Alkaline Diets - Your Guide To Healthy Life

By Emma Deangela

Anyone who has taken basic biology knows that cells require very narrow parameters to function optimally. Temperature and pH must be precisely engineered in order to support simple life. The human body, though seemingly sturdy and above this natural law, is no different! Humans can function in a wide variety of environments, but we do require basic conditions in order to have optimal performance.

In its purest form, human body fluids and tissue exist in a slightly alkaline state (not acidic). Since the human body uses the foods we eat as raw material to rebuild its tissues, our pH balance can quickly become unbalanced if our diet consists of "acidifying" foods. These acidifying foods quickly cause our blood and body tissues to become bathed in an acidic solution. This won't kill you right away, but if left untreated, this acidic condition leads to diseases such as heart disease, high cholesterol and even obesity.

Why does an acidic environment in your body lead to disease? It all goes back to how your body detoxifies itself. In an acidic environment the body cannot detoxify efficiently. The buildup of toxins prevents the body from effectively replenishing its essential nutrients and antioxidants. The body becomes starved, stressed, and slows down its metabolism to counteract the nutrient-deficiency within itself. The stress leads to disease, and the slower metabolism leads to weight, diet, and detoxification problems.

The most commonly consumed acidifying foods are butter, cheeses, animal protein (except salmon), oils, corn syrup, alcohol, corn, berries, and flours. Most of these foods should be consumed in moderation and in very low amounts. The best diet one can gradually adopt is one rich in alkalizing foods, which balance the body tissues and blood back to an alkaline state. A good rule of thumb is that anything that is dark green tends to be alkalizing. This includes broccoli, dark lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, avocadoes, mustard and beet greens. More alkalizing foods are many of the fruits, such as apples, oranges, cantaloupe, lemon, lime, strawberries, and watermelons.

Right now you may be thinking that the alkalizing foods are impossible to eat without being miserable. There are many easy ways to incorporate alkalizing foods into your diet without sacrificing great taste! For example, instead of using animal protein (such as ground beef), try using a firm tofu in your meals that call for meat. Instead of using harmful oils, you can use vegetable juice to sauté your foods. Instead of drinking processed dairy milk, drink organic soy milk. Certain spices are very alkalizing as well: chili pepper, cinnamon, ginger, sea salt, curry and tamari.

Another way to help your body resume its most natural state of alkalinity is to drink at least 2 liters of alkaline water everyday. This will flush out the acidic toxins already accumulated in your bloodstream and further promote detoxification in your body's lipid storage. Supplements are available to alkalize water, usually in the form of drops and powders. Other recommended supplements that help your body alkalize are potassium, calcium, cesium and magnesium.

Emma Deangela is the author of detox and fasting site at Alkaline Diets. Combining both Asian and Western philosophy, Emma Deangela has helped many people by giving them health consultation to make their lives better and healthier through natural health philosophy. Visit Body Detox to discover the health philosophy that lead many people to a healthy life.

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Whole Food Supplements Vs. Synthetic Vitamins: Which One is Better for Me?

By Mason Curry

We all harbor the hope that we are eating right. More often than not, that's easier said than done. The demands of work and family drain our time and our patience. We live fast and eat worse. And try to compensate by taking handfuls of vitamins and other over-the-counter supplements.

The question is...can all that pill popping be good for you? According to nutritionists, the short answer is no. At the very least, say many nutritionists -- if you're missing the mark on a healthy diet, then whole food supplements are at least a step in the right direction.

Whole food supplements are made from organic, animal and plant tissues. In other words: fruits and vegetables grown in mineral-rich soils, without chemicals, pesticides, preservatives, or additives of any kind. This non-toxic nutrient-rich produce is made into supplements, which are clinically designed to target nutritional deficiencies that affect various parts of our bodies.

Whole food supplements are what their name suggests: Supplements made from concentrated whole foods. Here is an example. Tomatoes are rich in both Vitamin C and Vitamin E. However, to get the full benefit of these vitamins you would have to consume close to a dozen good size tomatoes a day. It would be hard to find a person that would or could do that on a daily basis. But... dehydrate them grind them up and put them into a soluble capsule and you are good to go. It takes only a moment to take a few capsules and you have gotten the benefits of a whole garden of tomatoes.

Because these supplements are made from natural foods, they contain the entire complex of vitamins and minerals as well as all the micro-nutrients and synergistic factors found in nature. Which -- in case you didn't know - are necessary for the vitamin or mineral to complete its action in the body.

Synthetic vitamins recreate only a potion of what is need to reap the full benefits of its nutrition. When vitamins appear in nature there is a slew of accompanying enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, trace elements, and activators that help the body absorb the vitamins. When a vitamin is created synthetically, the team of other elements that help the vitamin be absorbed are not recreated. No evidence suggests that synthetics are damaging to one's health in the recommended dosage but, at very least, they are poor investment in your overall health. Much of a synthetics offered nutrients are lost because it cannot be absorbed.

Synthetics are appealing when sitting on the store shelves next to whole food supplements because whole food are often up to twice the price. Think next time you are at the market. It doesn't matter if it is cheaper if it doesn't work. Also keep in mind, many vitamins and minerals require fats to be absorbed correctly. Diets that remove all or most fats from the diet usually keep your body from getting the nutrients it needs.

Provided by Mason Curry - Natures Bargain Health Products, LLC Almighty Cleanse and Sea vegg are two of the best whole food nutrition aid on the market. Nature's Bargain brings them and many other whole food and natural health products at less than retail prices. http://www.naturesbargain.com

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