|
July Newsletter
The Acid Alkaline Conundrum Explained!
This month's topic is acid & alkaline and how pH balance impacts health. I hope to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the importance of pH balance.Ill also give you some tips on how this factors into weight management, acid reflux and cardiovascular disease. This subject has both it's supporters and detractors to be sure.
In June I attended the 10th Annual International Herbal Symposium in Norton Massachusetts and a result of my schedule did not publish a June newsletter. My time was well spent at the herbal symposium as I gained valuable knowledge of how to use herbs therapeutically This new knowledge is finding its way into my practice so that I may serve you my patents better. I will be devoting my August newsletter to sharing some of the amazing new research on herbs I learned at the symposium with you.
Until next month be well!
Anne Baker - CN, LE
Nourish
|
The acid/alkaline conundrum - explained
The subject of balancing pH (acid/alkaline) is one that is confusing for most people. It's one I get questions about all the time. This concept originated in the east and was known as Yin and Yang. It stressed the need for balance when eating from all food groups however noting that disease was preventable through eating a slightly more alkaline diet. You may be familiar with George Ohsawa who popularized the Macrobiotic Diet in the 1960's.
Most western approaches have strayed significantly from the original meaning of Yin and Yang as balancing properties of health. The western interpretation of eating acid and alkalizing foods has been focused on acidic foods being disease promoting and alkalizing foods being disease preventing - which is only partially correct. By definition a body fluid pH of 7.0 is neutral; below 7.0 is acidic and above 7.0 is alkaline. The preference is to maintain a fluid pH (intra-cellular and extra-cellular fluids) of 7.3 or 7.3 - slightly alkaline.
Three principals that Western acid/alkaline diets focus on are;
1) Eating 80% of food from the alkaline foods list and 20% from the acid foods list to help reduce excess acid formation in the body fluids 2) the need for frequent detoxification 3) using alkalizing supplements to help the body replenish excess acid.
Western theories categorize foods based on whether a food is acid or alkaline forming or whether the food itself has acidic or alkaline properties.
Whether a food is acid or alkaline forming is determined by burning the food to ash, adding water to make a solution and testing that solution to see where it falls on the scale relative to its reaction to other tested foods. Very basically, those foods that produce more acidic residues have come to be deemed potentially harmful and disease producing while those that are alkaline are deemed more potentialy health promoting. Taking this approach is an incomplete and incorrect of ascertaining which foods are supportive and which foods are un-supportive.The original Yin / Yang list has been modified according to which author you read. Thus the measurement and methodology used to determine what constitute an acid vs. an alkaline food comes into play. If you Google Acid & Alkaline you will get many different lists that have specific foods in one category or the other and explanations on how they categorize them.All of this becomes very confusing for most people.
Unfortunately too many people get so focused on the lists of acid and alkaline foods that they loose sight of the fact the body is in a state of constantly going from acidic to alkalizing and back as a necessary and natural process of digestion of food.
The middle ground approach to pH balance: One of the ways I evaluate a nutritional theory is to see how much of the theory is collaborated by scientific evidence and what reputable health professionals that I agree with endorse. Using this method helps me decide what protocols make sense to use in my practice to help my patients.
Normalizing acid-alkaline balance in the blood should not be the only basis for working out a suitable diet for several reasons. First, many diets that have been found to be very healthful are comprised of primarily acidic forming foods (such as brown rice in the Macrobiotic diet and those of native African, Australia and Arctic peoples which are high in acidic forming foods). Second, the amount of enzymes, bile and other metabolites a persons body manufactures to breakdown nutrients is affected by many other factors besides blood pH. A person's genetic code, and ability to cope with stress, exercise level as well as numerous other factors influence health.
What I have been able to take away from all of the acid alkaline theories is that different people metabolize and thus burn calories at different rates. This is determined by many overlapping metabolic processes as mentioned. Finding the proper balance for each individual involves evaluating many factors in addition to diet; such as those mentioned and includes the current/past stress level, past traumas and exercise habits of the individual. Simply eating non-acid foods would lead to significant nutritional imbalances and be detrimental to health. A good place to start is by eating closer to our ancestral backgrounds and seasonally according to the climate we live in.
Weight Loss, Acid Reflux and Cardiovascular disease: Naturally grown and freshly harvested raw foods contain vast amounts of nutrients, minerals and live enzymes. This is why I encourage all my patients to eat raw foods each day, preferably with every meal. For those looking to loose weight raw foods are very figure friendly. Eating raw foods helps improve body mass index. All raw foods contain minerals that assist in utilization of nutrients and enzymes that breakdown food that we use for energy. If minerals (which are naturally alkalizing) are low in your diet acidic wastes cannot get neutralized. Some wastes get stored a fat and some gets stored as cholesterol and lactic acid. This also increases acid levels in the blood and lymph which makes the body more susceptible to weight gain. As blood becomes overloaded with circulating wastes it clogs up the organs, slows down metabolism so less fuel (calories) are burned. All of this results in weight gain. Acid Reflux is another condition that can be improved by our understanding of the body cycle of acidifying and alkalizing. Proper digestion depends upon alternating actions of alkaline digestive juices that split up food molecules. For example; the enzyme ptyllin in the mouth breaks down starch and acidic gastric juices, such as pepsin break down protein in the stomach. Alkaline pancreatic enzymes digest protein and alkaline bile emulsifies fats and oils in the small intestine. Acidic flora continue the digestion of protein in the stomach and small intestine. Acid reflux can disrupt this sequence by altering the pH factor in the stomach and small intestine. Eliminating acid forming foods such as tea, coffee, orange juice, tomatoes, garlic and onions is the first step. Beyond this we can help re-set the pH by adding alkalizing foods such as potatoes, celery and leafy greens. You can make a potato skin "broth" that is very alkalizing.  Other alkalizing foods are green foods such as chlorella and sprirulina. Cardiovascular disease is driven by inflammation inside the walls and veins and arteries. Current research suggests that inflammation of the heart can be caused by bacteria induced infections. This correlates with the concept of increasing acidity of the blood flowing through the veins and arteries damaging the heart. Remember bacteria and viruses live off dead organisms so any fermenting or undigested food left in side of us increases likelihood of inflammation and disease. In addition to adding digestive enzymes and pro-biotic supplements specific nutrients are also needed. Some nutrients that help alkalize that are recommended for CVD include magnesium, vitamin C, E, B6, B12, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Hawthorn berry is a herb that has recently shown good results for those with CVD. It lowers blood pressure by dilating the peripheral blood vessels. The amino acid Taurine is also used in Japan to treat congestive heart failure. References:
The Acid Alkaline Balance Diet, Felecia Drury Kliment
Weston A Price Foundation - Weston A Price
Acid & Alkaline by Herman Aihara
|
|
Recipe of the month
Mineral-Rich Vegetable Broth
3 quarts of distilled water
3 medium to large whole potatoes
2-3 stalks of cut celery
1 or 2 large leaves of any greens
* Greens such as collard, mustard, kale, spinach, turnip or a half bunch of parsley (carrot or beet tops work also).
In a stainless steel pot add the water and all the vegetables and bring to a light boil with the lid on. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, and after it has cooled a bit, strain keeping only the juice. Refrigerate. Drink 2-3 cups per day.
Adding some kelp or Celtic sea salt also improves the mineral content and tastes better!
For more fiber puree some of the cooked greens and add back to the pot.
Basic Raw Greens
by Denise Bettes
Kale (any kind)
Swiss Chard
Collards
Red Onions
OR any other dark greens
Chop up and put together in big air tight container. Will keep for at least a week and can be used or saut�ing, in eggs or casseroles, or salads. Goat cheese or other raw cheese or raw soaked nuts are also nice additions.
|
|
Helping you Nourish your body
My philosophy is that small changes add up over time. It's not about perfection, but rather continual progress and moving in a positive, more healthy conscious direction. Like anything in life change in diet and lifestyle take time. Having a plan to follow to reach your goals increases your success rate and keeps you on track during rough patches and this where I can help you.
Thank you for sharing some of your time here today. I hope you found this information useful. Your feedback is always welcome.
|
|
|
Local Harvest
Please Support our local farmers!
Please remember to get out and support our local Michigan Farmers and those who grow organic and sustainable produce. There are many farm markets in the area - there is one just about every day of the week somewhere in Oakland County. Here are some links to help you locate them:
Local Harvest
www.localharvest.org/
http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Michigan.html
http://www.pickyourown.org/MIharvestcalendar.htm
Suggested additional reading & resources:
Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon
The Raw Food Detox Diet, Natalia Rose
Call 248 891 5215 to schedule an appointment or Click to email me Product Spotlight Klair Labs/ TheraBiotic Complete - D (60) $62 Ultra Potent Pro biotic formula. Ideal for those undergoing detoxification program; or taking broad spectrum anti-biotics, or on anti-fungal medications or who are concerned about clearing heavy metals. Digest Enzymes by Transformation Enzymes (90) $60 High potency digestive enzymes that includes protease (54,610 HUT for complete protein digestion and absorption, 3,007 LU of lipase blend for digestion and absorption of fatty acids and amylase with 13 polysaccharides enzymes to aid digestion of all forms of carbohydrates; starch, sugars, and fiber. Vegetarian formula. | |
|
|
