I’ve found this little trick.
Sure, it’s not a REAL trick but this helpful gadget I discovered. I am talking about PH-testers. I saw it once on a health event and tried it out, but later forgot all about it. It just didn’t come to me yet at the time, you know? To get more specific, I was so inspired by Brad’s Gruno: Rauw, 80/20 Raw food dieet.
This is such an easy to read and distinct book about plant-based food. Let’s be honest, It can be overwhelming sometimes to know which foods you should or should not eat and what they actually do for your body.
Anyway, in his book Brad is talking about pH-testers as a handy way to test your alkalinity. I was pronto surfing the internet looking for pH-testers and I found these at Vitaminstore. They are CE-certified and contain 24 pieces per package & these which has a measuring range of pH 4,5 – 10 and contain 100 pieces per package.
Let’s go over WHY & HOW I incorporate PH-testing into my day.
By regularly measuring the pH level of SALIVA or URINE, you can follow the progress of your deacidification and then monitor your acid-base balance.
So let’s break it down:
Every human body has a normal pH-level in his / her blood, which is a balance between acid and alkaline. To maintain a healthy body you need a pH level of 7,3, which is more alkaline. A diet which is very acid will not be able to repair damaged cells, reduce the ability to absorb nutrients and minerals and absorb oxygen to stay healthy. When you DO have a body which is alkaline, oxygen will easily be absorbed by your cells.
When your body is too acidic you will recognize these symptoms; low energy, chronic fatigue, stuffy nose, having colds, headaches, weight gain, stress, – the list is endless.
So, which foods are acidic, you might ask? Are you ready…?
Here’s the list:
- Fried and baked foods
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Artificial sugars
- Chocolate
- Wheat
- Dairy
- Meat
- Processed foods
- Canned foods
- Pasteurized foods
Before you freak out from this list by thinking; what’s left that I can eat?! Actually, a lot. There is this whole world of delicious Raw Plant-Based foods which are totally ALKALINE for your body. When you don’t eat or drink enough fruit & veggies you become acidic.
What you can do is start drinking a fresh, cold pressed Juice with or before every meal. From there incorporate raw salads and other alkaline foods into your diet. To get your PH-level to a normal level which is 7 (neutral), I follow this simple rule: the 80/20 rule: consume 80% alkaline foods, 20% foods / beverages which are less alkaline. I feel that in this way I stay human and still eat out in restaurants, have an occasional glass of wine, relax without stressing too much about rules, you know?
Testing your pH-level. How it works:
For measurement via the saliva: make sure you have not eaten or drunk anything at least 1.5 hours in advance (also no water). For me I find it’s the best time to take the test first thing in the morning when I step out of bed. Place the strip, with the color patches down, on the tongue. You get the most accurate measurement when your body is sober. Then compare the colors of the strip with the color chart of the box.
For measurements via urine: Dip the strip in the urine for 2 seconds and wait for 10 seconds. The color block discolours when they come into contact with an acid or base. On the basis of the different shades on the box, it can be determined how acidic or basic the urine is. The color that best matches the measured pH. After a few seconds you see the result, quick & easy!.
pH value between 6.0 and 7.3 = healthy
pH value between 5.0 and 6.0 = complaints can be developed
pH value between 4.5 and 5.0 = complaints may be present
If the pH is lower than 7, the body is acid, 7 is neutral, above 7 is basic. For a healthy body aiming to get around or above pH 7, in which the body processes go best. To get a good picture I measure the pH values for 1 week. I measure it before breakfast, in the middle of the afternoon and in the middle of the evening. Do not measure immediately after a meal, because this always reduces the acidity slightly. Morning urine can have a lower pH value (between 5.5-6.0) because the kidneys have filtered many acids during the night. Therefore, use the second discharge. During the day, the pH should be above 7.
I keep the results in my notebook, especially during a detox cure. A good detox cure will increase the pH of the urine to 7 to 8 or higher. When the result is below 7, I know I need to step up my game by eating / drinking less acidic and eat more leafy greens, avocado’s, almond milk, wheatgrass, seaweed, pineapple and cold pressed juices & smoothies which are all alkaline to the body.
I test once a week, but I’m not obsessing over it. For me it’s more of a handy tool to check if I’m not getting too far off track & like to challenge myself to become more BASIC.
How do you incorporate more plant-based foods into your day? Are you a fan of pH-testers to observe you’re alkaline level? Have you tried? Give me the scoop 🙂
Love x Jojanneke
