Alkalizing your body is another wonderful way to stay healthy. Simply put, alkalization is shifting your body's pH to the proper level. In the event the thought of this makes you nervous, there's no need to worry. It's actually much easier than it sounds. The end goal is to have a body which is more alkaline than acidic.
Optimal pH Level
When your body is highly acidic, it tries to balance itself out by getting nutrients from your cells and bones. That's bad. The optimal pH level, to strive for, is just a little over 7. Once this number is reached, it greatly reduces the possibility of disease and cellular damage.
When your body reaches this level, it's generally easy to maintain, as long as you know how to do so. The process involves replacing the acid you eat and drink with foods that alkalize.
Increased Health Benefits
There are many benefits to an alkaline diet. There are indications that if your diet consists of at least 70 percent alkaline foods, you'll improve your quality of life substantially. Health benefits include an increase in energy, a more restful sleep, a slower aging process, a clearer mind and increase protection against certain kinds of cancer.
Consequences of an Unbalanced pH Level
When your pH level is out of whack, it has the potential of affecting your health in many ways. Excess acid is stored in fat cells. The reason for this is that the fat neutralizes the acid. There is good news, however. Once you reach a pH level of 7, it’s entirely possible to lose as much as a pound of fat per day.
Your arteries are affected by pH levels, as well. Why? When your body is highly acidic, it automatically produces cholesterol to protect the arteries. The upside to this is, just like the excess fat cells, the extra cholesterol will disappear once your body is properly alkalized.
Believe it or not, there’s also a possibility that you’ll shrink, if your pH level remains off balance for long periods of time. This occurs when calcium begins to dissipate from your bones due to the acid.
Once your body begins to balance out and become more alkaline, you may experience something that is often referred to as "alkalize and energize." This simply means that you'll start to automatically feel more energized and ready to take on the world.
Foods to Avoid
There are several foods and beverages to avoid on an alkaline diet. The top five categories include:
processed sugar
processed meats
dairy products
coffee
soda
Cutting down or eliminating these foods not only helps to balance your pH level, it makes you healthier overall.
Foods to Enjoy
There are many types of foods that are great for increasing your alkaline level. You don’t have to partake in a boring diet in order to get healthier. Think about incorporating some of the following items into your meal plan. It’s probably simpler than you think!
leafy greens
Chia seeds
almonds
beets
bananas
garlic
figs
lemons
melon
tomatoes
and broccoli
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