12 Steps to Whole Foods

Achieving an Alkaline Inner Terrain
The stress that occurs through difficult circumstances in life, job deadlines, relationship problems, and more
contribute to acidosis, or more acidity than our body can effectively neutralize, thus burning out the potassium,
calcium, magnesium, and sodium in our tissue binders. Environmental toxins in the air and water contribute,
too. These things we have little control over. But an enormous contributing factor is our diet, and that is where
we do have control.
All our body systems try to balance our acid/base internal terrain. As we lose that balance, we experience the
milder of the hundreds of complaints common in the Western world: allergies, sinus problems, succumbing to
viruses, skin problems, headaches. As time goes on, chronic underlying issues occur that include malfunctions
of the adrenal and thyroid glands. And tipping the scale even further, for years, acidosis causes our decreasing
oxygen levels and a burnout of our cellular metabolism, so that we develop cancers and very serious diseases
that kill us. A highly acidic internal environment in the body causes us to gain body fat, since fat cells carry
acids away from our vital organs to protect them. As helpful as that is as a non-ideal coping mechanism, when
you eat more alkaline foods, your body doesn’t need the fat stores anymore and weight problems correct
themselves.
When our internal terrain becomes acidic, yeasts, molds, bacteria, viruses, and fungi thrive. They, along with
the cancers they eventually lead to, proliferate in a low-oxygen climate. And even worse than that are the
highly acidic waste products they create, microforms that Dr. Young calls mycotoxins and exotoxins, poisons
that feed on glucose and pollute our bloodstream, lymph, and cells. 28
WHY Should I Drink Alkaline Water?
Dr. Young says that in the blood, 20 parts base (alkaline) are required to neutralize 1 part acid, so it’s easier to
maintain than to correct an imbalance. Eating 20 lbs. of alkaline food for every 1 lb. of acid is difficult.
(However, I highly recommend minimizing your acidic foods intake, especially processed foods and animal
proteins.) So, drinking alkaline water as often as possible on an empty stomach is the easiest and most effective
way to alkalize your body. Adding an excellent dehydrated greens product (like my favorite, Ormus Greens) to
your water throughout the day is another way to boost your alkaline intake.
WHEN Should I Drink Alkaline Water?
You should drink alkaline water any time and always, except during a meal. The best habits to achieve are
drinking lots of water upon waking up, and avoiding drinking for 20 min. before and two hours after a meal.
This gives your body a chance to do the work of digesting with digestive juices intact and undiluted. For that
reason, do not drink alkaline water during a meal. Also do not drink it with medications. (Take any needed
medications an hour or more before or after drinking alkaline water.)
328 12 Steps to Whole Foods
© Copyright Robyn Openshaw