The Anti-Aging Diet That Can Turn Back The Clock

By Natasha Ryan, ND, Regional Wellness Manager

Knowles Apothecary Wellness

. http://www.knowleswellness.com/

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The Anti-Aging Diet That Can Turn Back The Clock

When we hear the word “diet” we immediately tend to think of weight loss. Our focus on being thin has equated this word with struggling to shed pounds when really the word diet simply describes any food or drink you put into your body to gain nourishment. The food that you choose to consume has a profound impact on your overall health both on the inside and outside.

If you're interested in using food to combat aging, take a look at the pH diet. Essentially, this diet has less to do with weight loss and more to do with creating a healthy environment in the body to combat elements that contribute to many chronic diseases and aging.

So what does aging have to do with pH and acid/alkaline foods? Some experts contend that one of the main reasons we age is the amount of acidic foods that we eat as a culture. The theory is that we age because we do not effectively get rid of the wastes and toxins that have accumulated in our bodies over time. Lack of sleep, little exercise, overwork, stress, smoking, pollution and high acid diets (heavy in meat, dairy products and fried foods) all prevent our bodies from properly expelling these acids. This may contribute to sagging skin, fine lines on the face and cellulite.

Where do these acids come from? They come both from inside and outside of our bodies. We burn nutrients within our cells to get energy, maintain our body temperatures and get our bodies to function correctly. No matter what type of food, it is eventually broken down into its component parts. To get these nutrients the body “oxidizes” the food into natural acids carbonic acids, uric acids, lactic acids and fatty acids. The cells then expel these acids as waste into urine and sweat. When the body is functioning properly and in a balanced manner, these acid byproducts are no problem to deal with. The body can get rid of them quickly and easily, and you can maintain a normal pH of around 7.4.

By taking the time to consider how a food affects the pH od your body, you can help limit the negative impact that those foods can have on the aging process. The goal of the pH diet is to introduce foods and drinks that will keep the body in a slightly more alkaline state. Some examples of alkaline foods are lemons, limes, grapefruit, parsley, spinach, cilantro, almonds, figs, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, and many more. Several of these foods are acidic by taste, but when they are metabolized by the body, they become alkaline.

Water, especially acid free alkaline water, is another way to help your body become more alkaline. Just four glasses of alkaline water is more effective than eight glasses of regular water. Water ionizers are available to help you create alkaline water in the comfort of your home. This water will help flush out your system and get rid of the build up acidity within it.