Urine pH levels

-pH testing a family event-

 (click image to enlarge)

TOO ACIDIC
Mom = 4.5 pH---------
symptoms: had cancer this year, allergies, sinus problems, severe digestive issues along with many other health issues etc.
diet: average/not ideal (on the road to change)
activity level: low

Me = 5.0 - 5.5 pH---------
symptoms: skin issues, aches and pains, joint problems, sinus pressure, digestive problems etc..
diet: healthy/ideal (removed some trigger)
activity level: low

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IDEAL
Sister = 6.5---------
symptoms: minor skin/sinus problems, minor allergies
diet: healthy, organic, more raw and hydrated
activity level: low/moderate

Bro in Law = 7.0---------
symptoms: N/A
diet: healthy, organic, more raw and hydrated
activity level: moderate/active

Boyfriend = 7.5---------
symptoms: chronic cough, nail/fingertip issues, energy levels, bowel problems
diet: healthy, organic, raw, juices, vitamin supplements, eats lots of bananas and fruit
activity level: moderate/active

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An Acid body means a weak immune system

You will probably have read that not just your cells, but your immune system flourishes in an alkaline environment. You may wonder how?

The short answer is Beneficial Bacteria. The gut is known to contain about 800 different strains of bacteria; 400 have been identified and about 12 keep coming up in research. To put this in context there have been over 4,000 studies and 80 clinical trials on them in the last five or six years - and your doctor probably knows nothing about them.


However, thousands of years ago we did a deal with these bacteria - they will protect us, as long as we give them a nice cosy place to live. Unfortunately, we have broken the deal. Over the thousands of years, they have come to work best in an environment of a certain acidity. Increase that and they just won´t work as well. It is like a chemical reaction. Change the acidity or alkalinity in the test tube and it stops. We have stopped feeding them their favourite foods - fibrous whole foods, whole grains, green vegetables. Instead we eat too much salt or drink too much alcohol that increases the gut acidity. As does meat, as does stress

Water and Diet - the focus of alkalising for health!

The aim, then, is to ensure the pH level of your body is very slightly alkaline. You can test yourself using pH strips you can buy at your chemists´. pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14-the 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. Your body is at its healthiest at a pH of about 7.2 - 7.4.

There is extensive research showing that cancer exists and flourishes in an acidic environment, and deteriorates and dies in an alkaline environment. Making the body more alkaline is important in fighting cancer. So, focus on alkalising for health!

VIA CancerActive.com

Beef is not for dinner

I added grass-fed beef to my diet and boy oh boy did i feel different. i have been feeling great then "BOOM" nausea around 1 hour after eating beef. this happened 2 times. I suspect that either corn or sweet potatoes are making me bloated. maybe an intolerance? I am juicing more and feeling energized which is helping with the days. My skin is clearing up more and more the past few days :)

SUMMARY
Day 7.5: (beef add)

-had beef for dinner and it made me nauseated after 1 hour.

Day 8: (beef and cabbage add)
-had the nauseated feeling again after 45 min to 1 hour. felt heavy and sluggish which is why i gave up red meat 5 months ago.
-cabbage gave me gas as always...no surprise since i pretty much stay away from it for that reason.

Day 9: (corn add)
-corn was fine but had it with sweet potatoes. something made me bloat. i suspect potatoes because i already have issues with white potatoes. i'll try this again with a small sweet potato on its own.

Thanksgiving was alright. no big deal. everyone around me was eating free-range non frozen turkey with everything that goes on a thanksgiving plate. I loved the smell..yes i did! My plate consisted of pinto beans (smashed) lemon, garlic, sweet potato, corn and salt flakes with a big glass of water. My desert was unique. I mixed Bob's Mil organic corn meal with raw coconut butter, 3 organic apples blended to a pulp. I think put the batter into cupcake molds and baked for 20 minutes on 350. little apple corn muffins!


Day 10: (shrimp, orange and rice add)
I will have shrimp and organic brown rice tonight :)

I will also add in fresh orange juice for my juice later! my fav!

normal doesn't mean healthy

AMERICAN NORMAL
i came from a world of fast food, easy is better thinking, sodas, meats and more meats, few veggies, lots of sugar, plenty of processed, lots of cheese and lack of sleep. i didn't change over-night but now i am getting my priorities straight. taking the right steps and not looking back. not following the "crowd" or being compared to "normal" American normal is by no means anything positive to go by.

i love my LEAP meals so far and am loving Whole Foods local grocery store. Organic is best! people say "organic food is too expensive and eating healthy is pricy and hard" being sick is expensive and hard to deal with. instead of spending your money on material thinks that will probably be used a few times i'd rather spend my mula on quality products to go in my belly. understandable if you can't afford it but if you can afford a $3 bag of Doritos and you can't afford a pound of bananas for $0.68 then its choice at that point.

HIDDEN DANGERS
Do you know what chemicals your ingesting and what they do? what your feeding your children? what if i had a bowl of something to feed your or your kid...i'm pretty sure you'd ask what is it? i then would say this, that and a few chemicals. would you consume it? why is it that you don't do the same on your own?

do you know what diet sodas really contains?

do you know what preservatives do to your body?

how does your body deal with chemicals?

do you feel good after eating junk or processed foods (bet you don't) if you do then something is not right and if is normal then you might be a zombie.



WHAT TO DO
start somewhere! drink more water. reach for an apple instead of a snickers bar. you'll save money too and feel much better...BELIEVE ME i was where most of you are.

WHAT I DO
- everything organic or as much as possible (read why organic is ideal)

- chicken to be free-range/eggs to be the same

- beef to be organic and grass-fed

- sprout seeds

- soak nuts

- drink lots of water (add some lemon for alkalizing effect and cleansing help)

- juice juice juice!! best buys are Breville Juicers, Jack Lalanne Power Juicers, Omega Juicers

- make sure your getting your omegas

- limit your protein intake to 15-20% (unless your building/restoring muscle then ok but if your an average human with a low amount of activity then it just doesn't make sense to eat tons of protein daily plus leave that space for your greens, veggies, limited healthy fats and water. look at healthy cultures around the world....packed with greens and a small amount of protein)

- be active or exercise a few times a week

- keep your skin stimulated (massage, exfoliate, detox)

- cook or prepare meals at home

- roast or slow cook instead of frying, pan cooking

- avoid processed foods and microwavable meals

- avoid eating out and indulging in alcohol

- avoid food triggers

- stretch

- breathe

- relax

- laugh

- love

acidosis

is this ground zero?

been testing my pH level and my urine was acidic at barely 5.5. my bf was around 7.5 and the end spectrum for ideal.

EVERYTHING online says I have acidosis and to seek professional help or I'm in trouble. my mom just finished cancer treatment and ive read about acidity and cells before. no doctor has ever tested my pH even though I have 85% of symptoms.

5.5 is terrible! it all makes sense. cancer, disease, illness and pain could thrive on that WTH!? what are my poor kidneys trying to scream out?! and for how long? ;( but not to be alarmed of course i will take tests throughout my program :) just a curious cat.

I've been up all night reading. it all leads back to acidosis even growth of candida, food sensitivities, all my symptoms, joint pain etc. It's just creepy because this one man at the farmers market said that he is sure i have acidosis and i can be cured of all simply by balancing my pH level. he said something about my eyes and color in my face. he said he had very similar symptoms and now he is healthy as ever. he alkalized through high pH water and more raw foods and hasn't had one symptom or felt sick on over 10 years. everything starts at the cellular level and if it's an unstable environment with a lack of oxygen then here come disease, yeast, fungus, aches n pains with no army to fight.

curious indeed!

A diet high in citrus fruits, vegetables, or dairy products can increase your urine pH.

the foods on my LEAP plan are mostly alkaline which is GREAT although there are acidic foods like some grains, nuts and animal proteins. good overall and balanced. I am consuming lots of good things. I just keep thinking.....my only goal right now is to be cured of this continuous gloom and be healthy and symptom free. is it over thinking with test after test and doctor after doctor for years and yet it could be so basic? are my kidneys ok? is my liver ok? i hope so and if not i hope they will be due to the horrible years i had before.

http://www.balance-ph-diet.com/acidosis_symptom.html

still normal...?
last night my urine was 5.5
saliva was 6.0

still normal...?
this morning my urine was 5.0
saliva was 6.0

Day 7...

Day 5 , 6 were good. was hard to get out of bed, had some bloating, am tired of eating certain foods like buckwheat, amaranth and beans but love love garlic, coconut, lemon, oregano, broccoli, and some apples. I have no headaches, not much fatigue, my skin is calming down, i have felt pretty good but don't know why i am bloated? candida go away! am i just more susceptible or sensitive? i feel its getting better. i have been comsuming lots of lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and coconut. we shall see!

CANDIDA
Candida is a condition of the digestive tract that can result in many common digestive symptoms. Bloating usually isn't considered as a major symptom when you're dealing with more urgent things like diarrhea, fatigue, thrush, cramps and fatigue, but bloating is a well-known candidiasis symptom.

Candida's natural job inside the human body is to help in digestion. It helps to ferment food and in the process, it naturally produces carbon dioxide, which causes flatulence. But those that believe that

Candida can grow out of control, even inside those with healthy immune systems (something modern medical science strongly believes is impossible) believe that with large amounts of Candida, come large amounts of carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide, in turn, causes severe and sometimes painful bloating.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/318714

click to read

Leaky-Gut Syndrome and the Yeast Connection

i don't want to struggle with this for 6 months to years. there has to be a better easier way to kill it off and not struggle for a long period of time.

What about my liver?
atlesast 60% of celiacs have liver issues, disease or failure...do i have similar issues?

Candida overgrowth and there isn’t an easy answer. The toxins Candida emits on a daily basis overload the liver, which is why it is weak. When one is going through die off, the amount of toxins can be and often are overwhelming.

As many as 40 million people in the United States suffer from candida, most without realizing the core issue.

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COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil is high in both lauric acid and caprylic acid, which both have antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. These components of coconut oil target harmful bacteria but leave friendly bacteria alone, which helps balances the flora in the digestive system. They also kill off excess yeast and other fungal overgrowth in the body. Studies in Iceland and Nigeria show coconut oil is an effective agent for killing off candida yeast.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/025199.html#ixzz1eT4UvGTc

4 days down on the LEAP program

last last few days i have felt great...although I've had some struggles and difficulties with the options but overall great.

before starting on day 1 we had to go grocery shopping for all the ingredients and foods i needed.

Day 1: (11/16/11)
woke up ready, kind of tired, had skin blemishes, gross tongue stuff, blah a bit, chapped lips

breakfast:
buckwheat, home made coconut milk, cranberries, walnuts.

I did not like the buckwheat cereal because it was the texture. I need to adjust. I couldn't eat but 4 spoonfuls. FAIL! I felt fine though

lunch:
amaranth, pinto beans, lemon, garlic, broccoli, real salt flakes,  glass of water

felt good, not too full just perfect although I could not finish the amaranth (made too much)

snack:
apple, walnuts, glass of water

felt great by 3pm. had a small slight amount of bloating

dinner:
black wild caught cod, organic 100% buckwheat noodles, broccoli, garlic, oregano, real salt, glass of water with lemon

snack:
a handful of walnuts, glass of water

felt great but feel asleep around 10pm when I usually fall asleep at 11 or 11:30. had a few gas bubbles. dinner was great :)


Day 2: (11/17/11)
woke up without alarm around 7, had a little bit of gas, perfect bowel movement, energy, still that tongue film crap in my mouth, skin is the same of course, chapped lips

breakfast:
wasn't hungry but ate an apple with walnuts, glass of water

lunch:
same as day 1 because of leftovers with an avocado and lemon

snack:
fresh young coconut meat, walnuts

dinner:
organic tofu, broccoli, garlic, ginger, real salt over organic 100% buckwheat noodles, glass of water with lemon

snack:
grapefruit and glass of water

overall felt good. loved dinner and I'm starting to obsess over apples and walnuts. love them. had some more bloating and gas but not uncomfortable. felt sleepy early again

Day 3: (11/18/11)
woke up bright and early but felt a little tired. perfect bowel movement again, had energy and positive. still have the tongue film and skin issues.

breakfast:
coconut, apples, walnuts, glass of water with lemon


lunch:
leftover pinto beans, real salt, avocado


dinner:
organic tofu, lots of garlic, ginger, real salt over organic 100% buckwheat noodles, glass of water with lemon, side of organic Japanese sweet potato slices in olive oil

snack:
no snack

overall felt happy and not craving much but for some reason garlic is on my mind. at first i felt it was breathing garlic flames from my mouth. 3 days later eating about 4-6 gloves a day is just so great. I don't have dragon breath or smell of garlic anymore. Oregano is growing on me and i'm not shy with throwing the leaves all over cod fillets. i had slight bloating again, my skin is the same, again i felt sleepy earlier around 9pm. felt a bit irritated but then again i am awaiting my lady friend in a few days. i still have chapped lips. a bit irritated and aware i can be moody for a bit. no fogginess

Day 4: (11/19/11)
woke up fine but a bit quiet, and sensitive, slightly irritated. good bowel movement but not a lot. did not feel bad tho. just a fart here and there HA

breakfast:
organic 100% buckwheat noodles, broccoli with ginger/garlic/real salt flakes/lemon, glass of water

lunch:
juiced 2 organic gala apples, organic young fresh coconut water, handful of walnuts, glass of water

snack:
organic gala apple, handful of walnuts, glass of water

dinner:
wild caught black cod with 3 medium gloves of garlic, olive oil, lemon lots of oregano, and real salt. 1/4 cup of amaranth, palm size of organic sweet potato, glass of water with lemon

snack:
apple and walnuts, glass of water with lemon

it's 10:33 pm. i feel great. today is the end of Day 4. i did take a 1 hour nap at 6. i have a slight bloat but think its from my lady visitor that sucks. i'm not a fart machine but have a few toots today. no headache. skin is okay and i feel its getting better on my stomach area. not as moody as i was in the morning. still have energy. liking my diet. content and happy. not sad or craving much at all. i love garlic, lemon and oregano for sure. i already loved coconut. looking forward to results and hoping for them. the biggest change i want is my skin to be clear and not have to wear makeup, have more energy, not feel foggy randomly and just feel fantastic all the time and feel that my immune system is ready to go and fight for me when needed. good nite!.....till tomorrow :)

back to basics

I recently got an MRT test from THE CENTER FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING in Hillcrest, Ca. (http://chwbonline.com/) I have been gluten free for about 1.5 yrs, dairy free for 3 months, heavy meat free for 4 months, limited or no processed, I started juicing and taking supplements. I was a overly healthy girl in everyone's opinion. If they only knew how in tune I am with my body and how unhealthy I felt even though most would say I was as healthy as you get. With the eliminated food list growing and not healing from eczema, skin blemishes, rashes, random headaches, slight and severe bloating, a gross morning tongue issue, cramps, sinus headaches, fatigue, fogginess, poor nail and hair growth, dry skin and oily skin, loss of appetite, food splurging, cravings etc....I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY!

We found Kathleen Bundy MS, RD, CLT with much looking and time on the internet. here is her blog. after we called to setup an appointment I was very anxious for two weeks just to have a consultation. Then 1 week to get bloodwork. Then 2 weeks to go over results and test report.

Here is my leap report:

first response was ok not as bad as i imagined but CUCUMBERS? LAMB? I have to say i don't care for most of the foods in yellow or red and maybe fore a reason. i could never eat more than 1 banana and i knew there was something with processed foods and dairy but not the exact cause.

what is benzoic acid!? and why is it red?! benzoic acid is used both as flavoring and preserving. eg. turning tomatoes into ketchup, certain soups etc. it can be found naturally occurring in cherry bark, raspberries, tea, anise, cinnamon, butterscotch, icings, chewing gum, margarine, pickles. sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in liquid vitamin/mineral preparations of meds.

what is phenylethylamine!? causes migraines and may have an effect on the nervous system causing sleepiness, fatigue, and hyperactivity. unless there is an overload or your very sensitive the body can neutralize the effects. found in chocolate, wines, aged cheeses.

it may seem like a long list of no no no's but at the same time its not all foods so i'm hoping that after the program i can heal and rebuild then move on.

here is the food list I must and will follow. My immune system depends on it. I will have to be creative for sometime. This will be somewhat easy for me. The hard part is being sick. The harder part was giving up gluten 2 years ago and completely changing my lifestyle permanently.