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Greetings,
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 This month I wanted to cover acid-alkaline
balance because it is becoming a growing problem in our society. I
find that most of us are not in good acid-alkaline balance. This
contributes to disease, fatigue, and many health conditions. It
has been demonstrated that most people suffering from acute and
chronic diseases are found to be in an overly acidic state and
their blood too low in oxygen.
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Acid-Alkaline
Balance |
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 Our body pH is maintained just above
7.0 for optimal health. When we keep this pH, our
metabolism, enzymes, immune system, and repair mechanisms
work most effectively. And, when our pH is kept at this
level it indicates that we have enough buffering minerals to
balance the acids in our body.
Our metabolism is
kept in balance by a variety of mechanisms that produce acid
by-products. So, it's essential that our foods contain
buffering minerals to offset this natural acid metabolism.
Our standard American diet (SAD) contributes to the overall
acid load, rather than helping balance it. High protein,
fat, sugar, and refined foods increase acid load. Stress,
alcohol, and cigarettes compound the problem. Fruits,
vegetables and seaweeds help alkalize our systems.
Most of us unknowingly have a slightly acidic body
environment. When we are acidic, our cells become sluggish
and cannot function properly. Wastes build up, toxins are
not excreted, and nutrients are not properly used. We begin
to feel less well than we'd like and once a
nutrient-depleted and oxygen-deficient environment is
created, and the body remains overly acidic, the scene is
set and the rest happens fairly quickly.
To maintain
homeostasis in our blood, which is very sensitive to changes
in pH, we pull potassium from our extra cellular fluid. When
stores have been used up, we begin to pull calcium,
magnesium, and other alkalizing minerals from our bones.
This is one of the underlying causes in osteoporosis and
arthritic conditions and according to cancer research is the
very environment that supports the beginning of
cancer. |
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Acid-Alkaline
Foods |
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Foods we eat can
dramatically change our pH. For example, one twelve-ounce can of
cola contains enough phosphoric acid to significantly change our
pH. The kidneys cannot excrete urine that is more acidic than
about 5.0 without damaging them or the bladder so the body has
another mechanism of buffering by using minerals from elsewhere in
the body. If there are enough reserves, the body will pull sodium
and potassium to do this. Soon after, it will pull calcium,
magnesium, and other minerals from bone. Other specifically acidic
foods include artificial sweeteners, white processed sugar and
flour, beef, pork, coffee and wheat containing grains.
Foods that are very alkaline
are vegetables, especially all the green ones, fruits, seaweeds
and non gluten grains such as millet and
quinoa.
The
standard American diet (SAD) is not sufficient in its buffering
capacity. When diets are low in fruits and vegetables, high in
soda and when we are under stress, the need for buffering minerals
is much higher. Most of us are continually taking minerals from
bone to keep our cells and blood balanced. If we don't replenish
these minerals, the long-term effect is bone loss, joint
degeneration, and overall lack of good health. |
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pH
Testing |
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 pH testing is a simple home urine test with
a dipstick. To do the test you can purchase a packet of pH paper
with the ability to test between a pH of 5.5 and 8.0. You simply
place a piece of pH paper into your first morning urine and read
it to see what your pH is by matching the color of the test strip
with the color chart on the back of the test tape packet.
Optimally, the level will be between 6.3 and 7.0. Any number lower
than 6.3 indicates that your urine is on the acid side. The lower
the number, the more acidic you are.
If your reading falls
below 6.3, you need to make dietary changes to bring your pH back
into an optimal range. Adding alkalizing foods and extra buffering
minerals is very helpful. If you have trouble eating enough green
vegetables, wheat grass shots and green drinks such as paleo
greens which contains dried grasses can be a great addition mixed
in water or a shake. |
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Want to
eat healthy but dont have time to cook? |
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 There is now a great option. The Secret
Chef is a gourmet meal delivery and catering service located right
here in Hoboken, NJ. They provide healthy
and well-balanced meals for only $15. Order as little as two meals
per week or order for the entire month; meals are cooked by a
graduate of The Culinary Institute of America.
They are delivered on
Monday's and Wednesday's to ensure freshness and are for one
person. Delivery of meals is currently available in Hoboken, Jersey
City, Jersey
City Heights, Union
City, Weehawken,
West New York and Edgewater. I
have tried many dishes and they have all been fabulous!
You
can contact them by calling 201-978-0455 or on the web at
www.thesecretchefllc.com. |
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Detox
Pads |
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In
the recent weeks, I had several patients ask me about the Japanese
detox pads advertised on television. Since many people were
wondering I thought I would do a quick review. I looked further
into their process and the pads work by sending ions through the
body to attach to toxins and pull them out. There is however very
little research on them and I don't believe they are strong enough
to remove that many toxins, especially heavy metals. They are
certainly not a substitute for liver detox and good adrenal
function. With that said however, they do claim to get some of the
toxins out so therefore they can't hurt. I ordered some myself to
give it a try. I first used them last night and when I woke up
this morning there was definitely black goo on the bottom, however
I did not notice a difference in how I felt from the previous day.
They instruct to use the pads until the black goo subsides. I will
do that and update you on the progress and my thoughts on them
when I am done. In the meantime, if anyone else has experimented
with them please email me and let me know your thoughts and I will
post it in the next newsletter. |
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It is such a
pleasure for me to help you and those closest to you become
healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family
members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by
it.
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Inna Topiler
C.N., H.H.C.
Complete Nutrition And
Wellness
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