Written by Cloé Vaz-Wiggins
Image by @Tenderherbs
I saw what alkalising your body was before I knew what alkalising your body was, I wonder if the same has happened to you? Every morning, my mum would wake up and prepare a warm glass of water with a few drops of lemon and tell me I should do the same and that I should do it every day, forever. At that time though, I was very much into McD’s fries, sour candy and all the rest of it and thought the whole thing was cute, but I didn’t fully get it. As I’ve gotten older, I started to put my wellbeing first, like, truly started to think about how I actively and consciously look after my health and started paying real attention to what I put inside of my body.
I dare to guess (or at least I hope), that you do too. Whether it’s because you want to take better care of your body, look out for your future self, get healthier, maintain or lose weight, I hope we’re all a little more conscious about what we eat than we were six, ten years ago or whatever that number is for you.
We have a lot more options, choices and a lot more information, which, let’s be real about it, can be slightly overwhelming at times. A good example is this topic. There are many theories, opinions, studies and thoughts around the subject, so it can get confusing, for that reason and as with any diet or approach that you wish to try out, always, always, make sure you feel comfortable and are supported in that choice. Hopefully with someone that is qualified to give you the answers to all the questions you might have and guide you through that process.
For the sake of this article, I’ll give you the most basic principle of what this alkaline term and concept means and some ideas that hopefully will inspire you to dive deeper and may spark an interest to carry out your own research and figure out if this is something you’d like to try.
If you wish to take it further and can, speak to your doctor or nutritionist to make sure it works for you.
Ok, paying attention to the acid-alkaline balance in our bodies is important, there’s a balance that is crucial as specific functions in our bodies can only occur at a certain level of acidity or alkalinity. That balance can be disrupted if our body becomes too acidic, that imbalance can lead to inflammation (which, tell me one thing it’s good for) and increase the risk for other disorders.
Alkalising through your diet can help to balance your pH level which in turn reduces acidity. Now, it might not be for everyone, there will be plenty of arguments, but the ways in which you can alkalize your body faster and consistently are just, healthier. More water, more vegetables, more fruit and so on.
Drink more water
Support your body’s natural detoxification and flush your system. And yes, adding lemon takes it up a notch.
Go green
It doesn’t get more alkaline than leafy greens and vegetables, these are also super nutrient dense, so make salads a go to, a must, an everyday thing and up the veggie intake with every meal and yes, that includes breakfast.
Nature’s candy
Snacks, smoothies, juices, you name it, where you can incorporate more fruit into your daily meals.
Take it slow
I’m sure you’ve heard of the immense benefits chewing properly and slowly can have on your digestion, well, here too. So, take it slow, we’re talking, slowwwww, saliva is alkaline-forming, so anything between chewing 20-40 times is the reference.
Lymphatic flow
There are so many ways in which we can support our lymph system. Exercise daily, try dry brushing into the lymph nodes, practise breathwork or/and focus on self-care.
Caffeine is caffeine
Easy for a non-coffee drinker to say I know, but up for your consideration, green tea is highly alkaline. Matcha too, could there be a swap?
Sugar substitutes
It’s everywhere and it’s so incredibly harmful to so many things. Where possible, try a substitute, stevia, coconut sugar or honey, watch your quantities though.
Sweat it out
Sweat so you can release toxins and remember, the more you sweat, the more toxins you release, so, how can you incorporate the sweating: steam baths, sauna, hot yoga or even an Epsom salt baths are some ideas.
I hope you feel inspired and get excited about trying to incorporate some of these tips throughout your daily life. Whether you’re consciously looking to alkalize your body or not, these are all great practises to look after your body, wellbeing and your health, so I mean, why not. The benefits are there.
