Alkalize or Balance Your pH

Well, here is the post I've been wanting to write for a long time. Much of what is written below was taken from the article, "The Easy Way to Health", by Pearl Barrett from "Above Rubies", issue 66

Why alkalize? "Acidosis is the foundation of all diseases. It decreases energy in our cells, decreases our ability to eliminate toxins, makes us more susceptible to fatigue and illness and makes cancer cells thrive." As parasites and candida thrive in an acidic environment, an alkaline environment kills them. Acidosis also can cause chronic headaches.

How to alkalize:

LEMONS! Sqeeze fresh lemon juice in your water. Drink this with a straw as this is not good have your teeth come in contact with so much lemon. NOTE on lemons: It's one of the most alkalizing foods we can consume. They have 4x's the vit. C of oranges. They enable the liver to make more enzymes than any other food. They relieve indigestion such as heartburn, bloating, and belching. They are antiviral, antioxidant, astringent, antifungal, an immune stimulant and diuretic and a potent anti-carcinogens that prevent cancerous cells from spreading. Lemons cleanse the lymphatic system, invigorate skin tissue and increase blood flow. They counteract anxiety and depression, drain excess water retention and reduce uric acid which is responsible for arthritis and gout. They lower cholestrol. Their high mineral content is one reason why they are so alkalizing. They contain 48% potassium which nourish the teeth and bones. It is important to consume lemons while pregnant for strong bones for the baby.

After lemons and watermelon, the next most alkalizing foods are greens. Tabouli is great for this as it has parsley and lemons in it. If you are into supplements alfalfa is cheap and full of vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium and natures best source for vit K which helps protect against osteoporosis. It is a great source of chlorophyll and is up to 50% protein(?). [There is some controversy as to whether or not alfalfa is good for you.]

Eat millet. It is highly alkaline and inexpensive. You can use it like oatmeal for breakfast with fruit and syrup (100% maple) or like rice with any dish. Millet has the highest calcium of all the grains and is rich in B vitamins. The only other alkalizing grains are buckwheat and quinoa.

The most important thing to do is avoid all sugar and refined foods. These are extremely acid forming. The highest is artificial sweetners. Not all acid forming foods are bad. Meat and cheese are acid forming. Most nuts are acid forming, except almonds and Brazil nuts but all nuts are still beneficial in their raw state. Cold pressed olive oil is alkaline. Almost all raw and dried fruits and raw and steamed veggies are alkaline. Juicing is a great way to alkalize. Maple syrup and honey are alkaline, but use them in moderation.

A woman's menstrual cycle often has an effect on her pH level where she becomes more acidic during it, which can cause headaches.

Red Palm Oil (Virgin Palm Oil)

Taken from the article, "I Love Fat", written by Serene Allison from Above Rubies, issue 66.

-Rich "in natural carotenoids, tocoplerols and tocotrienols which are powerful super antioxidents."

-"...Richest source of tocotienols which are not found in any other vegetable oil." "Tocotrienols inhibit the proliferation and growth of human breast cancer cells in culture. Gamma tocotrienol is three times more potent in stopping the growth of breast cancer cells than tamoxifen, a drug widely used in the treatment of this cancer."

-"...prevents cancer and stops the growth of existing cancer cells."

-"It is naturally rich in vitamin E for a healthy heart"

-"Red palm oil is a must for stroke victims and for those who have a family history of this problem. It keeps the blood thin and free flowing. This miracle "cure all" actually dissolves dangerous arterial plaque that can lead to heart attack. ...78% of arterial plaque is oxidized fat, stuck there by our modern diet filled with bad trans fats"

-"The antioxidants in red palm oil act as scavengers. They prevent and eat up the free radicals that are the instigators of most our modern diseases-Alzheimer's, senility, rheumatism, heart attacks, arthritis, asthma, Parkinson's disease, cancer, spinal muscular atrophy, macular degeneration, and stroke.

-"It can make you slender! It can trim body fat by 27 percent. Research shows it can melt off those stubborn pounds. 'The secret is palmolein, a compound in red palm oil that hepls your liver break down sugar for energy before it can be stored as fat,' expalins nutrition researcher, K.C. Hayes, Ph.D."
-"Reduces risk of diabetes by a whopping 58%.
Naturally rich in retinal for great vision.
High in essential fatty acids.
Rich in beta carotenes-15x's more than a carrot and 300x's more than tomatoes.
Prevents aging.
Easy to digest and absorb.
Excellent source of energy.
Safe for cooking" ("Research revealed that cooking with red palm oil, even at high temperatures showed no adverse affects on blood lipids.")
"Resistant to rancidity."

Coffee (Revised 3/29/06)

Below are some bullet points on coffee. Much of it is conflicting. I suggest you go to Mercola.com and westonaprice.org and do the research. Many of the "pros" listed below are suspect.

PROS

-A lower risk of type 2 diabetes
-A reduced risk of gallstones
-A lower risk of colon cancer
-Improved cognitive function
-A reduced risk of liver damage in people at high risk of liver disease
-A reduced risk of Parkinson's disease
-Improved endurance performance in long-duration physical activities
-Have an 80 percent lower risk of Parkinson's disease
-A 25 percent reduced risk of colon cancer
-An 80 percent lower risk of liver cirrhosis
-A 50 percent lower risk of gallstones
-A lower risk of alcohol-induced pancreatitis
-Finally, coffee has also been found to benefit asthma, headaches and mood and prevent cavities.

CONS

-caffeine always raises blood pressure.
-Worsening of PMS symptoms in some women
-Reducing fertility in women while trying to conceive
-Insomnia, anxiety and irritability
-Heartburn and indigestion
-An increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
-A possible increase in the risk of heart disease (studies are conflicting)
-Another recent study of more than 3,000 coffee drinkers in Greece found that coffee drinkers had higher levels of inflammatory substances in their blood than non-coffee drinkers. Inflammatory substances have been linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke.
-While fast caffeine metabolizers who drank coffee showed a reduced risk for heart disease, "slow caffeine metabolizers" who drank two or more cups of coffee a day:
Were at least 36 percent more likely to have a non-fatal heart attack than those who drank little or no coffee and were more at risk if under the age of 50. This group was up to four times more likely to have a heart attack. There currently is no way to tell whether or not you're a slow metabolizer of caffeine, so what's the answer?

Hurrying

The following excerpts were taken from an article by Rev. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, that was written several years ago.

Hurrying:
-Robs us of the simple capacity to be in the moment.
-Can constitute an obstacle to spiritual growth and holiness.
-Is a form of violence exercised upon time, an attempt , as it were, to make God's time our own, our private property.
-We exercise a form of greed and gluttony.

God didn’t make a mistake in creating time. He made enough of it.
When we hurry too much and for too long we end up doing violence to time, to ourselves and to our blood pressure.

Essential Oils

-Essential oils contain trace elements of nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antibodies, and antifungal, antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiseptic, and immune-stimulating properties.
-The chemical structure of essential oils can penetrate the cell membrane and transport oxygen and nutrients into the cell.
-Essential oils support the immune system inhaled or topically applied. They can also be taken internally if it is theraputic grade. [Young Living is the only brand I know for sure that is theraputic grade.]
-Essential oils increase ozone, negative ions and atmospheric oxygen, which inhibit bacterial growth, promotes healing, purifies the air, and destroys odors from mold, cigarettes, animals, etc.
-Essential oils can make chemicals non-toxic by fracturing their molecular chain structure.
-Essential oils work as natural chelators, bonding to metallics and chemicals ferrying them out of the body.
-Diffused essential oils work as an outstanding air filtration system, helping to remove dust particles from the air.
-Essential oils do not accumulate in the body; they are metabolized in the cells like other nutrients.
-Essential oils have frequencies that promote health and fight disease. The average frequency of a healthy human body is 62-72 Hz. If the frequency drops to 58 Hz cold and flu symptoms appear; 55 Hz, diseases like Candida take hold; 52 Hz, Epstein Bar; and 42 Hz, Cancer. Processed foods have a frequency of zero.
-Essential oils create an environment where disease, bacteria and viruses cannot live.

This information was taken from a handout written by Dr. Gary Young, N.D.

Fluoride Facts

-Fluoride is the active ingredient in Prozac and many other tranquilizers and deadly nerve gas (Sarin). The first places ever fluoridated were Nazi concentration camps in WWII to control prisoner behavior.
-After earlier experiments and studies, 98% of Europe in now non-fluoridated. Interestingly, while only 9% of England is fluoridated, they force all of Northern Ireland to be fluoridated.
-Most commercial water filters cannot remove fluoride from water. Reverse osmosis works but is quickly ruined by the corrosive nature of fluoride.
-The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry has no proof of fluoride safety or effectiveness.
-Fluoride causes fluorosis (mottled, brittle teeth prone to fracture).
-Fluoride is the only chemical added to U.S. municipal water that is used to mass medicate, rather than render water safe to drink.
-Fluoride is cancer causing in rats, mice, and humans.
-The type of fluoride added to water is hazardous waste by-product of aluminum, uranium, and phosphate fertilizer industries.
-Hip fracture rates are much higher in fluoridated communities.
-Recent large-scale studies in U.S., Australia, and Canada show no difference in decay rates of permanent teeth in fluoridated and non-fluoridated water.
-Fluoride is more toxic than lead even in minute doses. It accumulates in and damages the brain/mind development of children, produces abnormal behavior in animals, and reduces human I.Q.

This was given to me by my Young Living sponsor.

Arthritis and/or Inflammation/ Pain

1. Most important: eliminate sugar and grains from your diet. This has been proven to give amazing relief.
2. Take ginger. This has pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Eating fresh is best: add to salad, grate on main dishes, or add to fresh vegetable juice. Or you can steep grated fresh ginger in boiling water for ten minutes.
3. Take Boswellia, "Indian frankincense". This has an active anti-inflammation ingredient boswellic acid. This has been shown to significantly reduce inflammation.
4. Take fish oils not only for its anti-inflammatory properties, but because it is so important for your cells and your general well being and health.
5. Eat animal based omega 3 fats. Reduce your intake of omega 6. The ratio should be 1:1.
6. Eat fresh pineapple for its Bromelain. You can also take this in supplement form.
7. Take either Evening Primrose oil, Black Currant oil, or Borage oil. BTW dry skin in winter shows a deficiency of that these oils will help correct.
8. Cayenne cream (Capsicum cream) helps by depleting the body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to the brain. This is just for immediate pain relief.
9. Epsom salt baths. 2 cups of Epsom salt in a bath as hot as you can stand it for 20 minutes. Don't do this if you are a male and your wife is of child bearing age this could make you sterile, not the Epsom salt, but the temperature of the hot water.