Time to go alkaline?

The chances are your acid intake is harming your body, is it time to go alkaline? Blogger Hanna Sillitoe tells us why a pH-neutral diet works wonders on your health, waistline and wellbeing.

Do you need more alkaline in your diet? How would you know? The chances are, you’ve been living an acid-rich lifestyle for a very long time. The Western lifestyle we’re so accustomed to is high in saturated fat, simple sugars, sodium and chloride. We’re exposed to alarmingly high levels of everyday stress and we consume pharmaceutical medicines almost habitually when we get sick.

Our main organs of detoxification have to work hard to battle this damaging environment: stress, conventional medicine, a diet full of meat, grains, sugars and stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine are all acid-rich culprits. Our systems are cleverly designed to maintain a very strict blood pH of 7.365, and the body will fight hard to retain this harmony, which is crucial for bone health, immunity and overall wellbeing. So when we’re not supplying an equally rich counter-source of exercise, relaxation and plant-based alkaline foods, we see a disruption to our system that can eventually result in chronic disease through repeated tapping of the body’s reserves.

Neutral territory

Alkaline foods and leafy green juices played a significant role in reversing the symptoms of my chronic autoimmune disorder. Redressing my acid/alkaline balance, which was massively out

of kilter, provided a catalyst for my wonderful journey to optimum health.

The problem is not so much a singular food, but rather the cumulative long-term effects of an acid-rich diet. The good news is, altering your intake is instantly achievable and you will see the beneficial effects on your health, waistline and mental wellbeing very quickly. In my case, my skin’s redness and unbearable itching were reduced within days of switching to an alkaline diet, and the healing began in under two weeks. I’m impatient, so to see this rapid reversal was remarkable to say the least.

Make the changes

The methodology behind an alkaline diet is not to alter the blood’s pH, but rather to try to reduce the strain, allowing the body to maintain its healthy equilibrium without a constant uphill battle. To do this, we need to reduce acid consumption and fuel the system with nourishing, life-giving alkaline foods. To do this, up your intake of fresh fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, pulses, filtered water and fresh air – and make time for relaxation. We spend too much time on the go. Meanwhile, reduce your consumption of refined food, white bread and pasta, sweets, fizzy drinks, alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs. It’s a magic formula – within no time at all you’ll feel stronger, healthier and more energetic.