Is the alkaline diet for you?
I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday and hopefully got out and did some exercise? Have you got off to a good start this week? Or has the long weekend thrown you off course and you eaten a little more than you should? Maybe you haven’t been organised enough & grabbed something less healthy but convenient?
Though making time for food and preparing meals may sound like a chore, it can be one of the most important keys to the success of your health goals. It’s only Wednesday – there is still time to regroup and get your focus back. Remember to always give yourself praise for everything you’ve achieved so far guys! Today’s Topic Is the alkaline diet for you? Have you ever wondered what the alkaline diet is and how it works? Replace acid-forming foods with alkaline foods – simples! This can help you lose weight and fight serious diseases like the big C! If you want to follow an alkaline diet then 80 % of what you eat should be alkalizing foods and 20 % acid forming foods. It’s a lifestyle rather than a diet!
So our wonderful bodies maintain a delicate pH balance. A number of organ systems neutralize and eliminate acid but there is a limit to how much acid even a healthy body can cope with effectively. For good health our bodies need to be slightly alkaline. The alkaline diet is not trying to change your blood pH...but by making good diet and lifestyle choices you can remove the stress your body undergoes to maintain the healthy pH.
The pH Scale 0 – 14 Over 7 is alkaline Lower than 7 is acidic When we break down food & extract energy (calories) from them, we are actually burning the foods in a slow & controlled fashion – just like wood in a furnace. They then produce waste product “ash”. This ash is acidic or alkaline depending on the mineral, protein or sulphur content of the food. Eating foods that leave behind lots of acidic ash such as refined carbs, sugar, fried or processed foods, can over time increase inflammation in the body. Thus leaving us vulnerable to disease. Generally acid forming foods are processed carbs, refined sugar, alcohol, factory farmed red meat, fried & fatty foods and full fat dairy. The more alkaline foods are leafy green veg, fruits, sprouted grains, almonds, beans, root veg & some tubers.
Feeding your body with vitamins, minerals, fibre, water, antioxidants & phytochemicals can provide your body with protection.
Simply put guys – healthy food creates healthy cells and junk creates junk!
Switching to more fruits, veg, plant proteins, healthy fats and whole, unprocessed foods is clearly a winner over highly processed foods that generally contain far too much sodium, unhealthy fats & countless additives.
Reducing your acid load may help the prevention of kidney stones, maintaining that important muscle mass, reduce arthritis, lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and improve heart health by improving healthy blood pressure.
Do remember though guys that weight loss may be an added bonus to this way of eating but it’s not the main focus. To enjoy the full benefits of the alkaline diet it’s important to include a program of regular exercise, get a sufficient amount of quality sleep, hydrate and include daily stress reducing activities in your busy schedules. Fitness Fact of the week If you eat carbs within 60 – 120 minutes of completing your workout your body can recover much quicker. In the first hour after exercise the body is in an energy depleted state and if provided with carbs it will super compensate for the loss of energy. Keep the fat content to a minimum and include a little protein. Quote of the week “Those who don’t have the time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have the time for illness” Keep active & see you soon Rosie
