Alkaline Diet

Acid Alkaline Diet

Lora — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:52:06 +0000

Did you ever wonder about what is in the alkaline diet and how this works in the body? Did it also enter your mind on how this is applied but could not get a grip of what it involves?

This article will help you understand the alkaline diet and the implications it has as well as the changes it can bring your body.

The Basics of the Acid Alkaline Diet

Defining the Alkaline Diet

The acid alkaline diet is a straightforward and basic approach to maintaining health. This is backed up by extensive research and science by Dr. Robert Young who is a biologist and a blood microscopist. To fully understand the acid alkaline diet, it is best to first understand the details of the diet.

The body is naturally alkaline. The pH level of the body’s cells and fluids like the blood is naturally at 7.365 that may be described as slightly alkaline. And like the way that the body will naturally regulate one’s temperature to stay in tight range, it will do the same for one’s pH level of the different body fluids. And as the body creates acids naturally by the functions of the body, the small buffering system of the body’s alkaline level keeps one alkaline.

The body naturally maintains the cells, blood and other bodily fluids at slightly alkaline level which is 7.365 and it will keep these at all times and will function to maintain the balance. And as it does this, the body will use its stored alkaline buffers to help neutralize acids that one gets from the foods that they eat or from the natural excretion through the body’s processes. Such buffers of the alkaline diet are easily depleted since many eat all sorts of foods unaware of the acid contents of it.

In context, pH scale may be described as logarithmic in short pH 6 is ten times more acidic compared to pH 7, and pH 5 is hundred times more acidic compared to pH 7 and that pH 4 is a thousand times more acidic. Sodas have a pH level between 2 to 3. So one can easily imagine what a diet of meat, fizzy drinks, dairy products, alcohol and others could do to the stored alkaline in the body that results to its quick depletion.

And once people deplete these stored alkaline in their body and still consume highly acidic foods, what will happen to the body?

The body draws alkaline minerals to the places in the body it can source from like for instance, the body will draw out more calcium than the usual to help neutralize these acids however the results of these drastic measures done by the body will eventually lead to the emergence of osteoporosis symptoms hence articles that relate soda consumption is strongly related to osteoporosis condition.

With the many changes that have evolved around us, one’s lifestyle and diet has drastically changed over the years and it cannot be denied that it is because of such that acidity of one has also increased over time. The factors that commonly contribute to one’s acidity are stress, diets, emotions, lack of physical exercise, and many others.

Now targeting the diet, one can say that most of the foods that are naturally acidic or contain too much acid are sugar, yeasts, trans fat, dairy products, alcohol, simple carbs, refined or process foods and many others. These acids are contained in foods that most people love like colas, fizzy drinks, chips, pizzas, cakes, microwave meals, biscuits, crisps, caffeine, breads, fatty meats, cheese, ice cream, beers, wines, smoking, condiments, creams, milky drinks and many more, some of the foods people already know off.

Foods that are naturally alkaline are those of fresh organic vegetables, omega oils, salads, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and pulses. It is important that as much as possible one should eat these raw, fresh and organic to have the best nutrients that one can get out of them. Of course you should also drink a lot of fluids especially water and fresh fruit juices as they are also rich in alkaline content.

Such guidelines are not that hard to follow and very simple to follow and understand. You can easily group foods into alkaline or acid rich based foods and one can do this very easily.

So the following may be good rules to follow to properly group foods into alkaline or acid rich based foods.

1) If the food is rich in alkaline minerals such as potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium then these are sources of alkaline for the body.

2) However- even if the food does have alkaline content in them but contains the following, then these may be said as acid rich based foods.

Sugar
Yeast
Contains fungi such as mushrooms
Is fermented such as soy sauce
Is processed, refined and microwaved

With these, one can understand some misconception of foods that may be said to be acid or alkaline based. Some fruits for instance are unfortunately high in acid because of its high levels of sugar content. For instance, bananas are rich in potassium and have 25% sugar content. The only fruits that are acceptable to be alkaline are lemons and limes- good for flavorings and dressings, tomatoes, avocados, watermelon and grapefruit; these fruits are alkaline based because these contain low sugar levels.

Sugar is one great issue since the blood tends to deviate from the normal pH level of the body that is 7.365 which results to major stress of the entire body. The body needs to keep the normal pH levels intact and to do this it will go to extreme steps and sacrifices.

Factors that could affect one’s acidity

Stress, lack or no physical activity and emotions all contribute to one’s alkalinity or acidity. Dr. Young with his extensive analysis of the live blood has actually noticed that emotions have an effect to one’s blood and health twice as much and so all of the aforementioned factors do in fact contribute to the wellness of the body. Exercise is generally essential to the body since it helps pumps blood to circulate in the body as well as lymph to help eliminate wastes and supply enough oxygen to the different organs and cells.

This is all the detailed explanation of what the acid/alkaline diet is and how it works in the body.

And a simpler explanation to the Acid/Alkaline diet is the following:

The body is naturally designed to be in an alkaline state and it will do all measures to keep it that way for a long time. And so when one consumes acidic rich foods, avoid exercise and then continually go on being stressed and experience negative emotions it is likely that the body gets overwhelmed with too much acid that may result to all sorts of complications.

It is not surprising that people already know acid rich foods that are harmful to the body like sodas, chips, sweets, burgers, beer, dairy product and etc., this goes the same for foods that are good for the body which many of us already know of as well like leafy vegetables, fresh foods, salads, seeds, nuts and etc.

To successfully achieve an alkaline diet, one needs to start a 70 to 80 percent alkaline rich foods and limit or restrict from eating acid based foods. Don’t forget to also drink 3 to 4 liters of pure water everyday to be more refreshed, energized and rejuvenated.

It is always good to listen to your mom and eat green vegetables every day.

5 Healthy Valentines Day Tips

Lora — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:53:57 +0000

It’s happy hearts’ day and ladies couldn’t help having their heart all a-flutter over the excitement of what their sweethearts have prepared for them.

Valentine’s day is simply relishing on the fact that you have somebody to laugh with, to cry with, share your thoughts with, dream with, and enjoy life with. It’s a time to take a pause from the hurly-burly of life and try to make sense of what the hustle is really all about. It’s a time to relax and just chill out with your most favorite person in the world.

Celebrating Valentine’s day need not be extravagant for your girl to swoon over you all over again. Fact is, every girl just needs to feel they are special and thought of regardless of the method and style. A dinner at an expensive restaurant is not bad. It will give your sweetheart the chance to doll up and flaunt the fact that the object of her affection is taking extra care to make her feel special on Valentine’s day.

However, us girls (who does not care for frills) would also kill to have our sweethearts cook for us, prepare a dinner for two on the rooftop of his flat, surrounded by flowers, with the stars winking and smiling approvingly at us. I wouldn’t say ‘no’ to candles and a sparkling red grape juice either. So like the movies, I know. What you might be able to cook up may not be exactly like the movies but my point is, any guy can make Valentine’s special for his girl in any other way…without giving way to unhealthy foods. It’s not so much about the theatrical effects. It’s more of who you chose to spend Valentine’s day with and what little ways you do to make it memorable for both of you. The more important thing is your thoughtfulness.

There are a lot of advantages of simply whipping up something for your girl.

Firstly, you don’t have to sweat trying to make reservations on that overly expensive restaurant a year ahead just to make sure you’d have a table available.

Secondly, you’ll be able to control the ambiance of your dating place. You can play the music tracks you both want.

Thirdly, you don’t have to look over your shoulder over other tables and see if what you’ve ordered is at par with excellence.

The good thing about cooking for your girl is that you can couple the great, memorable moments with equally great healthy alkaline food.

Here are a few tips to consider for your menu this Valentine’s day -

Use heart-friendly fats

The good thing about salad is that you get to pour in as much of healthy olive oil as you like. Frying stuffs with olive oil is also a healthy alternative.

Give love with whole-grains

Go for whole-wheat pasta when you’re considering for a pasta main dish. A whole-wheat bread would be perfect to wipe the sauce round the plate before munching on it and complete the meal.

Fruit desserts are equally sweet

Of course, any special meal is not a meal without a dessert. Skip the fattening cakes and pastries. Fruits would be as sweet, literally and figuratively speaking, without the guilt afterward. If it were up to me, palm dates would be equally nice, if not exotically attractive to the palate. Trying a never-been tasted fruit like the tropical durian would be quite an added excitement to this special day. I heard some use durian as an aphrodisiac too. Hmm…

Less with the sodium

Don’t go too dependent on salt to season your recipes. Salt increases the risk of developing a high blood pressure. You can spike your recipe up by adding spices and herbs instead. They make the recipe more interesting too. It also goes without saying that you should opt for fresh food items. Canned or preserved foods usually use salt as preservatives. It’s therefore very unhealthy.

Chocolates?

If you are buying chocolates, you might want to choose darker chocolates which have less sugar and milk. You can also consider other healthier alternatives like Macadamia nuts, or a variety of nuts and seeds for him or her.

To cap the night off, and the one thing a girl can’t have too much for a perfect Valentine date recipe, is a good company and good humor. Happy heart’s day everyone.

11 Reasons Why Raw Food Diet Rocks Your Body

Eden — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:29:41 +0000

I’m sure you have heard of many awesome benefits about Raw Food Diet, but you may not know some of these 11 reasons and benefits on how Raw Food could rock your body and boost your health. Watch this exclusive raw food video to discover the 3 surprising raw food diet tips that boost your energy, melt your fat and heal your body.

I. Rich in Phytonutrients

That which give fruits and vegetables radiant and lonely different colors is called the phytonutrients, the word came from” phyto” which means plant and then word “nutrients”, these are very good source of antioxidants and are very helpful in the prevention of chronic diseases which many people are prone to having. According to Doctor Hayman and Doctor Galland, these phytonutrients help stimulate the metabolism in its cellular level and helps in regulating hormones that controls one’s appetite.

II. Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

When food is cooked or altered in any machine that is 130 degrees and above, the vitamins and minerals present evaporates or disappears so there are less nutrients consumed. In simple words, the more a food is cooked, the lesser nutrients it has therefore, the food that one consumed is just a pile of “junk” which is contradicts the main purpose of why we eat which is to be healthy.

On the contrary, if one eats some food raw, the more they consume some of its nutritive value which should be the goal of eating healthy. Organic fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw are very much healthy to the body. People who have been practicing to eat organic food can very much tell the difference whether the food that they are being served at restaurants are chemically produced ones or organically grown because of the different taste it manifests.

Making a simple salad for instance can very much tell the difference if the food is organic based or not because of the different colors it has, you can tell by color itself if the food is organic or not. Salads are made up of different variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and the more there are fruits and vegetables in it the more vibrant the colors are it is just about the presentation of it.

Presentation is also another key so that these foods are eaten by the whole family, if a food is presented in such an eeky way children will not likely to eat it even for some adults, so better think about how you present your salad, so that the whole family can appreciate and eat the whole bowl of it.

III. Rich in Enzymes

Enzymes are responsible for breaking down raw food. In some research conducted it was found out that foods that are high in enzymes helps in the digestion of the body it was also said to slow down the aging and increase one’s vitality. Enzymes are the body’s power, it directs every single activity to the body. As quoted by Doctor Gabriel Cousens who had a Master’s Degree , ‘Enzymes can even help repair our DNA and RNA.’

In losing weight, enzymes are as much to be thankful for as any other nutrients. The lipase, “fat splitting” enzyme can be found in raw food, it functions in helping the body digest and burn fat easily for energy consumption. Another enzyme that is most helpful is called the protease, it is responsible in splitting up proteins into amino acids that helps in body block building a well as eliminates toxins.

IV. Rich in Proteins (Yes, Plenty of Proteins)

Proteins can also be found in plants as many of us may be unaware of because of the misconception that proteins can only be found in meat products, dairy products and the like. Now to prevent any more confusion and misconception, proteins can also be found in plants and truthfully, these plant based proteins are way easier to digest and break down compared to meat or dairy based proteins.

In detail, proteins are found in plants deep inside a wall of fiber, fiber is also another good nutrient in the body as it helps in digestion and cleansing and flushing away all toxins in the body, while on the other hand, meat based protein from animals are found deep inside a wall of so much fat and cholesterol which are very hard to break down by the body and has a lot of health related problems when consumed.

When cholesterol builds up in the body, the veins and arteries can be clogged that can cause a lot of problems like stroke, heart attack and the like, it also does no good to the digestion of the body as it is not easily absorbed, so better switch to eating plant protein based food as it especially those green ones as it helps one become healthy and it can also complete the essential 8 amino acids that the body needs.

Proteins present in food that is cooked can cause chains of the amino acid to congeal and when this happens it can do more damage to the body than good. A food cooked over 180 degrees Fahrenheit can lost all of its vitamins, enzymes and minerals in it, the building blocks of protein-amino acid deteriorates and is completely destroyed at a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A finding that most might not have hear of is that too much protein can actually destroy the body like the kidneys, digestive tract and more.

People who are on the program to lose weight that might be in the protein high diets should read the fact that the ACS or the (American Cancer Society) people who eat meals with meat 3 times more only gained more weight compared to those who have been strictly on the vegetable side of the diet, this was based on a study done on an 80,000 participants who aimed to lose weight. A published study by the Journal of the Clinical Nutrition and New England Journal of Medicine said that meat lovers are prone to gaining weight than vegetable lovers do. Add to that the health risks it poses.

Protein based diet can pretty much make more damage to you than you can imagine, yes it does help you lose weight and all but there are certain side effects to all diet, some trainers who endorse this program would argue that it is just part of the weight loss program but it is actually not, that is your body already telling you to stop and take a look of what it is doing to you, it’s not safe anymore.

You as the owner of your body should be able to tell whether a diet program is working for you or not, don’t let anyone else control you and tell you what is good and what is not. Eating a high protein meal can cause a lot of complications to the body, proteins that are animal based is too acidic when consumed can cause the acids to increase and affect the blood stream which in turn can stress the kidneys.

High fat and protein consumption is found out to cause serious illnesses like cancer, arthritis, heart disease, bone problems, liver and kidney problems. Some people who may have some concerns about eating meat raw, though these are rich in enzymes, raw meat can also be a host of some parasites that are may cause some problems when it enters the body, raw fishes can also be dangerous if these were polluted with heavy metals that came from highly polluted body of water.

But now that proteins can be found in plants, there is no discussion at all in how to include protein in eating raw food. They are much safer as they are natural based coming from different fruits and vegetables like seeds (hemp seeds), nuts, sprouts, beans and algae, these can even be good for athletes, pregnant women, and dieters who are aiming to get lean muscles.

Higher protein content can be found more in raw food than in cooked ones, therefore many medical professionals agree that quality should be more of the target than quantity. Once you eat raw food, raw proteins is easily absorbed and digested by the body because the amino acids and enzymes are still present and are not destroyed as compared to when food is cooked that causes these enzymes to settle in the colon area and may even increase the susceptibility of one to various health problems. The benefits of eating food raw are for the good digestion of food, while making it easier for the body to absorb all the phytonutrients and enzymes that are very much healthy and needed by the body.

The Okinawan and Hunzans tribe of Pakistan are known to live longer among any other tribe in the world and it was found out that 20 percent of their meal consists of protein. Non-vegetarians on the other hand are still advised to at least add half their meal of raw food as some may say that they reduced eating animal protein once they started on eating more of raw food.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, a person is required to eat at least 30g a day of protein while depending on one’s weight and level of activity. Assuming that you work a lot like a marathon runner or a weight lift trainer you are required to consume 40 to 70g of protein, bottom line is to know your body well, you’ll soon see the difference in your body once you start your diet with eating raw and organic food like fruits and vegetables.

V. Fats

Once you eat raw fat it can be very help you to prefer eating more raw food than those cooked ones, so long as you eat lots of fruits and vegetables to balance out your meal, you need to worry about eating raw fat. “Good Fats” consists of mono unsaturated fat which can be found in almonds, avocados, olives, omega 3 in fishes, walnuts and flax seeds. It also includes poly unsaturated fats that can help flush down all toxins in the body. The aforementioned benefits of fats in raw food are great that it can help the body heal fast. Other foods that contain raw fat include sesame seeds, sunflower seed and others.

“Good fats” from avocados, nuts, seeds and others cannot cause one to be fat, with everything consumed in moderation, even eating it daily cannot cause harm to the body especially to one’s weight.

“Bad Fats” consists of trans fat, animal fat, refined and processed fat like cooking oils and other stuff. “Good fat” like the avocado are very heat sensitive, once cooked they are easily damaged by it. Fats heated lose their natural antioxidant qualities and are said to be carcinogenic. And more interesting news is that cooked or processed fats lose its nutritional value, so salmon that are cooked lose their omega 3 values as they are highly heat sensitive.

Nuts on the other hand that are said to contain “good fat” are highly acidic so better eat them in moderation with mixed green vegetables to have a alkalizing effect. Tip: to have less acidity in your seeds and nuts soak it overnight before using it.

VI. Digestion, Absorption, and Elimination

Have you ever heard of the “digestive fire”? This occurs when there is improper food mixture and poor digestion. Some individuals may have already experienced, some symptoms of this are lack of sleep, poor energy and exhaustion and partly to blame is because of poor digestion. A healthy digestive system effects are good physical, mental and emotional condition. If one has a good digestive system it can help in the proper absorption of food and all of its vital nutrients.

Moreover sign of a good digestion is the proper elimination of wastes which is having normal bowel movements. A normal bowel movement would mean an equal ratio of having bowel movements to the meals that is eaten in a day, in short if you ate 3 meals in a day, you must at least have 2 to 3 bowel movements in a day as well.

Individuals who have just started with the raw diet program would be surprised at the number of times they go to the bathroom and that is usually 4 to 5 times in a day which is just normal because it is just starting out to clean the digestive tract. Most people may also be surprised to know that they should be having more than one bowel movement in a day. The big difference when one switch to eating raw is almost so visible, you may notice a change in your energy levels, you feel renewed, rejuvenated and youthful as well.

While under the raw diet program you will notice that you digest food much easier making you absorb the many nutrients of the different food that you eat raw, your usual cravings for some unhealthy foods will also lessen. As for the digestion part, you may have slight difficulties at first because of the many toxins that you are flushing outside the body but it will soon go away. As the body is being cleansed, there may be some unpleasant side effects but this is nothing compared to the many benefits the raw diet gives.

The process of elimination usually starts when the lymph releases unprocessed proteins, chemicals and toxins in the blood stream which is where it is released. Some symptoms of the detoxification process include headaches, hot or cold flashes, mucus discharge, fever, drowsiness, bad breath and others. The sound of it may be unpleasant but once you are out of the process and have eliminated all the toxins in your body, you will feel great and surprisingly full of energy.

VII. Acidity and Alkalinity

Acidity and alkalinity is measured with the use of a pH scale, the importance of knowing this information would mean a lot as it would guide one into knowing the best way to stay healthy and avoid all sorts of sickness. An acidic body can be prone to chronic illnesses like cancer, kidney problems and others and symptoms of acidic body are arthritis, muscle stiffness, fatigue, headache, chest pain, stomach ache and many more.

Understanding of how the body becomes acidic is a good way to start being healthy. One cause of which is poor diet coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle. Sadly, but is a fact that the American household is very fond of acidic meals, examples include, sugar products, fast food products, dairy products, high in fat products and others. There are thousands of food that are bought everyday with tons of additives, preservatives, sugar, fats and others which are all sources of acid. That is why you need to incorporate alkaline based food in your diet to balance out all the acidic foods that you have been consuming for a very long time, a high source of alkaline based food are raw foods. Most raw fruits and vegetables are alkaline based ones so eat a lot of raw foods if you can. Another major contributor to being acidic is stress, so try your best to avoid it.

VIII. Eating Organic Foods

The word “organic” would mean the natural way that a fruit, vegetable or even animals are raised. Many people may have heard of the word “organic farming” and it mainly means the natural way of farming without the use of any chemicals like pesticides, growers, fertilizers, herbicides or enhancers and being able to be labeled as a “certified organic” farm or product would mean that you have conformed to the highest standards of organic, this may only be authorized by private organizations or the government of an Independent State.

According to Doctor Alan Greene from “Stanford’s Children’s Hospital” the immune system will not waste energy into fighting off toxins present in commercially produced fruits and vegetables if one eats organic products. Organic products help the immune system ward off disease and illnesses and are also high in antioxidants although the body has its own defense system, it can also wear out especially if one has abused their bodies, and to counter attack the toxins present in the environment, one must limit him or herself from being exposed to toxins and stress. Herbicides and pesticides that are mostly present in commercially produced food has been found out to be carcinogenic that lead to deadly cancer diseases.

The cost of organic foods is more expensive compared to commercially made foods but the benefits of eating it are far greater. Eating more organically produced foods keeps one’s body healthier that in turn will keep you from frequenting hospitals because the lesser you are to sicknesses which is one way you get to save money, you may also not need medications for sicknesses because your body is much more healthier. The mere reason that organic products cost more because it must follow the highest standards of being naturally grown and there is not much farm out there that produce organically made food, so they cost more. Of course if you want to get more quality products you have to pay more.

To make this much easier to understand let us take the example of a drinking water, all of us would think twice before drinking tap water, so of course we pay more to drink bottled water which is way more costly than drinking just tap water. Tap water of some municipalities may be safe to drink but this is not for all. To think that we pay more to drink bottled water but not on organically produced foods doesn’t make sense.

Here are some benefits of eating organic produce:

Ultimate health and nutritional value: facts on organic produce have 300 percent more of vitamins and minerals.
Organic products are tasteful which is why chefs uses this more than commercial ones
Lesser amount of chemicals are consumed
Lesser exposure to carcinogenic products
Environmental friendly
No GMO’s or “Genetically Modified Organisms”

IX. Plenty of Fruits

Fruits are one of nature’s best gifts to mankind. Fruits have many health benefits to offer not to mention has a great alkalizing effect. Fruits helps to balance sugar levels in the body and controls cravings as well. A simple banana wrapped in a romaine leaf lettuce is very healthy not to mention easy and simple to do. If you prefer you may add green fresh vegetables to your favorite smoothies like celery, romaine celery, parsley or kale to make it more nutritious and healthy.

The Raw Diet program enforces one to drink more water than they normally do, your body would want more water and fruits coincidentally contain water which is good. Fruits are also rich in vitamins and minerals which help a lot in maintaining a healthy body. A noticeable effect also of the raw diet is you may crave more fruits than you usually do, another way to stay healthy.

X. Plenty of Greens

It was said that nutritionist find green vegetables an interesting topic that they even argue and discuss it among themselves. Many people may take green leafy vegetables for granted and just put it on the side of their plate or throw them away but in fact these are one of the most healthiest foods are around, it has the main percentage of essential minerals for each calorie of any type of food.

In the raw diet program it is very much recommended to eat digestible food like the green foods- celery, lettuce, sprouts and unsweetened fruits like tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, red bell pepper and summer squash. Some green vegetables are quite difficult to digest like cabbage, collards, broccoli and kale, this may be softened if you marinate them in olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt so it can be easier to digest.

Another remedy that you may do to help you digest those dark green vegetables is to make them as juice extracts and drink them like your home made smoothies, couple of glasses of it will make you feel stuffed. People who are always “on the o” may also bring with them dehydrated green foods as part of their supplements, it is convenient and easy to bring anywhere.

XI. Raw Foods For Calcium – Not Dairy Products!

Dairy products are found to have a mucous forming effect to people. These are packed with cholesterol and saturated fats. Some effect of eating dairy products to some people is having a cold or allergic reaction. Undigested lactose and acid in pasteurized milk is often the breeding place of some bacteria that when consumed can greatly affect the intestines of the body.

Interesting facts about milk is that humans are the only living animals on the planet to drink it and what’s more is that from the milk of other animals. Dairy industries around the planet are one of the richest businesses with lots of other products that can be made out of milk like butter, cheese and milk.

Traditionally, we have all been raised to believe that calcium found in milk can help reduce bone related problems like osteoporosis but here is the fact: not a single study has been found out that proves consuming dairy products can help prevent osteoporosis, in fact many doctors and medical experts agree that high levels of protein in dairy products actually leaches the calcium from one’s body.

In related studies, countries that consume more dairy products were actually found out to have the most related cases of osteoporosis, so the saying that milk is healthy for bone building is just a bunch of lies, just a marketing strategy to encourage consumers to buy dairy products.

Arthritis is also another disease that most elderly people suffer from and it was found out that once you stop eating dairy products the lesser they are to be prone to arthritis and other bone problems. So better think twice about drinking your glass of milk.

Raw diet program is still the best way to get calcium for your body. Calcium can be found in many fruits and vegetables like nuts, seeds, kale, cabbage, kelp, seaweed, broccoli, watercress, collard and mustard greens and many more. These foods also offer other nutrients like magnesium, manganese, chromium, selenium and others. An alternate that you can have as your milk in your cereals is the almond milk, a very delicious and healthy milk rather than cow’s milk.

Keeping Up!

Here are some few tips as you go through the transition of the raw diet:

Chew properly, make sure that the food is well grinded.
Avoid drinking water before and after your meal as water may dilute the body’s digestive enzymes. If you do need a drink then sip just a small amount of water mixed with lemon extract. The perception that drinking water before a meal will make you stuffed is all wrong except if you eat dehydrated foods which has its water removed.
Begin this diet gradually, do not rush over it. Take your time.
Never experiment and combine foods that should NOT be combined as this may only have adverse digestion effects on your body.
As previously mentioned for easier digestion blend your food or puree them, like when eating apples, this can be made into a smoothie or a drink that you can easily drink same with easy digestion and absorption. Salads may also be made as a smoothie just with the right food combination with it.

So in general, it’s all about your food choices, it’s all up to you to choose which path you take. One path is the Standard American Diet or the other path which is the Raw diet and with each small step that you take, you can either advance to becoming healthy and staying healthy or you get stuck up at your current position. The steps are not easy to take but it’s a sacrifice that one has to take in order to have a healthy and stronger body.

3 Christmas Health & Fat Loss Strategies

Emma Deangela — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:46:30 +0000

With Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year, all happening around
the corner, I’ve put up a list of 3 different strategies that you
can use to control weight gain and protect your health.

Strategy #1: Don’t Overeat

The holiday party is going to be really exciting, with lots of
foods set up on the table, maybe a turkey, ham or some other
delicacies.

I’m not going to force you not to eat these foods. You can eat if
you want but just don’t overeat.

You see, when you overeat, your stomach have to work harder
to digest the foods, and may cause multiple damages to
various parts of the body.

One of the immediate effects of overeating is bloatedness. I’m sure
you know how it feels like and sometimes it would worsen and cause
upset stomach, mood swings, or even diarrhea.

So do your body a favor by eating till you are around 80%-90% full.

One tip you can do to avoid overeating is to arrive at the party
“half full”. Eat something healthy before the party so you won’t
show up with your stomach growling and mouth salivating.

Strategy #2: Avoid Holiday Drinks

In most parties, there will be lots of different holiday drinks
like orange juice, red wine, beer, coca cola, and many more..

The problem with these drinks are that they are usually full of
sugar, and they are highly acidic.

When you drink them together with your foods, it would tilt the
body pH level to the acidic range. Besides that, drinking these
drinks would dilute the digestive juices in your stomach that are
essential to digest the holiday feast.

One tip to avoid these holiday drinks is to go for plain water or
natural fruit juices that are prepared on the spot.

Strategy #3: Increase Your Stomach’s Digestive Enzymes!

Digestive enzymes are extremely important to help your digestive
systems to digest foods effectively.

You might be thinking, how am I going to increase my stomach’s
enzymes?

Of course the easiest way is to get some digestive enzymes
supplements or pills. They can work very effectively to boost your
digestive system.

Another way is to eat slowly, chew more, and savor the flavor. When
you chew slower, foods are broken down into smaller pieces which
help the stomach to digest these foods easier.

There are more saliva being released when you chew your foods more.
Do you our saliva are natural digestive enzymes?

That’s all for the 3 Christmas Healthy & Weight Loss Tips..

I wish you a Merry Christmas! And have a memorable and happy holidays!

Turmeric Could Have Saved Steve Jobs From Pancreatic Cancer

Staff Writer Candy Del Carmen — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:27:36 +0000

The seven-years battle Steve Jobs had with pancreatic cancer is now over and yet the whole world mourned with his death. Although he lived for years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, many health experts believe that he could have lived longer. A doctor from Harvard University recalled that when Steve Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he should not have delayed the operation for nine months before he undergoing the surgical procedure. Others believe that he died either because of the complications from the secret liver transplant performed in 2009 or his recent chemotherapy treatment months before he died.

Whatever the reason may be, this article will shed light on those who have little understanding of pancreatic cancer, its standard treatments, and other health alternatives that can prevent this fatal disease.

Pancreatic Cancer Overview

The pancreas is situated in the upper abdomen beneath the stomach which composed of glands responsible for producing enzymes and insulin to regulate the blood sugar levels. The start of cancerous cell growth normally starts in the ducts which carry the pancreatic juices. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, also the most aggressive, is adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in its early stage.

The common symptoms for pancreatic cancer are weight loss, pain in the back and abdomen, loss of appetite, diarrhea, bloating, and jaundice. More often than not, the period of time between diagnosis and death is shorter than expected.

Pancreatic Cancer Standard Treatments

Since pancreatic cancer lacks of curative option and poses a great challenge to the medical treatment field, standard treatments can be done such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

In surgical procedure, the head of the pancreas, parts of the small intestine, stomach, gallbladder, and bile duct are removed. Only enough of the pancreas will be left to produce the insulin and digestive juices. That surgical procedure is called the whipple procedure.

On the other hand, total pancreatectomy is performed to remove the entire pancreas, common bile duct, gallbladder, part of small intestines and part of the stomach. Now, if the cancer has already spread and it is dangerous to be remove the organs, palliative surgery will be done to at least relieve the symptoms. Biliary bypass is performed when the cancerous cells blocks the bile produced by the gallbladder from reaching the small intestine. The doctor then forms cuts the bile duct or gallbladder and bridge it to the small intestine in order to create pathway around the blocked area.

Another surgical operation to consider is endoscopic stent placement where the tumor starts to block the bile duct and the doctor needs to put a stent to drain the bile that has accumulated around the area. Lastly, a gastric bypass is done when the tumor blocks the flow or digestion of food from the stomach. In this surgical operation, the stomach is sewn to the small intestine for the patient to eat normally.

For radiation therapy, it is a cancer treatment which uses radiation or high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. External radiation therapy is performed through the use of a machine or internal radiation with the use of radioactive substance put in wires, catheters and seeds and placed directly near the cancerous areas.

Lastly, the standard treatment for pancreatic cancer is chemotherapy where the patients take drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells either through injection or by mouth. Chemotherapy can be given depending on the stage and type of pancreatic cancer.

Which treatment of Steve Jobs that could have saved him?

Doctors and many people blamed Job’s decision to delay the surgery while he pursued other alternatives such as herbal medicine and even acupuncture from the time he was diagnosed of pancreatic cancer. In 2004, he underwent pancreatic surgical procedure that removed the neuroendocrine tumor from his pancreas.

Jobs received a liver transplant in March 2009 which is said contribute to his ailments. Dr. William Chapman, transplantation chief of Washington University who did not treat Mr.Jobs, said that it is hard to treat pancreatic cancer with liver transplant. Long term complications are may arise and many related side effects may be experienced during medication. It can also lead to a liver failure and increase the need for another liver transplant.

Jobs passed away a few months after chemotherapy treatments at the Stanford Cancer Center in California. No question was targeted at the multiple treatments Jobs undergone in his attempt to survive pancreatic cancer as poisons may be introduced into his body, resulting in a sudden deterioration in his health. His loss is extremely saddening to all his followers around the world but surely, his legacy will remain a niche in the field of modern technology.

Turmeric as the Best Alternative to Avoid Pancreatic Cancer

Turmeric does not only look like ginger but it is also a relative of ginger with a bitter taste. For over thousand years, herbalists use turmeric to treat viral infections, stomach troubles and other ailments. The secret lies in the curcumin contents of turmeric. Since the pancreas lies near the stomach and pancreatic cancer can spread rapidly but show vague signals during the early stage, researchers are now exploring the possible use of turmeric to prevent this type of cancer, including cancers of the breast, skin, stomach, mouth and esophagus.

In one clinical study involving 21 patients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, the patients were given 8 gm of turmeric daily. 2 patients responded positively to the curcumin treatment; their condition stabilized for more than 18 months and there was a significant regression of the tumor to up to 73%. Other blood test markers also showed improvement.

The theory is based on the active chemical which is known as curcumin that interferes with the flow of blood supply causing the cancer cells to shrink. The antioxidant in turmeric is said to be very effective in protecting the damaged cells. Although the results of curcumin is very promising, more research needs to be conducted for it to be conclusive. Therefore, always consult your doctor for further advice before starting to consume turmeric.

Natural Health Audio Series #2

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:21:30 +0000

Announcement: This is Natural Health Training Program dedicated to friends and valued subscribers.

Natural Health Audio Series #2

“The Health Secrets of Water That Boost Your Health and Increase Your Energy”

healthsecretsofwateraudioprogram.mp3

(Enjoy your free audio training series. Feel free to share with your friends. To play the audio, simply press the play button above.)

Hormones in Milk

Lora — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:46:55 +0000

Most American children today wake up to a glass of warm milk or a bowl of cereals with generous amount of the white liquid. From our ancestors’ time until now, kids have been drinking up milk on a daily basis, believed to be the complete food perfect for growing kids to ensure strong bones and healthy body. But are we still drinking the same milk our ancestors used to have? Is it really as good as we were made to believe?

Sadly this is not the case. According to Dr. Ganmaa Davaasambuu, Ph.D. (environmental health) who is also a Harvard scientist,

“The milk we drink today is quite unlike the milk our ancestors were drinking…The milk we drink today may not be nature’s perfect food.”

The Sad Truth

In a study published by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, a concoction of different kinds of antibiotics, painkillers and yes, growth hormones were found by scientists in a glass full of milk. The chemical residues that were found in samples of milk from goats, cows, and even humans, are from different chemicals used in treatment of animal and human diseases.

Some 20 active pharmacological substances tested positive in various milk used in the study as well as the hormone 17-beta-estradiol which is a form of the sex hormone estrogen.

A highly sensitive testing method that scientists call Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, was used in the research, ensuring accuracy in the test.

What was alarming in the results was the fact that the highest amount of drug residue and growth hormones were in cow’s milk, the most common source of dairy products consumed by children and adults everywhere.

As far back as 2006, Davaasambuu had been sounding the alarm – “Among the routes of human exposure to estrogens, we are mostly concerned about cow’s milk, which contains considerable amounts of female sex hormones.”

She also added that Dairy products account for about 60-80% of the estrogen consumption by humans.

Where did those hormones come from and how do hormones impact our health?

The Business of Selling Milk

The dairy industry is in the business of making money and like most businesses quality and ethics are often sacrificed on the altar of profit. Researches tend to believe that the drugs and growth-promoting hormones are routinely given to cattle and milking cows at some point in their lives. They are also often present in contaminated feeds.

Some 18 percent of US dairy cows have been reported to be injected with artificial growth hormone, naturally occurring in bovine, called recombinant bovine somatotrpoin or rbST also called the recombinant bovine growth hormone or rBGH. This artificial hormone forces the cattle’s bodies to produce more milk than usual with an increase of about 15 percent.

The US FDA has ruled that rbST as safe, however many nutritionists and scientists disagree. In Canada as well as the EU, rbST is banned and consumers buy more of organic milk.

Another factor could also be the fact that most dairy farms nowadays milk their cows for 300 days or more each year. For most of that period of time, their cows are carrying calves. When cows are in later pregnancy, more hormones do appear in milk.

Cows producing milk in late stages of their pregnancy give off more than 33 times of the estrogen compound or estrone sulfate as compared to non-pregnant cows.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Ganmaa’s team on Japan’s modern milk, there is 10 times the level of hormones called progesterone in it compared to Mongolia’s raw milk. Mongolia is still practicing the traditional way of herding wherein milk solely for consumption of humans is acquired only for five months in a year. If a cow is pregnant it is milked only in its early stages. Due to this system, the quantity of hormones found in their milk is much lower.

Now the underlying problem is that when somebody ingests milk with hormones, their health is adversely affected as per existing studies.

The Cost to People’s Health

A study conducted in 2008 with Dr. John Vicini on the lead, compared milk samples from rbST-free, conventional and organic milk. Results showed samples of the organic milk had low IGF, a growth factor that is insulin-like, a by-product of rbST. In fact it posted the lowest in the samples. IGF is linked to cancers in humans.

The Causing and Worsening of Cancer

The potential for risk of cancer is large in dietary hormones. The insulin-like IGF-1 is a powerful growth hormone. It has been proven to be a “fuel cell” to any forms of cancer. It has recently been linked to the increase in breast, colon and prostate cancers and is suspected of promoting or worsening all cancers.

This information should be of particular interest to women considering that 40 percent of females nowadays between 40 to 50 years old have reported to be afflicted with breast cancers.

The hormones that are naturally-occurring are identical in cows and humans. Thus for every 12-ounce –carton of milk that a woman drinks, she doubles the amount of this hormone in her body. Not only does the IGF-1 cause the rise in cancer rates but also the growth of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.

The Dairy and Acne Connection

In the late 60’s, Time magazine published a study made by Dr. Jerome K. Fisher. He concluded that drinking milk causes acne. His conclusion came after observing some 1,088 of his patients in a period of 10 years in California where he has his dermatology practice. He later submitted his findings to the American Dermatological Association.

According to Dr. Fisher, some teenage patients of his were consuming milk, as much as 1 gallon per day. Then he recommended to them to reduce their daily milk intake and their acne noticeably subsided. Dr. Fisher explained then that milk that came from a pregnant cow has a high level of progesterone. This breaks down and turns into androgens which then produce sebum a waxy substance which is secreted by acne causing sebaceous glands.

Fisher was quoted as saying,

“about 80% of the cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are throwing off hormones continuously.”

A newer research conducted by Canadian dermatologist Dr. F.W. Danby supported Dr. Fisher’s claim. His study, confirming the dairy-acne connection was published in the medical journal Dermatology in February 2005.

Impact on Children

Should children continue to drink milk?

One frequent concern raised about milk is weight gain especially among children and teens. The IGF-1 hormone in milk is for the quick growth of infants and newborns; as such it causes obesity in older children in addition to adults as they have no more room for physical growth.

Another major concern is the implications of increased hormones on children. In a 2007 study of the Harvard School of Public Health that was published in Nutritional Journal, prepubescent boys and girls in Mongolia posted an increase in their hormone level after drinking American milk for a period of one month. The team of researchers took blood samples from three groups of children with ages ranging from six to eleven. They compared the samples taken before and after they drank milk produced in the USA.

Dr. Ganmaa, the lead scientist in this study expressed alarm as,

“We don’t know what the larger implications are.”

Busting the Milk Myth

In spite of all these information, you might still like to continue with your dairy consumptions. After all, even books say milk is good for health. But, unknown to many, most “facts” about milk are part of the myth propagated by the dairy industry.

For one, the average American woman gulps down 2 pounds of milk each day, and yet 30 million American women still have osteoporosis.

Studies have shown that the calcium in cow’s milk and other dairy products has basically no effect on people as it doesn’t have enough magnesium, and if you don’t get sufficient vitamin D from sunlight. Further, excessive protein intake expedites bone loss and milk isn’t called “liquid milk” for nothing.

The ads that keep on bombarding us, saying milk is best for bone health, is actually false. Proof of this is another Harvard study involving 78,000 nurses. After 12 years of research women who consumed greater amounts of dairy had more incidents of hip fractures; while those who took the same level of calcium from non-dairy sources recorded no increase in fracture risk.

Reducing Hormone Intake

It may be difficult to some but people need to make dietary adjustments to decrease or limit their hormone consumption. Davaasambuu recommends skim milk for those who can’t give up their dairy habit just yet, since hormones are located in fats. The Harvard News meanwhile pushes for a milk-free diet and consumption of green leafy vegetables or nuts to meet daily calcium requirements.

All in all, the real facts show one glaring truth, milk is not the perfect food. For good health and strong bones stick to the basic – eat vegetables, the green leafy variety, and other plant-based foods rich in calcium; get enough sunlight, and plenty of exercise.

Metabolic Types and Your Dietary Needs

Lora — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:29:05 +0000

My friend, who is a mother of two and in her early thirties, eats meat like a man twice her size. She can devour one large T-bone steak and still manage to gulp down some side dishes in one sitting. What is surprising is that she doesn’t gain much weight with eating so much meat and her regular check ups reveal no health problems whatsoever. If I ate as much meat as she does, I’d feel nauseated.

Then there are the various diet fads in the market that can leave you quite confused. Which diet should we really follow – the high fat, high protein and low carb diet or the low fat high carb one? And seriously why do the so-called health experts and nutritionists contradict one another? The key to all these is metabolic type.

We all know that as human beings, each one of us is different. We are all unique. Well, that rings true not only on our personalities and physical appearances but also on our biochemical make up. The truth is we all have different metabolism. When you hear of testimonies and stories about some people who found success on a particular diet, you usually don’t get to hear about the others who did not, the 30-50 percent who never benefited at all. The fact is, no one diet is right for everyone.

That’s because we are all biochemically different. Our bodies function and react best on different mixtures of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. So what works for Jane may not necessarily work for you and what’s worse, it could even adversely affect your health. You might want to ask then – how can we figure out the right combination of carbohydrates, proteins and fats that would be perfect for you? First of all, you need to establish what your metabolic type is.

There are of course, basic guidelines on nutrition that we all need to follow to be in the pink of health such as taking the following: plenty of fruits and veggies, good quality protein from fish, animals and vegetable sources, and unsaturated fat. Now, what differentiates people from one another is the proportion or quantity of fats and proteins versus carbohydrates that that we need, for us to maintain a balance diet. There is after all, a perfect diet based on your metabolism.

There are three metabolic types and you will fall under one of these categories: the “Protein Type” or Fast oxidizers, the “Carb type” or slow oxidizers and the “Balanced type”.

The Protein Type

My friend who I mentioned in the beginning of this article belongs in this category. People in this category are fast oxidizers meaning they need protein in their every meal. They thrive on high fat and high protein diet. Further, they need to have three full meals a day. If by chance they skipped a meal, they would soon become jittery; feel faint, depressed or irritable. Fast oxidizers are basically carnivorous and cope badly on grains. Given a pasta or noodle dinner they would easily feel hungry in a short time. Now, as regards their personality, protein types are usually fast thinkers, often busy and high achievers. They are driven but tend to be stressed most of the time.

The Carb Type

People who fall under the Carb Type are Slow Oxidizers so they tend to be better off on less fat and protein. They are the opposite of the Protein type. If they consumed a lot of fat and protein during a meal, they would then feel lethargic and tired. These people are better at shifting to a vegetarian diet. They also fare well on lighter meat and fish such as chicken and fish. They can take in more grains than the Protein Types and can skip a meal without any adverse reaction. Forgetting to eat, which is unthinkable for a Fast oxidizer, is quite alright for the Carb Types. In terms of personality, Slow Oxidizers are generally laid back and easygoing and are less stressed than the Protein Types. But they tend to suffer from lethargy and occasional blues or depression as well as apathy.

The Balanced Type

The last classification of metabolic type is the Balanced Type. People in this category can eat varied kinds of food. They are the most flexible of the three types as they can do well on lower fat and protein meals as well as the higher fat and protein ones. Generally speaking, what they eat doesn’t have much of a difference to the way they feel. They are the classic omnivores as they can eat from a wide range of foods. Like the Carb Types, they can also miss a meal but they will feel the effects more than the Slow Oxidizers. Personality-wise, people under the Balanced Type category are generally happy and relaxed.

Does Green Tea Have Caffeine?

Eden — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:57:07 +0000

Green tea is made up from the leaves of Canellia sinensis plant applied to heat either by cooking or steaming, instead of fermenting, to minimize oxidation. The component of green tea cathechins (location of the antioxidants) are very unique that contain concentrated epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or much well known as EGCG. It is popular to its myriad health benefits from fighting off cancer, lowering bad cholesterol, preventing potential strokes, preventing diabetes, speeding up metabolism, burning fats, and so on. No one can ever dispute how green tea becomes regular drink of health enthusiasts from across the world. Nevertheless, regardless of its compelling health advantages, many argue that its drawback is the caffeine content. Caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system and heart which increases blood pressure.

Comparison of Green Tea from Different Beverages

For every 8 ounces cup of green tea, it is estimated that you can get- 20 30 mg of caffeine. Comparing to other beverages, the caffeine content is 40- 170 mg for 5 ounces cup of coffee, 30-60 mg caffeine for 12 ounces can of cola, 25-110 mg caffeine for 8 ounces of black tea, and 6-25 mg caffeine for 8 ounces cup of white tea.

Unlike other caffeinated beverages with side effects of nervousness, palpitation, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and headache, green tea provides steady gentle stimulation. Its compound L-theanine is an amino acid which according to researches is considered a caffeine antagonist with calming effect on the brain that can offset the effect of caffeine.

Health Benefits of Green Tea

Needless to say, green tea is a better alternative to other beverages with great amount of caffeine. Here are some of the conclusive results on how green tea is beneficial to health.

With its powerful antioxidant component, it can inhibit the cancer cells to thrive without harming the healthy cells.
Helpful in lowering LDL or bad cholesterol levels and prevents development of blood clotting such as thrombosis, the primary cause of stroke and heart attack. It reduces the absorption in digestive tract and increases the rate of excretion. For this, green tea prevents the conversion of LDL cholesterol to build up plaque which blocks the arteries.
More researches also found how green tea can help lose weight. According to Clinical Nutrition published in American Journal, the green tea extract can burn more calories as it can speed up metabolism and suppress appetite as the effect of caffeine.
Moreover, green tea has bacteria-destroying capabilities to prevent food poisoning and tooth decay. Journal of Periodontology stated that drinking green tea may decrease indicators of gum disease. It is also surprising how fluoride is found in green tea which is well-known to its protection against cavities.
Green tea boosts the immune system. In a research conducted to Women’s Hospital in 2003, the theanine in green tea boosted the gamma delta cells which form our innate immunity. In a study conducted to coffee drinkers and green tea drinkers, it found out on their blood samples that production of anti-bacterial proteins were higher in those green tea drinkers.

Reducing the Amount of Caffeine in Green Tea

If you think you cannot get through with caffeine in your favorite green tea. You can take the following for better measures to enjoy your green tea by lowering the side effects of caffeine.

Remember that younger tea produced more caffeine, so better know your green tea. Buy loose green tea leaves than green tea teabags. You can get the same quality but lesser caffeine. A research done in Auburn University found that broken pieces in tea bags resulting to produce more caffeine than what is released in green tea leaves.
Do not brew your green tea with boiling water as it destroys the catechins and polyphenols, the antioxidants that provide its health benefits.
Another tip is by throwing the first infusion when you dissolve the tea compounds in hot water after steeping the tea for 30 seconds. By doing this, you can release the 80 percent caffeine. You can diffuse your green tea up to three times but do not over steep the tea for it may produce bitter taste. Drink it while it’s hot.
If you do not want to sweat with all the process of lessening the caffeine, purchase a decaffeinated green tea available in the market.
Lastly, reduce your consumption of green tea to 1-2 of 8 ounces of cup a day.

“Alkalize or Die” by Dr. Theodore A. Baroody Review

Lora — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:43:44 +0000

I came from a family of “happy eaters”. You know the kind where every meal is like a party and people eat and talk at the same time. We ate a lot and talked a lot during meals. Maybe because we were a big family, that’s why. Anyway, by the time I was 17, I had hyper acidity and high cholesterol. I tried to go on a diet and go with less sugar and meat. By the time I got married, my stomach pain was bothering me a lot and my blood pressure was constantly fluctuating.

When I first heard about the alkaline diet, I got curious and started to research about it. I also started drinking alkaline water which in itself was helpful in treating my stomach pains. While surfing through Amazon I came across Dr. Baroody’s book “Alkalize or Die” so I decided to give it a try.

At first, I found the book boring with all of Dr. Baroody’s rambling about his experiences and beliefs. Most of the time he didn’t present any references to support his statements in the book. I did try to continue reading with an open mind because as I understood it, Dr. Baroody came up with the theories and principles in the book after many trial and errors. I believe it was more a personal journey for him than a scientific one. However, it would have been easier to digest all his theories if he had presented more hard evidences instead of “feeling” statistical data.

What I do appreciate about the book is his approach to healthy living with each individual’s unique biochemistry in mind. He acknowledges that each person may experience varied results with each dietary preparation. This principle of individual metabolism has long been held by many health practitioners in the past and had been the topic of scientific discussions for a long time now.

On the other hand, I am very uncomfortable with his propensity to present metaphysical teachings of eastern mysticism as facts. Although Dr. Baroody did express that his viewpoint is founded on healing philosophies from the ancient Chinese, Tibetan, Hindu and Greco-European, it would have been easier for me to be keep an open mind if he had dealt with this issues more as a gray area that needed more studies or a belief system that affects people’s health and healing process so much like a placebo.

One example of this metaphysical belief of his that I found really hard to swallow can be seen when he advised people to stop eating red meat as “the destructive emotion of slaughter is assimilated by the person who eats flesh.” (pg. 63). No matter how hard I try not to, his explanation abut why red meat is bad sounded too fantastic for me. I’m sure many people would also find this as “too spiritual or religious” more than “scientific.” Anyway, everybody knows why too much meat intake is bad. One word – cholesterol.

I do agree with him though that sugar is poison. What with diabetes now on the rise in the country. Sugar and other sweeteners are very pervasive in our society nowadays and I don’t think that the existence of so many illnesses now is just a coincidence.

But what I think really saved this book and made it worth buying is Dr. Baroody’s chart of foods with a corresponding rating to show their acid-forming or alkaline-forming properties. His list is exhaustive and easy to understand. The author used his own pH scale that he had developed. Dr.Baroody’s scale is on page 38 and ranges from 0.5 to 7.5 with foods having a range of 4.0 and above as alkaline-forming and below 4.0 as acid-forming.

In summary, I believe that there are real and tangible benefits to having an alkaline-based diet and Dr. Baroody’s book can help readers identify the right foods for them. But, if you read this book with a strictly scientific view, meaning you are looking for footnotes and references then this book may disappoint you. The same goes for those with s ”god” issues. This book is not about entertainment and fun too. It’s all bout diet that can help some health problems and getting back to dietary basics of eating more plant based foods.

In saying that, I have come across another literature that has also helped me plan my meals. The newsletter I subscribed at thealkalinediet.org has also helped me learn more about the pH levels of certain foods. It has also helped me plan what to buy, what to cook and even how to prepare my alkaline-based meals. It also keeps me updated about alkaline-diet in general.

If you think Baroody’s book is just too bulky for you or you are too busy to leaf through the pages of the book then you can simply subscribe to our alkaline diet newsletter below to get all the juicy alkaline tips to boost your energy level and revitalize your health.