“The evidence now amassed from researchers around the world shows that the same diet that is good for the prevention of cancer is also good for the prevention of heart disease, as well as obesity, diabetes, cataracts, macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s, cognitive dysfunction, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and other diseases…[that diet is] a whole foods, plant-based diet.” (China Study pg. 110)
Not everyone needs to start juicing for health(it would be helpful!), but everyone needs to know their options so that they can make sound decisions about their health. I was in the dark about much of the following information despite my extensive education and strong interest in all things health-related. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help present this info in a way that is palatable to you. Hopefully, it will spark an inner knowing that this is on the path to well-being.
Starting simple…
When I started out I didn’t know the difference between juicing and blending. Blending is easy to describe–it’s when you throw stuff into a blender (duh!) and mix it all up. You wind up eating/drinking everything you put into the blender.
Juicing is different. Juicing separates out the insoluble fiber because you want to be able to consume the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals into your body. Insoluble fiber is very bulky, which makes you feel full, so removing the insoluble fiber allows you to consume what seems like a zillion vegetables. Because I’m naturally very curious, I tried to eat the insoluble fiber that came out of the juicer—let me be the first to tell you, it really is insoluble. I couldn’t do anything to break it down. It felt like the bristles of a broom in my mouth–which was interesting because I could actually visualize how this type of fiber could clean out my intestines like a broom sweeping everything out (which is what it ultimately does).
What’s left after extracting the insoluble fiber are the vitamins, minerals, and soluble fiber. These three things are what bind to toxins and pull them out of the body. This is why juicing is awesome!—and known as a detoxer. It is also why juicing is alkalizing. The fewer toxins in your body, the more alkaline your body is. An overly acidic body is the underlying cause of ALL diseases and dis-ease.
You may be wondering where do I fall on this scale? There are two indicators. One is if you are American. You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. Generally speaking, the American diet is so linked with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s, obesity, and cancer that these diseases are referred to by some researchers as the diseases of affluence. The more affluent a society is, the more likely they are consuming meat, dairy products, sodas, cookies, and cake on a regular basis.
You may be wondering, what’s wrong with that? These foods are so catastrophic because they cause acid to accumulate in the body. This happens because the “good” bacteria and parasites in our bodies feed off these types of food, so they grow and reproduce at a rapid rate leading to overcrowding in your gut faster than a sale at Bloomingdales during the holiday season. This over-growth is what creates an acidic environment and makes the breeding grounds for disease. These bacteria/parasites secrete (aka poop) toxins into your body. These toxins are acidic.
The second indicator is how you are feeling. If you experience weight gain, inability to lose weight, infertility, constant cravings for sugar and alcohol, yeast infections, brain “fog,” chronic fatigue syndrome, eczema, asthma, allergies, PMS, confusion, irritability, anxiety, memory problems, rectal itching, gas, bloating and panic attacks to name a few, your body is likely acidic.
The pH level of our blood is so explicitly linked to disease or health, that you would think first graders would be talking about it on the bus. If your pH is under 7–you are acidic. If it is above, you are alkaline. It’s that simple.
Your body strives to be in constant balance (harmony is a pH level of 7.365). It will desperately try to process these toxins by storing them in your fat, tissues, and organs. Even though your body has more nooks and crannies than an English muffin, you will eventually run out of storage space. The body will also try to neutralize these acids by leeching stored minerals from your body (your bones for example). When all possible avenues for recovery have been exhausted disease will really have a tight grip on you.
The good news is!— you can help yourself by making wise food choices and participating in a few activities to control the population even better than Big Brother. I’ll be posting these in the next few blogs.
Until next time!
**I’d like to also include that a lot of this information came from the China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Tomas M. Campbell II and The pH Miracle by Robert O. Young, PhD., and Shelley Redford Young. Much thanks to them!!!
*** I am not a doctor, nor am I prescribing a specific diet for anyone. Please do your diligence and discuss any lifestyle changes with your doctor.