Monday, January 28, 2013

What the pH?

I've been helping to teach a class on health locally.  I am having a blast and learning right along with our students.   The class is called NEW START.  It is God's lifestyle/diet based on Genesis 1:29.




 Each letter of our class name corresponds with what this lifestyle is all about!

N - Nutrition
E - Exercise
W - Water
S - Sunlight
T - Temperance
A - Air
R - Rest
T - Trust in the Divine Power

The class is taught from the Bible's perspective and also from a scientific perspective.  It is very interesting, indeed!

I am teaching about our pH levels and how this affects our body. I've just recently begun testing my own pH levels and just find it so interesting.

Our bodies thrive in an alkaline state.  If you are too acidic ( if you eat the standard American diet then this will most likely apply to you), your body is in a state of disease. Cancer can begin to form if your pH level gets below 5.5.  So, it is important to know about your own pH levels.

Testing it fairly easy, you will need a test kit.  I am using this type of kit and you can get one from amazon or look in your local health food store.



You can test using urine or saliva.

To test yourself -
Urine:
use a 1-2" test strip
test the first void of the morning (after 4 am)
Place the test strip into urine stream, shake off excess fluid, match to color chart immediately.  You should be in the 6.8 - 7.2 range.  5.5 is acid, 7.0 is neutral and 8.0 is alkaline.

Saliva:
use a 1-2" test strip
REMEMBER - anything you put in your mouth (food, water beverages or toothpaste) will affect the outcome.
Drip fresh saliva from under the tongue onto the test strip.  Do not allow the test strip to touch your mouth. Compare to the color chart immediately.  Your results should be the same for the urine testing.

From personal experience, the urine testing is easier.  You would think that it isn't, but it is!
Be sure to keep track of your results in your journal. I was pleased that the first day I tested my results were 6.8.  This morning it was down a little - 6.4.  So I need to work on making sure I eat more alkaline foods!

In order to get your body into a more alkaline state, eat plenty of dark, leafy greens, avocados, drink lemon water ( with no sugar added), most vegetables, sprouted beans, grains and seeds.

You will want to avoid the most acidic foods such as alcohol, artificial sweeteners, cheese, coffee, soft drinks, meats.

FACT:  to neutralize one glass of cola with a pH of 2.8, it would take 32 glasses of alkaline water with a pH of 7.4!  32 glasses of water for 1 soda.......

Here's a GREAT alkalizing Power Smoothie:

1/4 cup raw almonds, soaked over night in 1 cup of water ( or you can use 1/4 slivered almonds)
1 ripe avocado, peeled and seeded
1 scoop of dried greens ( such as barley max, wheat grass or macro greens)
2 limes juiced
2-3 packets of stevia (not truvia, must be regular stevia) or 1 tsp raw honey
6 ice cubes
add extra water until desired consistency is achieved

In a blender process the almonds and soaking water until smooth. Add all other ingredients and blend adding more water as needed.  Enjoy the high pH wonder drink!

I'll be keeping you updated with my results and I would love to hear yours as well if you decide to give this a try.

If you are local and are interested in checking out our class, we are offering a guest day on Sunday Feb 3.  YES, I know it is Super Bowl Sunday, but we will have you home in plenty of time to watch the game!  If you want more details please feel free to contact me!  I'd love to have a packed house on Sunday!