Keep The Body Alkaline For Optimum Health

-From Natural News Oct 20,2009

Our bodies are alkaline by design and acid by function. This means that our bodies function more efficiently when slightly alkaline, but bodily functions, such as digestion, are acid producing. So what can we do to ensure that our bodies remain more alkaline and balanced?

The human body's metabolic process is naturally acid producing. However, this waste needs to be neutralized or "balanced" so it can be safely eliminated from the body without damaging tissues and organs that are responsible for detoxifying the body. Alkalinity is needed to neutralize and balance acidity. The presence of alkalinity in the body's acid producing environment is counteractive to the onset of illness and disease and also prevents decomposition.

"Acidosis" refers to an acid pH. It is an imbalanced acidic condition of all bodily fluids. Almost all cellular functions in the body are sensitive to the pH of their fluids. If the pH falls too far to the acidic side the cells become poisoned in their own toxic wastes and will die. All chemical processes have an ideal pH. Your blood should have a pH of 7.35 - 7.45.

Many studies show that people with a correct blood pH enjoy good health; whereas, people with a low, or acidic, pH are more likely to be ill. The slightest imbalance can cause serious illness and disease.The body will do whatever it must to maintain the blood pH balance, and will continually steal acid-neutralizing minerals from wherever necessary, such as calcium from bones and teeth. The blood will dump the acid into other body organs in an effort to detoxify itself. The organs then dump the acid back into the blood, creating a vicious cycle of trying to rid itself of acidity. This cycle can be ended with a properly balance pH.

Symptoms of mild cases of acidosis include headache, lack of energy, sleepiness, fast and shallow breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and loss of appetite. Acidosis can result in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, tuberculosis, osteoporoses, high blood pressure and most cancers.Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body has more acidity then alkalinity in it. Eating a diet of excessive meats, grains and breads, dairy products, sugar, overcooked, refined and processed foods and fast foods, can lead to an acidic pH balance. Other factors can include overload from pollutants and chemicals, emotional stress and negative thinking. Even excessive exercising (past the point of exhaustion) causes acidity.

The most important way to stay alkaline is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

- Increase the amounts of vegetables and fruit (alkaline foods) that you eat while decreasing the amount of acid-forming foods, such as grains, dairy products, pasta and breads. Juicing vegetables can be an excellent way to increase your alkaline food intake.Just because a fruit or vegetable may be acid, that doesn't mean it will be acid when it is digested. When foods are digested, they turn into "ash". This ash is what determines if a food is acid or alkaline.- It is important to remember that the method of cooking will also have either an acidic or alkaline reaction. For example, a potato that is baked or boiled in its jacket is alkaline food, whereas a fried potato is acid-forming.

- Make sure you drink at least 2 liters of good water per day. Normal tap water falls short of being good for you. Most city water has additives such as chlorine and fluoride, which are acid forming. Distilled water, water treated by reverse-osmosis or alkaline waters are best.

- Stress - Joy helps to alkalize the body. Take time to relax, have fun and laugh!

- Exercise will tend to make the body more alkaline, but exercising excessively will become acid-forming

www.thewolfeclinic.com/phbalanceart...

http://www.naturalnews.com/027280_alkaline_food_blood.html

What Happens When You're Fasting..

After your cells use up the sugar that is in your bloodstream from your last meal or beverage, your body has to find another source of energy for your cells. And the first places that it turns to are your liver and your muscles. Both your liver and your muscles store sugar in the form of glycogen, and when needed, glycogen can be broken down to glucose, which all of your cells can use to produce energy for their ongoing activities.

Your glycogen stores are depleted within about 24 hours, give or take a few hours. After your glycogen stores are used up, most of your cells begin burning fatty acids for energy -- these fatty acids come from your fat reserves, including fatty tissue that surrounds your organs.

Two groups of cells -- your red blood cells and your brain cells -- cannot use fatty acids to fuel their energy needs. Your red blood cells and brain require glucose, and once glycogen/glucose from your muscles and liver are used up, your brain and your red blood cells get their glucose from two sources:

1. From glycerol, which is a component of your fat tissues.

2. From your muscles -- some of your muscle tissues get broken down, and the amino acids from your muscle tissues are used to produce glucose for your brain and red blood cells.

!Getting back to the big picture, it should be clear that from about the 2nd or 3rd day of a fast, your body meets it energy requirements by burning through your fat reserves.

!Since the bulk of the toxins in your body are stored in your fat reserves, the longer you fast, the more fat you'll burn and the more toxins you'll eliminate from your system.

!Your body begins to eliminate large quantities of toxins only after it begins to burn your fat reserves at a rapid rate. And this doesn't happen until you've used up the glycogen stores in your liver and muscles.

-adapted from http://www.naturalnews.com/024185.html

Detoxification Basics (2)

The bowel operates in close relation with the liver (hati), one of the most important components of the GI system. the liver may be considerd a 'big factory'. it processes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, synthesizes bile, glycogen and serum protens that the body uses for metabolism

Most important, the liver is the key organ responsible for detoxification. a properly functioning liver protects the individual from both environmental and metabolic poisons

A toxic liver leaks the poisons into the blood stream. when your bowels fails to perform optimally, the liver has to do extra work. at some point, too many harmful substances will accumulate, and they will escape into circulation in the body, injure tissue and diminish your health.

Fortunately the liver is one of the organs in the human body that can regenerate. it has the capacity to heal itself, particularly when supported by effective therapeutic agents and interventions

The liver's role in detoxification is activated through the coordinated effort of two families of enzymes, known as cytochrome p450s and conjugation enzymes. by activating these enzymes, we can assist the liver in its job to detoxify and excrete toxins from our bodies. common factor that cause a sluggish liver include:

• use of certain drugs, both over the counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx)
• lack of fresh vegetables in the diet
• smoking
• excessive alcohol consumption
• poor diet
• genetic
• chronic stress
• aging

Not only do cytochrome p450s and conjugation enzymes need to be activated, but they have to be balanced as well. the enzymes families work together as a team to progressively detoxify the body. the cytochrome p450s actually generate free radicals in order to accomplish their task. left unchecked, these can become harmful. the conjugation enzymes capture these free radicals,and inactivate them and prepare them for excretion

Herbs and nutrients that help in detoxification

• N-Acetylcysteine-a powerful antioxidant
• Schizandra
• Rosmary
• Green Tea
• Curcumin (kunyit)
• Milk thistle
• Dandelion
• Peppermint
• Psyllium huskAlfalfa

Go and talk to your nearby pharmacist and look for a product that contain most of the nutrients stated above.

Detoxification Basics (1)

Detoxification or simply called 'detox', as the name implies, meaning removal of toxins from our body.

The gastrointestinal tract is the organ where digestion and assimilation of nutrients take place.The colon or large bowel is the body's disposal system. It serves as temporary holding tank for what the stomch and small intestine does not digest or assimilate.properly functioning bowels produce painless and effortless bowel movements. it should take about 18-36 hours for food to travel the entire GI tract. (this is known as transit time). poorly functioning colon leads to symptoms such as bloating,constipation, diarrhea, cramping and the dangerous extreme- colorectal cancer

More than 400 different kinds of microrganisms reside in the large and small intestines. the flora of our intestines must be balanced. that is we must have healthy quantities of friendly bacteria (lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus). these bacteria feed on fermentable carbohydrates in our diet to help facilitate good, thorough digestion. Lactobacillus also inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, H.pylori, Staphylococcus and candida albicans

The Importance of FIBRE

Fibre keeps toxins from building up in the intestines, thus promoting the proper absorption of important nutrients from food.

Many of us actually taking far from the recommended amount of fibre ie 20-30 grams/day.

Fibre is composed of complex carbohydrates and only found in plant food. it is categorised as either soluble or insoluble. sources of soluble fibre include dried beans, oats, barley, apples, citrus fruits, and potatoes. insoluble fibres may be found in whole grains, wheat bran, cereals, seeds and the skins of many fruits and vegetables. the human body needs both kinds of fibre

Benefits of fibre

• aid in reducing weight
• reduce incidence of cancer
• reduce cholesterol
• helps controlling blood sugar for diabetics

Tips to get more fibre in your diet

• choose uncooked vegetables (ulam-ulaman)
• enjoy the skins and membranes of foods such as apples, potatoes, nuts etc
• choose whole grain cereal or bread
• add more beans to your dishes
• snacks with healthy food such as fresh fruits, banana or dry-roasted nuts