An Alkaline Diet : It's Good for you

I'm not much of a health freak like my dad is. He eats on time, does yoga, takes his pills very much like a Virgo.

I, on the other hand, am his polar opposite! I sleep only in wee hours of the morning, my sense of a routine is definitely less than perfect, and even though I work out every now and then, I seem to lose track of the health routine for one reason or the other.

But there's one thing that I understand about the human body that helps me get by these erratic and so-called stressful non-routine like days that I've been through. Even Josef Pilates would agree that I'm putting my body on the line.

There's one thing I do right, though: Drink lime juice (alkaline in nature). The popular drink of the Mahatma is what comes to mind when one talks about this drink but little does one know how healthy it is.

Yes, it's not just a refreshing drink for nothing... and if one understands the value of maintaining the body's pH level at an alkaline level, you'll be more than happy to drink a couple of glasses of Lime water everyday.

And yes, when we talk about pH levels... we're talking about the 'chemistry' of our body. It's a well known fact that in order to maintain good health, one must maintain a pH level of 7.35 (slightly alkaline) if you did pay attention in your chemistry classes.

If your body contains a value lesser than 7, your body is acidic which leads to many diseases, and perhaps in the long run lead to large hospital bills.

What actually happens to your blood cells when your body is in an acidic state (thanks to the crappy food you eat) is that they begin to slow down, which means oxygen is not transferred as quickly it should resulting in low energy levels. Now you don't want that... do you?

So, the first step really to a healthier life (and less expensive I might add) is really pursuing an alkaline diet.

Here are some foods that are alkaline in nature:

Alkaline Vegetables
Alfalfa, Barley Grass, Beets, Beet Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard Greens, Chlorella, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Dandelions, Dulce, Edible Flowers, Eggplant, Fermented Veggies, Garlic, Green Beans, Green Peas, Kale Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Nightshade Veggies, Onions, Parsnips (highly glycemic), Peppers, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rutabaga, Sea Veggies, green Spinach, Spirulina, Sprouts, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Watercress, Wheat Grass, Wild Greens, Maitake, Daikon, Dandelion Root, Shitake, Kombu, Reishi, Nori, Umeboshi, Wakame

Alkaline Fruits
Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana (highly glycemic), Berries, Blackberries, Cantaloupe, sour Cherries, fresh Coconut, Currants, dried Dates, dried Figs, Grapes, Grapefruit, Honeydew Melon, Lemon, Lime, Muskmelons, Nectarine, Orange, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Raisins, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Tangerine, Tomato, Tropical Fruits, Umeboshi Plums, Watermelon

Alkaline Protein foods
Almonds, Chestnuts, Millet, Tempeh (fermented), Tofu (fermented), Whey Protein Powder

Alkaline Spices & Seasonings
Cinnamon, Curry, Ginger, Mustard, Chili Pepper, Sea Salt, Miso Tamari, All Herbs

Other Food & Beverages that are Alkaline in nature
Apple Cider Vinegar, Bee Pollen, Lecithin Granules, Molasses, blackstrap Probiotic Cultures, Soured Dairy Products, Green Juices, Veggie Juices, Fresh Fruit Juice, Mineral Water, Alkaline Antioxidant Water

Alkaline Minerals
Cesium, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium

You can start with this list, and if you'd really like to know more, check this website : Alkaline way of life

In the next write-up, I will cover the benefits of alkaline food for the body... so until then!