To increase the alkalinity in our bodies, we can consume alkaline-specific foods. There are supplements that we can take that can further increase our alkaline levels, but that's not enough. To regularly maintain our alkalinity, there are certain things that we must avoid to keep the alkalinity up and the acidity down. Here are a few things we should avoid in order to increase alkalinity in our bodies:
Avoid Artificial Sweeteners. Sweeteners like NutraSweet, Sucralose and Saccharin are very acidic and can have adverse effects on our nervous and digestive systems. Some of these sweeteners have even been linked to cancer. We should avoid these products and use regular sugar instead.
Avoid Red Meats. Stay away from red meat such as pork, lamb and beef. Red meats like pork and lamb are highly acidic and have very low water content. These foods are also heavy and difficult to digest, and can leave acidic residues in the digestive tract. We can opt for chicken, turkey or fish for a protein source.
Minimize Eating Processed and Refined Foods. This means food made from white flour, preservatives and food coloring. These chemicals are not designed to be digested in our system and are either digested and leave acid residues, or they're stored in our fat cells. Stay away from fatty and fried foods. These increase the acidity in our bodies and have other harmful components.
Avoid Alcoholic Beverages. Alcohol increases the acid levels in our bodies and can lead to other harmful effects. Alcohol also increases the acid levels in the blood and can lead to heart and liver diseases. We can drink alkaline water instead to increase alkalinity. Just add lemon juice to water and to increase the alkalinity of the body.
Avoid Stress. Stress increases the acid levels by increasing our blood pressure and excreting excess adrenaline in the bloodstream. It also causes the stomach to produce more acids, compromising the digestive system. We can regulate stress by exercising regularly. Regular exercise helps maintain healthy blood pressure and increases the alkalinity in our bodies.
Here are a few steps that you can take if your goal is to alkalize your body.
Step 1: Before you start alkalizing your body, you need to determine its acidity or alkalinity. Litmus paper is often used to test for acidity and can be purchased in local health stores to test your exact pH level. You can test your acidic level by placing a small strip of litmus paper under your tongue for a few seconds. The normal pH level of saliva is between 7 and 7.5. Numbers less than this mean it is acidic, and numbers more than this are alkaline. Most litmus papers come with a color-coded chart that can determine the exact numeric pH level depending on the color the paper changes to.
Step 2: If you are acidic or have high acidic levels, you will need to alkalize your body. The simplest and most effective way to do this is to change your diet. There are food charts that explain which foods are alkaline or acidic. You can follow these charts to choose which foods are best for the alkaline diet. You will notice that acidic foods are usually fatty or fried foods, while most alkaline foods are raw foods like fruits and vegetables. Most processed foods are acidic. Be careful what fruits and vegetables you choose for your diet. Some of them, such as cranberries and corn, are actually acidic.
Step 3: While the diet alone can alkalize your body, there are also certain products and supplements you can take that can lower the acidic level of your body. Drinking water can alkalize your body naturally, so drink water often. If it is too stale, you can add lemon juice or some other alkaline fruit to add flavor. There are also some herbs and vitamins that you can take to help alkalize your body. Burdock and chickweed are herbs that can help alkalize, while potassium and magnesium are supplements that you can take along with an alkaline diet.
