The Wise Woman's Almanac

Pages 24-27

Research shows that food breaks down (metabolizes) in the body and leaves an ash residue that tests either acid or alkaline.

Soil Preparation
Given the appropriate attention, pH balance can be restored and maintained. With a simple understanding of this acid/alkaline effect on your health, you can make wiser choices that will improve and support this balance. On your journey toward wellness and wholeness, you may want to test your internal soil by checking your saliva or urine pH.

Nitrazine (litmus) paper may be purchased from a health food store or pharmacy. These paper strips change color in the presence of acid or alkaline solutions. The scale is acidic from 0-7.0 and alkaline from 7.0-14, with water being neutral at 7.0. For best results, test first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. The healthy body's urine pH is slightly acidic in the morning (pH 6.5-7.0) and more alkaline by evening (pH 7.5-8.0). Follow the manufacturer's instructions and don't become stuck on exact numbers. This tool can help you plant seeds for a healthier you.

Your body is in constant flow with its environment as your pH range will reflect. Diet is the most influential and easiest area to change as you prepare your internal terrain. Research shows that food breaks down (metabolizes) in the body and leaves an ash residue that tests either acid or alkaline.

The following table will introduce you to a beginner's list of acid-forming or alkaline-forming foods. Note the foods you eat most often. Observe any signs or symptoms you may be experiencing and simply start adding more of the foods that bring balance to your body while reducing the foods that contribute to the excessive condition. Use this list as a guide for adjusting the acid/alkaline balance in your body and restoring vitality to your life.

With pH balance restored, the body can regain newfound vigor and health.
Essential Oils Desk Reference, Third Edition

Acid-Forming Foods

• Processed grains/grain products (white bread, processed rice, cereals)
• Animal protein (beef, pork, veal, chicken, turkey)
• Fish ((lobster, shrimp, clams)
• Eggs and Dairy
• Nuts and seeds (except almonds, chestnuts and coconut)
• Dried beans and lentils
• Acid forming vegetables (corn, olives, winter squash)
• High fat content foods (mayonnaise, gravies fried foods)
• High sugar content foods (candy, cookies, pastries)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Caffeine (coffee, colas, chocolate)
• Tobacco
• Medications (most drugs, aspirin, excess vitamin C)

Alkaline-Forming Foods

• Whole grains/whole grain products (buckwheat, millet)
• Nuts and seeds (almonds, chestnuts, coconut)
• Fresh fruits (except cranberries, plums, prunes) including avocado
• Fresh vegetables (may be slightly steamed)/vegetable juices
• Soy products

There are many extensive acid/alkaline food lists. Use this as a beginning point on your journey and increase the list as you progress through your wellness journey. Remember to include an adequate intake of purified water and to BREATHE. Deep breathing rids the body of acids and improves the pH balance. Mild to moderate daily exercise improves your breathing and oxygen intake. By replenishing your inner soil, you also improve the soil of your heart and soul. This is the groundwork in which creative ideas can be planted and come to fruition.

Your Turn: To help you in assessing where you are right now and where you'd like to be, please complete the following sentence-starters:

1. Foods I eat most often:

2. After reviewing the previous food list, I recognize that the foods I eat most often are: (a.) overly acid (b.) overly alkaline (Circle one)

3. Foods I can reduce or eliminate from my diet include:

4. Foods I can add to my diet for a healthier pH balance include:

5. I usually cope with stress in: (a.) a calm, easy-going manner (b.) angry outbursts (c.) outwardly controlled and inwardly highly- stressed (Circle the appropriate response)

6. I notice the food-mood connection when I eat these foods:

7. After an extremely stressful situation, I observe that my body feels:

8. I have noticed that my eating style changes with the four seasons in these ways:

9. My eating style has changed with my personal seasons (20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and on) in these ways: (Turn to the middle of your almanac, in the Change of Pace section, under Journey Through the Seasons for additional explanation about your personal seasons.)

Please date your observations or note your current season so that you can observe personal health patterns. Then you can make intentional decisions about how to optimize what you're already doing well and avoid what you're doing that hinders your health.

Balancing your inner terrain involves more than just digesting supplements and watching your weight. It takes daily determination and dedication to cultivate healthy habits for a lifetime of overflowing wellness. Adding-and using-new self-care tools will help you become a more confidant woman. And that is a significant part of living well.

Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and body work together. Your body needs to be a good support system for the mind and spirit. If you take good care of it, your body can take you wherever you want to go, with the power and strength and energy and vitality you will need to get there.
(Jim Rohn, motivational speaker)

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