I watched 'The Last Lecture' again by Randy Pausch and found it moving and inspirational. If you haven't seen it, you should. It is in my list of 'favorites' on YouTube and you can get there by clicking on the above title to this post!
He gave another talk several months later on Time Management which was equally as good. And from someone who had very little time left he did somehow master how to manage his time wisely. For someone like me, a mom with 5 kids, husband, several health products in my Healthy Environments business, and trying to help out in the Adoption World...I find it admirable for someone to know how to make the most of his time.
In the Time Management talk, Randy Pausch had a Gatorade he was sipping on. It made my heart fall to see it. Gatorade...one of the world's worst drinks because it is so high in acid. And disease thrives in an acidic body. To see someone who is holding onto life like Randy and is fighting his cancer everyway he can...and then add acid into his body with Gatorade...made me realize how little most of us know about the importance of alkaline water in our diets.
If you watch this movie about PH levels you'll see how bad soda & gatorade are for a healthy body. Testing Gatorade & Soda for PH
I know that once I saw this demonstration I have never again bought a Gatorade or soda for my children (willingly). I hope you will see how those companies are supporting our medical communities!
Until next time...
Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen, http://www.thewetterwater.com
Thought I would add a little more information to "Remembering The Last Lecture"
ReplyDeleteAcid/Alkaline Balance
There are indications over acidity is linked with arthritis and
osteoporosis and a tendency to get more infections read on
Edgar Cayce consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining
a proper acid/alkaline balance in the body. Commonly referred to as
"pH" (potential for hydrogen), the acid/alkaline continuum ranges from
0 - 14 with 7 as neutral. The lower end of the scale (below 7) is
acid and above 7 is alkaline. Generally speaking, the Cayce readings
maintain that a balanced pH with a slight alkaline tendency would be
beneficial for most individuals.
Alkalinity can be increased by consuming less meat and sweets and
more vegetables and fruits. Although eating fruit to increase
alkalinity may seem to be a contradiction because some fruits
(especially citrus) are acidic outside the body, digestion uses up
their acidic components, leaving an alkaline residue (ash). Thus the
net effect is alkaline-producing within the system. For most
individuals, Cayce noted that "a normal diet is about twenty percent
acid to eighty percent alkaline-producing."
According to Cayce, numerous factors can increase acidity
including negative emotional states, inadequate mastication of food,
and poor eliminations. Perhaps the most common factor cited by Cayce
is diet. Eating acid-producing foods or combining foods improperly
(even akaline-producing foods) is said to lead to hyperacidity, even
to "superacidity" in some instances.
Cayce sometimes observed that infectious agents (such as virus and
bacteria) do not thrive in an alkaline environment: "cold CANNOT -
DOES NOT - exist in alkalines." Thus, consuming alkaline-producing
foods (such as orange juice and lemon juice) was recommended to
prevent colds.
As a practical preventive measure, Cayce's suggestions for alkalizing
the body emphasized eating an abundance of fresh fruits and
vegetables, especially salads: "... 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." (480-19) Consuming citrus fruit and juices was also a
common alkalizing suggestion in the readings that addressed concerns
about cold and flu infections.
The antimicrobial influence of alkalinity is supported by
research on goldenseal, a well-known antibacterial herb. Berberine
sulfate, the most active antibacterial alkaloid in goldenseal, is more
effective in an alkaline than an acid environment. At a pH of 8.0
(alkaline), its antimicrobial activity in vitro is about 2 to 4 times
greater than at 7.0 (neutral). At an acid pH of 6.0, the
antimicrobial activity is only 1/4 as strong as at a neutral pH.1
Acid/alkaline balance is extremely important to normal physiology.
For example, the blood will maintain a slightly alkaline range of
7.35 to 7.45. Extended pH imbalances of any kind are not well
tolerated by the body. The management of the pH factor is so
important that the body has developed strict accounting procedures to
monitor acid-alkaline balances in every cell and system. The
fundamental regulatory systems of the body (including breathing,
circulation, elimination, etc.) affect pH balance.
Acid/alkaline balance is a complex and controversial subject.
Views on this subject range from an almost total disbelief that pH is
a significant factor in disease to the opposite extreme as exemplified
by the book "Alkalize or Die."2 Even the experts who acknowledge
that a neutral or slightly alkaline pH is good, disagree on what this
means with regard to body fluids. For example, some researchers
consider a slightly acid urine pH to be normal (healthy) because it
might indicate that the body is eliminating acids which are a natural
product of metabolism. Other experts maintain that the urine should
be close to neutral or slightly alkaline. Gabriel Cousens M.D. takes
a relatively moderate position, stating that a pH range of 6.3 to 7.2
is "healthy."3
Edgar Cayce insisted that acid/alkaline balance could be easily
checked. Numerous readings encourage the measurement of pH balance in
saliva and urine as an objective means of monitoring this crucial
aspect of physiology.
There are five alkaline-forming minerals, also known as acid-binding
minerals. These minerals are: calcium, potassium,sodium, magnesium,
and iron. Each of these are important for creating
a healthy alkaline environment. These minerals bind with acid minerals
and evacuate those acidic and toxic substances.
Consuming more alkaline foods allows for a mucousless body. A vision
of a mucous-free body is no sinus congestion, chronic lymphatic
congestion or swelling, fluid accumulation in the lungs, joint
calcification, calcium deficiency, etc.
A person who has properly balanced pH will be happy, content, free of
body aches, and muscle cramps. They will enjoy being emotionally
stable and mentally clear. The result are extraordinary because the
tissues will exist in their natural and optimal alkaline
environment,conducive for health.
We have yet to determine what are the long term health effects of
keeping an acid/alkaline balance with a tendency toward alkalinity.
High systemic acidity was consistently noted by Cayce in conditions
such as arthritis. Presumably, maintaining pH balance (which for most
people means increasing alkalinity) will have a therapeutic effect.
REFERENCES
1. Pizzorno, J. (1996). Total Wellness. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing.
2. Barooty, T. Alkalize or Die, Waynesville, NC: Eclectic Press.
3. Cousins, G. (1992). Conscious Eating. Santa Rosa, CA: Vision
Books International.
And more
The Cause of Disease
Have you ever wondered if many of the diseases raging through our
society have a common cause? Many doctors, herbalists and
nutritionists believe that the explanation may come down to three words:
Acid Alkaline Imbalance
Over acidity, which can become a dangerous condition that weakens
all body systems, is very common today. It gives rise to an internal
environment conducive to disease, as opposed to a pH-balanced
environment which allows normal body function necessary for the body
to resist disease. A healthy body maintains adequate alkaline reserves
to meet emergency demands. When excess acids must be neutralized our
alkaline reserves are depleted leaving the body in a weakened
condition. An Acid Alkaline Balanced diet, according to many experts,
is a vital key to health maintenance.
The concept of acid alkaline imbalance as the cause of disease is
not new. In 1933 a New York doctor named William Howard Hay published
a ground-breaking book, A New Health Era in which he maintains that
all disease is caused by autotoxication (or "self-poisoning") due to
acid accumulation in the body:
Now we depart from health in just the proportion to which we have
allowed our alkalies to be dissipated by introduction of acid-forming
food in too great amount... It may seem strange to say that all
disease is the same thing, no matter what its myriad modes of
expression, but it is verily so.
William Howard Hay, M.D.
More recently, in his remarkable book Alkalize or Die (see
recommended reading), Dr. Theodore A. Baroody says essentially the
same thing:
The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What
does matter is that they all come from the same root cause...too much
tissue acid waste in the body!
Theodore A. Baroody, N.D., D.C., Ph.D.
Understanding pH
pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or
alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14—the
lower the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more
alkaline (or base) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor
alkaline it has a pH of 7 which is neutral.
Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, comprising
70% of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio
called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions
(acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The
body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is
compromised many problems can occur.
It is important to understand that we are not talking about
stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of
the body's fluids and tissues which is an entirely different matter.
Test Your Body's Acidity or Alkalinity with pH Strips:
It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if
your body's pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips, you
can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your
own home. If your urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 to 6.5 in the
morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening, your body is
functioning within a healthy range. If your saliva stays between 6.5
and 7.5 all day, your body is functioning within a healthy range. The
best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two
hours after a meal. Test your pH two days a week.
Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition
forces the body to borrow minerals—including calcium, sodium,
potassium and magnesium—from vital organs and bones to buffer
(neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of
this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to
high acidity—a condition that may go undetected for years.
Mild acidosis can cause such problems as:
* Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood
vessels and the reduction of oxygen.
* Weight gain, obesity and diabetes.
* Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.
* Immune deficiency.
* Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to
cancerous mutations.
* Hormone concerns.
* Premature aging.
* Osteoporosis; weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs.
* Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup.
* Low energy and chronic fatigue.
* Slow digestion and elimination.
* Yeast/fungal overgrowth.
pH and Bone Loss:
A recent seven-year study conducted at the University of
California, San Francisco, on 9,000 women showed that those who have
chronic acidosis are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have
normal pH levels. The scientists who carried out this experiment
believe that many of the hip fractures prevalent among middle-aged
women are connected to high acidity caused by a diet rich in animal
foods and low in vegetables. This is because the body borrows calcium
from the bones in order to balance pH. — American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition
Urine pH
Urine testing may indicate how well your body is excreting acids and
assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and
potassium. These minerals function as "buffers." Buffers are
substances that help maintain and balance the body against the
introduction of too much acidity or too much alkalinity. Even with the
proper amounts of buffers, acid or alkaline levels can become extreme.
When the body ingests or produces too many of these acids or alkalis,
it must excrete the excess. The urine is the perfect way for the body
to remove any excess acids or alkaline substances that cannot be
buffered. If the average urine pH is below 6.5 the body's buffering
system is overwhelmed, a state of "autotoxication" exists, and
attention should be given to lowering acid levels.
Saliva pH
The results of saliva testing may indicate the activity of digestive
enzymes in the body. These enzymes are primarily manufactured by the
stomach, liver and pancreas. While the saliva also utilizes buffers
just like the urine, it relies on this process to a much lesser
degree. If the saliva pH is too low (below 6.5), the body may be
producing too many acids or may be overwhelmed by acids because it has
lost the ability to adequately remove them through the urine. If the
saliva pH is too high (over 6.8), the body may suffer greatly, e.g.
excess gas, constipation and production of yeast, mold and fungus.
Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and
saliva—this is referred to as "double acid."
Keeping the Balance Right for Excellent Health
Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only
when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking
healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are
not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal
program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. Even the right herbal
program may not work if your body's pH is out of balance.
What if I'm Acidic?
By far the most common imbalance seen in our society is over acidity.
Get the book! Get a copy of the book Alkalize or Die by Dr.
Baroody (see recommended reading below) and carefully follow his
dietary recommendations choosing more foods that are alkaline-forming
and less that are acid-forming. The food chart below briefly
summarizes this information for some of the more common foods. A
healthy diet should consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20%
acid-forming foods.
What Causes Me to be Acidic?
The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the
typical American diet, which is far too high in acid-producing animal
products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in
alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat
acid-producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink
acid-producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks. We use too many
drugs, which are acid-forming; and we use artificial chemical
sweetners like NutraSweet, Equal, or aspartame, which are extremely
acid-forming. One of the best things we can do to correct an
overly-acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle. Refer to the
recommended reading for specific help with diet and lifestyle.
Understanding Viruses
A wide variety of diseases are caused by viruses including the common
cold, flu, warts, measles, hepatitis, herpes, smallpox, and AIDS. SARS
is just the latest in a long list of viral parasites.
Unlike bacteria that can usually be effectively treated with
antibiotics, viral infections are often unresponsive to modern medical
treatment
Viral pH Dependency
Laboratory experiments (in vitro) have confirmed that many viruses
require a mildly acidic environment to attack host cells.
Understanding the role of pH balance in viral infections may provide
preventive and therapeutic breakthroughs for dealing with epidemics
including the recent outbreak of SARS.
..Certain viruses (including the rhinoviruses and coronaviruses that
are most often responsible for the common cold and influenza viruses
that produce flu) infect host cells by fusion with cellular membranes
at low pH. Thus they are classified as "pH-dependent viruses."
Drugs that increase pH (have been shown to decrease infectivity of
pH-dependent viruses.
..
Possible Relevance to SARS
The World Health Organization has concluded that SARS is produced by a
new virulent strain of coronavirus. Specific research on the possible
pH dependency of the SARS virus has not yet been done. It is well
known that coronavirus infectivity is exquisitely sensitive to pH. For
example, the MHV-A59 strain of coronavirus is quite stable at pH 6.0
(acidic) but becomes rapidly and irreversibly inactivated by brief
treatment at pH 8.0 (alkaline). Human coronavirus strain 229E is
maximally infective at pH 6.0. Infection of cells by murine
coronavirus A59 at pH 6.0 (acidic) rather than pH 7.0 (neutral) yields
a tenfold increase in the infectivity of the virus.
If the strain of coronavirus responsible for SARS shares the pH
characteristics of these other coronaviruses that are pH-dependent,
this could be a valuable clue to effective prevention and treatment
strategies for this frightening epidemic. Perhaps keeping a balanced
or slightly alkaline pH environment for the body's tissues can provide
viral protection or enhanced healing for SARS and common viral agents
that cause respiratory infections.
Acid Alkaline forming Diet
FOOD CATEGORY
SWEETENERS
Alkaline forming Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup Raw Honey, Raw Sugar
Acid forming Processed Honey, Molasses White Sugar, Brown Sugar
NutraSweet, Equal, Aspartame, Sweet 'N Low
FRUITS
Alkaline forming Lemons, Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes,
Papayas Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi, Blueberries,
Apples, Pears, Raisins Oranges, Bananas, Cherries, Pineapple,
Peaches, Avocados
Acid forming Plums, Processed Fruit Juices Sour Cherries, Rhubarb
Blackberries, Cranberries, Prunes
BEANS VEGETABLES LEGUMES
Alkaline forming Asparagus, Onions, Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw
Spinach, Broccoli, Garlic Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery,
Lettuce, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Carob Carrots, Tomatoes, Fresh Corn,
Mushrooms, Cabbage, Peas, Potato Skins, Olives, Soybeans, Tofu
Acid forming Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans, String Beans Potatoes
(without skins), Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Lima Beans Chocolate
NUTS SEEDS
Alkaline forming Almonds Chestnuts
Acid forming Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds Pecans, Cashews Peanuts,
Walnuts
OILS
Alkaline forming Olive Oil Flax Seed Oil Canola Oil
Acid forming Corn Oil
GRAINS CEREALS
Alkaline forming Amaranth, Millet, Wild Rice, Quinoa
Acid forming Sprouted Wheat Bread, Spelt, Brown Rice White Rice,
Corn, Buckwheat, Oats, Rye Wheat, White Flour, Pastries, Pasta
MEATS
All acid forming Venison, Cold Water Fish Turkey, Chicken, Lamb
Beef, Pork, Shellfish
EGGS DAIRY
Alkaline forming Breast Milk Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Goat Milk, Goat
Cheese, Whey
Acid foming Eggs, Butter, Yogurt, Buttermilk, Cottage Cheese Raw
Milk Cheese, Homogenized Milk, Ice Cream
Herb Teas, Lemon Water Green Tea Ginger Tea BEVERAGES Tea
Coffee Beer, Soft Drinks
Note that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body
has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example,
lemons are very acidic, however the end-products they produce after
digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are
alkaline-forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before
digestion but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like
nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-forming
Recommended Reading:
Alkalize or Die by Theodore A. Baroody:
DISCLOSURE:
Any information here in is for educational purpose only; it may be news related, purely speculation or SOMEONE’S OPINION. Always consult with a qualified Medical Doctor before deciding on any course of treatment, especially for serious or life-threatening illnesses.