Foods That Help Lower pH Levels in the Body

The pH levels in our bodies need to be kept in the correct range for us to be healthy. Although certain parts of our bodies, like our stomachs, produce acid; our pH should be slightly alkaline. If the pH levels in our blood are acidic, or not alkaline enough, it is known as acidosis. Acidosis is associated with fatigue and often accompanies chronic diseases.

If the pH levels in our blood are too high, that will also cause problems. It is known as alkalosis when this happens and is frequently associated with dehydration. Here are some foods that can help lower our pH levels and promote good health when faced with alkalosis:

~Slightly Acidic FoodsIt is usually best to start with foods that do not contain too much acid so you don’t end up on the opposite end of the spectrum. These foods are slightly acidic.
* Fresh Corn
* Honey
* Pork Chops
* Whole Wheat Bread
* Eggs
* Bacon
* Lamb Chops
* English Walnuts
* Wheat Bran
* White Bread
* Veal
* Barley
* Turkey
* Steak
* Salmon
* Brown Rice

~Foods With Medium Acidity
These foods are more acidic than the ones in the previous list. In the case of extreme alkalosis, they might provide faster relief.
* Wheat Germ
* Peanuts
* Chicken
* Peanut Butter
* Pasta
* Codfish
* Soda Crackers
* Haddock
* Shrimp
* Lobster
* Corned Beef
* Oatmeal

~Highly Acidic Foods
These foods have the highest acidity you can find in natural food sources. They can be helpful if your pH level is extremely high.
* Sardines
* Sausage
* Dried Lentils
* Oysters
* Scallops

There are many foods you can eat with higher alkaline content if you are suffering from acidosis which will help raise your pH. If that is the case, you should try to avoid the foods mentioned above until your blood pH is restored to healthier levels.

Even though it is possible to test your own pH levels at home, it is best to go to a doctor for the initial diagnosis. The doctor can give you a blood pH test while home tests use less reliable fluids such as saliva and urine. Depending upon the results, your doctor may want to test for other things as well.
You can use litmus strips at home to test your pH level after your doctor has determined where your pH stands. The results will be more variable but they will give you a general idea of which direction your pH is going. With that in mind, it will be easier for you to determine whether you need to include acidic or alkaline foods in your diet.

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Ten Diet Rules If You Don’t Want to Lose Weight

1. If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.

2. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled out by the diet soda.

3. When you eat with someone else, calories don’t count if you don’t eat more than they do.

4. Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake.

5. If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.

6. Movie related foods (Milk Duds, Buttered Popcorn, Junior Mints, Red Hots, Tootsie Rolls, etc.) do not have additional calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one’s personal fuel.

7. Cookie pieces contain no fat — the process of breaking causes fat leakage.

8. Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something. Examples are peanut butter on a knife while making a sandwich and ice cream on a spoon while making a sundae.

9. Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are: spinach and pistachio ice cream; mushrooms and white chocolate. NOTE: Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color.

10. Foods that are frozen have no calories because calories are units of heat. Examples are ice cream, frozen pies, and popsicles.

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Top 5 Healthy Exercises

Healthy Exercise Water Aerobics People seem to get less active as they gain weight and when they’re getting older. Let’s face it; there are a lot of baby boomers in the world right now. There’s really no excuse for a person not to make the time for healthy exercise.

Getting older is not an excuse to avoid getting in shape. As a matter of fact, it is even more important as you age to keep a healthy exercise program. Your plan should include endurance, strength training, stretching and balance exercise.

You can maintain a healthy, active lifestyle by incorporating all of these activities into your normal routine. And most importantly keep your exercise program FUN!

Here are the Top 5 Healthy Exercises:

Healthy Exercise #1 – Walking

Walking is one of the simplest ways to exercise. It’s probably the most healthy exercise you’ll find. Most doctors recommend walking. The best part about walking is you don’t need any special equipment, membership or have to keep to strict time restraints.

You can walk by yourself and use that as your “alone” time, or walk with a friend to keep each other motivated, or you can join a local walking club. Walking with other people makes it much easier to stick to than an exercise plan because it is harder to avoid. Depending on where you walk, and who you walk with can also make it that much more fun. There is nothing like a good conversation to pass the time and trick yourself into not even realizing you are getting a great workout!

You can walk anywhere, anytime. (We do encourage you to use common sense and always put your safety first.) You can literally walk anywhere- the gym, the mall, the park, the beach, around the block, on a treadmill in your living room, the list is endless …

Walking is a healthy exercise because it helps to reduce stress, works your large muscle groups and is low impact. Plus, it is a great and easy way to lose weight, get in shape, and keep the weight off.

Healthy Exercise #2 – Water Aerobics

Whether you are new to exercise or are already in great shape, this is a great way to get your healthy exercise and meet new people at the same time. Many gyms and community centers offer classes for all ages, skill, and goal levels. Water offers great resistance while being low impact which means it’s easier on your body. You still get the same burn as a high impact workout without the strain on your joints.

Healthy Exercise #3 – Weight Training

People that add weight training to their healthy exercise program lose a higher percentage of body fat while on a weight loss program. Weight training does not have to be strenuous or hard and does not mean you will get big and bulky.

When you do weight training in addition to a regular healthy exercise routine you can decrease loss of muscle mass and bone density which helps you maintain balance and mobility. That can enhance your health and quality of life, especially as you age.

Healthy Exercise #4 – Yoga

Some yoga does require an incredible amount of strength and balance however there are plenty of poses that are terrific for those who are just beginning or have some health issues. A good place to start is by taking a class geared towards beginners or those of us with lower skill levels. Yoga is great for staying relaxed and getting a better night’s sleep as well as gaining flexibility and retaining balance.

Healthy Exercise #5 – Sports

Just because you most likely won’t be a professional athlete any time soon (or in this lifetime for that matter), it doesn’t mean that you can’t get out and have some fun. Many community centers and senior organizations have adult “for fun” leagues you can join. It’s a great way to meet new people, spend time with good friends, and stay in shape while you’re having fun and getting a good dose of some healthy exercise.

Even if you don’t want to join a league you can still go to the park and play baseball (or basketball, or football, or tennis, or…well, you get the point) with your grandkids. You’ll still get a workout in that way as well, not to mention spending invaluable quality time with those you love.

It doesn’t really matter what healthy exercise you choose to do to stay in shape – As long as you choose to do something. Have fun with it. The more fun you’re having the more likely you will stick to your exercise program and in turn stay fit and healthier for a long time to come.

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Are You Getting Proper Nutrition From Your Diet?

Are you feeling tired, stressed and apathetic?

If you answered “Yes” you may not be getting proper nutrition from your diet. All of these are common signs of a diet lacking nutritional value.

Regardless of your situation, You should be concerned whether or not you and your family are getting proper nutrition from your diet. This is especially true if you are dieting, ill or eating a lot of fast-food.

Your diet is a crucial element to feeling good, strong and alert.

Most people realize that there are health effects if you are lacking in nutrition. But, did you know that overindulgence in nutrition can also affect your health?

Health Effects of a Lack in Nutrition

A lack in nutrition occurs when you skip meals, or try to get through the day on nothing but a bagel and coffee. Signs that you haven’t given your body proper nutrition include a lack of mental clarity, irritability, weakness, and dizziness.

Lack of nutrition can cause you to lose weight, and over time can break down the function of your organs such as the reproductive system as well as your heart and lungs.

Health Effects of Overindulgence in Nutrition

Overindulgence in nutrition comes when you indulge in a high calorie diet on a regular basis.
Think about it, how do you feel after stuffing yourself at a holiday dinner? You’re probably tired and lethargic.

Overindulging will sap your energy, put a strain on your system and cause weight gain, which brings its own health issues. Obesity increases the risk for health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

What is Proper Nutrition?

Proper nutrition is based on more than your caloric intake. If you eat an entire box of donuts, you’ll be an excess of your daily caloric limit – Meeting zero percent of your daily requirements for vitamins, protein, calcium and other minerals.

It’s true that you need calories for energy. You need to consume the appropriate amount of calories each day to achieve and maintain your optimum health.

If you’re serious about getting proper nutrition for yourself and/or your family it’s vital that your diet has strong nutritional value. You’ll need to know how many calories you should be consuming each day.

The first step to getting proper nutrition is to know the Difference Between a Portion and a Serving – Yes, there is a difference …

You’ll need to read labels. After about a month you’ll be able to eyeball a portion size, and know its caloric value. This will enable you to know if you and your family are taking in the appropriate amount of calories.

It’s your choice. If you choose a diet that lacks in nutrition on a regular basis, you’ll be lowering your resistance to illness and increase your chances of serious disorders such as osteoporosis which is caused by a lack of calcium.

For proper nutrition you’ll need a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein (meant and lentils), dairy and fiber (bread and cereal). A burger at your favorite fast-food in your diet will not be harmful, as long as it’s an occasional treat.

It’s alright to take a multi vitamin, but you should try to get all of your vitamins and minerals through your diet. Just be sure to talk to your doctor first.

It is important for parents to teach children moderate eating habits to ensure good eating for life. Educating yourself and your family on proper nutrition will keep you and your family feeling good and healthy.

If your goal is to lose weight choose a healthy diet like Jillian Michaels or eDiets.

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Go Low Carb Instead of NO Carb

People will try all kinds of diet fads in an effort to lose weight. Almost everyone you talk to will have a different opinion of what works and what doesn’t.

One thing that will definitely NOT work is a diet where carbohydrates are cut out completely. A healthy eating plan includes fats, carbohydrates, and protein. To follow any diet that excludes any of those components would be endangering your health.

Carbohydrates are the most plentiful of all the nutrients. Carbs can be found in most of the foods we eat. They are made of simple and complex sugars that the body will metabolize to use for energy or store as fat when no more is needed.

Fruits and dairy products such as milk and cheese are examples of simple carbohydrates. Heavier foods like pastas, breads, potatoes, rice and cereals are complex carbohydrates. Eating more of the simple carbohydrates and less of the complex carbohydrates may be a good way to lose weight.

Diets that cut out all carbohydrates force the body to obtain all of its energy from fats and proteins. When protein from food is no longer available to meet the body’s energy needs, your body will begin to siphon energy from the muscle tissue of your body. In essence, the body begins feeding on itself for fuel. No one wants that. The body needs glucose (sugar) to function. In fact, the glucose needed by the brain must come from carbohydrates and not protein sources.

Carbohydrates have been classified by their glycemic index (GI) number. This method of rating carbohydrates helps people to make wiser choices about what they include in their diets. Foods with high GI’s (larger than fifty) cause the body to store fat while foods with lower GI numbers (less than fifty) case the body to burn fat.

On a diet that features low GI carbohydrates, the insulin level in the body is maintained at a steady level. These carbs are processed at a slower rate by the body. Glucagon, the other hormone, can work to burn the sugars for energy in the cells. When the insulin hormone level in the body has no major fluctuations, you won’t feel hungry all of the time.

When you expend energy during physical activity, the body starts to release fat stored to use for energy metabolism. Low carb diets provide the body with energy without putting the body in crisis mode.

Choosing fresh vegetables and fruits means you are consuming the right carbohydrates. Beans and nuts are great for a low carb diet. Whole grain pastas and breads are preferred to those made with white flour. If you must have potatoes, try sweet potatoes. The GI number is lower and they are great with non-fat spray butter.

On another note, there are a lot of lean, slim trim people that refuse to give up their potatoes …. You can fit it into your diet, if you don’t want to give them up.

Do not try to cut out all carbohydrates from your diet. This is dangerous. Instead, reduce them to lose weight, and more importantly make sure you choose the right types of carbohydrates. This is just as important as how much you consume.

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