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(Excerpts from the monthly A.News Issue 6 MMVI) It was pouring like nobody’s business outside.  But I also remembered the scouring heat just like a miniute ago.  In these days and age of crazy weather patterns, fears of the effects of our globe heating up and baking away, rising sea levels seemed more real than anytime in our history.  Extreme weather patterns can affect our moods, it infact, what we eat and how our body digest are also affected. Our preference for food changes on hot and a wet chilling day.  It is also at this time while going through some of my old files that I came across an email I wrote way back in 2006 which I thought might help some of us get over this uncooporative weather.

I wrote this back then when a family member was diagonsed with cancer.  Then I started learning about numerous similar cases within a span of weeks. It wasn’t exactly the best of times.  I questioned the ingredients we used in our cooking, our diet, our lifestyle.  But when I realized almost everyone within my circle (including many of you who wrote in) knew at least 1 person who is directly or indirectly affected by a smiliar challenge, it was in these circumstances I wrote to you on this.  Interestingly, it was also around that time, our own famous Taiwanese DJ Billy who was also battling cancer spoke on the topic of our body’s pH value.  So I thought bringing this topic back might help some of us in one way or another.  Maybe someone you know is going though a health challenge or maybe you, like me, is losing a little patience with this erratic weather, whatever it is, however it may help you. Enjoy.

Recap 2006 – In many ways, measuring our body’s pH is similar to measuring the pH value of chemicals in your high school science class.  For our ultimate well-being, it’s all about BALANCE.  In all our natural state, our bodies are slightly alkaline.  Our blood, tissues, cells and intercellular fluids are more alkaline and we have a natural ability to maintain that alkalinity BUT modern lifestyle ranging from unwise dietary habits and choices and stress in all forms have all added the extra burden to our body’s to stay alkaline.  As we aged and go into our late 30s, 40s…, the wear and tear becomes clearer (just when the late night partying stops cos you realized you take longer period to recouperate from a hangover.  Sounds familiar?) exposing us to a daunting list of physical and emotional ailments, including fatigue, headaches, chronic illnesses, colds, FLUs (Yes flus of all kinds even those hot discovered yet) and even the basic ability to keep a clear head in the morning is challenged.  Not only do our bodies doesn’t seem to keep up but it seems to break down more often.

Wouldn’t you much prefer to wake up everyday feeling fresh and energetic and ready to take on your daily tasks, going about your own business without any care or concern weighing you down?

Hopefully this helps.

What’s Your Type? Our typical diet is composed of foods that are either overly acidic or, once eaten, cause an acidic reaction in the body. Over decades that effect is felt hard. Determining your pH level is your first step to balancing your pH level. E.g., overly acidic women need more carbohydrates to be healthy and feel their best; those tend toward alkalinity do better with more protein.

If you are acidic, you are likely to have small bones and muscles, a weak digestive tract, suffer frequent muscle aches and pains, tendency toward colds and allergies, and likely to feel sluggish in the morning and brain-fogged and lethargic after a high-protein meal.

• Choose more alkaline sources of protein, like fish, shellfish, and tofu. Have cold-water fish like tuna or salmon once or twice a week.
• Plan meals around vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, rather than meats and wheat products. Experiment with non-wheat flours such as rice, millet, quinoa, or soy.
• Reduce your intake of acidic foods such as lemon juice, tomatoes, caffeine, or vinegar, which can cause upset stomach.

And if you think you more acidity, it’s likely that you:

• Do not feel your best when drinking alcohol, coffee or colas.
• Do not feel your best when eating red meat or sugary desserts.
• Do not tolerate citrus fruits, and white flour.
• Feel best when you eat a more vegetarian diet.
• Often feel exhausted after vigorous exercise or very physical work.
• Often experience fatigue and lack of stamina.
• Are physically and mentally tired after an hour of deskwork.
• Are subject to frequent flus, colds, bronchitis, or sinusitis.
• Are susceptible to heartburn, canker sores, and food or environmental allergies.

(And much of the acidic pH generated in our diet is from processed foods, a double whammy like a candle burning on both ends.)

If you are naturally alkaline, you likely have strong bones and muscles, high energy, and healthy digestion and immune function. Your body has large alkaline mineral reserves and produces many alkaline buffers like bicarbonate, so there’s more flexibility in your diet.

• You can enjoy a nutrient-rich, more acidic diet.
• You probably feel best on a protein-based diet with several servings of free-range poultry, game, or fish a day. I recommend fish for its health benefits.
• Lemon or vinegar dressings and acidic fruits and fruit juices don’t upset your stomach nor do goat cheese, yogurt, vinegar, olives, and olive oil—typical of a Mediterranean diet.
• As you have a tendency to put on weight, try avoiding dairy products, sugary desserts, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and soft drinks.

And you’re likely:

• Have great physical endurance, and can sprint up stairs easily.
• Are always on the go and full of energy.
• Need a few hours of sleep each night.
• Prefer highly active sports and gravitate toward high stress activities.
• Feel bright and energized after a steak dinner.
• Are able to digest a wide variety of foods.
• Feel de-energized after a low protein, high carbohydrate meal.
• Typically have lots of energy in the midst of intense situations.
• Are able to do deskwork for long hours at a time without becoming tired or losing mental clarity.
• Rarely get a cold or flu, and are free of allergies.
• Have a great digestive system.
• Are strong, with a large frame and big bones.

So do you know what’s your type now?  Here’s a quick strategy to fighting the flu bug;

Step 1 – Balance your pH.  Balance is always the key. 

Step 2 - Take food that boost your immunity (Maybe we can discuss more about these foods in our upcoming issues)

Step 3 – We all know stress is a mean killer. It lowers your body’s ability to fight, lowers your immunity so you fall sick often. So keep stress far far away locked up in a deep dark cave somewhere while you enjoy your life.  Read a book, hang out with friends, go for a massage, or seek help from a higher source, enjoy a sport, cook a good meal, just do things that help take your load off.

So this is just a quick antidote on how to build your body up again if it’s been battled over the weeks.  Take some time off and let it recouperate.  Most of all, have fun and enjoy!  I practice it too and I just make sure I don’t take too much acidic food, check the pH of a Coke and you’ll be surprised! I’ve not fallen sick for a long time, to me it’s really a simple of way of living a responsible life by watching of you eat.  I’ll share more about specific foods next time so you guys can try to if it works for you too.

Well, thank God I aced my chemistry in school.