6 Foods That Can Alter Your Body’s Alkalinity

Have you ever wonder what was the most efficient machine that ever existed? Think about it for a moment. You carry it around with you all day, every day. No, it is not your smartphone. Although, it is a close second place. Yet, we are talking about the human body.

Our bodies need our help, though. We cannot keep beating it down and not expect repercussions. Our food choices today are highly processed, overly fatty, sugary, and very salty. Accordingly, these so called tasty ingredients are wreaking havoc in our internal environment.

These foods tend to be more acidic which lead to changes within our cells, molecules, elements, and tissues. Again, our bodies are amazing at regulating and balancing its insides and out including the body’s pH levels.  In the end, we have one body so care for it and it will return that in kind. How can you help your body and your health at the same time?

The Good

• Fruits and Veggies sometimes get a bad stereotype due to the sugar content. On the converse side, they provide our diets with alkaline substances that offset acidity. In fact, our food consumption has changed so much that our mineral density has changed from higher in potassium to a larger ratio favoring sodium. Yep, we put down the veggies in favor of salt. The ratio of potassium to sodium has health implications. For instance, an improved ratio can reduce muscle wasting and benefit bone health. Additionally, it can abate hypertension and stroke occurrence.

The Questionable

• Alkaline water seems to be a new health trend. If you go in the water isle of the grocery store, you will see new brands lining the shelves. Is this another marketing ploy? Or, have we hit the health jackpot? Of the numerous health claims, alkaline water has anti aging properties, immune boosting qualities to the extent of cancer protection and cure, reflux relief and even weight loss. Yet, the judge and jury are still out on these benefits.

The Overlord and Overloaded

• Sugar, oh how you make my mouth water! We love our sugar. Yet, refined sugar products are difficult for your body to break down properly. Further, it serves very little purpose in our diets because it has been stripped of all the vitamins and minerals during the refining process. The high amount, that is about 152 pounds per person annually, can leave our bodies in an acidic state, not to mention a positive energy balance.
• Please pass the salt. Yes, please pass it right in the depository. Salt has served us well in the preservation of food products, yet we add too much extra in our diets. In fact, sodium can account for a higher acid load to your diet by 50-100%. Maybe, it is time to pass on the salt, please.
• Fat brings us a love hate relationship. Surely, we love how it makes our food taste. Conversely, we hate seeing excess fat on our bodies. Fat plays an essential part in functioning and our body processes. Therefore, we do need to include it in our diets. But, how much? In excess, our bodies have difficulty or inability to breakdown fat, thus creating acidic toxins. Staying between 20-35% of your total calories while limiting Saturated Fat to 10% or less is a good rule of thumb.

The Gross!

• Sodas are just killers in a neatly wrapped can or bottle. Just throw them out! They contain carbonic acid and some have phosphoric acid. Since we are discussing acids and bases, we will refrain from discussing dyes and other chemicals. Yet, it is appropriate to let you know that colas have some of the highest levels of acidity. Trust us; diet or regular, they do nothing to benefit your health.

The key take away is to eat more naturally occurring foods such as fruits and vegetables. Eating these alkaline foods at every meal will neutralize acids from the digestive process. This lessens the depletion of our body’s mineral content. Moreover, the potential for health consequences from high levels of acidity in our bodies will be mitigated when we restore our nutritional requirements and remove more processed foods from our diets.

Always think what food you choose now will best serve you best for tomorrow. Rise and shine, my fitness friends!

Before you change anything in your diet, it is advisable to speak with your doctor.