January is the month where everyone is focused on healthy eating and feeling better. A big part of staying healthy is to help the body maintain its balance of water, nutrients and pH levels. In this three part series we will look at how drinking more water, avoiding acidic foods and eating alkalizing foods can help alkalize and keep our body.
pH: the measurement of acidity and alkalinity
For those of us who have forgotten high school chemistry, the pH scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It measures the potential hydrogen in a substance. The pH scale ranges from 1 to 14; levels 1.0 to 6.9 are acidic, 7 is neutral and 7.1 to 14.0 is alkaline. Most parts of the body want an alkaline condition for optimal health. But due to our modern diet of sugar, processed foods most people will find that they are too acidic. This acidic state can make us feel tired, lethargic, nausea, malaise, aches and pains, headaches, joint pain and even weight gain. Acidic environments are also where microorganisms thrive. The best way to alkalize the body is to drink more water and to add alkalizing foods to the body.
Remember, our bodies are 70% water, so the first step is to rehydrate. This will help our body to eliminate acid waste and improve the flow and secretion of fluids. Many people have poor digestion due to lack of fluid intake, which can cause sluggish digestion and constipation. Our digestive system needs water to produce enzymes, fluids and keep things moving.
Recipe for keeping hydrated
- Buy a funky stainless steel or glass water bottle for you and each member of your family. By having water with you at all times, you will get in the habit of drinking more water.
- Start your day with a large glass of room temperature water, this will rehydrate you after sleeping and help your body detoxify. Or, you can revisit a recent post about starting your day with warm water and lemon – another way to hydrate and alkalize your body all at the same time!
Stay tuned for part two in our series where we look at the most acidic foods, how to reduce our consumption of them and how to add healthier substitutions.
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Until next time,