Week 9--A Question of Balance

Thoughts about: pH Balance: Acids & Alkalis and Anti-Oxidants

Proponents of this diet say that eating more alkaline foods helps prevent disease. By avoiding more acidic foods, the body maintains a better mineral balance as it doesn't have to process high levels of acid from more acidic foods such as meats, dairy, and refined foods.

Of course there's debate when it comes to scientific studies advocating the specific benefits of eating more alkaline foods as to whether it does prevent cancer or help support the body with less strain on the kidneys, bladder and liver for detoxification.

The blood pH maintains a slightly alkaline pH measurement of 7.35-7.45, so one could measure blood pH in relation to diet and see if that remains at homeostasis. Also, it's important to look at urine and salivary pH, which could be more significant indicators of how the body deals with acidosis.

I like the suggestion of trying a more alkaline diet for 2 months as well as with checking urine pH daily at the same time every morning after waking to see how the body detoxifies during a resting state through the night.

How to measure pH with pH test strips:
http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/ph-test-strips.html

Thoughts on discussions: MSG presentation

I found the presentation on MSG very informative and useful.  It is hidden in so many foods under the guise of other names such as "natural flavoring," "yeast extract," and even "enzymes."

Here's a link showing sources of hidden processed free glutamic acid or MSG:
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

I appreciated learning that:

free glutamate as an isolated compound varies from the bound form.
it is an excito-toxin like aspartame.
it stimulates the pancreas to release insulin--important for understanding more about the epidemic blood sugar mismanagement that plagues industrialized society.
it's calming like valium--my first conscious experience of being "high" was after eating Chinese food as a child.
it causes vasoconstriction, and has a possible connection with salt intake and heart disease.