Alkalinity and Lemon Juice

Citrus are our winter wonders.  In season through the cold season,
they provide us with our best fortification against the flu and colds - vitamin C.

When this blog was started, our goal was to teach people how to eat tasty and live healthy with a focus on balance in our meals. Start your day with breakfast, don't skip meals, divide your plate into quarters, etc. Exercise is in there too and most obese clients are aware they need to change their ways.  However, eyes glaze over when we tell people they need to start cooking for themselves and take control of their food intake and daily exercise.

Our posts over the years have become easier to follow and we always strive to keep the recipes and ideas simple.  Portion sizes, salads, alcohol, exercise, etc., are all important watch items, but we can be mindful of other options as well.  Keeping your body healthy on the inside is the key to preventing illness and controlling external problems.

When a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through all the treatments, she made a commitment to keep her gut healthy with a daily dose of home-made kefir.  She gladly shares her seeds and I now keep a jar of it on my counter.  When another friend's grandson was diagnosed with a brain tumor years ago, his entire family turned to diet and holistic medicine to cure this young man who is alive and thriving today.

There are always fad diets and they may be successful for some...for a short while.   A fad diet is just that - a diet.  How about choosing a sensible lifestyle where you are never on a diet? Mindful living, in other words, being conscious of your food, exercise, spiritual, and emotional wellness can lead to a happier and slimmer you.  (Most important to remember is that choosing how to live your healthiest is a personal choice and we can help you with that).

With that said, our bodies react to foods and lifestyle with changes in pH.  pH refers to acidity or alkalinity and we use this as a measure in our bodily fluids and cells. A body that has a slightly acidic pH will experience more disease than one that is slightly alkaline and this is a fact.  You would think that we would all strive to maintain a slightly alkaline state then - right?  It isn't that easy.

Acidic-causing foods are so enmeshed in our culture that it is mind-boggling.  No wonder obesity, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and others are rampant. Alkaline-related foods are just as available in our stores but it is a matter of educating yourself to them. And guess what?  You already know what they are!  Alkaline foods have been discussed on the Dr. Oz show (http://www.doctoroz.com/slideshow/alkaline-food-plan), WebM.D., and several others.  I have listed a few more references below.

Acidic-inducing bad foods are those that the Alpha Plan has always said to avoid: processed foods, artificial coloring and flavoring and other lab-created foodstuffs (or non-foods), sodas, white foods such as white breads, and limit animal products. The good foods you want to include are vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and more. This is the thing though - you don't have to give up acidic foods, just find a balance with the alkaline ones.  If you wish to try one of our meat recipes or have one of your own, just balance out the rest of the meal with good foods and you will be on the road to internal health.

With that in mind, there is a simple beverage you can enjoy that takes just seconds to make.  Lemon water.  Lemons urge our bodies into an alkaline response.  This is wonderful!

The tools:

Start with lemons.

Juice them.

Freeze the juice in an old-fashioned cube tray.  1 tablespoon in each space.

My ice cubes.  Lemon juice cubes if you will.  Add them to a tall glass
of water and sip all day.  Every day.

Prep time:  about 15 minutes for 12 servings per tray

One frozen lemon cube (optional squeeze of half of a lemon)
16 ounces water

Add a lemon ice cube into water.  Insert straw into glass and enjoy.  (I use a sipper cup and keep this with me at all times.)

Calories are negligible.  Benefits:  priceless

*Another added bonus - these are great to have on hand for recipes by the way.  I have lemon, lime, blood orange, regular orange, grapefruit.......   cubes on ice.  I hate to see beautifully ripe fruit go to waste.

- Kim Fielding

www.alkalinesisters.com/alkaline-food-chart
www.naturalnews.com/
The Crazy Sexy Diet, Kris Carr