What on Earth Is the Big Deal About Alkaline Diets?

World Wide Web | What on Earth Is the Big Deal About Alkaline Diets? | Have you been hearing about alkaline diets but have no idea what it's all about? You've come to the right place!First, I'll start by explaining the term ALKALINE. For starters, it is the opposite of acidic. Acids, which have been known to aid in the corrosion, eating away of and/or burning of certain materials, can be very dangerous substances when and if they are not handled properly. The level of acidity is tested or measured on a sliding scale, which is considered the pH level. If the pH is less than 7, the item--food or beverage is considered to be acidic.

I really hate to get too technical with all of the details but I love understanding how things work so I know there will be a few of you who will appreciate the following:

Acids, for the most part, are considered reactive agents and if they are introduced in the presence of some other living organism or organ they are going to get busy causing reactions; which are chemical reactions taking place in your body that could be harmful. Remember what I told you acids are capable of earlier, right?

Our bodies are the opposite of that in our natural state. Our bodies are alkaline environments (key word being naturally). In the natural order of things, 'things' tend to want to maintain a balance or equilibrium of sorts--to stay balanced. When things are balanced, they usually work right. If and when our bodies become chemically imbalanced, we become sick. If we continue to eat and drink acidic foods and beverages without drinking enough water, we will create an acidic environment in our bodies. This shift can create an imbalance, or many imbalances which generally cause illness and weight gain.

In order to prevent these type of reactions and avoid the harmful effects of our bodies becoming acidic, we should try to stick to alkaline foods as much as possible. Eating alkaline foods and drinking alkaline water helps to control our equilibrium and keeps the body in its natural (alkaline) state, which generally keeps us quite healthy and in perfect order.

Some common side effects of an alkaline diet are weight loss and a high resistance to becoming sick. As I mentioned previously, the natural order of things are for us to be healthy and we are usually the main culprits and instigators in becoming ill because it is us causing the imbalances by eating and drinking acidic foods without enough water to neutralize the acid. Also know that cancer cells can not thrive and survive in an alkaline environment--this is also the case with most bacteria and viruses that cause us to become ill.

I'm sure by now you're probably all asking "OK, so what are alkaline foods?" To be on the safe side, know that ALKALINE foods consist of whole foods, which are raw fruit and veggies. Meats and dairy products are acidic. Ideally, we would all become vegan and be healthy for as long as we live. An entire world of vegans may not be realistic and in understanding that, we should all be aware of and realize that water is a neutralizing agent that can assist in bringing pH levels from more to less acidic.

Now to summarize all the info into the "meat and potatoes" of the article (no pun intended)

Eat as many raw fruit and vegetables that you can.

Eat as little meat and dairy products that you can.

Drink as much water as you can--the rule of thumb is that you should be drinking one half your body weight in ounces, daily. (i.e. weight=160 lbs./water to drink daily=80 fl. oz.)

Ready? Set? Let's Get Healthy!

Article Source: EzineArticles