Health does does not occur by chance. First, you inherit it if you are lucky. Next you earn it and build upon it, or you destroy it. Most people are poorly educated in the process of maintaining health. We are socialized and brainwashed through a lifetime of expensive media and misinformation. We respond to our desires for instant satisfaction and taste sensations, often oblivious to the physical outcome. We indulge ourselves in sweets, fatty foods, alcohol, sodas and a host of other highly refined, highly acid producing substances that tear down our natural defenses and render our bodies incapable of maintaining an optimum balance of health and energy.
An excess of acidic foods in the diet contributes to a wide range of illnesses. Excess acid in the blood stream leads to a build-up of mineral deposits in the joints and arteries, resulting in a restricted range of motion and eventually arthritis and other degenerative diseases. The human organism operates at peak efficiency when the pH of the blood is slightly alkaline with a pH of 7.365 (on a scale of 1-14, with 1 being pure acid, 7 being neutral and 14 pure alkaline). At this concentration your cells will thrive. By following a diet of primarily alkaline foods, you can begin to detoxify your body, removing the excess proteins and acid wastes which create inflammation and degenerative changes. A primarily alkaline diet also helps with weight loss and is a good remedy for chronic vaginal infections and PMS. It pays to learn about the relationship between body pH and diet. Your diet and health are closely related.
When foods oxidize in your body, they leave a residue or ash that is composed of various minerals. If the minerals are primarily sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, these foods are considered alkaline . On the other hand, if the residue is primarily sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and incombustible organic acid radicals, these foods are considered acidic . A general alkalinizing diet consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, sprouts and millet. Green drinks are also very good. As the body throws off toxins, you may feel a little weak or have headaches or other pains. This is called a Healing Crisis (refer to chapter on The Healing Crisis) and is to be expected. Always be sure to drink plenty of clean water (see chapter on Water) to hasten the cleansing process and assist in the elimination of acids and toxins from the body. The urine is made up of water and uric acid
which contains urea. Try to make at least two-thirds of your diet alkaline for at least two weeks and then notice how you feel. You may want to continue indefinitely. Following is a description of what foods produce and Alkaline condition in the body and which ones produce an acid condition:
| Alkaline Foods: alfalfa almond apple apricot amaranth avocado banana bamboo beans, string beets & greens blackberry bread fruit broccoli brussel sprouts buckwheat burdock cabbage, all cactus carrot cauliflower celery cherry chestnut chicory chives coconut, fresh collards cucumber currants date dandelion dried fruit dulse eggplant endive escarole fennel figs garbonza beans (AKA chick peas) garlic grapefruit grapes green bean guava herb teas honey horseradish huckleberry kale kelp kohlrabi leek lemon lettuce lima beans lime litchi nuts loganberry mango melons (all) millet mung beans mung sprouts mushrooms mustard seeds nectarines okra olive oil onion orange papaya parsnip peach pear peppers persimmon pineapple plum pomegranate potatoes prune pumpkin quinoa radish raisin raspberry rhubarb sesame seed oil soy beans soy milk soy sprouts spinach strawberry sunflower seed oil sweet potatoes swiss chard squash (summer, winter) tofu & tempeh tomatoes turnip watercress yam | Acidic Foods: Foods that are italicized are particularly acidic. Note that lack of sleep and strong emotions, particularly anger, bitterness and worry will cause an acidic reaction in the gut. This is why the old adage "don't eat when you're upset" is good to follow. Also note that smoking tobacco causes an acidic reaction. artichokebrazil nut caffeine carob seed chocolate coffee corn (grain, flour) cranberries cress dairy, processed egg whites English walnut fish (all) Jerusalem artichoke legumes lentils mayonnaise meat nuts, roasted oats olives, green peanuts poultry rhubarb, sweet rice, brown or white rye (grain or flour) seeds, roasted sorghum, grai sugar (all) tapioca vinegar water chestnut wheat bran wheat (grain or flour) |
The following foods are neutral or nearly neutral and can be eaten without disturbing the acid alkaline balance:
apples
asparagus
blueberries
butter
corn, sweet, fresh
egg yolks
filbert nuts
goat's milk
milk, non-fat, raw
olive oil
peas, fresh green
watermelon
Scientists have known for years that most bacteria and viruses can only flourish in a very narrow pH (acid/alkaline) range. Since unfriendly bacteria and viruses prefer a slightly acid environment for rapid growth, which is what makes us sick, the bio-chemical challenge has been to safely and naturally change the pH levels inside our cells to a slightly more alkaline range.
The traditional diet is a prescription for disease because it is over 90% acid producing in the body. By learning to alkalize your blood pH with intelligent eating habits you can create a strong and healthy internal environment that no longer supports a diseased condition and unfriendly microorganisms can no longer flourish.
