Alkaline Foods And Overall Health
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Ever had a burning sensation while peeing?
While we generally assume that to be a sign of dehydration, did you know it is also a sign of acidic pH? If you are wondering what pH to do with your pee, know that your body hosts a lot of chemical reactions that affect your body’s pH. We are going to dive a little deeper into alkaline food for health in this article, but before we do, let us take a look at what pH is and what are the normal ranges.
Speaking of PH, We can’t help but feel nostalgic remembering grade seven science lessons. We are sure you will remember peeing on a litmus paper in school at the time of acid-base practical class. The litmus paper changing its color was nothing less than magic back then. pH is the measure of how acidic or basic a solution is. When we talk about the pH of the body, it is determined by the pH of the urine. Although several factors affect the pH of the body, it is most commonly affected by metabolism.
Since ancient times, the diet has been correlated to the pH of the body. According to Ayurveda, it is the food or the diet of an individual that decides the pH of the body. In Ayurveda, it is referred to as vipaka. When the food that you consume breaks down into energy, the residue of food determines the pH of the body. In a nutshell, if the food is acidic, the residue will be acidic and if it is alkaline, the residue will be alkaline. Ayurveda focuses and suggests consumption of alkaline food since the alkaline effect or kshsharepaka helps one be in the best of health.
pH value ranges from 0-14, here is how it is divided
Acidic – 0.0-6.9
Neutral – 7.0
Alkaline/Basic – 7.1-14.0
Having said that, the following are the benefits of an alkaline diet
- Promotes weight loss
The alkaline diet focuses more on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. It is suggested to avoid meat, processed, packaged foods – basically foods rich in fat and sugar. This automatically helps in promoting weight loss as you avoid unnecessary fats and sweeteners. Avoiding processed and packaged foods also helps in reducing internal inflammation which is one of the root causes of weight gain.
- Improves and regulates growth hormone levels
Growth hormone plays a crucial role in the functioning of all major systems in the body such as the heart and brain. It prevents health risks associated with these systems and thus improves the quality of life. Although it is said to improve growth hormone levels, there is not enough research to support this. But since it includes avoiding unnecessary fats and sugars, it anyway helps prevent cardiac disorders and health risks.
- Helps maintain muscle mass
The body starts aging and deteriorating from the age of 25. Meaning, the bones, muscles, and the function of every system of the body start deteriorating over time. An acidic diet can also increase the free radicals in the body, which can trigger aging. An alkaline diet is said to slow down aging and retain muscle mass. It helps maintain a healthy bone density and also helps prevent osteoporosis.
- Supports kidney health
Acidic diet affects kidneys the most since a drop in the urine pH may hinder kidney function. An acidic diet is a potential risk for kidney function. People with chronic diseases are advised to follow an alkaline diet, but kidneys are not affected overnight. Therefore, it is advisable to follow an alkaline diet to prevent kidney ailments. Reducing the consumption of high-fat dairy products, meats, and processed foods helps in regulating kidney function.
- Boosts immunity and prevents cancers
This must be one of the most common risks associated with acidic diets. We depend a lot on processed and packaged foods. These foods contain chemical additives for flavor and color and they also contain a lot of preservatives. These foods leave the body acidic and can impair immunity, frequent consumption can therefore lead to infections due to weakened immunity and also increases the chances of cancers.
An alkaline diet is mostly based on fruits and vegetables for the rich nutrients that help in maintaining the alkalinity of the body. It can be a little challenging to include the required portions of veggies and fruits in your daily diet considering our fast-paced lives, and so andMe has brought to you the andMe Green and Lean Drink. The Green and Lean drink is a nutritional blend of more than 30 vegetables and fruits which helps in detoxifying and managing body weight, it helps in digestion and improves metabolism, and is a rich source of antioxidants, prevents heart diseases and other health risks. This nutrition-packed Green and Lean drink is free of preservatives and added sugars. So go grab one for yourself and switch to an alkaline diet today.
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