The Alkaline Diet- cucumber juice anyone....?

Green, alkaline juice

Why alkalise your body?

You must have heard this buzzword on the lips of anyone serious about their health or even those wanting to join the 'latest' diet. Alkalise, alkalise, alkalise. But why? What are the benefits of an alkaline diet?

Your body strives to maintain a healthy urine pH ranging from 6.5 - 8, although optimal pH values throughout the body do vary. Our blood for example, must maintain a slightly alkaline pH of around 7.35 to 7.45- a small fluctuation can result in death. An acidic body is the ideal environment for bacteria and disease to flourish, resulting in a sluggish, poorly functioning body. In this acidic state, the ability of the body to absorb minerals, detoxify heavy metals and repair cells is severely compromised.  Symptoms of an acidic body include:

• Fungal infections such as candida and discolored, yellow toenails.
• Irritability
• Lack of energy
• Lack of mental focus
• Frequent infections
• Weight gain
• Skin conditions
• Premature ageing

Conversely, an alkaline body creates an environment in which most diseases cannot survive, which to put it very simply, means you don't get ill. Consequence of an alkaline body include:

• Increased energy
• Better sleep
• Improved mood
• Improved skin 
• Better digestion
• Regulation of blood sugar levels thereby helping to reduce cravings

just to name a few. What's not to love?!

Sounds great, but how do I achieve this 'alkaline body'?

With a little careful attention to your diet. Basically, you need to limit acid forming foods such as meat, dairy, refined sugars and flours and processed 'dead' food and increase the alkaline ones such as green leafy veg, root vegetables and lemons. It is important to understand however, that not all acid forming foods are bad for you! You just need to make them a smaller part of your diet. For example, a good quality, grass fed, organic beef steak can be eaten with a HUGE serving of salad/ green veggies to minimise the acidifying effect of the meat. 

Foods high in potassium such as bananas, avocados and lemons will help the body buffer acids without drawing these precious minerals from your bones, so make sure you increase these types of food in your diet. Magnesium rich foods such as almonds, pumpkin seeds, spinach and swiss chard act in the same way.  Many of us are found to be deficient in these minerals which have been linked to poor quality sleep, raised blood pressure, anxiety, muscle cramps and fatigue to name a few symptoms, so making a conscious effort to increase these foods in our diet will likely have a beneficial effect in at least a couple of areas of your health.

Probably one of the worst contenders when it comes to acidic foods are fizzy drinks. If you can only do one thing to safeguard your health, cut these out. They have a pH range of about 3 which is around 10,000 times more acidic than pure water... Drinking a fizzy drink with your spinach salad is going to outweigh any alkaline properties gained from the salad.....

Highly alkaline forming foods:

Alfalfa sprouts
Apricots
Asparagus
Avocados
Bananas
Broccoli
Celery
Cucumber
Garlic
Ginger
Kiwi
Lemons
Lettuce
Mango
Parsley
Pears
Pineapple
Seaweed
Spinach
WatercressWatermelon


Highly acid forming foods:


Alcohol
Artificial sweeteners
Cheese
CoffeeFizzy drinks
Ice cream
Meat
Most beans
Refined Salt
White flour products
White sugar

A great way to start your day is with a squeeze of good old lemon in warm water, followed by a green smoothie. "But aren't lemons acidic?" I hear you ask. No, not once they are metabolised by the body, they are actually one of the most alkalising things we can consume. So here's my green smoothie recipe which will result in better digestion, clearer more radiant skin and a much more energised, 'lighter' feeling:

Green Smoothie

1 banana

1 tbsp ground sesame seeds 

1 tbsp ground flax seeds

Generous handful of spinach

1 celery stick

Handful of flat leaf parsley

1 spoonful of virgin coconut oil

A splash of water

Whizz it all together and voila`, a nutrient rich, alkalising breakfast to start the day. I find the banana adds a smooth, rich, thick texture which I love, so I eat this with a spoon rather than drinking it. If you prefer a more liquid consistency, just add more water.

If you have a juicer, this is a great tasting alkaline drink:

Green Juice

Carrot

Cucumber

Celery

Parsley

Ginger

Lemon

Throughout the day, I drink only water or green/white tea, plus 3 times per day I add some raw, organic apple cider vinegar (ACV)to my water. This for me is a 'desert island' item (along with coconut oil and turmeric). The benefits of ACV are numerous, so I won't list them all here but in short, it alkalises the body and is antibacterial and antifungal and a powerhouse of trace minerals and vitamins. If you don't already take this, get ready for a whole new boost to your health........ 

And how long is it going to take before I see any results?

It all depends how toxic your body already is. Beware, starting any new healthy regime can cause you to feel unwell initially. Symptoms can range from headaches to irritability to altered bowel movements. Start gently by adding more vegetables and slowly taking away the processed 'foods' and then add the green smoothie and lemon juice.

Ok, so there you have it. If you eat clean, add plenty of green veg and limit processed foods, you'll be well on your way to a more alkaline body. Aim for 70% alkaline 30% acid forming foods and you should notice some very positive benefits. If you are really interested in knowing how alkaline your body is, why not purchase some inexpensive urine testing strips at your local chemist? Note, you will always get a more acidic reading first thing in the morning. But for many of you, just feeling the difference is more than enough to keep you on track with a healthier diet.

Who's going to take the 2 week alkaline challenge? Try it and let me know how it goes, which benefits you receive and how easy you find it. For fantastic alkaline recipes, check out Honestly Healthy by Natash Corrett and Vicki Edgson- full of inspiring ideas, including desserts.... Get ready for increased vitality!