rawlivingfoods:

The Acid Alkaline Balance

Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline ( 7.35 - 7.45 ).  Below or above this range means symptoms and disease.  A pH of 7.0 is neutral.  A pH below 7.0 is acidic.  A pH above 7.0 is alkaline.

An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients.  The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals.  If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

An acidic balance will:  decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it’s ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it’s ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.  A blood pH of 6.9, which is only slightly acidic, can induce coma and death.

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fresh vegetables.  Additionally, we eat acid producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks.  We use too many drugs, which are acid forming; and we use artificial chemical sweetners like NutraSweet, Spoonful, Sweet ‘N Low, Equal, or Aspartame, which are poison and extremely acid forming.  One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.

To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods.  To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods.

Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts.

Generally, acid forming foods include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.

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health-heaven:

Slimming Snacks :)

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pullingoutroots:

Intuitive Eating. 

I’m going to speak to my dietician on Wednesday about attempting to continue recovery without my meal plan.  

(I fully expect her to laugh and say no.)

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workout-workhard-loveyourself:

May Issue of Cosmopolitan: 9 Foods That Melt Away Flab!

1. Eggs
Vitamin B12in the yolk helps your body torch fat. Plus, they are super filling and starve off binges.

2. Peanut Butter
Creamy or chunky, it’s a source of magnesium, which powers cells to metabolize energy. efficiently.

3. Avocado
It’s high in craving-quelling “good” fat and rich in L-carnitine, an amino acid that fires up your body’s engine.

4. Sirloin Burger
Made with 90% lean beaf, it’s like pure protein, which takes more energy to digest than fat or carbs.

5. Cheese
Conjugated linoleic acid in dairy helps your body burn fat. Go with a tangy, creamy kind that satisfies your palate.  

6. Pickles
A medium pickle is only 7 calories - you’ll burn more energy digesting this salty, crunchy veggie.

7. Green Tea
It’s teeming with catechins, antioxidants that studies show destroy body fat. Plus, caffeine gives your system a metabolic jump.

8. Yogurt
Regular and low-fat kinds have probiotics, bacteria that may reduce the amount of fat that your body absorbs.

9. Quinoa
Because your body works hard digesting this protein-packed whole grain, you burn off extra calories. 

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fit-and-slim:

7 Good Foods to Improve Moods

Stressed: Eat Chocolate (particularly dark chocolate)

the Journal of Proteome Research, found that eating just a smidge of dark chocolate (about 1.4 ounces) has the power to lower the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines in the body, reducing your anxiety and giving you a better chance to get the job done

Sluggish: Have a Spinach Salad 

Eat folate-rich foods like spinach and other leafy green vegetables as well as potatoes, fortified breads and cereals, beans, peas and mushrooms.

Cranky: Eat an Apple with Peanut Butter

Crankiness can be a sign that your body needs fuel. Just be sure to refuel the right way: with foods that don’t leave you with a blood sugar crash an hour later, setting the crankiness cycle in motion all over again.

Carbohydrates are a great source of energy that quickly burns out. Adding some fat or protein will slow the digestion process, causing your sugar and energy levels to remain stable for a longer amount of time

Anxious: Eat a Salmon Burger

Salmon is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient that may help tame your anxiety. 

Dr. Ilardi says it’s best to stick with fish: “The specific form of omega-3 that most strongly boosts mood is found most abundantly in coldwater fish such as salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel.”

Angry: Sip Green Tea 

Green tea contains theanine, which calms you and helps you maintain clear concentration and focus

Sad: Eat Whole Grain Cereal with Low fat Milk

Vitamin D helps in the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter known as the “feel-good hormone”.

If you’re low on vitamin D, you may be affecting your body’s ability to stabilize your mood and reduce feelings of depression. To boost your intake of vitamin D, turn to lowfat fortified milk, fortified cereals or mushrooms.

PMS: Eat an Egg-Salad Sandwich 

If your go-to PMS meal usually comes in the form of comfort food (mac ’n’ cheese, potato chips, ice cream) consider making an egg-salad sandwich instead. In the days before your period, it’s normal for women to begin craving carbohydrates. Carbs help your body boost its serotonin levels, in turn helping you improve your mood.

Opt for whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, and for extra PMS-zapping strength, pair them with tryptophan-rich protein such as eggs, sunflower seeds or turkey, which may enhance the release of serotonin. 
Tip: Cut the mayo and mix your diced hard-cooked eggs with a teaspoon of fat-free or lowfat plain Greek yogurt and half a teaspoon of whole-grain Dijon mustard.

Read more: Foods to Improve Moods - Healthy Living Tips at WomansDay.com - Woman’s Day

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onto-step2:

25 MORE Ways to Drop a Dress Size

1. Power up your probiotics. To aid in weight loss, you should add food high in probiotics, like low-sugar greek yogurt.  Substituting high-sugar and high-fat snacks for food naturally probiotic rich will help you lose weight by reducing your calorie and fat intake and curbing hunger. Try and go for a yogurt with 15g of sugar  or less per serving.
2. Whey less! Leucine, a major component in whey protein, takes energy from rich fat cells and gives it to undernourished muscle tissue. By reducing your calorie intake and taking one or two protein supplements a day, you could lose more fat and gain more muscle than if you just reduced your caloric intake.
3. Get Quality Sleep. Lack of sleep can throw our appetite hormones out of whack – leptin (the hormone in charge of signaling to your brain that you’re full) levels are lower and ghrelin (the one that tells your brain you’re still hungry) are higher in the sleep-deprived.
4. Get Your Move On. When fat is burned by exercise, blood picks up fat and carries it to the exercising muscle fibers to be burned for fuel. An increase in blood flow to fat cells means that more fat has been removed from fat cells and delivered to muscles. Not to mention, exercise burns extra calories, boosts your mood and may help you feel more energized.
5. Eat a protein rich breakfast. Research has shown that eating protein-rich eggs instead of carb-heavy foods like bagels can help you lose up to 65 percent more weight. But, if you can’t stomach eating eggs first thing in the morning, try a smoothie instead. You’ll love Warner’s 220 calorie breakfast smoothie recipe (which also includes whey protein so you’ll double your pound shedding benefits): In a blender, mix together one scoop of whey isolate protein powder, 1 teaspoon of no-sugar added peanut butter, ¼ cup of instant, uncooked oatmeal, ¼ cup mixed frozen berries, ¼ cup frozen spinach and a dash of water (add more or less water depending on how thick you like it.)
   
   
   
   
   

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