You've probably heard the term 'alkaline' being thrown around a bit, and perhaps you're still wondering what it means? We hear you! We sat down with our GoodnessMe Box Naturopath Amy Hotz to take a look at the benefits of an alkaline diet, and a few easy ways you can boost your energy and balance your body so you are always looking and feeling your best.
What does ‘alkaline’ mean?
There’s all this talk about the benefits of an alkaline diet, but what does it mean? It’s to do with the level of pH in your body, which is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity. For our bodies to function at their best, we should be slightly more alkaline – which means we need a high pH reading of 7.0 or above.
However, thanks to a poor diet, consuming processed foods, sluggish digestion, sky-high stress levels and not enough movement, many of us carry around an acid load. When that happens, we have to adjust our diet and lifestyle to make our system more alkaline and balance things out.
What are the benefits of an alkaline diet?
In a nutshell, alkaline detoxifies and clarifies the body, and in doing so, boosts our energy and vitality in a BIG way. By getting rid of those toxic compounds in the body, it helps to improve mental clarity, reduce headaches, aches and pains, enhance skin, strengthen bones and speed up fat burning. It also helps calm inflammation, which can mess with digestion and immunity.
If you’re struggling with any of those delightful symptoms, you may have an acidic build-up in your body – and it’s very common. Which takes us to our next point…
How can I boost the alkalinity in my body?
If you want to clear out the acidic waste that’s weighing you down, you need to make some changes to the way you eat, move and live. And it’s easier than it sounds, promise!
- Eat alkaline-forming foods 80% of the time. These include fresh fruit, root vegetables (like beets and carrots), quinoa, amaranth, millet, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and brussel sprouts), leafy greens (the darker, the better), sauerkraut, almonds, goat’s milk, tofu, cucumber, stevia, carob and garlic. In other words, foods that cleanse and nourish the body.
- Cut down on acid forming foods, such as bacon, beef, pork, dairy, processed grains, corn, commercial condiments (like tomato sauce and mayonnaise) and refined sugar and carbohydrates.
- Add fresh lemon, lime or apple cider vinegar to everything. They may sound acidic because they’re bitter, but they do wonders for the body’s alkaline levels!
- Eliminate soft drinks from your diet.
- Reduce your coffee intake and replace it with herbal teas.
- Lower your stress levels through yoga, meditation, nature walks, or whatever works for you.
- Move your body more. Incidental exercise counts, so take the stairs and opt for a standing desk if you can.
- Drink alkaline water! It doesn’t get easier than that. Alkaline water is exactly that – mineral-rich water with a pH over 7, and ideally between 9 and 10. It deeply hydrates the body (remember, our bodies are 70% water) and helps to flush out toxins and bring your pH levels back into balance. And when your cells are healthy, you’ll feel lighter and far more energetic.
We love blk water – it’s pure, natural spring water that’s not only alkaline, but also contains trace minerals and electrolytes to improve absorption and muscle recovery, and replenish the minerals we need to thrive. Talk about water with benefits! And yes, thanks to the fulvic mineral, it’s black in colour – which we think is pretty cool.
An alkaline diet can be beneficial for those who are very acidic or suffer from inflammatory in the body. It is important to note that we do need some acidity in the body to assist with digestion and other functions. It's always best to consult your local health practitioner before taking on an alkaline diet.
Did you know about the benefits of an alkaline diet? Are you keen to try alkaline water?
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