by your body’s digestive system, have either an acidifying or an alkalizing effect on your overall system. Most people never think about acid or alkaline in relation to the foods they eat, other than acknowledging that vinegar is acidic. But the surprising truth is that every bite you eat is either making your body more acidic or more alkaline, and thus either bringing you closer to perfect health, or setting the stage for serious illness.

I wrote this article because I wanted to inform people about the alkaline diet, a highly effective approach to losing weight, increasing energy, and improving overall health. As you can see, when the body is too acidic, your chances of becoming ill are increased. On the other hand, eating a well-balanced alkaline diet can help you to remain healthy for the long run, as well as to feel better in the present.

Benefits of the Alkaline Diet for Detoxification

Many people have heard about the benefits of detoxification, but they may not know exactly what this term means. The central concept behind detox diets is that your body is suffering from accumulated waste and toxins, which have built up in your body over a period of years as a result of a poor diet, too much drinking, and other excesses. Very few of us drink enough water or eat enough alkalizing fruits and vegetables, so it is probably not too surprising that our digestive tracts and even our very cells are often clogged with waste.

There are plenty of detox products to choose from, but many of these use harsh laxatives and other chemicals, which far from improving your health can actually make it worse. The healthy human body does not need artificial substances for ideal health. Besides, these detox products can cause painful cramping, as well as embarrassing and inconvenient gastrointestinal side effects.

In contrast, an alkaline diet detox is a much gentler and more natural approach that will cleanse your body from the inside without forcing you to run to the bathroom every few minutes. If you are unaccustomed to a high fiber natural diet, you may temporarily experience some bloating and more frequent bowel movements as your body adjusts. In the long run, however, the alkaline diet promotes effortless, regular elimination.

If you have a garden or an aquarium, you are probably aware of the importance of pH balance for living things. Like plants and fish, the human body functions best when it is within a very specific acid-alkaline range. If you eat a healthy diet that focuses on alkalizing foods such as fruits and vegetables, certain whole grains, and healthy fats, your body will have no trouble maintaining an ideal acid-alkaline balance. But when you eat too many acid-forming foods, acidifying substances are left behind after these foods have been digested and assimilated. In turn, these substances can promote disease and lead to an overall state of ill health. The high-alkaline diet is designed to reverse this situation by encouraging you to eat more alkalizing foods in proportion to acidifying foods.

Alkaline Diet and Detox: A Perfect Combination

By combining the alkaline diet with the principles of detoxification, it is possible to achieve the best of all worlds as far as health and nutrition are concerned. The alkaline diet promotes foods that are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. These fibers function just like expensive detoxification powders that you might buy at a drugstore, but they are all natural and much more gentle in their effect. Alkaline diet foods also contain certain carbohydrates which feed beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract. Grossed out by the idea of bacteria living inside your body? Actually, some of these bacteria are essential for life. If you didn’t have them living inside you, you would die! It is only when your gastrointestinal environment becomes imbalanced, with too many “bad” bacteria and not enough “good” ones, that these microbes become a problem. The consequences of imbalanced gastrointestinal flora can include bloating, diarrhea, and frequent yeast infections. The alkaline diet helps feed beneficial gut bacteria, but at the same time it is a low in sugar and other refined carbohydrates which tend to feed the “bad” bacteria. For these reasons, the alkaline diet can help you to achieve improved gastrointestinal health.

As you can see, the essence of the alkaline diet is to eat pure, natural food. These foods are the secret to sustainable weight loss, improved energy, and overall health. When you follow the acid alkaline diet, you will probably notice some changes within a single day. By the time a week has gone by, you should notice some significant improvements.

Of course, this does not mean that you will look like a swimsuit model in a week, or even a month. Weight loss requires a long-term effort, and you should feel good if you lose a pound or two per week. Remember, the important thing is not how quickly you lose weight, but how long you keep it off. What’s the point of quickly shedding 30 pounds, only to regain it in a matter of weeks? The good news is that other changes frequently happen more quickly. For example, you will likely experience improved energy and gastrointestinal health. You may also notice brighter eyes and an improved complexion. All of these are signs that your overall health is improving as your body becomes more alkaline.

Unlike many diets, the alkaline diet is not single-mindedly focused on weight loss, although weight loss is a common benefit. Nor is the alkaline diet intended specifically for people who suffer from a certain health condition, the way that certain diets are designed for people who have high blood pressure or heart disease. Instead, the alkaline diet is how our ancient ancestors ate, and how everyone should eat today. It is just as suitable for children and teenagers as it is for the elderly. From young adults looking for a natural energy boost to soccer moms who want to lose 10 pounds, the alkaline diet is a natural approach for losing weight, improving energy, and increasing overall health. I’ve tried many diets over the years, but this time I finally found one that works for me. No more chasing fads. I’m planning to stick with the alkaline diet for the long haul.

How can you tell if your internal pH is out of balance? Well, there are a number of symptoms associated with overacidity, ranging from tiredness and a general lack of well-being to skin problems and frequent yeast infections. But if you follow the Standard American Diet, frequently eat out at fast food restaurants, or hit the snack machine for your afternoon sugar fix, you don’t need to ask whether your pH is imbalanced–it almost certainly is.

The truth is that it’s virtually impossible for anyone to eat this type of diet and enjoy an optimal internal pH. Now, you may think it’s a bit strange that humans have managed to survive for millions of years without knowing anything about alkaline diets. After all, it is only during the last several years that books about the alkaline diet began appearing in bookstores, and stories about this fresh approach to eating began appearing in magazines and on TV shows. In fact, people have been following alkaline diets for thousands, even millions of years–they just didn’t use those words to describe it. These days, people spend a lot of time worrying about food. We’re all aware of our many different nutritional options–the low-carb diet, the paleolithic diet, the Pritikin diet, the Ornish diet, as well as goofy fads like the cookie diet–and we wonder how to make the right choice. Thousands of years ago, however, people simply ate whatever foods were in keeping with their cultural traditions. Without even trying, they ate a much healthier and more natural diet than most of us manage to do.

The acid alkaline diet simplified emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables and certain whole grains, along with modest quantities of beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, and healthy oils. Some followers of the alkaline diet are vegans, while others include small amounts of meat, eggs, or dairy products. All processed foods, such as white flour, sugar and other refined sweeteners, and highly processed fats, are consumed in strict moderation or not at all on the alkaline diet. This way of eating is quite similar to the diets of many traditional peoples. So we can truly say that although none of these people had ever heard of the alkaline diet, they were following it nonetheless.

I myself have been following the alkaline diet for several months now, and I can definitely see and feel a difference. Some of the benefits that I like the most include my new healthy weight, better digestive function, healthier skin, and no more dandruff. I feel much better than I did in the past when I was following the low-carb diet. On alkaline diet food, I no longer experience the symptoms of constipation, fatigue, and bad skin that plagued me when I was on the low-carb bandwagon.

There are many ways that you can make your body more alkaline, but most of them involve changing the way you eat and drink. My favorite trick for making my body more alkaline is to drink some fresh barley or wheat grass juice every day. Admittedly, it is a lot of work to make these juices fresh, so I keep a container of greens powder handy for the times that I don’t feel like working in the kitchen. No matter how busy I am, it isn’t difficult to simply stir some greens powder in a glass of water, or better yet, blend with frozen fruit to make a delicious and nourishing smoothie. This is one of my tricks for sticking with the alkaline diet, even when my schedule is hectic. I try to eat well, but occasionally I will splurge at a restaurant or a friend’s house. At these times, at least I am still drinking my greens, which I feel helps me keep my body alkaline, even when my diet is less than perfect.

My main rule of alkaline eating is to try to include some vegetables at every meal. Vegetables are often neglected. But they are the key to having an alkaline diet. Vegetable soup, salads, and steamed vegetables are all good ways to get these nutritious foods into your diet. Fresh fruit is also important for alkalizing your body. Fortunately, fruit makes for a convenient snack food when I’m on the go. Instead of reaching for a candy bar or some other sugary, high-calorie snack, I grab an apple or cut up celery and eat it with a little almond butter. (All three of the foods I just mentioned are alkalizing.)

I hope this article has encouraged you to give the alkaline diet a try. If you are used to eating the standard diet, or even worse, following an extreme low-carb diet, the alkaline diet may seem hard to get used to. But as I said, the alkaline diet is not really a fad diet, but rather the way that the world’s healthiest cultures have eaten for thousands of years. Considering that so many people have been led astray by half-baked fads, it is reassuring to find a diet that is supported by tradition, as well as by sound scientific evidence. The alkaline diet is such a diet.

Instead of taking drugs, which often come with unwanted side effects, many people are turning to the alkaline diet as a natural way to treat this condition. Besides, it just makes sense to address the problem at its root, which relates to the foods we eat, rather than trying to “cover it up” with a prescription drug. The alkaline diet can also have a number of surprising side effects, but in contrast to prescription drugs, these side effects are positive: Healthy weight loss, increased energy, and improved overall health.

Diverticulitis may not seem to have much to do with weight loss, but is it really surprising that all sorts of things start to happen when you eat the alkaline diet that nature intended? Like diverticulitis, obesity is one of the diseases of civilization, which come about when we deviate from a healthy alkaline diet and a proper level of physical activity. The alkaline diet is not simply designed to resolve one specific condition. On the contrary, it is a holistic way of eating designed to maximize overall health. As such, the alkaline diet is appropriate for people who are attempting to overcome chronic health problems, as well as those who are basically healthy, but would like to experience increased energy and lose a few pounds at the same time.

You may not realize it, but a low alkaline diet contributes to many chronic health problems. When you follow a healthy alkaline diet, your health improves in numerous ways. Treat your body to an alkaline diet, and your body will respond with natural energy and improved vitality. If you value your health, it is vital that you adopt a diet that is generally alkaline. Does this mean that you need to eliminate all acidifying foods from your diet? No. It just means that you need to eat more alkalizing foods than acidifying ones. To be more specific, many alkaline diet experts recommend that you eat at least 65% alkalizing foods, and a maximum of 35% acidifying foods. However, if you are attempting to recover from serious health problems, it may be necessary for the time being to move even further toward a highly alkaline diet. For example, as much as 80% of your diet might need to be alkaline.

Eliminating excess acid is a major help when it comes to staying healthy. Acid build-up is a common cause of health problems, some minor but nonetheless irritating, and some serious, even life-threatening. The combination of the soothing effect of the alkaline diet and the higher levels of soluble and insoluble fiber that this diet naturally includes can help to relieve the symptoms of diverticulitis. If you do not currently suffer from diverticulitis, this same diet can help ensure that this problem never happens to you. But if you are following the standard American diet, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you are immune. Diverticulitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gastrointestinal problems are extremely common in the West, but far less so in rural Africa and other places where people still eat a traditional alkaline diet. In addition to being very unpleasant, gastrointestinal problems can also contribute to worse overall health. After all, the gastrointestinal system is responsible for taking your food, extracting all of the nutritional value, and eliminating the rest. As you can see, keeping your digestive system working well is vital for overall health.

Despite what you may think, acid alkaline diets do not have to be overly restrictive. It doesn’t require you to give up all of your favorite foods, even if, like most people, you tend to eat foods that are highly acidifying. No, the alkaline diet is about moderation and balance. You don’t need to give up acid foods altogether. You just need to alter the ratio of acid-forming to alkaline-forming elements: in other words, eating more alkalizing foods and fewer acidifying ones, until you achieve the perfect pH balance. Drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy amount of natural fiber will both help to improve the health of your gastrointestinal system.

It is not known exactly how the pouches are formed during the development of diverticulosis, but many experts believe that a poor diet is involved. Specifically, when people consume a diet that is lacking in fiber, they often fail to eliminate properly, and may have to strain to pass stools. These stresses can cause the large intestine to develop weaknesses, which can develop into diverticulosis. In turn, these pouches can become infected, leading to the condition of diverticulitis.

The alkaline diet is not just for gastrointestinal problems, but it can certainly improve digestive health because it is high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as complex carbohydrates, which feed beneficial bacteria in the gut, helping to maintain a healthy internal environment and keeping bad bugs at bay. Your body is its own best protector against illness. It just needs the right raw ingredients in order to create a state of ideal health.

Isn’t it worthwhile to find a natural way to improve your health, lose weight, gain energy, and resolve nagging health problems? Instead of going through life popping over-the-counter painkillers, antiacids, and antibiotics, why not get to the root of common health problems by adopting a healthy alkaline diet and lifestyle? No two people need to have exactly the same way of life–that would be boring! But we all need the same essential elements of a healthy lifestyle, namely, an alkaline diet, regular exercise, and stress management, which can take the form of positive psychology, social interaction, meditation, or spiritual practice.

That is one of the ways that an overly acidic diet can harm your body: By causing your body to become depleted of important minerals. Excess acid can also harm your body directly, by damaging sensitive tissues. Every organ and cell in your body functions best at a specific level of acid-alkaline balance. This level is not the same throughout your body. On the contrary, each body system functions best within a specific pH range. It is nonetheless accurate to say that the body prefers an acid alkaline diet, because in general optimal health is achieved at a pH that is slightly above 7, the neutral point on the pH scale.

Overacidity can be caused by a number of factors. These factors can include prescription and over-the-counter drugs, emotional stress, and even the altitude at which you live. Believe it or not, tobacco smoke makes your body more acidic, as does urban pollution. But the most important factor is whether or not you have an alkaline diet. Everything you eat contains organic acids and minerals which can be either acidifying or alkalizing. In effect, with each bite you take, you are making your body either a little more acidic, or a little more alkaline. This means, in turn, that you are either bringing your body closer to optimal health, or setting the stage for serious illness.

Some of the foods which are the biggest culprits in creating an overly acidic body are processed, packaged foods; sugary and processed carbs, such as breakfast cereal and pasta; dairy products, including milk, cheese, and ice cream; all types of meat and poultry; alcoholic beverages; and a wide variety of artificial food additives, which are used in a surprising number of processed foods.

In contrast, a healthy alkaline diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, certain whole grains, and many nuts and seeds. Some dairy products can be included in moderation on the alkaline diet, along with some legumes. Despite what some people think, it is not necessary, or even desirable, to completely eliminate acidifying foods in order to achieve an alkaline diet. This is true for several reasons. First, you don’t want to create a state of overalkalinity. This is unlikely to happen from food alone, but it’s a good idea to be on the safe side and aim for a moderately alkaline diet rather than going to either extreme. The second reason that it is a bad idea to eat only alkaline diet foods is that such a diet would be quite boring and difficult to follow. You might manage to follow it for a day or two, but soon you would be tired of all of your favorite foods being off-limits, and you would probably go back to your usual way of eating. It is much better to aim for a moderately alkaline diet, and achieve it, then to aim for a completely alkaline diet, and fall flat on your face. Besides, some acidifying foods actually contain valuable nutrients. For example, prunes are acidifying, but they are rich in potassium, and some studies show that they can actually improve bone health. You don’t want to overdo it on any acid food, but by including certain healthy acidifying foods in your diet, you can reap the benefits of these foods while still enjoying a diet that is alkalizing on balance.

When you follow the alkaline diet, you ensure that your body has an ample supply of alkaline minerals to meet its needs. When your body is sufficiently alkaline, the oxygenation of the blood is promoted. Your heart and cardiovascular system function at a higher level of efficiency. Even your cells work better, producing a steady supply of energy to keep you going through your daily routine. When your body is in a slightly alkaline state, it is better able to absorb nutrients, helping you to slow down the aging process and remain in good health longer. Along with regular stress management and a sensible exercise program, the alkaline diet is one of the keys to achieving and maintaining good health. At a time when the United States is struggling with a health care crisis, we need to do everything we can to prevent chronic diseases, not just to treat them after they have become a serious problem. The alkaline diet is certainly not a panacea for our nation’s health care crisis, but any plan which can reduce a person’s risk of developing numerous diseases needs to be part of the solution. A well-balanced alkaline diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and both soluble and insoluble fiber. Numerous studies have shown that this type of diet–whether or not you call it an alkaline diet–can help prevent cancer, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and completely or partially prevent a wide range of other health problems.

As for alkalizing supplements in particular, I believe that these supplements can be a beneficial addition to your alkaline diet. At the same time, however, they are not absolutely necessary for achieving an alkaline pH. The way I like to think about these supplements is that they can give you a push in the right direction, but they are not a substitute for a healthy alkaline diet which emphasizes primarily whole, organic, alkalizing foods.

In this article, I will discuss three types of alkaline supplements that you may want to include as part of your alkaline diet plan.

Alkalizing Greens for Your Alkaline Diet

If I had to suggest just one supplement for your alkaline diet, I would choose a high-quality alkalizing green powder. This powder can be stirred into filtered water, or mixed with fresh or frozen fruit to make a delicious smoothie. Adding this wholesome supplement to your alkaline diet could be one of the most important steps you will take to achieve a healthy internal pH.

Alkalizing green powders are made from a combination of grass extracts, including wheat grass, barley grass, and alfalfa. Please note that it is not the whole grass that is included, but only the super-potent juice. Many types of green powder also include fruit and vegetable extracts, herbs, bee pollen, and various other healthy ingredients. In addition to being highly alkalizing, these green powders are rich in vitamins, minerals, and beneficial phytonutrients. This last class of nutrients take their name from “phyto,” meaning “plant.” As the name suggests, these nutrients occur only in plants. Phytonutrients include literally hundreds of natural chemicals which have a wide range of effects. Among other things, these nutrients can help prevent cancer, improve cardiovascular health, and protect the eyes from degeneration. Some have antifungal or antibacterial properties, and many are potent antioxidants.

While no supplement is a substitute for a good alkaline diet, a tablespoon of green powder is the equivalent of eating a rather large portion of fresh fruits and vegetables. At a time in which virtually everyone finds it difficult to consume the optimal amount of fresh produce, adding an alkalizing green powder to your daily routine can be a very convenient way to alkalize your body and improve your overall health.

Look for a green powder made from organic ingredients, and make sure that the various juices and extracts have been dried at low heat to ensure that the nutrients remain unspoiled. Some green powders are pretty basic, while others contain a wide range of flavorings and additives. There’s nothing wrong with taking a green powder that contains soy protein or bee propolis, but make sure that whatever you take doesn’t contain ingredients to which you are allergic. Also, if you are a vegan, you will naturally want to avoid green powders that contain animal products.

Healthy Fats for Your Alkaline Diet

Fats have gotten a bad rap. That’s too bad, because the truth is that some fats are absolutely vital for health, and should therefore be an integral part of your alkaline diet menu. There are two essential types of fat, omega-3 and omega-6. Nearly everyone gets plenty of omega-6 fat from meat, dairy, grains, oils, nuts and seeds. For this reason, I do not recommend supplementing with oils that are rich in omega-6 fats. On the other hand, it is important to supplement omega-3, since this type of fat is usually deficient in the Western diet. It is not strictly necessary to take an omega-3 pill, since you can get plenty of omega-3 by adding flax seeds or flaxseed oil to your food. Flax seeds can be baked at a moderate temperature, but flaxseed oil should never be heated because doing so can damage the delicate fats that this oil contains. Another option is to take a good-quality fish oil supplement.

Alkalizing Mineral Supplements for Your Alkaline Diet

The most alkalizing substances you can consume are the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Fruits and vegetables are particularly rich in potassium, which is the reason that these foods are a staple of the alkaline diet. Sodium is also alkalizing, but I do not recommend supplementing it because most people already get far too much sodium. On the other hand, a mineral supplement which provides balanced proportions of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, possibly with other minerals in lesser quantities, can be a helpful addition to your alkaline diet. Again, a supplement is never a substitute for alkalizing whole foods, nor should it be taken as a license to overindulge in junk food. Studies have shown that if you are consuming too many acidifying foods, your body will be acidic, even if you are consuming a lot of alkaline minerals at the same time.

A Final Note on Alkalizing Supplements

None of the supplements mentioned in this article are absolutely necessary, but they can help you to achieve an ideal acid alkaline pH more quickly than would be possible with food alone. Whether you choose simply to focus on eating a healthy diet or to incorporate alkalizing supplements into your regimen is up to you. At their best, alkalizing supplements can be a useful adjunct to a healthy alkaline diet. At their worst, they can be a crutch that makes it easier to avoid making much-needed changes to an unhealthily acidifying diet.

There are many steps that can help you to reduce the amount of acid inside your body, helping you to shed extra pounds, gain energy, and overcome nagging health problems. The most important thing is to not get overwhelmed by details or obstacles, and instead to start taking action day by day, and keep it up until you see results.

In recent years, the alkaline diet has started to become even more popular than trendy low-carb diets such as the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet. This development has left many observers scratching their heads– until, that is, they try the alkaline diet and discover its benefits for themselves.

Put simply, the reason the alkaline diet is popular is because it works. It is a multifaceted approach to optimal health that not only helps people to achieve and maintain an optimal weight, but also improves energy levels, helps resolve many puzzling health problems, and helps people from all walks of life to achieve a higher level of well-being. Unlike many diets, the alkaline diet is not a dangerously imbalanced fad diet or a crash diet that is intended to achieve extremely rapid weight loss in a short period of time. In fact, you could say that the alkaline diet is not really a diet at all, since it is not intended solely for weight loss, nor is it intended to be followed only for a temporary period of time.

Instead, the alkaline diet is a balanced approach to achieving improved health that is intended to be followed for the rest of your life. After all, when people begin to experience increased energy and the resolution of many chronic health problems, why would they ever want to go back to feeling fat, tired, and sick?

The high-alkaline diet is also different from diets that are designed for people who are suffering from a certain health problem. For example, there are diets designed for people who suffer from hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and various other specific conditions. In contrast, the alkaline diet is intended for everyone. Many people have found it to be helpful for a wide range of health problems, but the alkaline diet is also entirely suitable for people who are already in good health, and who simply wish to preserve and enhance the well-being that they already enjoy.

Many different types of people have discovered the benefits of the alkaline diet, from children and teenagers to elderly adults. After all, nearly everyone experiences the same challenges of a stressful, fast-paced lifestyle. We all want to achieve a healthy weight, have more energy, and steer clear of the devastating diseases that far too many people succumb to in our society.

Alkaline Diet Dangers?

Can alkaline diets be dangerous? Compared with extreme fad diets, or with the standard American diet, the alkaline diet is extremely safe. This is an important consideration– after all, why would you go to the trouble of changing how you eat if your new diet could actually harm your health, instead of improving it? As with all things, however, the alkaline diet could be harmful if you took it to an extreme. The following guidelines will help you to get the greatest benefit from the alkaline diet, while avoiding potential pitfalls.

First, make sure that you are a suitable candidate for the alkaline diet. As I mentioned above, the alkaline diet is appropriate for people from all walks of life. However, there are a few types of people who should exercise caution. If you have kidney problems, or take drugs that regulate potassium levels in your body,check with your doctor before beginning an alkaline diet. Explain that this type of diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, which are high in potassium. For most people, increasing potassium intake is highly beneficial, but in a few cases, this can be problematic.

Second, don’t try to eliminate acid foods from your diet. Practically speaking, you are not at great risk of making your body dangerously alkaline solely by eating alkaline food. Overalkalinity, technically known as alkalosis, is more likely to be caused by the overuse of antacids, and by certain prescription drugs. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to aim for a balanced diet rather than going to any extreme. If you tried to eliminate all acidic foods from your diet, your diet would become quite boring, and you would also be depriving yourself of a number of foods that contain important nutrients. Instead of trying to eliminate all acidic foods from your diet, achieve a healthy acid-alkaline balance by eating approximately two thirds alkaline foods and one third acidic foods.

Third, make sure that you are getting all of the essential nutrients that you need for optimal health. The alkaline diet is rich in whole foods, and therefore it should provide plenty of many vitamins and minerals. However, there are a few nutrients that you may need to supplement. If you are following a vegan diet, you will need to supplement vitamin B12, which is found only in animal foods. You may also need to supplement iron, particularly if you are a woman in your childbearing years. Also, make sure that you’re getting enough omega-3 fatty acids, which can be provided by chia seeds, flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, fatty fish, or a fish oil supplement.

Fourth, make sure that the foods you’re eating are pure and safe. You can eat all the fruits and vegetables you want, but you will not get the optimal benefit from these foods if they are conventionally grown. If possible, purchase fresh produce that is certified organic. The alkaline diet emphasizes drinking plenty of fresh water, so you will want to make sure that you have a good source of drinking water. Many bottled waters are not as safe as you may think, which is why I recommend getting a good reverse osmosis filtration system installed in your home. One of these systems may cost a few hundred dollars, but if you are currently purchasing bottled water, you will save money in the long run.

In conclusion, the alkaline diet can help you gain energy, lose weight, and improve your overall health. My goal in mentioning some of the possible pitfalls is not to discourage you, but rather to help you achieve an alkaline diet program that works for you. By doing your research and exercising some common sense, you too can experience the surprising benefits of the alkaline diet.