tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28548239751942658072024-03-13T13:59:36.471-07:00letstalknaturally.blogspot.comDominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02725395814860511778noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854823975194265807.post-36452932849628585052011-03-21T17:22:00.000-07:002011-03-21T17:22:45.328-07:00Understanding alkaline/acid balanced nutrition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xEb24BrQzyVXa-Aa9tMe_nk2DY0XZ3idPeNZsT-skMsztm_koVGDxLJrdts4YEYPqN-pPgMUs04excI2oMoYJe1RUIxxevfd6cDpQ-pX0ToFccu2TomO6_IciXDPI4XrMLdYQyjo2jym/s1600/Pix+2+Dom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xEb24BrQzyVXa-Aa9tMe_nk2DY0XZ3idPeNZsT-skMsztm_koVGDxLJrdts4YEYPqN-pPgMUs04excI2oMoYJe1RUIxxevfd6cDpQ-pX0ToFccu2TomO6_IciXDPI4XrMLdYQyjo2jym/s320/Pix+2+Dom.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>So you will say to me: One more thing to think about, one more diet to follow that will lead to more dietary restrictions, less food choices, in two words: LESS FUN!</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Believe me, this is how I felt when a few weeks ago I was advised by my nutritionist to go on an 80/20 alkaline/acid diet in order to resolve some chronic </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>health issues;</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>As human creatures we are constantly seeking pleasure and we must all admit it, food is one of the pleasures of this world. The 17th century French playwright Moliere wrote in his famous play "The Miser": "il faut manger pour vivre et non pas vivre pour manger" - in other words: We must eat for the purpose of living rather than live for the purpose of eating... Well, that is highly debatable, especially in today's food oriented societies!</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>For me, as well as for most of you, it is clear my friends that one of the reasons I live is to eat (so be it! I disagree with our Cher Moliere) and when my dear nutritionist Jen attempts to change my purpose for living I tend to wither away...</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Of course, I am exaggerating here for effect! the real truth IS that each time I start a diet that forces me to increase my food consciousness, I must admit, I feel fantastic; my energy increases as the quality of my sleep improves, my digestion becomes less sluggish and my mind becomes clearer and sharper.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Still when I embarked a few weeks ago on an alkaline based diet I kicked and screamed all the way to the supermarket. Goodbye my daily glass of 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone, Adieu my dear cup of over-priced-but-taste-the-best-I've-ever-had Intelligentsia coffee, Farewell to my duck breast with cherry port reduction, Ciao to my freshly baked, home-made gluten-free daily bread, etc etc.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Yes! I do realize that most of you reading these lines have no clue what alkaline, acid and pH mean so let me get more serious here for a moment and please stay with me as I go through some "scientific" explanations.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>The initials - pH - mean "potential of hydrogen" and it is a measure of the acidity or acid/alkaline imbalance in our system. pH represents the symbol for a scale numbered from 0 to 14, that rates water solutions according to their acidity or alkalinity.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Remember that water is the most abundant substance in the human body comprising approximately 70% of the body fluids.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Pure water is given the number 7 right in the middle because it contains an equal number of acidic and basic ions and is therefore considered neutral.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>As the alkalinity of a solution increases, the pH value goes up, closer to 14 (strongly alkaline). As the acidity of a solution increases, the pH goes down, closer to 0 (strongly acidic). On this scale, the most acidic solution is hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) which is rated at a pH value of 0. At the other end of the scale is a solution of sodium hydroxide rated at 14. Other solutions - like human blood, whose pH should be slightly alkaline,rates at approximately 7.5.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>The body continually strives to balance pH and when the amount of acids reach beyond a certain threshold a condition called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">acidosis</span> arises.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>When the pH is acid on a chronic basis (we refer to it as an acid terrain) many health issues can arise as our nerves, our organs and our entire skeleton are permanently bathed in a sea of acids. The potential damage is vast and can include the following.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Cardiovascular damage</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Weight gain, obesity and diabetes</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Cold sensation</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Hair loss</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Weak nails</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Chronic dry skin</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Kidney stones</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Immune deficiency leading to proneness to infections</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Hormonal imbalance</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Premature aging</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Osteoporosis</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Muscle aches, joint pain</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Cramps</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Low energy, chronic fatigue</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Chronic depression</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Slow digestion and elimination</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Yeast/fungal overgrowth (candidiasis)</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>And the list goes on and on....</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>An important fact here to point out is that the pH of our blood or urine - which rates its alkalinity or acidity - is NOT to be confused with the actual pH of the food we eat.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>As an example lemons test very acidic, however after they are digested and assimilated the end product they produce is actually alkaline.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion, closer to 14 but because it leaves very acidic residues in the body, it is considered very acid forming.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>People trying to maintain a healthy balance between alkaline and acid need to be concerned with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">acid forming properties </span>of any given food and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NOT </span>the acidity of that particular food.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>So for this purpose we are going to group foods in 2 categories:</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i></i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>1) alkaline forming foods aka alkalizing foods</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>2) acid forming foods aka acidic foods</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>I will refer you to the Internet for more detailed and extensive lists of alkalizing and acidifying foods. Let me just give you here a broad overview of these two categories and the types of foods within the acid forming foods that you should avoid and those in the alkaline forming that you should favor if you want to receive the benefits of an</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>80% alkaline/20% acid balanced diet;</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Acidifying groups of food:</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"></span>- All animal proteins including eggs</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Cheeses and dairy products</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Cereals, including whole grains</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Grains: wheat, oat, millet, barley</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- All bread products</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Sugar, including artificial sweeteners</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Candies, pastries</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Most nuts, except, except raw almonds</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Caffeine (coffee, black tea)</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Alcohol (beer, spirits and wine)</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Prescribed and over-the-counter drugs</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Alkalizing groups of food:</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Potatoes</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Green vegetable, raw or cooked</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Most ripe fruit</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Millet, quinoa</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Cold pressed olive oil</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Beans in small quantities</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Now remember I am NOT suggesting that you cut out foods from the acidic list completely. I am saying reduce the comsumption of these foods dramatically and increase foods from the alkaline list monumentally; I'll let you do the math!</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Again, check the Internet for more specific charts.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">But read on... And become aware that certain negative emotions and activities can be highly acidic!</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Jealousy</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Hate</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Fear</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Anger</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Stress</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Insomnia</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Smoking</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Radiation exposure ie television, cell phones, computers</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Reduce these dramatically and replace them by the following positive emotions and activities that are highly alkaline!</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Peace</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Gratitude</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Forgiveness</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Joy</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Laughter</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Positive Thinking</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Relaxing</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Exercise</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Deep Breathing</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Meditation</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>- Yoga</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Where do I start?</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>I would suggest 1) start a food diary for one week without altering anything in the way you eat, drink or live your life; in the meantime 2) become educated as to what foods are alkalizing and what foods are acidifying 3) print out a good, legible and understandable chart 4) take a moment to sit down with your food diary and your chart and highlight the components of your diet, ie <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">red for acidifing </span>and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">blue for alkalizing</span>.</i></b></span><br />
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<ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Be objective with yourself and try not to cast any judgement. Just know that our modern societies are very acidic so please don't feel alone.</i></b></span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>5) now comes the decisive moment: when to start and how to start; I suggest to my patients that they follow an alkaline/acid balancing diet for two weeks every 3 to 4 months.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>This is when your culinary imagination comes into play; if you enjoy cooking you will discover many ways of preparing some tasty and healthy meals. If cooking is not your cup of tea you may need the guidance of someone who does, who will help you design some creative and tasty meals.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Remember that most people fail at engaging in good dietary habits simply because they lack the imagination and eat food that is boring, tasteless and unexciting!</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>The more palatable your food the more likely you will stick to your new healthy eating habits;</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>I imagine that just like I did you will at first resist the idea of embarking on yet another diet and try to delay or resist the outcome. But if today you are experiencing symptoms that will just not go away you might want to give the alkaline/acid balance diet a chance!</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>I guarantee that you will be impressed with not only the way you feel but also the way you look and you will be encouraged to make those new healthy habits a part of your life.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>My final recommendation once you have completed your two-week program is to keep a chart of the food categories in your kitchen and refer to it on a regular basis so you can begin to develop some consciousness about the healthy ratio of alkaline foods and acidic foods you choose to eat on a day-to-day basis and just like nature itself constantly thrive for balance.</i></b></span><br />
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</i></b></span>Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02725395814860511778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854823975194265807.post-19710177343586248722011-02-15T11:30:00.000-08:002011-02-19T18:05:01.751-08:00how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help control excess blood sugar levels<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>LIVE LONGER BY CONTROLLING ELEVATED BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS!</u></b></span><br />
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As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) I strongly recommend that my readers, patients, and friends keep their glucose (sugar) levels low. In today's society where mocha frappuccinos, bread puddings, muffins, and buttery croissants offer such great temptation, and, where an over abundance of bars, restaurants, cookbooks and food blogs surround us, we are ALL in danger of succumbing to out of control blood sugar levels.<br />
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Even slightly elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can ultimately lead to the deadly consequences of diabetes.<br />
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If on your last fasting blood test (and I strongly recommend that you have your blood chemistry checked once a year) your glucose level ranged from 70 to 85mg/dL (milligram of sugar per deciliter of blood) you are within the safe range and can guiltlessly indulge in the occasional frappuccino; if, however you tested above 85, research shows that you have a 40% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.<br />
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The questions to ask are the following</span></b></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">:</span><br />
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1) Where does glucose come from?<br />
2) Why is any excess of glucose potentially dangerous?<br />
3) What can I do about it?<br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Where does glucose come from?</span></u></b><br />
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Glucose comes from the foods we eat and primarily from digested carbohydrates. Glucose is our body's primary source of energy (and when glucose is properly balanced all of our cells use it as fuel for energy). However when our body stops producing enough insulin (I'll talk about insulin a little further down), excess glucose starts to accumulate in the bloodstream.<br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Why is any excess glucose potentially dangerous?</span></u></b><br />
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The excess glucose that is not used for energy converts to triglycerides that are either stored in the body as unwanted fat or accumulate in the blood where they contribute to the formation of plaque in the blood vessels. Excess glucose can also cause inflammation which in itself can lead to a multitude of debilitating and lethal diseases. Incidentally, triglycerides levels should not exceed 149dL/mL.<br />
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What can I do about it?</span></b></u><br />
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Firstly, you need to acknowledge the fact that you may be addicted to carbs (whether you know it or not) and you need to take action. That doesn't mean to eliminate carbs from your diet radically but rather to reduce their consumption dramatically. On a daily basis become "carb conscious" and educate yourself about the benefits of calorie control and balanced nutrition.<br />
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Secondly, you need to understand your anatomy and physiology and know how your food is digested and absorbed so you can take care of your internal organs in the same way as you may be taking care of your hair, skin and nails.<br />
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Lastly, you need to apply the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and seek out practitioners that speak your language and will help you lead a more healthy and balanced lifestyle.<br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A word on pancreas</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">:</span><br />
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On the left side of our abdomen tucked between our stomach and small intestine lies an oblong shaped gland organ called "pancreas".<br />
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</div>In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the pancreas together with the Stomach is part of the Spleen system and considered a major organ that controls the digestion and absorption of the food we eat.<br />
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THE PANCREAS PLAYS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAINTAINING OUR GLUCOSE LEVELS BALANCED HENCE THE NEED TO KEEP OUR PANCREAS HAPPY AND HEALTHY<br />
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A word on insulin</span></b></u>:<br />
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Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas which main role is to regulate the metabolism of the food we eat. In other words, insulin lowers the amount of glucose in the bloodstream by signaling to the cells to absorb the glucose that they will use as fuel. Insulin helps the body use glucose for energy. Therefore, the more glucose in the bloodstream the more insulin is released from our pancreas to transport glucose from the bloodstream to the cells for use as energy.<br />
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A word on carbs, insulin and pancreas</span></b></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">:</span><br />
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The more carbs we ingest the more the body needs insulin to convert the carbs into energy.<br />
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So next Sunday just know that while you are devouring that delicious pancake breakfast smothered with maple syrup, topped with sunny side up eggs and bacon, your pancreas - hard at work acting as an organ - is secreting digestive enzymes into your small intestine in order to break down (metabolize) not only the carbs (maple syrup and wheat) but also the proteins (the eggs) and fats (bacon); a little later that same pancreas (this time acting as a gland) will release the important hormone, insulin, in response to the presence of glucose in the bloodstream.<br />
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A word on diabetes</span></b></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">:</span><br />
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In diabetes, the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin that the body can use to move glucose into the cells, which leads to an accumulation of glucose in the bloodstream. The cells become starved (lack of energy), you may feel tired, hungry, experience blurry vision, extreme thirst, increased urination day and night and over a longer period of time this condition of hyperglycemia (excess blood sugar) will cause damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to vital organs causing a myriad of potentially lethal health issues.<br />
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Why? because we need that pancreas of ours to be fully participating in this complex and vital process of monitoring our blood sugar levels.<br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A word of Spleen/Pancreas support and Traditional Chinese Medicine</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">:</span><br />
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The importance of supporting the Spleen/Pancreas is not new to Chinese Medicine perspective. It's in fact thousands of years old. The Spleen (and the Stomach) in Chinese Medicine are considered the body's CENTER OF BALANCE and hundreds of Chinese herbs and acupuncture points are available to strengthen the vitality and efficiency of this vital system of digestion.<br />
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If you want to subscribe or unsubscribe to my monthly newsletter "Let's talk naturally - A healthy and stylish lifestyle newsletter" please write to: dg75018@gmail.com.Dominiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02725395814860511778noreply@blogger.com1