by Ann Miller

To raise healthy plants it is imperative that we provide the right soil pH, which enables optimum nutrient uptake. To be healthy ourselves it is imperative that we have the right blood pH. This enables our enzymes to function optimally for the best absorption of nutrients for growth and repair, hormone production and immunity. An abnormal pH--either too acid or too alkaline--can block healing. Unfortunately, an abnormal pH is quite common these days.

I attended an Alternative Cancer Therapies conference several years ago where practitioners from home and abroad agreed that almost all cancer patients are extremely acid. Many less extreme instances of disease are also caused or worsened by overacidity e.g. allergies and hormonal imbalances. Acidosis--over acidity--is more common than alkalosis--over alkalinity--which often results from long term drug therapies. There are many aspects of modern life that promote overacidity. Here are some:

• We tend to breathe too shallowly, limiting our uptake of alkalizing oxygen.
• We are exposed to a lot of toxic chemicals in our environment, personal care products and food.
• We tend to drink too little pure water which is a natural detoxifier.
• Our lifestyles are more and more sedentary.
• We have stressful daily lives.
• We often get inadequate rest.
• Our topsoil has become depleted of minerals and other nutrients, therefore
• our foods have too. (Minerals like Calcium and Magnesium are alkaline-forming and buffer acids.)
• We tend to eat an excess of foods that further deplete minerals e.g. sugar and other refined and processed foods, caffeine, proteins and starches.
• We eat too little fresh, naturally ripened fruits and vegetables.
• We often have to eat on the go, neglecting to relax and chew adequately salivary secretions are alkaline.
   

Conversely, things that traditionally have been touted as good for us are, interestingly, alkaline-forming, like adequate sleep and exercise, vegetables and fruits, meditation, laughter, good thoughts, deep breathing and a clean environment.

Since food choices help to determine our blood and tissue pH and our overall health, I usually encourage my clients to follow an Alkaline-forming Diet. Alkaline-forming foods leave an alkaline residue after digestion, while acid-forming foods leave an acid residue after digestion. A food can contain acids yet be alkaline-forming. This can be confusing; for example while citrus fruits are acidic i.e. contain citric acid, they are alkaline-forming.

Simply, most fruits and vegetables are alkaline-forming and proteins and starches are acid-forming. Cooking and otherwise processing foods makes them more acid-forming. Poorly combining foods also increases their acid-forming tendencies. Perhaps the worst combination is concentrated protein and starch e.g. meat and potato, spaghetti and meatballs, meat sandwiches. While the meat needs acid stomach secretions for digestion to begin, the starches need more alkaline secretions. When we combine them at the same meal, neither gets totally digested, this leaves acid-forming residues that create congestion, metabolic toxins and can be responsible for weight gain.

The following is a formula for an 80% Alkaline Diet, per Dr. Bernard Jensen, with my own comments and notes. Other renowned proponents of this diet are Edgar Cayce and Hippocrates.

Comments:

Numbers refer to 1/2 cup servings per day--up to 2 cups of cooked food per meal.

Breakfast can be the trickiest meal. Many people need more than fruit to hold them 'til lunchtime. I often suggest a raw fruit and fiber breakfast with nut or seed milk. Presoaking nuts and seeds in water overnight (24 hours for raw almonds) will make them easier to digest, thus more compatible with fruit, and more alkaline-forming.

For the average person's stomach, 2 cups of cooked food (more if raw salad) per meal can be handled most efficiently, allowing enough room for some air and liquid so that the stomach can mechanically work on the food, sloshing it back and forth to completely mix it with gastric juices.

Cooked veggies can provide enough starch/complex carbohydrates for those who are grain-sensitive, which often is the case for persons with O Blood Type.

*Avoid dry fruits unless presoaked to reconstitute--add 1/4 tsp. vitamin C

crystals (unbuffered) to a pint jar to kill molds. Avoid fruit entirely for a while if there is yeast imbalance--coated tongue, gassiness, bloating, brain fog. INCREASE veggies to 8 servings/day.

**This and/or parasites can cause excessive hunger--in any event, eating less or no starchy foods and more veggies and protein is beneficial for blood sugar balance and helps to prevent cravings.

If you experiment with this way of eating for awhile, you'll improve your metabolism and feel more energetic after meals, your immune system will be strengthened, your hormones will be in better balance, you might even effortlessly lose a few pounds and your mind.........well, there's always room for improvement!