Define Alkaline Foods
Eating a diet rich in alkaline foods can have tremendous health benefits. Alkaline foods raise the amount of oxygen the blood can absorb, helping to fight disease and illness.
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Effects
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Alkaline foods elevate the body's pH balance, turning it from acid to alkaline. Acidic environments disrupt oxygen absorption and contribute to such serious conditions as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer. Eating alkaline foods not only helps prevent those conditions, it assists in alleviating stress and increasing energy.
Sources
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The best alkaline foods are green leafy vegetables like cabbage, lettuce and spinach. Other excellent sources include almonds, avocados, bananas, beats, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, potatoes and watermelon.
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Symptoms
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Not eating enough alkaline foods will cause the body's blood to become acidic, as will stress, toxins, and parasites. Symptoms of an acidic pH balance include body aches, fatigue, poor digestion and weight gain.
Tests
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The blood's pH balance is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, with zero being the most acidic. The ideal balance is slightly alkaline at 7.365 pH. Testing your pH level is easy and can be done at home by simply urinating on litmus paper or pH strips purchased at most health food stores and pharmacies.
Misconceptions
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The food's pH balance may be quite different than the effect it has once it's metabolized. Citrus fruits, while highly acid, produce an alkaline effect on the body.
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