Is an Acidic Diet Ruining your Health?
Posted By Clod on October 20, 2011
How acidic or alkaline our diet is, can have a great impact on our health.
Acidic foods are those which leave an acidic residue in our body after they are digested and metabolized. Acidic foods tend to be high in protein and phosphorus.
Alkaline foods leave an alkaline residue in the body, and are those foods high in magnesium, calcium and potassium.
The way we measure the acid-alkaline balance in the body is called the pH.
The normal pH of our body is slightly alkaline at 7.4.
The most acidic foods include the following:
Sugar
Red meat, poultry, fish & eggs
Alcohol
Fried foods
Soft drinks
Dairy products
Grains, especially white flour products
Contrary to common belief, citrus fruits such as lemons are not acidic foods because they are extremely low in protein and phosphorus, with higher levels of magnesium and potassium. All fruits and vegetables are alkaline, as are nuts and seeds. Most legumes are neutral foods.
Modern Diets
With the advent of agriculture and the industrial revolution, grain and cereal consumption has increased dramatically; increasing the acidity of our diet. Modern diets now tend to be high in sugar, refined white flour and red meat, and this has had consequences on our health.
Soft Drinks
Soft drinks are an extremely acid food, not just because they are high in sugar and phosphorus; soft drinks are made from distilled water, which robs the body of minerals, including calcium and magnesium, weakening the skeleton. Distillation is the process whereby water is boiled, evaporated and the vapour is then condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals; therefore it can leach minerals from our body.
Consuming an excess of acidic foods can greatly increase your risk of –
Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis
Gout
Fibromyalgia (aches and pains)
High blood pressure
Under-active thyroid
Kidney stones
Hardening of the arteries
Other degenerative diseases.
Several leading health authorities believe that ageing and disease are largely due to the accumulation of toxic, acidic waste in the body.
How to make your body more alkaline
The Framingham Osteoporosis Study showed that vegetables, fruit, magnesium and potassium are positively associated with strong bone mineral density. Consuming lots of calcium won’t protect you against osteoporosis if you eat too much acidic food that drains calcium and other minerals from your skeleton.
Our book, The Ultimate Detox, contains a 2 week deep cleansing eating plan that is sure to alkalize your body. The eating plan eliminates highly acidic foods such as sugar, wheat, gluten, dairy products and animal foods. The emphasis is on fresh raw vegetables and fruit, vegetable juices, legumes, nuts, seeds and gluten free grains. The Ultimate Detox can help you improve your energy levels, enhance your moods, reduce fluid retention, clear skin and slim down.
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