Is an alkaline diet really necessary or is it just another fad? Evidence would have it, it is the real deal, eating an alkaline diet can improve bone health, reflux, reduce the risks of kidney stones, improve hormone levels and can reduce chronic pain.
The ph of your body is tightly regulated and the kidneys do most of the work to regulate ph by respiratory function, maintaining electrolyte levels and excreting/reabsorbing acidic and alkaline ions through urine. However, eating an alkaline diet also helps keeps us in balance (1).
Some of the signs and symptoms of too much acidity:
- chest and head mucus
- chemical sensitivity
- heartburn
- muscle pain
- diarrhea/constipation
- swelling
- hives
- psoriasis
- headaches and migraines
- depression
- fungal and bacterial infections
- plus more serious health conditions such as cancer, Rhematoid Arthritis and SLE.
How do we become too acidic?
The diet plays an important role. Ingesting processed foods and medications can contribute to acidity.
Some high acidic foods to minimise include:
- highly processed foods and sugars
- milk
- alcohol
- soft drinks
- wheat products
- red meat
What can you do to restore balance?
Consume foods that are mostly alkaline in nature. They include:
- vegetables
- fruits
- plant based proteins
- filtered water
As I always speak about with my clients, we want to eliminate the root cause of a condition. If you have back pain continuously you could get a massage every so often for pain relief but wouldn’t you want to reduce it completely? A German study with 82 participants suffering chronic lower back pain supplemented with alkalising minerals and found after 4 weeks, 92% had a reduction in pain (2). For anyone suffering chronic pain, this sounds pretty good!
If you have tried everything but fixing up your diet maybe now is the time? A blood test alongside your symptoms can determine if you are acidic. Alongside fixing up your diet it may be necessary to do some gut healing and detox work as well. If you would like a specific plan for you, please contact me.
With the help of a balanced diet, therapeutic supplements and lifestyle changes it is possible to get your body in balance again.
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