Irritability, fatigue, brittle nails, dull hair, and increased susceptibility to infections are states that have certainly affected all of us. However, they are so nonspecific that we generally ignore them, sometimes attributing them to the flu season, work stress, or neglecting personal care. Unfortunately, common remedies like changing shampoo and taking vitamin supplements may not yield the expected results, as the problem often lies elsewhere, specifically… on the plate!
All the aforementioned symptoms, as well as joint pain, concentration issues, digestive discomfort, or weight gain without a clear cause, may indicate an acidic condition in the body. This happens when, due to an improper diet, we force the body to metabolize and eliminate excessive amounts of acid-forming compounds: mainly those with high levels of phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine.
How can we help ourselves? Primarily by following an alkaline diet, but also by adopting healthy lifestyle habits: getting enough sleep, quitting smoking, and engaging in regular physical activity, preferably outdoors.
This raises another question: what exactly does an alkaline diet involve?
Scientifically speaking, its main premise is to change the unfavorable ratio between the acid-forming foods we consume and the alkalizing foods—those rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium. In practice, this means dramatically increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits in the diet, at the expense of dairy products, meat, sweets, grains, and highly processed foods. According to the alkaline diet, fruits and vegetables should not merely accompany other foods; instead, other products are a complement to fruits and vegetables. Therefore, simply “adding” them to each meal is not enough—they should make up even 70% of the daily menu. It is also crucial to drink at least two liters of water daily—preferably mineral water with high calcium and magnesium content.
Not every product is immediately intuitively classified as acid-forming or alkalizing: most of us would incorrectly classify lemons as acid-forming. That’s why I’m providing a table of recommended and non-recommended products for the alkaline diet. With this cheat sheet, preparing delicious meals and, consequently, getting rid of unpleasant symptoms will be wonderfully simple!
