Alkaline foods can save your life!

"Every single person with cancer has a PH level that is to acidic"

- Dr Otto Warburg, Nobel prize winner and the man who discovered the real cause of cancer.

What are Alkaline Foods

You may be thinking what are alkaline foods? food is food right?..Wrong!! All the food you eat has an effect on the acid and alkaline balance in our bodies and in turn determines our health. The measure of this balance is determined by your PH level which tells you whether your bodies tissues and body fluids are alkaline or acidic. A healthy body is considered to be healthy and alkaline if you have a PH level of 7.0 or above on a rang 0-10 and a pH level of 4.5 being very acidic and unhealthy.

So whether we are eating foods that are acidic or alkaline while determine our pH levels and like many people, diets often fluctuate between healthy and unhealthy which, of course, causes our pH levels to fluctuate. When your body fluctuates towards the more acidic end of the scale your body will immediately begin to exhibit symptoms of an imbalance in the body. An acidic environment promotes the growth of bad bacteria, yeast and fungi. The imbalance of your body's good bacteria makes you more prone to getting infections. These symptoms may be considered minor health problems like a cold, skin problems, IBS or fatigue to name just a few. but they are actually early warning signs that your body may be too acidic and you need to add more alkaline foods to your diet. While external life factors such as stress, exposure to germs and contaminants etc may also contribute to causing these health problems, your going to be better equipped to prevent or recover from them if your body is in a more alkaline state.

A major reason to eat more alkaline foods and obtain an alkaline body state is that your likely to reduce your risk for developing cancer. When the body is too acidic, oxygen levels are lowered and cellular metabolism stops which can lead to the growth of cancer cells. Maintaining an alkaline state helps encourage healthy cell turnover, which is key in the prevention of cancer.

Eating more fruits and vegetables will make your body more alkaline, while processed foods, sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol will make your body more acidic. By eating more alkalizing foods, you are more likely to obtain and maintain a healthy weight and a health life. Frequent consumption of acid-producing foods is more likely to contribute to weight and health problems such as obesity and diabetes.

So which foods are the most alkaline?

Here is a list of the top alkaline foods;

1. Raw Spinach

All leafy greens are good for alkalizing the body but Spinach is the absolute king. I try and consume spinach at least once a day, not only because they are nutritional powerhouses and insanely alkaline, but they are easily obtainable, easy to use in soups, smoothies, salads and recipes. And for me personally, i think it tastes great!

So back to the nutrition... as with all green foods, Spinach is abundantly rich in Chlorophyll; a potent blood builder and alkalizer. Spinach is a huge source of Vitamins K, A, C, B2 and E respectively. It is also a good source Manganese, Folate, Magnesium, Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Fiber.

2. Kale

Another of the leafy greens to make my list id the mighty Kale. The big buzz word in the health world at the moment and with good reason. Similarly to Spinach, Kale is high in Chlorophyll, Vitamin K, A and C, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Omega-3 and Fiber. Kale is also great for lowering cholesterol and is often celebrated for its cancer fighting properties, this is because it contains 4 types of glucosinolates which when digested are converted by the body into cancer fighting compounds.

3. Sprouts

Sprouts are part of the Brassica family of vegetables and have a similar flavor to Cabbage. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, A, B1 and beta caratone aswell as being rich in Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Sulfur.Sprouts have also been known to help the body break down the acids caused by acid-forming foods, which in turn boosts your pH levels and aids in maintaining an alkaline state.

4. Broccoli

Broccoli is another member of the Brassica family, bit of a theme developing here i know. It's no surprise that that Broccoli is an alkalizing food given its exceptional nutritional value. Broccoli contains an abundance of blood purifying chlorophyll as well as Iron and Sulfur and Calcium. It's also rich in Vitamins A, B-complex and especially vitamin C. Broccoli is a well documented to have cancer-combating abilities and promotes the production of enzymes that destroy carcinogenic substances in food. A US study also claims that a compound in Broccoli (I3C) increases DNA repair proteins that helps lower the risk of cancer.

5. Carrots

Carrots are root vegetables that is one of the richest forms of Beta Caratone and is an excellent source of vitamin B1, B2 and C as well as minerals Potassium, Sodium and Silicon. Carrots are are an alkalizing food and as well as being good for your eyes they are reported to be good for treating indigestion, protecting against cancer, treating infections of the lungs, digestive system and urinary tract. Carrots can also improve the appearance of your skin and improve calcium absorption, liver function and maintain a healthy heart.

6. Asparagus

This highly nutritious green vegetable originally from Africa and the Mediterranean region is rich in vitamins and minerals, in particular, vitamin E which is an important lipid antioxidant. Asparagus is also rich in vitamins A, B-complex, C and K, as well as Copper, Iron and Potassium. Asparagus is one of the top Alkalizing foods you can eat and promotes digestion, anti-aging, bone health, weight loss, the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure, cleanses cholesterol from arteries and can be used to treat many kidney conditions. Asparagus also contains the amino acid Asparagine which has calming properties and is believed to regulate brain and nerve metabolism.

7. Celery

Personally... I love Celery! As well as being an alkaline food is a good source of vitamins A, B1, B2 as well as a host of minerals including Iron, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, caratone and sodium. If that wasn't enough, they are low in calories, promotes a healthy immune system, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, decreases cancer cells, helps with weight loss, anti-inflammatory, good for teeth, reduces bloating, helps prevent ulcers, protects the liver and improves the urinary tract.

8. Lemon

Bit of a shock this one I know, but although Lemons are acidic they have an alkalizing effect on the body. Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C and bioflavanoids which are effective antioxidants.They also contain vitamin B6, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Thiamin, Riboflavin and caratone. Lemon has a huge number of benefits for your health. It can boost your metabolism, promotes weight loss, strengthens weak blood vessels, cleanses blood and the digestive system, improves hair, is a cold and flu relief, is an antiseptic, soothes toothache, treats rheumatism and arthritis and relieves repository and breathing problems.

9. Red Cabbage

Red cabbage is yet another vegetable from the Brassica family that is one of the top alkaline foods you should try and add to your diet. We all know that Cabbage is good for us but few people realize that red cabbage is even better! Red Cabbage is a rich source of fibre, vitamin C, K and B-complex and minerals such as Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium. Red Cabbage is also high in powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. In fact, Red Cabbage is well known for effectively protecting the body against a number of cancers including breast, colon, prostate, lung and stomach cancers.It's also known to help lower cholesterol, maintain a health digestive system promotes weight loss, boosts the immune system, is an anti-inflammatory, improves the nervous system, relieves constipation, relieves ulcers, fights heart disease and when prepared as Sauerkraut promotes healthy bacteria in the gut.

10. Wheat-grass

Wheat grass is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet containing 98 out of 102 earth elements making it an almost complete super food! It's considered a "living food" and is rich in vitamins A, B-complex, E and K and is high one of the best sources of Chlorophyll and is a source of Calcium and Iron. Wheat grass is a great alkaline food because it restores alkalinity to the blood and circulatory system and is a powerful detoxifier. It's also known to aid the bodies rejuvenation process and the digestion of nutrients. Some other benefits of wheat-grass are that it activates white blood cells leading to an improved immune system, contains anti-aging properties, reduces blood pressure, helps prevent tooth decay and helps alleviate stress.

11. Bell pepper

Bell peppers of whatever color are a good way of keeping your body alkaline. They are a great source of nutrients and are low in calories. Peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and Beta-caratone and also contains vitamin A and high amounts of Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus and sodium. Peppers are also high in antioxidants, can improve appetite and digestion, improve circulation, reduce swellings, boost the immune system, is anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol, improves diabetes and improves eye health.

12. Cucumber

Cucumbers are another great alkaline food that I love to eat and add to smoothies. This common garden vegetable has so many benefits and contains Vitamins A, B and C as well as Chlorophyll, Zinc and Silicon. Due to its high water content, Cucumber is great for hydrating the body, weight loss, detoxing and cleansing the body as well as regulating blood pressure, improves skin and hair, helps relieve joint pain and helps fight cancer.

13. Avocado

Avocados are finally getting the accolades they deserve after years of being wrongly branded "fattening". Yes they are high in fat, but they are high in good fats that actually lower cholesterol and actually aid in weight loss. Add in to the mix that the mighty Avocado contains a huge amount of vitamins and mineral as well as being an alkaline food and its safe to say were onto a winner. Avocado's are rich in vitamins A, B and E as well as Potassium, Folate and Magnesium. The high fat and fiber content in Avocado makes them great for weight loss programs as they make you feel full for longer. They are also rich in proteins, can help balance hormones, regulate sugar levels, improve digestion, improve your mood, is anti aging, anti-inflammatory and nourishes your skin.

14. Almonds

Almonds are my favorite nut, I eat them whole, as a nut butter and even almond milk. They tastes great and are a great source of nutrition so it's not surprising that they are also an alkaline food. Almonds are 20% protein, contain vitamin E , Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron and Zinc. Although high in fat, similarly to Avocados, it's a source of good fats shown to lower cholesterol, reduce body fat content, promote weight loss, lower blood pressure, relieve phlegm, lubricate the intestines, ease coughs and helps increase muscle gains.

15. Grapefruit

Similarly to Lemons, this acidic fruit also has an alkalizing effect on the body. Grapefruits are notorious for their metabolism boosting powers and with it's low sugar content and high nutrient value it's often considered one of the healthiest foods in the world. This citrus fruit is high in vitamins A and C (pink Grapefruit has 5 times more vitamin A than its white counterpart). It also contains vitamin B3, Thiamin, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Copper. This mighty fruit has a host of other health benefits such as it regulates sugar levels, aids digestion, provides relief for insomnia, relieves flatulence, appetite suppressant, prevents excessive acid build up and is a good remedy for fever and influenza.

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