The Cause of Disease

Have you ever wondered if many of the diseases raging through our society have a common cause?
Many doctors, herbalists and nutritionists believe that the explanation may come down to these simple words:

pH Imbalance

Acid Alkaline Imbalance

Over acidity, which can become a dangerous condition that weakens all body systems, is very common today. It gives rise to an internal environment conducive to disease, as opposed to a pH balanced environment which allows normal body function necessary for the body to resist disease. A healthy body maintains adequate alkaline reserves to meet emergency demands. When excess acids must be neutralized our alkaline reserves are depleted leaving the body in a weakened condition. A pH balanced diet, according to many experts, is a vital key to health maintenance. The concept of acid alkaline imbalance as the cause of disease is not new. In 1933 a New York doctor named William Howard Hay published a groundbreaking book, A New Health Era in which he maintains that all disease is caused by autotoxication (or "self-poisoning") due to acid accumulation in the body: Now we depart from health in just the proportion to which we have allowed our alkalies to be dissipated by introduction of acid-forming food in too great amount... It may seem strange to say that all disease is the same thing, no matter what its myriad modes of expression, but it is verily so.William Howard Hay, M.D. More recently, in his remarkable book Alkalize or Die (see recommended reading), Dr. Theodore A. Baroody says essentially the same thing:

The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What does matter is that they all come from the same root cause...too much tissue acid waste in the body!Theodore A. Baroody, N.D., D.C., Ph.D. Understanding pH pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14the lower the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more alkaline (or base) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7 which is neutral. Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, comprising 70% of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

It is important to understand that we are not talking about stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of the body's fluids and tissues which is an entirely different matter. Test Your Body's Acidity or Alkalinity with pH Strips: It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if your body's pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips, you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. If your urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 to 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening, your body is functioning within a healthy range. If your saliva stays between 6.5 and 7.5 all day, your body is functioning within a healthy range. The best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal. Test your pH two days a week.

Click here to order pH Test Strips Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition forces the body to borrow mineralsincluding calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesiumfrom vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high aciditya condition that may go undetected for years. Mild acidosis can cause such problems as:

pH and Bone Loss:

A recent seven-year study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, on 9,000 women showed that those who have chronic acidosis are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have normal pH levels. The scientists who carried out this experiment believe that many of the hip fractures prevalent among middle-aged women are connected to high acidity caused by a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. This is because the body borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood vessels and the reduction of oxygen. Weight gain, obesity and diabetes. Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones. Immune deficiency. Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to cancerous mutations. Hormone concerns. Premature aging. Osteoporosis; weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs. Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup. Low energy and chronic fatigue. Slow digestion and elimination.

Yeast/fungal overgrowth.

Urine pH
Urine testing may indicate how well your body is excreting acids and assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These minerals function as "buffers." Buffers are substances that help maintain and balance the body against the introduction of too much acidity or too much alkalinity. Even with the proper amounts of buffers, acid or alkaline levels can become extreme. When the body ingests or produces too many of these acids or alkalis, it must excrete the excess. The urine is the perfect way for the body to remove any excess acids or alkaline substances that cannot be buffered. If the average urine pH is below 6.5 the body's buffering system is overwhelmed, a state of "autotoxication" exists, and attention should be given to lowering acid levels.

Saliva pH
The results of saliva testing may indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in the body. These enzymes are primarily manufactured by the stomach, liver and pancreas. While the saliva also utilizes buffers just like the urine, it relies on this process to a much lesser degree. If the saliva pH is too low (below 6.5), the body may be producing too many acids or may be overwhelmed by acids because it has lost the ability to adequately remove them through the urine. If the saliva pH is too high (over 6.8), the body may suffer greatly, e.g. excess gas, constipation and production of yeast, mold and fungus. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and salivathis is referred to as "double acid."

Restoring pH Balance in the Body

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. Even the right herbal program may not work if your body's pH is out of balance.

Change Your pH Balance from Acidic to Alkaline By far the most common imbalance seen in our society is over acidity. If your urine and/or saliva test below 6.5 pH start with steps 1 through 5 below and continue adding steps until desired results are achieved. Be sure to monitor your progress with easy-to-use pH test strips:

pH Balance Supplements for OverlyAcidic

1.

Enzymes are essential: Take 1-2 capsules of

either Food Enzymes or Proactazyme Plus with every meal. For even better and quicker results, also take 1-2 capsules of High Potency Protease and Nature's Noni between meals on an empty stomach.
2.

Easily absorbable magnesium is needed:

Take 2 Magnesium Complex with each meal which provides highly absorbable magnesium to help build necessary buffers. Magnesium is often lost in urine as a consequence of too much acid in the body. 3. Alkaline minerals are essential: Take 1 ounce of either Ionic Minerals or Mineral Chi Tonic once daily. 4. Alkalize with Green Food: Take 1 teaspoon of Liquid Chlorophyll in water up to eight times daily. 5. Absorbable Calcium: If your urine is 5.8-7.2, take Calcium Plus Vitamin D and Magnesium (the amino acid chelated form, not the carbonate form) daily to support your bones. If pH is 5.0-6.5, use Sea Calcium (pH 10.) If your pH is still too acidic, add the following:
6. Vitamin D3 helps hold calcium in the body. Taking NSP's Vitamin D3 and Omega 3 will help the body buffer acids. Take 1-2 of each daily. 7. Cleanse as needed: Take a psyllium hulls supplement such as Psyllium Hulls Combination or Psyllium Hulls Capsules at bedtime to maintain regular bowel movements. Use CleanStart or Chinese Tiao He Cleanse twice a year for liver, bowel and kidney detoxification. 8. Strengthen urinary and lymphatic systems' ability to excrete acids: Take Kidney Drainage and Lymphatic Drainage daily in water. Quality is Critical: I recommend only Nature's Sunshine Products. NSP has formulated premium-quality products for 40 years. Our experience has been that substituting lesser quality products will compromise pH balancing results! Get the book! Get a copy of the book Alkalize or Die by Dr. Baroody (see recommended reading below) and carefully follow his dietary recommendations choosing more foods that are alkaline-forming and less

that are acid-forming. The food chart below briefly summarizes this information for some of the more common foods. A healthy diet should consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods.

What Causes Me to be Acidic?

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, Equal, or aspartame, which are 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. Refer to the recommended reading for specific help with diet and lifestyle.

pH Balance Supplements for Overly-Alkaline

Alkalinity is relatively rare, but if your urine and/or saliva consistently test above 7.0 pH, start with steps 1, 2 and 3 below and continue adding steps until the desired results are achieved. Be sure to monitor your progress with easy-to-use pH test strips. You will notice that some of these steps are the same as those recommended above for an overly acidic condition. This is because these steps have a buffering effect, or in other words they are balancing, tending to bring the pH back toward normal no matter which direction it has gone: 1. Enzymes are essential: Take 1-2 capsules of Food Enzymes or Proactazyme Plus with every meal. Also take 1-2 capsules of High Potency Protease and Nature's Noni between meals on an empty stomach. 2. Support urinary and lymphatic systems' ability to excrete toxins: Take Kidney Drainage and Lymphatic Drainage in water according to directions. Then use Lymphomax and Urinary Maintenance to maintain. 3. Correct calcium is needed: Use NSP's Liquid Calcium. 4. Vitamin C: Use Timed-Release Vitamin C. Use 3,000 mg or more, to maximum bowel tolerance. (If diarrhea occurs, reduce intake.) 5. Flax Seed Oil: Use 1 capsules of Flax Seed Oil 3 times a day or 2 tablespoons of Liquid Flax Seed Oil daily. 6. Cleanse as needed: Take a psyllium hulls supplement such as Psyllium Hulls Combination or Psyllium Hulls Capsules at bedtime to maintain regular bowel movements. Use CleanStart or Chinese Tiao He Cleanse twice a year for liver, bowel and kidney detoxification.

pH Balance Chart

Most Alkaline Stevia

Alkaline Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi, Blueberrie s, Apples, Pears, Raisins

Lowest FOOD Alkaline CATEGORY

Lowest Acid

Acid White Sugar, Brown Sugar

Most Acid NutraSweet, Equal, Aspartame, Sweet 'N Low

Raw Processed SWEETENE Honey, Honey, RS Raw Sugar Molasses

Lemons, Watermelo n, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Papayas

Oranges, Bananas, Cherries, Pineapple, Peaches, Avocados

FRUITS

Plums, Blackberrie Sour Processed s, Cherries, Fruit Cranberries Rhubarb Juices , Prunes

Carrots, Okra, Tomatoes, Asparagus, Squash, Fresh Onions, Green Corn, Vegetable Beans, Mushroom Juices, Beets, s, BEANS Parsley, Celery, Cabbage, VEGETABLE Raw Lettuce, Peas, S LEGUMES Spinach, Zucchini, Potato Broccoli, Sweet Skins, Garlic Potato, Olives, Carob Soybeans, Tofu

Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans, String Beans

Potatoes (without skins), Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Lima Beans

Chocolate

Olive Oil

Pumpkin Seeds, Pecans, Peanuts, Almonds Chestnuts NUTS SEEDS Sunflower Cashews Walnuts Seeds Flax Seed Canola Oil OILS Corn Oil Oil Sprouted White Wheat, Amaranth, Wheat Rice, White Millet, GRAINS Bread, Corn, Flour, Wild Rice, CEREALS Spelt, Buckwhea Pastries, Quinoa Brown t, Oats, Pasta Rice Rye Venison, Turkey, Cold Beef, Pork, MEATS Chicken, Water Shellfish Lamb Fish

Breast Milk

Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Goat Milk, Goat Cheese, Whey

EGGS DAIRY

Eggs, Butter, Cheese, Yogurt, Homogenize Raw Milk Buttermil d Milk, Ice k, Cottage Cream Cheese Tea Coffee Beer, Soft Drinks

Herb Teas, Lemon Green Tea Ginger Tea BEVERAGES Water

Note that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very acidic, however the endproducts they produce after digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are alkaline-forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-forming.

Alkaline Foods Alkaline Vegetables Fruits Meats

Acid Foods Dairy Products

Asparagus Artichokes Cabbage Lettuce Onion Cauliflower Radish Swede Lambs Lettuce Peas Courgette Red Cabbage

Lemon Lime Avocado Tomato Grapefruit Watermelon (is neutral) Rhubarb

Pork Lamb Beef Chicken Turkey Crustaceans Other Seafood (apart from occasional oily fish such as salmon)

Milk Eggs Cheese Cream Yogurt Ice Cream

Drinks

Others

Drinks

'Green Drinks' Fresh vegetable juice Pure water (distilled or ionised) Lemon water (pure water + fresh lemon or lime). Herbal Tea Vegetable broth Non-sweetened Soy Milk Almond Milk

Vinegar White Pasta White Bread Wholemeal Bread Biscuits Soy Sauce Tamari Condiments (Tomato Sauce, Mayonnaise etc.) Artificial Sweeteners Honey

Fizzy Drinks Coffee Tea Beers Spirits Fruit Juice Dairy Smoothies Milk Traditional Tea

Seeds, Nuts & Grains Leeks Watercress Spinach Turnip Chives Carrot Green Beans Beetroot Garlic Celery Grasses (wheat, straw, barley, dog, kamut etc.) Fats & Oils Others

Convenience Foods

Fats & Oils

Almonds Pumpkin Sunflower Sesame Flax Buckwheat Groats Spelt Lentils Cumin Seeds Any sprouted seed

Sweets Chocolate Microwave Meals Tinned Foods Powdered Soups Instant Meals Fast Food

Saturated Fats Hydrogenated Oils

Margarine (worse than Butt Corn Oil Vegetable Oil Sunflower Oil

Fruits

Seeds & Nuts

Flax Hemp Avocado Olive Evening Primrose Borage

Sprouts (soy, alfalfa, mung bean, All fruits aside from those listed wheat, little radish , chickpea, broccoli etc) Bragg Liquid Aminos (Soy Sauce Alternative) Hummus in the alkaline column.

Peanuts Cashew Nuts Pistachio Nuts

Coconut Oil Oil Blends (such as Udo's Choice) General Guidance:

Tahini

General Guidance:

Stick to salads, fresh, alkaline vegetables and healthy nuts and oils. Try to consume plenty of raw foods and at least 2-3 litres of clean, pure water daily (ideally enhanced with pH drops).

Steer clear of fatty meats, dairy, cheese, sweets, chocolate

alcohol and tobacco. Packaged foods are often full of hidde

offenders and microwave meals are full of sugars and salts. O cooking also removes all of the nutrition from a meal!

How Alkaline Are YOU?

It may be very useful for you to see where you are now, and to test your acid and alkaline balance at various stages during your transition to an alkaline diet. For dietary testing, we offer pH testing kits, vitamin deficiency kits and food intolerance kits.

Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss

Alkaline diet for weight loss consists of all the foods that have a low acidic content. Due to the low acidic level, they are considered to be alkaline in nature. These alkaline foods counterbalance the acids formed in the body, thus maintaining a pH balance. Let us take a look at alkaline foods, the diet plan and diet benefits for weight loss...

Alkaline diet is for people who are not able to benefit out of low-carb diets or fad diets. This diet is extremely helpful for people who lead a stressful life, or suffer from acidity. Alkaline diet for weight loss consists of 75% to 80% alkaline foods and only 20% to 25% acidic foods. The acidic level of any solution is measured on a 'power of hydrogen', scale abbreviated as pH scale, and the average pH level of blood being 7.4. The pH levels in internal fluids affects every cell. If this pH level is altered, it can be harmful to the normal functioning cells, tissues and organs. In case of an unbalanced diet high in acidic foods, there can be pressure on the body's regulating systems which help to maintain pH neutrality. This acid is removed from the body with the use of some vital organs, helping the pH to get

neutralized. Below mentioned are tables of alkaline foods for weight loss and acidic foods to avoid while adhering to an alkaline diet plan. Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss: Foods to be Consumed and Foods to be Avoided Foods to be consumed on an Alkaline Diet Foods to be avoided on an Alkaline Diet

Category

Alkaline Foods

Acidic Foods

Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Celery, Garlic,

Vegetables

Barley Grass, Lima Beans, Zucchini, Carob, Asparagus, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Courgette, Cucumber, Grasses (eg wheat, barley), Green Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Alfalfa, Dandelions, Edible Flowers, Eggplant, Fermented Veggies, Greens - Chard, Collard, Mustard, Kohlrabi, Mushrooms (Maitake, Reishi and Shitake), Nightshade Veggies, Parsnips (high glycemic), Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Spirulina, Living Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Watercress, Sea Veggies (Kelp, Kombu, Nori and Wakame Seaweed)

Pickled Vegetables, Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Corn, Olives, Winter Squash

Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Berries

Fruits

(inclusive of Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Goji Berries), Dates, Dried Figs, Cherries (sour), Fresh Coconut, Raisins, Purple and Red Grapes, Nectarine, Banana, Peach, Pear, Lemon, Lime, Pineapple, Orange, Melon (Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Musk, Watermelon), Tomato, Rhubarb, Umeboshi Plums, Tropical Fruits

Prune, Cranberries, Canned or Glazed Fruits

Eggs and Dairy Products

Breast Milk, Cottage Cheese

Parmasan, Processed Cheese, Eggs (Less acidic if natural feed), Camembert, Hard Cheese, Butter, Ice Cream, Ice

Milk

Grains and Meat

Seeds (Pumpkin, Sprouted Sunflower - Millet), Buckwheat Groats, Cumin, Flaxseed, Lentils, Sesame, Spelt, Sprouts/Sprouted Seeds Fresh & as Pastes (Soybeans, Alfalfa, Mung Bean, Wheat, Little Radish, Chickpea, Broccoli, Hummus, Tahini Sunflower), Tofu (fermented), Tempeh (fermented), Whey Poison, Yogurt (Plain), Chicken Breast

White Rice, White Bread, Pastries, Biscuits, Pasta, Bran, Kamut, Macaroni, Cornstarch, Oatmeal, Oats (rolled), Rice, Rice Cakes, Spaghetti, Noodles, Quinoa, Rye, Corned Beef, Lamb, Sausage, Pork, Bacon, Turkey, Rabbit, Venison, Fish (Carp, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Pike, Haddock, Cod), Shellfish (Lobster, Oyster, Scallops, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels)

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, Chestnuts, Hazelnuts

Peanuts, Walnuts, Pecans, Cashews, Pistachios, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Tahini

Condiments and Sweeteners

Stevia, Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup

Artificial Sweeteners, Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Jam, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Vinegar, Corn Syrup

Beverages

Lemon Water, Tea (Dandelion, Essiac, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, Ginseng Tea, Kombucha), Fresh vegetable juice, Wheat Grass Juice, Pure water (distilled, reverse osmosis, ionized), Alkaline Antioxidant Water (Mineral Water), Vegetable broth, Non-sweetened Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Organic Milk (unpasteurized)

Black Tea, Cocoa, Coffee, Beer,

Liquor, Soda/Pop, Spirits, Wine (Red wine is healthy - skip the white wine), Soy Sauce, Distilled Vinegar

Others

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Pepper, Sea Salt, Miso Tamari, All Herbs,

Molasses (blackstrap), Butter (unsalted), Marine Phytoplankton

Asprin, Drugs - Prescribed Medication and Street Food Additives, Tobacco, Herbicides and Pesticides

There are many alkaline diet plans that you can adhere to, using a combination of these alkaline foods for weight loss. Till date, there has been no 100% assurance of the effectiveness of these alkaline diets for weight loss. Most of the doctors conclude that consumption of salt, meat and grains is beneficial to the human body in different ways, and that highly acidic foods alone do not result in any severe illness. While some doctors have the exact opposite views of the same, and are in support of an alkaline diet plan. You can also read more on alkaine foods for acid reflux.

Following is a sample diet plan for weight loss which can be altered according to your preferences: Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss: Diet Plan There are no rigid diet plans when on an alkaline diet. You can use the foods mentioned above and design your own diet plans for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The main thing to be remembered here is to completely avoid acidic foods. Breakfast: You can have a glass of veggie juice or a cup of ginger tea, veggie scramble (consisting of 1 or 2 eggs per person, spring onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, etc.), 1 pear or 1 oz. baked pumpkin seeds. Lunch: Lentil soup, olive oil salad on steamed vegetables is another good diet plan. Hard boiled eggs (sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper), celery or carrot sticks, Almonds in little quantity is also preferred. Dinner: Steamed zucchini with garlic and olive oil, fresh Parmesan, meat (any from the above mentioned) with sweet potato and mixed green salad. Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss: Lentil Soup Recipe This lentil soup example for alkaline diet for weight loss will take approximately 45-50 min to prepare, and will provide 6-7 servings. Ingredients 1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes 2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth 1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed 1 cup finely chopped onion cup finely chopped celery cup finely chopped carrot tsp freshly ground grains of paradise tsp freshly ground toasted cumin tsp freshly ground coriander 2 tsp kosher salt 2 tbsp olive oil Procedure Place the olive oil into the oven and set over medium heat. Once the oil turns hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt. Stir till the onions turn golden-brown. Add the lentils, tomatoes, vegetable broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and mix well. Bring to boil by increasing the heat. Reduce the flame and simmer until the lentils are tender (may take 30-40 minutes). Use a stick blender to puree it according to your preference and serve immediately. For some soup recipes read more on:
Broccoli Soups and Recipes Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe Healthy Soup Recipes

Alkaline diet for weight loss will work as a miracle only if you maintain a balanced approach in your diet, preferably a vegetarian diet, and that too supplemented with a healthy lifestyle. And to summarize the whole article with some beneficial tips, avoid foods containing preservatives and artificial sweeteners, keep cut veggies and soaked nuts handy for frequent usage in your diet. Consuming water that contains high pH (mineral water) for a long period of time, is one of the best tips which will help you create the balance between the acid and alkaline levels in the body.