Living an Alkaline Diet in 5 Easy Steps!
1. Hydration
80-90% of
people are chronically dehydrated and this is having a massive impact on their
quality of life. It amazes me when people say that they don’t really drink
water! How do they get through the day? Some of my clients admit to only drinking
soda, coffee, tea or milk. NO WATER! No
wonder they are coming to see me!
Getting properly
hydrated will make a huge difference to your health, energy, vitality and
immunity. Everything is influenced by the quantity and quality of the water you
drink.
Hydration Action Steps
- Drink 6-18 cups of water each day. A good rule of
thumb is to drink half your body weight
in ounces.
- Drink lemon water: 2 cups of lukewarm, filtered water with freshly-squeezed
juice from a quarter of a lemon first
thing every morning. It helps cleanse the digestive system, ignite your
metabolism and buffer excess acids. Despite the lemons being acidic in their
natural form, lemon water is alkaline-forming to the body once consumed.
- Enjoy organic herbal teas such as Rooibos, peppermint and nettle. (My
personal favorite is Rooibos Chai. Yum
yum!!!)
2. Greens & More Greens!
The alkaline diet is about alkaline foods.
There is conflicting information on the Internet about which foods are alkaline
and which are acid-forming. This simple rule covers most foods:
Alkaline foods are
those you already know are good for you: fresh vegetables, salads, leafy
greens, low-sugar fruits, nuts, seeds and healthy oils; unrefined, organic,
high-water-content foods.
Acidic foods are
those you already know are bad for you: refined foods, fast foods, trans-fats,
meat, dairy, sugar, caffeine, white bread, white pasta and rice, condiments,
alcohol, chocolate, chips, ice cream and pizza.
Aim for a ratio of
80/20: Consume 80 percent alkaline foods to 20 percent acidic foods.
3. Start Slow!
If you hit this diet head on, you may get discouraged and could even quit. The alkaline diet is
not restrictive or difficult and is really simple, once you’ve gotten
used to it. People who try to be perfect from day one miss the chance to learn,
experiment and find meals that work for them and their family. They end up
feeling hungry, fed up and restricted.
It is far better to
transition and get there slowly, by sticking to it for the long-term rather
than being perfect for a day or two and then crashing.
4. Oxygen
By doing a simple breathing exercise once or twice
per day you give your body a huge helping hand in removing these acids. Plus it
allows you to stop, focus your mind, visualize and relax, which is also nicely
alkalizing.
Sit comfortably,
close your eyes and follow this simple breathing pattern:
- Breathe in for the
count of 2.
- Hold for a count of 8.
- Breathe out for a count of 4.
- Repeat 10 times.
5. Supplements
This is one of the most overwhelming and confusing
parts of the alkaline diet for most beginners. There are so many supplements
out there, all promising different things and all claiming they are better than
the others.
Here are the core
supplements I recommend:
Enzymes: They are the ONLY workers in the body. No matter what we eat or drink, it takes
enzymes to utilize it. Enzymes away from
food go to work breaking down fats and proteins that have been stored or are
causing havoc.
Green powder: This is a
combination of powdered grasses, fruits, vegetables and sprouts with a focus on
wheatgrass or barley grass.
My favorite is Apex Nourish Green because it contains more of the vegetable greens and 5 grams of protein.
Alkaline water: You can make
alkaline water in a number of ways including using a water ionizer, pH drops,
or adding freshly squeezed lemon or lemon essential oil.
Alkaline minerals: The primary way that
your body buffers acids is through the alkaline minerals: sodium, magnesium,
potassium and calcium.
EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) : They are called ESSENTIAL for a reason! Yep!
They are essential to your existence.
Taking an omega 3 supplement or an omega oil, using
coconut, eating avocados, etc… are great ways to get your EFAs.
Protein: I personally aim for around 1 gram for
every 2 lbs. of body weight, but certainly that is nowhere near the heights of
some trainers who propose you should have at least 1-2g’s per kg of body
weight. I suggest you find your own level that you are happy with, within this
range (of 20-100g) and then consider where you will get your protein from. A
great fear about alkaline diets is that you won’t get enough protein. Make sure your protein comes from a good
source! Organic, Fresh Chicken, some Fish
and egg are good animal sources of protein and are less acid than other meats.
Other great sources of protein are HEMP or PEA powder. Also consider: – tofu – soy – nuts – seeds –
pulses – green leafy vegetables
The alkaline diet is
simple when taken slowly, when you aim for 80/20 rather than perfection and when
you still allow yourself treats and fun. Take it easy, have a sense of humor
with it and enjoy it.
Keep it simple and if you mess up, don’t beat yourself up! Go
for a walk, refocus and just start again! The rest of your life is a long and
interesting journey, so enjoy it with the health, energy and vitality that the
alkaline lifestyle brings!