What is alkaline?
Alkaline describes the pH or the p (potential) H (Hydrogen) ion activity in a substance. The pH scale is 0 to 14. While 0 to 7 is Acidic, 7 to 14 is Alkaline. Thus, 7 is considered neutral. Interestingly, pH levels vary throughout the body. Blood has a 7.35 to 7.45 pH level (the stomach has a 3.5 or lower pH level for efficiently breaking down food). The types of food consumed determines pH maintenance in the body.
Effects of Alkaline Consumption
I believe in Alkaline consumption. It is recognized as a means for prevention and healing, an overall life-enhancing style of eating. Foremost, it helps with weight loss, i.e. it does not include foods that are bad for you: sugar and processed foods (canned and packaged), which causes acidity and preventable health problems, like arthritis and cancer. Replacing meat, dairy, most grains, esp. wheat, refined sugar, and processed foods with alkaline promoting foods, e.g. fruits, vegetables, legumes promotes optimal health and healthy weight and size.
Is Alkaline consumption for you?
Alkaline consumption is not for everyone. If you are carnivore, love alcohol and caffeine, dairy, and grains, love eating at restaurants, this type of consumption may be challenging, but can be done if you are concerned about any health conditions, e.g. food allergies, ADHD. Interestingly, many of us have food allergies, but ignore it. Things are happening to our bodies, mostly through consumption, and we ignore it, or do not make the connection. However, if you are already a vegetarian or vegan, it takes little to no effort to implement. But, if you are concerned about, for example, high blood pressure, heart disease, bad cholesterol, diabetes, osteoarthritis, certain effects of medication, e.g. chemotherapy drugs, alkaline consumption is the best choice for you.
Final notes
With any lifestyle plan, exercise and well-being practices are very important. Sometimes, it is easier said than done to implement such lifestyles in our busy schedules. I struggle with choices every day. But, everyday, I try to program my mind with information about what I want to achieve, so that I can ultimately have the experience/reality. Don’t give up!
Veganista 