Milk is alkalizing or sour. Acid-base balance of the body - what is it. What foods oxidize and alkalize the body

Greetings, my dear readers. This time, let's talk about the essence of the alkaline diet and its importance for our health. Probably, each of us has heard about the acid-base balance, which is so important for health. But few people understand what this means, and how to achieve this very balance.

I will try to explain to you in a popular way, without complex scientific terms. Some products after complete digestion, leave alkaline waste. Others form acids, which, in excess, cannot be completely neutralized or excreted from the body. As a result, acid begins to prevail over alkali, which leads to the development of rather unpleasant ailments.

According to statistics, the majority of city dwellers daily consume up to 90% acid-forming products.

Signs of excessive oxidation of the body

Most of the protein products that not quite knowledgeable people recommend to you as a guarantee of weight loss are just able to oxidize, disrupting this very balance. That is why, if you decide to lose weight on the Kremlin diet (read) or others similar, in which meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products abound, then most likely this will lead to a gradual oxidation of the body.

Moreover, these products do not taste sour at all, just during processing, they release acid.

Why is excess acid so dangerous? But what:

1. Have you ever felt overwhelmingly tired in the morning? Do you feel sleepy all the time during the day even though you got enough sleep? Is there a feeling that through the body, as if “a cart has passed?” - these are signs of excessive oxidation of the body.
2. Excess acid products neutralizes alkalis, while using the reserve reserves that are contained in the bones, teeth, blood. This leads to the fact that osteoporosis develops, teeth are destroyed, the skin becomes flabby. Lack of calcium and magnesium leads to pain in the muscles and the development of cramps, a feeling of numbness in the limbs.
3. The signal about the lack of calcium is sent straight to the brain. The body responds to this by releasing calcium into the blood, which is then not used for its intended purpose, but is deposited inside the excretory organs. This is how kidney stones appear gallbladder develops urolithiasis, various cysts.
4. The risk of developing oncological diseases increases, since cancer cells actively develop in an acidic environment.
5. Oxidation contributes to the development of cataracts, clouding of the lens.
6. The cardiovascular system also suffers, which is forced to work with overloads.
7. Anxiety, irritability, insomnia, edema appear, immunity decreases, frequent colds, malaise, weakness.
8. Many organs begin to work for wear, metabolism slows down, the digestive system works worse.

It is worth starting to eat alkaline foods, as these ailments can go away on their own, as the body begins to work in correct mode. Acid-alkaline diet for weight loss at the same time cleanses and revitalizes the body.

Watch this video to explain why it's important to eat alkaline foods:

How to determine your own pH at home

Exists simple technique determination of deviations in the acid-base balance of the body. To determine this parameter yourself, you need to measure arterial pressure and pulse at rest.

1 Measure your lower diastolic pressure.

2 Find your heart rate. Well, if you have an automatic blood pressure monitor that immediately shows this data.

3 Compare these two indicators:

• The lower pressure is greater than the pulse - your pH is alkaline (alkalosis);
• The lower pressure is below the pulse - you have an acidic environment (acidosis).

4 Determine the degree of imbalance. If the difference between the lower value lower pressure and the pulse is more than 20, then they talk about a significant deviation from the norm.

For example, your lower blood pressure is 65 and your heart rate is 72 beats per minute. The body is slightly acidified.

You can watch a video tutorial here:

What foods are acidic

By itself, questions arise - what foods do you need to eat in order to maintain the notorious balance? Should You Avoid Acid Foods? The answer is unambiguous: both types of products are needed, but in the right proportion.

The alkaline diet for weight loss is considered the most acceptable, since the use of only acidic, or only alkaline foods violates the very balance that is responsible for health.

• for healthy people, it is necessary to consume 50% acidic and 50% alkaline foods. If there are pathologies, or you feel a loss of vigor, the appearance chronic fatigue, decreased performance, it's time to switch to another mode, in which 20% will be acidic products, and 80% - alkaline;
• the recommended alkaline balance is from 7.36 to 7.44 pH. With an increase in this indicator, we can talk about excessive alkalization, and with a decrease - about the oxidation of the body.

I have compiled an easy-to-use table for you, in which you can immediately see which foods are acidic and which are alkaline.

Alkaline Diet Table:

Conclusions about the alkaline nutrition system

In order not to get confused among the abundance of data, let's draw general conclusions. They will help you navigate yourself when choosing the right products for you.

• all types of culinary processed products, polished cereals, wheat, flour have an acidic nature of transformation;
• meat, fish, chicken dishes, eggs have a high degree oxidation;
• legumes that are stored for a long time, boiled for a long time - have high acidity;
• at the same time, if fresh, green legumes are used or sprouted, they become alkaline;
• boiled or pasteurized milk is an acid product, while fresh milk is alkaline;
• all products made from milk that have been heated or fermented become acidic;
• citrus fruits: lemons and oranges, grapefruits, which initially have a sour taste, turn into alkaline during digestion. The same can be said about sour berries, apples, cranberries, prunes, dried apricots. All of them transform their original pH, becoming alkaline;
• Peanuts are the most acidic food, almonds have a lower degree of acidity, but coconuts are alkaline even in nature.

To follow the rules balanced nutrition, it is necessary to choose one of the acid-forming products and combine it with an alkaline one. So you will be able to get closer to the golden mean.

TOP 10 best products for maintaining acid-base balance

For myself, I have long compiled a list of products for an alkaline diet, which can quickly change the elevated acid background, making it neutral, or shifting towards alkaline.

As soon as I feel:

• prostration;
• lack of energy in the morning;
• rapid fatigue in the middle of the day;
• initial signs colds, That

1. All kinds of greenery. Especially quickly changes the acidic background of celery, but dill, fresh parsley, all types of leaf lettuce will undoubtedly benefit.
2. Lemons and lemon juice. Do not see that this product is different high acid. When digested, it is converted into an alkaline compound. Add lemon to tea, season salads with its juice. There is absolutely no need for sugar!
3. All types of raw root crops: radish, radish, carrot, beetroot, parsley root, parsnip - almost instantly shift the balance in the right direction. In boiled or baked form, this quality is reduced, but neutral acidity can be achieved. In addition, these vegetables act as a brush for the digestive system, because they are rich in fiber, which is able to carry all harmful substances on its fibers.
4. Garlic, onion. Probably, there is even no need to praise the properties of these famous healing power vegetables. They have antiviral, antifungal properties, restores reduced immunity. In addition, it is enough to eat them regularly, and your acid-base balance will always strive for the ideal.
5. All types of cabbage: broccoli, colored, Brussels sprouts, white cabbage. As soon as they felt an excess of protein foods, for example, as happens after the holidays, after an abundance meat dishes, make yourself a light cabbage salad, season it with fresh herbs, add a spoon lemon juice. You will see, you will immediately feel a surge of strength!
6. Celery is good in all forms: you can use its greens, grate its roots, add to salads and cut instead of carrots. It normalizes the alkaline background, saturates the body useful vitamins and minerals.
7. Avocado. Contains useful fatty acid, antioxidants, has a pleasant nutty taste. It goes well with other vegetables, in addition, it is one of the leaders in quick recovery pH balance.
8. Coconut You don't have to eat it whole. Rub a little shavings on any dish, this will be enough to change the pH for the better.
9. Seedlings of oats, wheat, millet. In case of any ailment, loss of strength, germinate these grains and eat them. Not only do they normalize the alkaline balance, they also saturate with vitamins and provide energy.
10. Fresh cucumbers. These vegetables should always be kept on hand. Even if they are grown in a greenhouse. Cucumber salad should accompany any protein dish, be it chicken, chop or regular scrambled eggs. So your body will not have a single chance to oxidize.

If you feel signs of ailment, fatigue, include any of these products in the menu.

My advice: with the onset of autumn, when there is little greenery in the markets, sow the seeds in an oblong flower pot and put it on the window. Don't forget to water your mini flower bed and soon you'll have fresh sprouts to add to every meal. Beautiful, interesting and very useful! You can involve children in the process of raising children.

Approximate alkaline diet for weight loss

To make it clear to you how to properly combine acidic and alkaline products with each other, I will give you sample menu alkaline diet:

1 day

• First breakfast: omelette with milk, two cucumber salad
• Lunch: grated raw carrots
• Dinner: baked chicken and vegetable salad
• Afternoon snack: A glass of tomato juice
• Dinner: grilled fish, lettuce with herbs

2 day

• First breakfast: buckwheat, tomato
• Lunch: grated apple
• Dinner: two pieces boiled chicken, cauliflower salad with herbs and wheat germ
• Afternoon snack: grated raw beets
• Dinner: shrimp, tomato, cucumber, avocado salad dressed with olive oil, lemon juice and sprinkled with herbs, flax and sesame seeds

3 day

• First breakfast: oatmeal on the water with fresh berries
• Lunch: carrot juice
• Dinner: baked veal, seaweed salad with lemon juice
• Afternoon snack: fresh low-fat cottage cheese with herbs and garlic, sprinkled with grated almonds
• Dinner: stewed fish, cabbage-cucumber salad with herbs

If you understand the principle of menu planning, you can easily create an alkaline diet menu for yourself for a week or more.

Also for these purposes healthy potatoes, which is not quite deservedly often excluded from diets, for its great content starch. Believe me, there are many other, more harmful products that many people eat constantly and do not even realize how many harmful substances they contain. If you need to quickly achieve balance, you can include 1-2 baked or boiled potatoes in their "uniform" in the daily menu - there will be no harm to your figure from it.

Another important tip: the ratio of greens and protein dishes on one plate should be 3:1.

Table of mineral content in some products

To make your knowledge of the acid-base balance even stronger, I made a small table for the alkaline diet, which indicates the exact the ratio of the content of acidic and alkaline elements.

Looking at this plate, you will know exactly which products are useful to you, and which ones are better to give up for a while. With the normalization of the state, you will again be able to eat a little more acidic foods.

A modern person often eats much more acidifying foods than alkalizing ones, which leads to health problems. Not all food is good for our body, so you need to give up your bad habits and coordinate your diet, namely to increase the proportion of alkaline foods in the diet.

What is alkalization of the body

Many chemical reactions take place in the human body, each of which is affected by hydrogen ions. And the work of all cells depends on their concentration or pH level, which should be in a certain range.

In a neutral environment, the pH value is 7. If this number is less, they speak of oxidation, if more, alkalization. At healthy person the alkali level should range from 7.36 to 7.44. In most cases, these numbers depend on the foods you include on your menu. Adhering to an alkalizing diet can bring the pH balance back to normal.

Scientists have found that the oxidation process is detrimental to humans. The predisposition to various ailments increases, the bones become brittle, and the aging process accelerates.

With alkalization, that is, an increase in alkali in the body, you can maintain your health and create conditions for it. normal functioning. The immune system, chemical reactions inside cells and beneficial bacteria work best in an alkaline environment. It also inhibits the development of cancer cells because they need acid to do so.

How to check acid-base balance

It is important to monitor changes in acid and alkali levels. You can determine your acid-base balance without leaving your home in several ways:

• using litmus paper;
• special electronic device;
• By external symptoms acidification of the body.

Indicator test strips are sold at any pharmacy. To determine the pH value, you need to remove the indicator from the package with dry hands and drop urine or saliva onto it. Compare the result with the scale indicated on the package.

The best time to do this is one hour before a meal or two hours after. You need to check twice a week several times a day, so you can calculate the average pH level in the body.

Your body is healthy if your urine pH ranges from 6.0 to 6.4 in the morning and 6.4 to 7.0 in the afternoon. And the pH level of saliva varies from 6.4 to 6.8.

There is also a special electronic device for determining the pH of the blood. It is simple and easy to use. To do this, you need to make a puncture, and the device itself will collect the required amount of blood, and the received data will be displayed on the screen. Your body is functioning correctly if the value ranges from 7.35 to 7.45.

The determination of the pH index by symptoms is rather conditional, but deserving of attention. The body is highly acidic if present the following signs: coating on the tongue, unpleasant aftertaste in oral cavity, heartburn, dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, nausea, constipation, tension in the shoulder and neck muscles, frequent colds. Accurate results can only be obtained in a medical institution.

Whichever method you choose, if the indicators deviate from the norm, you need to revise your menu.

Tables of alkalizing and oxidizing products

To adjust your diet, it is important to take into account the alkalinity and acidity of various foods.

alkalizing

These are products that have vegetable origin and including trace elements such as Ca, K, Mg, Na. They should be the basis of nutrition and included in every meal.

I especially want to highlight the lemon and sour apples. Despite the fact that they have a sour taste, they have a strong alkalizing effect on the body. Therefore, after waking up, it is very useful to drink water with lemon.

Oxidizing

Products that have a strong oxidizing effect are best excluded from your menu. Or, when used, add alkaline products to them to neutralize.

You need to include both alkaline and acid-containing foods in your menu, but the ratio of the first to the second should be at least three times greater.

Product combination

When compiling a diet for alkalizing the body, you need to know the combination of products:

• meat products and fish are served with a side dish in the form of vegetables;
• meat can be eaten with berry sauces;
• you can not eat meat with cereals or legumes at the same time;
• coffee and alcohol are washed down with water and fresh vegetables are cut for snacks, which reduce the acidity of alcohol;

Even the right combination of products in the preparation of dishes without other changes contributes to an increase in the ratio of alkali to acid. But for a full alkalization of the body, it is recommended to adhere to an alkaline diet.

This is a modern nutritional system based on alkalization of the body, promoting healthy weight loss, improving well-being and skin condition.

It helps to restore the balance of alkali and acid in the body, namely, it cleanses the intestines, normalizes blood pressure, hormonal background and blood composition.

Basic dietary rules:

• alkalizing foods should make up 80% of all food consumed;
• you can not drink coffee and strong black tea, you can drink water, natural juices, herbal teas;
• sometimes honey and cane sugar are allowed;
• you can eat only until 7 pm, after - only herbal teas;
• Recommended for salad dressing linseed oil, corn and olive are allowed;
• seafood and fish can be included in the diet every other day, but not more often;
• regular physical activity;
• thorough chewing of food.

Compliance with the above principles will give excellent results. The alkaline diet lasts three weeks, where each of them constitutes a separate phase.

First week

This phase is expressed by a sharp decrease in weight up to 4-5 kg. The body is cleansed of toxins and toxins, weakness and fatigue appear. This indicates the start of the restructuring process in the body.

Second week

The ratio of alkali and acid begins to gradually normalize. Weight goes away more slowly, health improves and discomfort disappears.

Third week

The acid-base balance is stabilized and fixed. Weight continues to gradually go away, others begin to notice the external transformation of the body.

After passing through three phases, one should not immediately pounce on junk food. It is recommended that you continue with this diet. Then you will always feel great and have the desired figure.

The body of a modern person is not always able to neutralize acids on its own. In order to help him in this and bring the pH values ​​back to normal, you must adhere to the following principles:

1. Correctly diversify your menu and gradually increase the proportion of alkaline foods in the diet, namely, consume more vegetables, fresh fruits and herbs.
2. Incorporate regular exercise into your lifestyle. Even an ordinary walk on fresh air will promote moderate alkalization.
3. Avoid stressful situations, because negative emotions interfere with the normal removal of toxins and waste.

Always control and regulate your level of pH in the body, only in this way you will maintain your health for a long time.

In contact with

A popular trend in the direction healthy lifestyle life becomes the body's alkalization system. Its supporters talk about the need to maintain an alkaline environment in our body to ensure the optimal resource state of the body. Medicine does not mind - and this means that it is worth understanding the benefits and harms of alkalizing the body in order to use available methods to maintain the necessary energy and health in the body every day.

What is alkalization of the body

The concept of the benefits of alkalizing the body has a scientific explanation and proven facts of the effectiveness of the methods. Each food product tends to affect the internal environment of the body, alkalizing or acidifying it. Food that increases the acid background is harmful to promote the development of inflammatory processes. Phenomena such as acne, gout, slow metabolism, overweight, arthrosis, osteochondrosis and other diseases are sad examples of the harm caused by acidification internal environment our body.

The basis of the method of alkalization of the body is an increase in the use of healthy alkaline products (65 - 80%) and a decrease in acidic (20 - 35%). With this ratio, all internal systems adapt to alkalization faster, even if the former basis of nutrition was "acidifying" food.

What is useful alkalization of the body

Scientists are sure that for the most active and healthy functioning, a person needs an alkaline environment. Helpful Techniques alkalization of the body improves work digestive system, cleanse the intestines. The immune system becomes stronger, cells divide at a faster rate - therefore, metabolism and regeneration take place intensively, chemical reactions proceed better and without deviations. Alkalinization of the body contributes to the removal of harmful toxins and toxins against the background of developing beneficial flora in the gastrointestinal tract.

Important! Alkalization of the body is a voluminous healing process. Therefore, before starting it, it is necessary to consult with an experienced doctor and conduct the necessary examination.

Signs of acidification of the body

What is commonly called acid-base balance is measured on the pH scale. The pH level is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in body fluids.

In a healthy person pH value pH is 7.35 - 7.45: maintaining it is the principle of the body's alkalization system. If it falls below 7, then they talk about a change in the properties of the balance towards an acidic environment, which in practice is manifested as harm. serious violations in human health.

Violations in the acid-base balance provokes, first of all:

• malnutrition (excessive consumption of sweets, fast food, carbonated drinks);
• "passive lifestyle;
• bad habits (smoking, alcohol).

The presence of at least one of these factors will reflect high probability acidification of the body, which can lead to such problems:

• erosion of tooth enamel, dry faded skin, damaged brittle hair;
• rheumatism of the joints (inflammatory disease connective tissue), cramps after minor physical exertion, pain in the muscles and spine;
• frequent aching headaches, migraines;
• obesity, overweight;
• unstable pressure (very high or low, constant fluctuations);
• diabetes Ι and ΙΙ degrees;
• the risk of developing cancer;
• strokes.

How to check acid-base balance

If a person has any of the above habits in his life, this should be a signal to pay attention to his acid-base balance and alkalize the body. Its normal value varies slightly depending on age, hereditary traits, type of metabolism, however, its lower limit will be 7, and its upper limit will be 8. Going beyond these limits means an increase in health risks.

There are several ways to find out your own balance at home - to conduct a blood, urine, saliva test using special disposable strips. A urine test should be done 2 hours before a meal or 5 hours after. Under these conditions, the results will be most accurate.

Advice! It is better to take measurements regularly in order to understand the dynamics of processes and better control the situation.

A blood test will show the most accurate and correct pH of the body. The analysis should be carried out only in a hospital setting by a doctor. It is also important to remember that in the first half of the day the acid-base balance is at a low point, and in the evening it rises. This is due to the properties of the daily course of oxidative processes in the body.

Ways to alkalize the body

There are several ways to carry out alkalization of the body at home. Most of them are associated with the use of special foods with right level pH, following useful recommendations.

1. Alkalinization of the body with lemon is the most popular " alkaline recipe", since lemon is classified as a product with high alkaline indicators. Drinking lemon water in the morning on an empty stomach is beneficial for alkalizing the body. The recipe is simple: in a glass of clean drinking water, you need to dilute 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice. This drink perfectly tones the body, gives a useful boost to the immune system and improves digestion.
2. Alkalinization of the body can also be carried out by ordinary baking soda. To prepare a drink, you need to add 0.5 - 1 tsp. soda in water brought to a boil and mix.

   Attention! The water should bubble up like soda. Only after that you can drink the solution without harm to the stomach. To enhance the effect of alkalization of the body, you can drink an alkaline cocktail with the addition of a spoonful of its useful to soda water. alkaline properties lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. At the first tasting, the drink may not seem the most pleasant in taste: it is better to drink it moderately hot or warm: this way the soda plume will be less felt by the receptors than in a cooled form. The habit of regularly drinking soda on an empty stomach will bring a steady improvement in the pH of the environment.

3. Healthy good sleep plays an important beneficial role in the alkalization of the body. An adult needs to allocate at least 7 hours a day for rest. Otherwise, the body produces stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline, which introduce an imbalance in nervous activity, which then disrupts the work of other organs. In addition, it is during sleep that our body is completely restored and cleansed.
4. Fresh vegetables are the main source of alkaline foods in the human diet. Nutritionists advise eating at least 2 whole vegetables per day to maximize alkalinization success. Products render useful action thanks to the valuable composition of minerals, essential vitamins and antioxidants. TO healthy vegetables with the most "alkaline" indicators include green leafy and root crops.
5. For high-quality alkalization, you should reduce or completely abandon the use of sugar and sweet foods. Sweets, chocolate, rolls, cakes, carbonated drinks bring significant harm to the body, as well as the passion for artificial sweeteners: sucralose and aspartame. Useful option will replace sugar with natural stevia: this supplement has practically no side effects and is allowed when the body is alkalized.

A more powerful alkalization method is described in the video:

Proper Diet

An alkalizing (or alkalic) diet has many health benefits. It can reduce the risk of kidney stones, cleanse the mucous membranes and intestines, and improve the condition of the body as a whole. To do this, you need to adhere to a special nutrition system based on the following principles;

• In the process of alkalization of the body, acidic foods cannot be completely excluded, as this can result in harm to extremes. Low pH foods should make up about 20% of all foods consumed;
• Vegetables should not be cooked. It has been proven that only in the "raw" form they retain their beneficial properties to the maximum and can bring high benefits to the body for alkalization. IN exceptional case with contraindications to the use of fiber (for example, in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract), to achieve the effect of alkalization, vegetables can be boiled, preferably steamed;
• Alkalinization of the body completely eliminates the use of animal fats, since butter, cheese, milk, cottage cheese, sour cream and other products of animal origin harm the acidification of the body's environment. For salads, linseed, coconut, corn, olive oils will benefit;
• The last meal should be 12 hours after the first. Thus, the day will be divided into 2 parts: the first 12 hours after waking up is allowed, and the next 12 are not;
• For optimal alkalization of the body, all grains (cereals, pasta, flour) and seafood can be consumed no more than three times a week.

Advice! Nutritionists are sure that moderate physical activity improves the effect of alkalization by several times. And the bonus is weight loss.

A sample menu for the day might include:

1. Breakfast - fresh red and green vegetables, a glass of soy milk or natural unsweetened yogurt.
2. Lunch - boiled chicken meat, up to 200 g, vegetable garnish and herbal tea.
3. Dinner - from 200 g of baked fish, vegetable salad, natural yogurt or ayran.

Table of alkalizing products

To take away overweight, and together with them inflammatory processes in the body in the process of alkalization, it is necessary to reduce the use of "acidic" products and increase the volume of "alkaline" ones.

There is a stereotype that low pH foods can be identified by their sour taste. However, this is a mistake. An example of this is lemon - sour in taste, but perfectly alkalizing water.

The table lists conventional products food that is included in the standard diet.

Regular physical activity

In order for the alkalization of the body to be effective, it is important not to forget about daily physical activity. Any workout: running, swimming, cycling, or just brisk walking can speed up the internal metabolic processes and improve acid-base balance. Experts advise more often to use the stairs instead of the elevator, to walk, since such activity tends to bring significant benefits not only to the physical, but also emotional health: These simple actions can reduce stress levels.

Drinking alkaline drinks

Having embarked on the path of alkalization of the body, it is important to remember the need to drink enough fluid daily. The basis should be simple purified water at room temperature. The calculation is carried out individually (25 - 30 ml per 1 kg of body weight). To diversify the diet, you can fortify water by adding pieces of fruits, berries that have useful properties. Strawberry, raspberry, lemon, lime, orange, apple are perfect. So, the taste will become much more pleasant, and the body will receive more benefits due to the desired beneficial properties of the added products.

Important! On an alkaine diet, to alkalize the body, you must completely exclude the use of unnatural packaged juices, strong coffee, alcohol and carbonated drinks!

Positive emotions

An important element in the successful course of alkalization of the body is to maintain a positive attitude and Have a good mood. A positive mental attitude has a huge impact on physical well-being. "Hormones of happiness" will benefit the work internal systems, improving the functioning of organs, while a negative attitude can provoke oxidative reactions in the body that occur with the release of harmful free radicals.

When alkalizing the body can be harmful

The body of a healthy person has the ability to independently regulate its own acid-base balance. The "alkaline" diet has virtually no negative effects: it can be introduced to get rid of chronic health problems: increasing the content plant food, due to which the main alkalization occurs, cannot be harmful, since it provides the necessary nutritional complex to maintain normal human life.

Contraindications for the diet of alkalization of the body can be individual cases reactions to products or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which a strict diet is prescribed.

Attention! Any temporary major dietary change should be accompanied by a consultation with a physician.

Conclusion

The study of the question of the benefits and harms of alkalization of the body makes it possible to conclude that the concept of alkalization is a safe innovative approach to the nutrition system. Even without becoming a fan alkaline diets”, it is beneficial to pay attention to the inclusion in the daily menu of foods with beneficial properties with a high pH value in order to maintain the body's natural acid-base balance.

In 1932, Otto Warburg, a biochemist from Germany, proved that acidification of the human body leads to the development oncological diseases! Cancer cells only live in ]]>

About acid-base balance

Supporters alternative medicine believe that the need for alkalizing food is inherent in nature. So, blood is more alkaline in nature, since its pH is 7.35–7.45. Therefore, food with an acidic environment violates the harmony of the body, balance, as a result of which diseases arise. And then you need an alkaline diet.

According to this theory, acidic environments in the intestines provoke the processes of decay, pathogenic microbes multiply in the organ, and toxins are formed. alkaline food neutralizes acids, helps cleanse the body, remove toxins, and prevents their re-formation.

How to check the balance?

The pharmacy sells litmus paper - the same as used in chemistry classes. This is a tool that measures the parameters of the environment. Two biological fluids- urine and saliva. Urine is checked after the second trip to the toilet. The first morning urine that is taken for analysis is always acidic, because excess acid is excreted from the body through the kidneys during the night. Measurements are carried out repeatedly, and the arithmetic mean value is derived from their results.

Results:

• pH up to 7 - oxidation;
• pH above 7.5 - alkalization.

Alkali or acid?

There is no such choice - the body needs all kinds of food, but nutrition must be balanced. Oxidizing and alkalizing products are present in the diet in the same way - 50/50, in some sources other proportions are indicated - 35/65, respectively. But the diet of patients provides for a different ratio - 20/80 in favor of alkalizing food.

Attention, meat and other foods that oxidize the body cannot be excluded from nutrition even on a diet, since essential amino acids enter the body with it.

Food pairing

According to nutritionists who are supporters of this theory of nutrition, the products on the menu should be combined as follows:

1. Meat and fish are eaten with vegetables, not grains.
2. Berry sauces, berry side dishes are served with meat.
3. Coffee and alcohol are washed down with water.
4. A snack of fresh vegetables reduces the acidic properties of alcohol.

Eating right, a person not only restores the natural acid-base balance, heals the body, but also loses weight.

List of acidic and alkaline foods

It is believed that a product with an oxidizing effect is determined by taste. But this is an erroneous opinion. Often acidic fruits and foods, such as lemon, alkalize the environment.

The table contains a list of the main foods from the daily diet. The numbers in the column on the right (1-4) indicate how pronounced the acidifying / alkalizing properties are.

acidifying foods

alkalizing products

alkaline diet

Supporters of alternative medicine believe that the diet helps to get rid of ailments and certain conditions of the body that have arisen because the balance of acids and alkalis is disturbed:

• chronic fatigue syndrome and reduced tone;
• runny nose, nasal congestion;
• frequent respiratory infections, colds;
• cystic formations on the ovaries, in the mammary gland;
• regular headaches;
• overweight.

Diet with high content alkalis reduces the risk of kidney stones, obesity due to age-related metabolic disorders, osteoporosis (bone fragility). Since a lot of dietary fiber appears in the human diet (the main alkalizing foods are vegetables), it normalizes blood pressure, there is a mechanical cleaning of the intestines, the composition of the blood improves, the hormonal background is adjusted.

Principles of dietary nutrition

Gradually, the proportion of foods with an oxidizing effect in the diet is reduced to 20% (the table above lists such foods) in order to restore the acid-base balance.

Vegetables are consumed boiled, juice is squeezed out. Fruits are eaten raw, fresh juices, mousses, jelly are prepared.

Fish (boiled or baked, lean varieties) eat no more than 3 times a week. From meat, preference is given to veal, poultry. It is sometimes allowed to use honey, molasses, cane sugar, maple syrup. The diet allows snacks, which consist of juices, dried fruits. The main fats in the diet are sunflower, peanut, olive oil.

The diet does not allow drinking coffee, black tea. To support water balance, use water, herbal infusions, juices. Wash down the main meal with herbal teas.

Food is chewed thoroughly, making 30-50 chewing movements.

Menu for the day

• Breakfast: fresh red and green vegetables, a glass of soy milk or natural sugar-free yogurt, a peach or an apple.
• Lunch: chicken meat (boiled) - 150 g, vegetable side dish, herbal tea.
• Dinner: baked fish - 150 g, vegetable salad, natural yogurt.

The topic has not been explored in depth. Therefore, before changing the diet, it is recommended to consult a doctor, especially if chronic diseases when another diet is prescribed or health worsens. Violated acid-base balance can lead to negative consequences.

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Each of us is made up of trillions of cells that die and give birth to new ones every second. This is how the life of any living being is maintained.
But what determines how long life lasts and what is the state of the body?
Consider what is acid-base balance ...

There is such a concept - acid-base balance. It affects the functioning of many internal organs and systems. Violation of the acid-base balance is dangerous for the body. It will certainly lead to diseases, including diseases associated with disruption of the intestines, diseases of the digestive system. Let us dwell on what needs to be done in order to always maintain the acid-base balance in the norm.

NORMAL blood reaction should be slightly alkaline. Normally, the acid-base balance (ABR) corresponds to a pH of 7.35–7.4. If the pH is above 7.4, this condition is characterized as alkalization of the body (alkalosis). If the pH is below 7.35, this indicates an acidification of the body (acidosis). Gastrointestinal tract can work normally only with a slightly alkaline reaction of the blood, which we will call normal.

The state of acid-base balance is easy to determine by the color of the conjunctiva (the membrane covering inner surface eyelids in both eyes). The bright pink color of the conjunctiva indicates that the pH is normal. A pale pink color of the conjunctiva indicates acidosis, and a dark pink color indicates alkalosis.

Excessive acid content deforms cell membranes and leads to functional impairment intestinal activity. Acidosis is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, stomach pain, nausea, rapid physical and mental fatigue, bitterness in the mouth, gray coating on the tongue, dark circles under the eyes.

The main causes of acidosis include:

the simultaneous use of incompatible foods: for example, proteins (meat) with carbohydrates (potatoes);

excess meat in the diet;

abuse of refined carbohydrates, especially white flour products and sugar;

lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet.

Blood pH readings also depend on body temperature and environment. When the body is overcooled, the pH becomes alkaline, and when overheated, it becomes acidic.

However, most of all nutrition affects the state of the ASC. Each product is dominated by either acidifying or alkalizing substances, which very quickly shift the pH to the acidic or alkaline side. To save KShchR, you need to know which group this product applies, and correctly select the products consumed during the day. It's not difficult to follow this, but it's very important.

acidifying foods, increasing the content of acid and reducing the alkaline reserves of the blood, can be divided into three groups. TO first group includes products containing animals
proteins (except fresh milk and cheese). These are pasteurized milk, meat and all meat products (sausages, sausages, ham, etc.), poultry (chicken, duck, turkey, etc.) and eggs, fish, cottage cheese and all animal fats.

In second The group of acidifying foods includes many foods that contain carbohydrates. These are white bread, pasta and other products made from white flour, foods that are high in starch (potatoes, cereals, dry beans, etc.), sugar and all kinds of sweets (including chocolate), coffee, black tea, and alcohol. .

Third group - these are products containing food additives, preservatives, dyes and flavors.

alkalizing products- These are foods that cause an alkaline reaction in the body and help neutralize excess acid in it: any vegetable and fruit juices, all vegetables (except Brussels sprouts), fruits, even acidic ones such as citruses (lemons, grapefruits, pineapples, etc.) , berries (except lingonberries and plums), all dried fruits, nuts, almonds and beans, fresh young green shoots of plants, seaweed, soybeans and soy sauce, fresh cheese, honey and herbal infusions.

To maintain a normal acid-base balance, 4 times more alkalizing food is required than acidic. Therefore, alkalizing foods in the diet should be 80% more. Therefore, when compiling a menu, always give preference to alkalizing products.

Acidifying foods that violate the acid-base balance, eat in small quantities. From products containing preservatives, dyes and flavors, it is better to refuse altogether, because in addition to acidifying the body, they significantly reduce immunity and worsen health.

Some acidifying foods can be deprived of the ability to acidify. To do this, for example, cereals should be soaked before cooking for 30 minutes, then drain the water and cook the porridge in fresh water. Dried beans, which are highly acidic foods, should be soaked overnight, drained and boiled in fresh water in the morning.

To prevent the development of acidosis, it is recommended to eat some fresh fruit every morning on an empty stomach. The fact is that from 4 o'clock in the morning until noon, cleansing processes are very intensive in the body. The body removes excess acids. Fresh fruits speed up this process. By the way, this way you can get rid of bad breath in the morning.

Helps to alkalize the body daily use fresh vegetable salad: raw grated beets, carrots, finely chopped raw white or red cabbage with dill, celery, onion and garlic. Freshly prepared juices (carrot and watermelon are best) and herbal teas are also very useful for this purpose.

For supporting alkaline balance it's also good to arrange 1-2 fasting days per week, during which there are only vegetables and fruits or 1 day a week to drink only juices.

A hidden battle is constantly going on in the body between oxidizing agents (free radicals) And antioxidants (antioxidants). Free radicals are formed when cells burn oxygen. These are molecules that lost an electron, became charged, turned into various forms of active oxygen (peroxide compounds). These are very active fragments of molecules that cause great harm to the body at the cellular level. They are very aggressive. First of all, free radicals damage various cellular structures, especially cell membranes.

To restore the loss and capture the missing electron, they attack neighboring molecules and are ready to destroy any cellular structure, kill a cell or a group of cells. If they manage to take an electron from a protein or fat molecule or from a DNA molecule, then they start chain reaction the formation of new free radicals. Their influence is summed up, growing, which negatively affects health.

Free radicals enter the body with certain foods (especially smoked and fried foods, which contain them in the greatest amount). The formation of free radicals in the body increases under the influence of ultraviolet irradiation, effects of radiation, pollution external environment pesticides and chemicals, as well as alcohol and tobacco abuse.

It has long been noted that the oxidative processes in the body associated with the action of free radicals, which are enhanced by exposure to adverse environmental factors, stress, and poor nutrition, cause enormous damage to health.

Against the background of a weakened immune system, the formation of free radicals is more intense. And more and more free radicals that appear at the same time weaken it even more. Arises vicious circle. Loosening immune system, free radicals increase the body's sensitivity to bacterial infections.

It has now been established that the accumulation of free radicals is one of the main factors in the aging of the body and the emergence of many diseases: arthritis, cataracts, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, immunodeficiency, etc. In the development of all of the above diseases, the leading role is played by damage to cellular structures by free radicals.

Antioxidants (antioxidants)- Substances that neutralize free radicals. They protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals. Initially, antioxidants work as neutralizing agents, converting free radicals into harmless waste products before they can harm the body. The same antioxidants then work as scavengers, removing the free radicals they neutralize from the body.

If the body has enough antioxidants, oxygen and water, they quickly neutralize free radicals, and damage to the cells of the body is minimized. By the way, in addition to free radicals, antioxidants help to remove toxins and other polluting agents from the body.

The body receives antioxidants in two ways:

from the inside, when the cells of the human body themselves produce antioxidants;

from the outside, when antioxidants are introduced into the body along with food (fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs are especially rich in antioxidants).

Antioxidants include many vitamins (A, C, E, B2, PP), as well as carotenoids, bioflavonoids, minerals(selenium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper), some amino acids (cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, sugars, organic acids).

All of them are present in various quantities in different food products. Therefore, it is imperative to consume foods that contain the listed substances.

Let me remind you which products in largest quantities contains three of the above vitamins with the highest antioxidant activity - vitamins C, E and provitamin A.

Vitamin C, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants, is found in kiwi, red and green sweet peppers, orange and grapefruit juices, citrus fruits, cabbage, broccoli, melon, tomatoes, papaya.

Vitamin E is found in large quantities in vegetable oils(corn, olive, peanut, soy and sunflower), almonds, wheat germ, nuts and olives.

Pro-vitamin A is found in intensely colored green, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits (carrots, pumpkins, melons, apricots, mangoes, papayas, red peppers, spinach, broccoli, cabbages and young turnip tops).

Lots of antioxidants in freshly made fruit and vegetable juices. Of the fruit juices, the most antioxidant are juices derived from blackcurrant, pomegranate, and cranberry. Apple juice is very active, especially juice from winter varieties of apples. The antioxidant properties of commercially available juices are 2–6 times lower than freshly prepared juices.

Of the vegetable juices, garlic juice has the most antioxidants, and its activity is not lost even after 5 days of storage in the refrigerator. Very active juices of celery, onions, parsley, beets, potatoes. Less active juices from cabbage, carrots, pumpkins, zucchini.

Dry grape wines also show antioxidant activity. The greatest activity is observed in red, rosé and white wine, but it is almost absent in Cahors. Various tinctures also have very weak antioxidant activity.

There are quite a few plants that have antioxidant activity and stimulate the immune system, which accelerate the removal of free radicals from the body. They are called plant immunomodulators. Such plants include aloe, calendula, wormwood, anise, viburnum, licorice, arnica, clover, soybean, basil, nettle, horsetail, birch, coltsfoot, thyme, elderberry, lungwort, succession, ginger, onion, sage.

All of them are sold in a pharmacy and are available to everyone. Often ill people who get tired quickly, sleep poorly, are stressed, overly irritable, people with reduced ability to concentrate and memory impairment are recommended to regularly take tinctures or decoctions from these plants individually or in arbitrary combinations, changing them every 2-3 weeks to avoid addiction.

This table is intended only as a general guide to alkalizing and acidifying foods.