The Importance Of Acid Alkaline Balance In The Body

Acid Alkaline Diet - The Top Seven Reasons to Go Alkaline and Avoid Acids By Roy Dawson

The body is a marvelous tool, and its myriad processes and systems all interlock to create a streamlined machine that is designed to work without any glitches. But as with all machines, the body needs the right kind of fuel to function properly and, when functioning properly, the waste products generated by burning this fuel are flushed out with no problem.

Perhaps once the body was perfectly balanced, and perhaps humanity once lived in a perfectly balanced world, but over the millennia we have become unbalanced; our diets and our ecosystem both becoming overwhelmed with acids and acidic wastes. The problems associated with over acidification are many and varied ranging from fatigue to arthritis to depression and even cancer.

While there is not a lot that can be done about global pollution levels, at least on an individual scale, we can control our diets and what we allow into our bodies. Adhering to an alkaline diet may seem like it takes a lot of effort and energy, but the benefits of going - and staying alkaline far outweighs the inconveniences. There are dozens of reasons to begin an alkaline diet, and it would take a book to list them all, but the top seven reasons to go alkaline and avoid acids have been listed below.

1.) Weight Loss

This is a big one, for who hasn't had a weight problem at one time or another? And for those who have, what would you have given for a simple, safe and free way to lose weight?

The average western diet and lifestyle is composed of so many acid-producing substances (refined flours, sugars, meat and dairy products) and habits (smoking, alcohol consumption and prescription drug use) that our bodies have become inundated with acid wastes. And acids have a nasty way of eating into and deteriorating healthy muscle, tissues and even organs.

One of the automatic defense mechanisms of the body is to produce fat cells in order to protect our delicate organs from these excess acids. The fat cells' function is to shuttle these acid wastes away from the organs and store it in less important parts of the body, but as long as there are excess acids in the body, the fat cells will cling to the organs defensively. Once we are able to rid ourselves of these excess acids ( through maintaining a high-alkaline diet, proper hydration and exercise) the fat cells are no longer needed and the body releases them from duty, resulting in weight loss.

2.) Increased Energy

The more acids that build up within the body, the less the body's natural balancing systems can process effectively, and the higher the body's acid levels become. And the higher the acid levels become, the more alkaline minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphates etc) will be leached from the body's bones, muscles and tissues to make certain that the blood is able to maintain the alkaline levels necessary in order for the body to function. When these sorts of alkaline minerals are removed efficient metabolism is inhibited, resulting in sluggishness and fatigue. The leaching of these kinds of minerals has also been linked to osteoporosis. Once the acid levels are reduced through proper diet and exercise, energy levels will increase.

3.) Alleviate Allergies

An acidic environment overworks the immune system and stimulates the immune system into what is known as "response mode". The end result of this being that the body develops incredibly heightened sensitivity to all sorts of things; pollens, chemicals etc. This heightened sensitivity we know as allergies. Some of the other ways that the body rids itself of excessive toxins and acidic wastes is through soreness, swelling, eczema and excess mucus, all things that are related to allergies. Once the excess acids have been removed from the body, the allergies and their related symptoms will disappear.

4.) Reverse the Aging Process

Aging is caused by a buildup of acid wastes and the subsequent breakdown of bodily functions. When a body is too acidic a condition called acidosis occurs. Acidosis is, quite simply, the over stressing of oxidation systems and the breakdown of limpids. When this occurs it releases free radicals into the bloodstream. Free radicals are cells that attack cell walls and membranes; killing the cell walls and membranes before finally killing the cells themselves. When this occurs the visible result is wrinkles, poor eyesight, age spots, bad memory, fatigue, dysfunctional hormones; in short - premature aging. By removing these acids you can prevent further damage to your cells and even reverse the breakdown process.

5.) Oxidation

One of the side effects of the build-up of acid wastes is that the body's cells don't get enough oxygen and this causes a slowdown in all of the cell's myriad of functions. Just like the body itself, without enough oxygen cells can die. By eliminating the acids that have been built-up in your body by changing your diet and drinking alkaline water you can re-originate your blood.

6.) Decrease Blood Pressure

When a body is overly acidic the cells begin to slow down their functions (see #5) and the heart has to work all the harder to make up for their sluggishness, this causes high blood pressure. Another side effect of high acidity is the build-up of plaque in the arteries and the decrease of the diameter of the blood vessels - which can also lead to high blood pressure. By removing the acid waste build up from your system you can improve your cell functioning and take some of the pressure off your heart.

7.) Decrease Chances of Developing Degenerative Diseases

Last but not least, the build-up of acid wastes in the body (or Acidosis) is the underlying cause of almost all known degenerative diseases including (but not limited to); diabetes, obesity, liver disease, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, premature aging, hormonal imbalances, osteoporosis and even most cancers.

Degenerative diseases thrive in acidic environments, so by removing their preferred environment you can deprive them of their ability to multiply or even to take hold at all.

What Can You Do?

If you are truly interested in maintaining your health, or in reversing any health issues you may have, there is one step you can take right now, and that is to commit to an alkaline diet. By choosing to eat alkaline foods (fresh and raw vegetables, salads, alkaline fruits, seeds, nuts) and drinking alkaline water, you can rid your body of years worth of accumulated acidic wastes and turn back the hands of time.

The Alkaline Diet Network is dedicated to enlightening the American public as to the benefits of an acid alkaline diet high in alkaline-rich foods and water in order to promote optimum health. For more information visit http://www.alkalinedietnetwork.com

Roy Dawson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Dawson

Weight Loss Exercises Must Lead Your Weight Loss Plans

Lets face it – our country is filled with overweight people who want to be thin. We try all kinds of things, from weight loss diets to lose weight exercises, but nothing seems to work for many of us. The fact is that we just can't seem to keep the weight off.

Even if we use the best exercises to lose weight, we tend to not be able to stick with them. Sometimes it starts off with an extra treat on the weekends. Other times, our resolve breaks down all of the sudden. Whatever the reasons, our diet plans and our lose weight exercises tend to lose steam eventually.

The only way to make your weight loss exercise really stick is to be fanatically dedicated to losing weight. This means that you must live every day as if weight loss were your most important priority. You have to start exercising at least three times a week and do both cardiovascular and weightlifting exercises.

You have to eliminate junk food completely from your life, not even snacking on it on special occasions. Your weight loss exercise must be complemented by a good, healthy diet.

In my opinion, you should avoid fad diets altogether. Maybe some of them work, maybe some of them don't, but there is one thing that we all know: a good, sane, healthy diet works for everyone.

All you have to do on top of your lose weight exercise is to eat lots of vegetables, some grains, proteins and only healthy fats. You don't have to cut out fat entirely – if you use olive oil and other vegetable oils, you should be just fine.

Perhaps you won't lose weight quite as quickly as on the Atkins diet, but you will be much healthier long term.

The most important thing, and the cornerstone of any weight loss plan, is the lose weight exercise routine. You have to be sure to vary your exercises. Doing just one type of cardiovascular activity can do a lot to help you lose weight fast, but you will get even better results if you can switch it up from time to time.

Your weight loss exercise needs to include muscle building routines. When you can build lean muscle, it helps you to burn fat faster and more efficiently. It makes you stronger, makes your posture better, and helps you in your lose weight exercise workouts.

Don't lose your focus. Center your weight loss plans around a good solid weight loss exercise program.

Al Smith

Al Smith writes for and publishes The Realgoalgetter Ezine and The Realgoalgetter Blog. His articles deal mostly with goal setting, self improvement, and motivation. Get some free reports, ecourses, and ebooks at FREE Ezines, Reports And Ebooks.

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Are You Getting Enough Fiber In Your Present Diet?
5 Simple Steps To Eating healthfully On The Go
Eating Healthy And According To A Preset Eating Plan
12 Weight Loss Secrets To Successfully Lose Weight

Kevin Gianni On Health Habits - The Renagade Health Show

This week has been a week for meeting old friends. Since I signed on to Twitter, I have been making connections with people I haven't run into for some time.

One of these is Kevin Gianni. Somehow because we got so darn busy, I kind a lost track of him. Now, a couple of years later, I see he is producing a daily health show online. It is called The Renagade Health Show and he shares some great information. FREE.

Yes, you are reading that right, FREE. I recommend that if you are seriously interested in great and bountiful health, go over there right now and check it out, maybe even sign on to get his daily updates.

Today's show is about developing daily health habits and you can see him here at:

The Best Formula for Health and Diet Success
- The Renegade Health Show Episode #50

There are some powerful episodes that can help us gain energy, lose weight, increase our fitness, or just overall improve our health and well being. I signed up right away.

Anti Aging - Enzymes And Raw Food

Enzymes and Raw Food – Can You Cheat Time and Stay Young for Longer?

I’m going to be a bit radical here, but know that I’m only encouraging you to question and think and ideally do your own research, both theory and practice. I’m pretty confident that you’ll thank me for it.

WHAT IF THE SO-CALLED ‘AGING PROCESS’ WAS A CHOICE?

Clearly, we can’t stop time from moving on. When we have a birthday, we are another year older. That’s a fact that, for the moment at least, we cannot change. But what if the weakening organs, bones and tissues and all the 'usual' signs of old age were not actually a part of the aging process we've come to accept as 'normal'?

Have you ever considered that these conditions are simply symptoms of us mistreating our bodies over the course of our lives to date? Wouldn’t our senior years be a whole lot more fun if we were pain and disease free and could jump around with the energy and vitality of a teenager?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

That this is a crazy, impossible idea borne out of fantasy? Or are you willing to open your mind and accept that actually, if you treat your body right and nourish it properly, it may in fact be possible? And this is where Enzymes come in...

In his book Intuitive Eating, Dr Humbart Santillo MD writes:

"A human being is not maintained by food intake alone, but rather by what is digested. Every food must be broken down by enzymes to simpler building blocks. Enzymes may be divided into 2 groups, exogenous (found in raw food) and endogenous (produced within our bodies). The more one gets of the exogenous enzymes, the less will have to be borrowed from other metabolic processes and supplied by the pancreas.

The enzymes contained in raw food actually aid in the digestion of that same food when it is chewed. One can live many years on a cooked food diet, but eventually this will cause cellular enzyme exhaustion which lays the foundation for a weak immune system and ultimately disease."

Put simply, we are born with a finite supply of endogenous enzymes. It should be enough to last us a lifetime based on current life expectancy, but if we don’t supply some exogenous enzymes through our diet, we will use up our original supplies and that’s when we become susceptible to the accepted ‘signs of old age’ including premature death! And the fact is that when we cook our food, we kill all enzymes instead of allowing them to boost our immune system, our brain function and our energy levels.

Another doctor, Edward Howell, has written a book called Enzyme Nutrition. In it, he says:

"Humans eating an enzyme-less diet use up a tremendous amount of their enzyme potential in lavish secretions of the pancreas and other digestive organs. The result is a shortened lifespan (65 years or less as compared with 100 or more), illness, and lower resistance to stress of all types, psychological and environmental. By eating foods with their enzymes in tact and by supplementing cooked foods with enzyme capsules we can stop abnormal and pathological aging processes."

THESE SCIENTISTS ARE NOT CRACK-POTS WORKING ALONE

The raw food movement is gathering pace and the practice is becoming more mainstream now. In her book You Are What You Eat, Gillian McKeith places raw or living foods at the top of her list of Good Foods and has a section entitled The Case Against Cooking.

Now don't get me wrong; I'm not suggesting that you switch overnight to a 100% raw food diet. Though plenty do and never look back, it's not always wise. Instead I would give the same advice as Gillian in urging you to eat something raw with every meal.

Just before I sat down to write this, I ate a yummy Quinoa Avocado Salad which other than the cooked quinoa was loaded with raw, enzyme-, EFA- and nutrient- rich foods. I ate it on its own, but you could serve it alongside a piece of grilled chicken or fish instead of dead, heavy, sugar-rush potatoes which do little more than bloat you up. Find the recipe on my Blog at Claires Blog.

by Claire Raikes

Claire Raikes is a Wellbeing Coach, Speaker and Writer who 'cured' herself of a chronic, disabling and potentially life-threatening bowel condition without the use of steroids, surgery or any other traditional medical intervention. She now shares her passion for natural and vibrant health through coaching, speaking and writing about the importance and power of a truly healthy diet.

She publishes a free weekly eZine, In Essence and is compiling an eBook of Healthy Fast Food with 25% of the proceeds going to The Cancer Project, a charity set up by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and nutritionists to educate the public on the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival.

If you have a recipe you would like to submit, visit www.LiveInEssence.com for further details. To book Claire to speak at your event, email her at Claire@LiveInEssence.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

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Healthy Eating For Weight Loss And A Long Life

Eating is a wonderful thing. It is also necessary for keeping you alive and healthy. But with the hectic pace of life today, it’s hard to keep to a healthy eating schedule.

It seems so much easier to snack and hit up fast food joints, rather than eat a healthy diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, and fish, while cutting down on saturated fats, trying to eat less salt, while getting more active and drinking plenty of water without skipping breakfast. Sounds so difficult even when you say it fast. (GRINS)

But you already know that, don’t you?

Price is a factor as well. The cheap food at the takeouts that tastes the best also happens to be the same food that clogs your arteries, and makes you fat. Oh the irony!

Why does a soy dog cost five bucks, when street meat only costs two bucks? Is the life of a bean curd worth more than that of a pig? Life is just full of mysteries.

However, healthy foods are really more inexpensive in the long run.

If you can’t exercise regularly, and you can’t quit smoking, at least you can try your best to start eating healthier.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Eat a good breakfast.

How many times have you been told it’s the most important meal of the day? The reason: because it is! And by the way, beer for breakfast doesn’t count.

2. Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits and veggies.

Eating healthy is all about routine and finding things that are healthy but tasty as well.

3. Eat regular meals.

Snacking has been the downfall of many a healthy person. Try to avoid unhealthy snacking, like deep fried butter and pork rinds, and replace it with a fruit bar or muffin.

4. Eat moderate portions.

If you are going to eat fatty, sugary foods, at least keep the portions small. There is no such thing as good or bad foods, only choices that are right or wrong for you.

5. Quit deep frying everything.

Instead, try baking, broiling, grilling, poaching, roasting, steaming, stir frying etc.

To make things easier, try reducing foods instead of completely eliminating them. Balance your food choices over time and recognize your eating pitfalls.

You should try eating 2-4 servings of fruit, and 3-5 serving of vegetables each day, while basing your meals around complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Eating healthy can be so beneficial and so easy. Really, all you have to do is just decide to take the leap and start your life headed in a new, healthy direction. It is so much easier than you think.

Al Smith

Al Smith writes for and publishes The Realgoalgetter Ezine and The Realgoalgetter Blog. His articles deal mostly with goal setting, self improvement, and motivation. Get some free reports, ecourses, and ebooks at FREE Ezines, Reports And Ebooks.

Some related articles:

Are You Getting Enough Fiber In Your Present Diet?
5 Simple Steps To Eating healthfully On The Go
Eating Healthy And According To A Preset Eating Plan
12 Weight Loss Secrets To Successfully Lose Weight

Weight Loss Motivation Revisited

4 Effective Ways To Encourage Yourself To Lose Weight

A lot of people quit in the middle of a weight management program because they have lost their weight loss motivation. After a few weeks of dieting and exercising, it is normal for people to start losing some interest in what they are doing.

In fact, during the first few weeks of a weight reduction program, a lot of people would decide that they do not want to continue because they are no longer interested.

If you are one of those people who have lost their enthusiasm about their weight program, you should find a weight loss motivation. Remember that if you quit, you will never be able to shed off that extra weight off your body. Besides, if you have already invested money in your weight reduction program, you investment will simply go to waste!

Setting reasonable expectations
According to weight loss trainers, you should keep your expectations reasonable and realistic so that you will not lose interest easily. Focusing on short-term goals is very effect when it comes to motivating people to continue with their program.

For instance, you set a goal of losing at least two pounds per week. Since losing two pounds in a week is very realistic and easy to attain, you will be motivated to work towards that goal.

Aside from focusing on short-term goals, you should focus more on your activities rather than your weight. If you give your whole attention on the amount of calories that you eat versus the amount of calories that you burn during your daily exercise routine, you would mostly be more motivated to go on with your program.

Having an ideal body image
To keep you in the right track, you should keep an idea body image for yourself. Having that mental picture of yourself looking slim and healthy is a powerful weight loss motivation for you.

If you need some visual image, find somebody whose body you admire and keep a picture of that person in your room. Tell yourself everyday that someday you will look like this person. The power of suggestion always work especially when you repeat it constantly.

Working with a partner
One of the best ways to motivate yourself you continue your program is to have a partner. If you do your diet and exercise all by yourself, you will easily get bored and then stop.

If you have partner who is also into the same weight loss program, dieting and exercising becomes a social affair so you are less likely to lose interest. According to studies, working out with a partner or a team is more effective. Having a support group where you can share your diet and exercise troubles is a good way to keep toy interested.

Rewarding yourself
Rewarding yourself for your achievements is a weight loss motivation. Set a goal for yourself and once you achieve that goal treat yourself to something that you have always wanted to.

For instance, if you have been planning to go to the spa and relax, make that as your reward for yourself. Tell yourself that if you achieve your goal for the month, you will treat yourself to the spa.

by Andy Jefferson

HowToGainMuscleMass provides weight management information and expert articles. To find out how to lose body fat permanently, even in your mushiest spots, without drugs, without supplements and without messing up your metabolism, visit http://www.howtogainmusclemass.com/ for Free Underground Weight Loss Tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Jefferson
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Some related articles:

Are You Getting Enough Fiber In Your Present Diet?
5 Simple Steps To Eating healthfully On The Go
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Veggie Colors Will Tell How They Can Help You!

Can These Veggies Save Your Life?

Would you like to live a long time? Most of us would.

Would you like to be healthy and disease free? That’s a pretty easy question, since the alternative is being sick and miserable.

So how do you go about it? One simple way to be leaner, healthier, and full of energy is to do what grandma told you—eat your veggies.

Why? Because vegetables are full of chemicals that your body uses to fight disease and stay healthy. These are things that you can’t get anywhere else.

Plants are made up of chemicals. Some of the chemicals help the plants fight off viruses, bacteria and pests. It turns out that these same chemicals help our own bodies in countless ways.

The details would fill a book, but here are a few examples:

Purple: plums, prunes, raisins, and other berries — these fight off cancer, heart disease and help your memory.

White: garlic and onions — these help fight cancer and infections, and they lower blood pressure.

Orange and yellow: peaches, sweet potatoes, and carrots — fight cancer and heart disease.

Green: broccoli, peas and cabbage — help your vision, fight heart disease and reduce risk of cancer.

Red: beets, apples, and tomatoes — lower risk of prostate and lung cancer, and help your circulation.

So how do you go about it? It’s simple. Pick by the color. Eat a variety of colored fruits and vegetables, and you can’t go wrong.

And it’s particularly important if you are trying to take off weight. When you are reducing calories, you need to pack in all the nutrition you can. And these colored gems are the way to do it.

By Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis, M.D. can help YOU lose weight. Sign up for our free newsletter: Dr. Dan’s Super Weight Loss Tips, Tricks and Secrets. It's free! Click here http://www.superweightlossplan.com/newsletter/

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