Research is beginning to show that the acid level of the body is important in the immune functions of the body. When the body is too acidic illness occurs. Colds, flu, arthritis and even cancer seldom form when the body has a pH level near 7.0. Many nutritionists, alternative medicine practioners, health food advocates, and some research scientists are now agreeing that the basic diet needs to be 80% alkaline-producing and 20% acid-producing foods. For a list of acid/alkaline foods see the bottom of this page.
Edgar Cayce, American spiritual pioneer and believer in holistic medicine, stated “when there is the tendency towards an alkaline system there is less effect of cold and congestion.” (no.270-33) . He states, “If an alkalinity is maintained in the system—especially with lettuce, carrots and celery, these in the blood supply will maintain such a condition as to immunize a person” (no. 480-19). Cayce felt that people who worked or played hard physically could eat more acidic foods without major problems. Listed below are other dietary guidelines he recommended:

1) The percentage of 80% alkaline-producing and 20% acid-producing foods should be maintained.
2) Fruit (juices) should not be eaten at the same meal.
3) Milk nor cream should be taken in coffee or tea.
4) Include in the diet raw vegetables. To learn more about the importance of eating more raw foods, click here.
5) Do not use bacon or fats in cooking vegetables.
6) Eat a ratio of three above ground vegetables to one below ground vegetables.
7) Use olive oil (extra virgin). This is considered to be a heart healthy fat which raises your good cholesterol,HDL, and lowers your bad cholesterol, LDL. Never eat fats with hydrogenated oils. (Most fast food restaurants use these.) Wendy's has recently stopped using these oils.
8) Do not eat a lot of starchy food with proteins or meat.
9) Six to eight glasses of water should be taken a day. Click here to learn more about the importance of drinking water.
10) Each morning take one-half to three-quarters of a glass of warm water…this will help cleanse the body of poisons.(This is also recommended by Deepak Chopra.)
11) Try to eat some food each day with tryptophan, such as bananas, turkey, dairy,and nuts. This helps build your serotonin level which keeps depression at bay.
Some of these recommendations were taken from Healing Miracles by William A. McGarey, M.D.

Other recommendations:
12) Eliminate as much sugar and white flour as possible from your diet. Not only are they empty of calories, they actually causes a deficiency of crucial vitamins and minerals in your body as they are digested. Research has well documented the role sugar plays in diabetes. When you eat too many processed carbohydrates the amount of insulin in your body increases. This affects your body's overall health and its ability to metabolize food. Please click this link for indepth information about the dangers of sugar.
Click here for information about the sugar content of commom foods.
13) In place of sugar use natural sweetners such as honey, fructose, and Stevia. These sweeteners are also safe for the pancreas. Carob can be used in place of chocolate.
14) Many types of meat are loaded with estrogen and antibiotics that are harmful when taken in large amounts. Please consider buying meat at healthfood stores or farmer’s markets. Or even better, eliminate meat entirely from your diet. A healthier way to eat protein is by combining two incomplete proteins into one complete protein.
15) Most supermarket fruits and vegetables have been sprayed with pesticides that are dangerous to your health. There are ways to wash these foods. Also consider health food stores and farmer’s markets or grow your own!
16) Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Be sure to include antioxidant-rich foods. For a current list of the top 20 antioxidant-rich foods click here. These foods were reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as being the foods richest in antioxidants that prevent damage from molecules called free radicals.
Click here to view the new USDA food pryamid.
17) Be sure to include some of the Superfoods which have been proven to have key nutrients to help fight heart disease, some cancers, and Type 2 diabetes
18) Do NOT microwave your food. This damages the nutrients in the food which makes them worthless to your body. It addition, it also adds radiation poisoning to your food. Microwaves are forms of radiant energy, which contains harmful radiation. Some researchers say we should not even reheat our food. Rudolf Breuss said, "Reheated food is not only worthless but even harmful." A test was conducted with 150 mice. 50 mice were given freshly cooked food. After three years they were still healthy. The next group of 50 mice was fed food that had been heated, cooled for 20 minutes and then reheated. All of these mice died within three months. The third group of 50 mice was given food that had been cooled for five hours and then reheated. Within one month all of these mice were dead!
19)Keep your sodium intake below 1800 mgs per day. Use sea salt instead of table salt. Click here for more information about salt (sodium).
20)Reduce your caffeine intake to a level in which the side effects are eliminated and the benefits enhanced. For more information concerning caffeine, click here.


Are you a Stress Eater?--check out what emotions make you crave certain food

**For tips on healthy restaurant eating, click here.

**Healthy snacks

Alkaline-producing foods:
All fruits, except prunes, plums, and cranberries
All vegetables, except legumes (dried peas, beans, and lentils) and rhubarb
Honey (unprocessed)
**According to Cayce milk, cheese, etc were alkaline (and on another page they were referenced as neither or both depending on the amount of butterfat) but as a science teacher I can tell you that they test as light acids.

Acid –producing foods:
Vegetable oils
All meats
All cereal grains
Nuts
Legumes
Poultry
Egg whites
All fats
Sugar
**Citrus juices are acidic but may react as alkaline in the body!

***Cayce also says to never eat when you are under strain, excited or angry.
“We are, physically and mentally, what we eat and what we think.” (no. 288-38)


Weight Loss Tips

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