The following doesn’t imply any medical or nutritional advice by any means; I am not a medical professional nor a registered dietician. I very strongly believe that we are what we eat and in “food as medicine” in many situations. Although I would never recommend supplements or food as a substitute for medical intervention, I believe we can prevent — and even improve — many conditions with proper diet.
The Alkaline Diet has become very popular lately, and for good reason. Proponents of the alkaline diet say it improves immunity and muscle mass, and promotes a feeling of well-being including more energy and avoidance of certain ailments like the common cold, diabetes and headaches. Going alkaline is even thought to slow down aging. For more information about the alkaline diet and a list of alkaline and acidic foods, check out this summary
What is the alkaline diet? What does “alkaline” mean? Well, to put it simply, alkaline is the opposite of acid. For those of you who suffered throuasgh high-school Chemistry class, think back to those lab sessions where we used litmus paper and dipped a strip in a substance to determine pH? The color the paper turned when dipped, determined a number between 0 and 14 and revealed whether the substance was alkaline or acidic. Enough said: celebrity nutritionist and alkaline diet expert Dr. Daryl Gioffre has presented a program of moving your food pantry to an alkaline way of eating and drinking. On his website “Get Off Your Acid”, Dr. Gioffre explains the alkaline diet and its benefits in great depth. He also explains the benefits of his Alkamind® line of products.
The alkaline diet is heavy on fruits and vegetables and limits breads, dairy products, meats and legumes. There are certain dairy products and grains that are less acidic and Dr. Gioffre has a link on the website through which the user can download a very comprehensive list of over 500 foods that are best to eat, and those you should avoid. There is also a 2-day detox and 7-day cleanse plans.
Dr. Gioffre has also formulated a line of products called Alkamind® to help the pH balance in your system. I have tried both and I can say it is very easy to incorporate them in your daily routine, since they are very dissolvable powder form. These Alkamind® supplements can be sprinkled on your solid food like oatmeal or salad, or dissolved in a hot or cold beverage.
The Alkamind Daily Greens® contain 27 nutrient-dense, alkaline superfoods — including wheatgrass juice, beetroot, kale, turmeric, chia, lemon, alfalfa, spinach, cabbage, dandelion and eight different kinds of sprouts — that alkalize, detoxify and energize. They are also rich in chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. They are best taken first thing in the morning or before a workout. I have been sprinkling it on my morning oatmeal.
The Alkamind Daily Minerals® contain the four most crucial and fast-absorbing alkaline mineerals needed by our bodies — calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium bicarbonate. This should be taken at night for better sleep, or after a workout for quicker recovery, or to battle cravings, aches, pains and stress.
I don’t know if it’s cause-and-effect or coincidence, but ever since I started using these products, a flare-up of psoriasis [which I was diagnosed with at age 7 and was in remission until recently] has totally cleared up. I can’t wait to see if these products — along with a switch to more plant-based foods — makes an even bigger difference. All Alkamind products are available at Dr. Gioffre’s “Get Off Your Acid” website