Just "normal" aging??

Greetings~

I always find it interesting when folks between the ages of 35 and 65 make comments like, "Yeah, my joints hurt", or "My bones hurt", or "I guess I'm getting arthritis", or "I'm getting rheumatism", etc. While that may be true, I believe that much of the time what people - people who are too young to feel this way - are suffering from are the effects of the western diet, combined with the toxins we have been ever-increasingly exposed to over our lifetimes. I'm talking mainly about baby boomers and younger, here. While the industrial and agricultural ages have brought about many wonders for society, many of the practices that have become standard are quite frankly toxic and unhealthy for the human body (not to mention the mind and the spirit!).

Honestly, I do believe that we create our own reality, on many levels, from the unconscious to the conscious. I believe we do so individually and collectively. Which means that ultimately we as individuals and as humans must take responsibility for what we create, and also healing that which needs to be healed and transformed. While it's true that so much, if not all, is about what we truly believe in our heart of hearts, there are certain practices and concepts we have bought into (as a species)to the extent that we have made them extremely real for everyone. And let's face it, our over-arching western culture is driven by money (and power), plain and simple. Profits. Often at the expense of our health and well-being. That isn't to say that there aren't many awesome people out there creating healthy, life-affirming programs that support vitality. There are (thank goodness), and hopefully one day the organizations that control through power for profits (think: FDA)will be replaced by programs that are truly for-the-people.

I'm not going to jump into a huge political discussion about this here, but I just want to say that I do not for one minute believe that it's just "normal" that young and middle-aged people are hurting so badly they can hardly move. That is not normal. All of my grandparents eventually got to the point where they had some arthritis - in their 70's and 80's. My parents started to get a few aches and pains in their 70's. So why is it that so many of my friends,(I'm 53), clients and colleagues (some as young as 35) have such serious pain that sometimes they can hardly move? Why are they getting labels like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia? Why is Lyme Disease on the verge of becoming an epidemic? Why are cancers on the rise? Does anyone really believe this is normal? And what if we can "blame it all on DNA"? How did that DNA get damaged in the first place? How far away have we gotten from eating and living in ways that support our vitality, while always seeking to make things quicker, easier, etc. And how much "stuff" have we been sold, not because it's really good for us, but because somebody can make a tidy profit from it?

There are many theories out there on specifically why certain diseases are becoming a problem, and you can always find research and articles to support any position you want to take. Unfortunately, many of those research projects are funded by organizations that have a lot to lose if the results don't come out in their favor.

At any rate, I don't believe in being a victim of anything. I believe in taking charge of my own health, while at the same time allowing help from other people and therapies, as needed. Today I may need reiki; tomorrow it may be a massage; the next day it could be acupuncture; the day after that, I may need to sleep. Or all of the above in one day..... It's all therapeutic and contributes toward my well-being. And of course, having a system full of the bacteria that create lyme disease means I also have to be engaged in some type of strong healing protocol such as the one I have been describing here for a few weeks now. (I'm not routinely taking 10-12 servings of salt and vitamin C each day).

One facet of the healing approach that I embrace is to strive to keep a healthy pH in my body. It is common knowledge these days that the body needs to stay in an alkaline state to thrive; yet our western diet steers us toward an acidic body-state with all of the processed foods we eat. I am pasting-in some info below that gives more details about the alkaline/acid eating plan, along with charts that explain which foods contribute to both conditions, in order to help with healthier choices.

Since our body’s pH level is slightly alkaline (with a normal range of 7.36 to 7.44) the body should also be slightly alkaline. Therefore, when the body absorbs or takes in many acidic foods like fish, meat, distilled water, coffee, and grains, the balance of alkaline is disrupted. This imbalance could lead to a depletion of bodily minerals like magnesium and calcium, and can eventually lead to degenerative or chronic diseases.

There are symptoms of excess acidity that one should be wary of: low energy and chronic fatigue, formation of cysts, headaches, neuritis, hives, leg cramps, spasms, and gastritis. When one experiences some or all of these symptoms, an alkaline diet is sure to be recommended.

Alkaline forming foods that restore health include coconuts, raisins, lemons, maple syrups, dates, most vegetables, herbs, and some fruits (except bananas which are acidic).

In general, alkaline foods are mostly those that are produced naturally, while most acidic foods are either machine-produced or those that imitate naturally-produced foods. Using an alkaline-acid chart will greatly help you identify what to eat and at what proportions.

Most experts will suggest that to stay in an alkaline state, one's diet should be approximately 70% alkaline.

By using an alkaline-acid chart and by eating a predominantly alkaline diet, you lower the risks of many life-debilitating illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, immune-related deficiencies, brittle bones, chronic fatigue, and effects of premature aging.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I hope it is helpful in some way. The food charts I mentioned are listed below. I'll be back in touch soon!

Sukie

The following alkaline/acid food charts are from www.essence-of-life.com.

ALKALINE

ALKALIZING VEGETABLES
Alfalfa
Barley Grass
Beets
Beet Greens
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard Greens
Chlorella
Collard Greens
Cucumber
Dandelions
Dulce
Edible Flowers
Eggplant
Fermented Veggies
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Peas
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Nightshade Veggies
Onions
Parsnips
Peas
Peppers
Pumpkin
Radishes
Rutabaga
Sea Veggies
Spinach, green
Spirulina
Sprouts
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Watercress
Wheat Grass
Wild Greens

ALKALIZING ORIENTAL VEGETABLES
Maitake
Daikon
Dandelion Root
Shitake
Kombu
Reishi
Nori
Umeboshi
Wakame

ALKALIZING FRUITS
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Banana (high glycemic)
Berries
Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries, sour
Coconut, fresh
Currants
Dates, dried
Figs, dried
Grapes
Grapefruit*
Honeydew Melon
Lemon*
Lime*
Muskmelons
Nectarine*
Orange*
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Raisins
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tangerine*
Tomato
Tropical Fruits
Umeboshi Plums
Watermelon

ALKALIZING PROTEIN
Almonds
Chestnuts
Millet
Tempeh (fermented)
Tofu (fermented)
Whey Protein Powder

ALKALIZING SWEETENERS
Stevia

ALKALIZING SPICES & SEASONINGS
Cinnamon
Curry
Ginger
Mustard
Chili Pepper
Sea Salt
Miso
Tamari
All Herbs

ALKALIZING OTHER
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bee Pollen
Lecithin Granules
Molasses, blackstrap
Probiotic Cultures
Soured Dairy Products
Green Juices
Veggie Juices
Fresh Fruit Juice
Mineral Water
Alkaline Antioxidant Water

ALKALIZING MINERALS
Cesium: pH 14
Potassium: pH 14
Sodium: pH 14
Calcium: pH 12
Magnesium: pH 9

ACIDIC

ACIDIFYING VEGETABLES
Corn
Lentils
Olives
Winter Squash

ACIDIFYING FRUITS
Blueberries
Canned or Glazed Fruits
Cranberries
Currants
Plums
Prunes

ACIDIFYING GRAINS, GRAIN PRODUCTS
Amaranth
Barley
Bran, wheat
Bran, oat
Corn
Cornstarch
Hemp Seed Flour
Kamut
Oats (rolled)
Oatmeal
Quinoa
Rice
Rice Cakes
Rye
Spelt
Wheat
Wheat Germ
Noodles
Macaroni
Spaghetti
Bread
Crackers, soda
Flour

ACIDIFYING BEANS & LEGUMES
Black Beans
Chick Peas
Green Peas
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Pinto Beans
Red Beans
Soy Beans
Soy Milk
White Beans
Rice Milk
Almond Milk

ACIDIFYING DAIRY
Butter
Cheese
Cheese, Processed
Ice Cream
Ice Milk

ACIDIFYING NUTS & BUTTERS
Cashews
Legumes
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Pecans
Tahini
Walnuts

ACIDIFYING ANIMAL PROTEIN
Bacon
Beef
Carp
Clams
Cod
Corned Beef
Fish
Haddock
Lamb
Lobster
Mussels
Organ Meats
Oyster
Pike
Pork
Rabbit
Salmon
Sardines
Sausage
Scallops
Shrimp
Scallops
Shellfish
Tuna
Turkey
Veal
Venison

ACIDIFYING FATS & OILS
Avacado Oil
Butter
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Flax Oil
Lard
Olive Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil

ACIDIFYING SWEETENERS
Carob
Sugar
Corn Syrup

ACIDIFYING ALCOHOL
Beer
Spirits
Hard Liquor
Wine

ACIDIFYING OTHER FOODS
Catsup
Cocoa
Coffee
Vinegar
Mustard
Pepper
Soft Drinks

ACIDIFYING DRUGS & CHEMICALS
Aspirin
Chemicals
Drugs, Medicinal
Drugs, Psychedelic
Pesticides
Herbicides
Tobacco

ACIDIFYING
JUNK FOOD
Coca-Cola: pH 2
Beer: pH 2.5
Coffee: pH 4

There are several versions of Acid/ Alkaline food charts to be found, both online and in nutrition books. The following foods are sometimes attributed to the Acidic side of the chart and sometimes to the Alkaline side. Remember, you don't need to adhere strictly to the Alkaline side of the chart, just make sure a good percentage of the foods you eat come from that side.

Asparagus
Brazil Nuts
Brussel Sprouts
Buckwheat
Chicken
Corn
Cottage Cheese
Eggs
Flax Seeds
Green Tea
Herbal Tea
Honey
Kombucha
Lima Beans
Maple Syrup
Milk
Nuts
Organic Milk (unpasturized)
Potatoes, white
Pumpkin Seeds
Sauerkraut
Soy Products
Sprouted Seeds
Squashes
Sunflower Seeds
Yogurt

RANKED FOOD CHART : ALKALINE TO ACIDIC
EXTREMELY ALKALINE
________________________________________
Lemons, Watermelon
ALKALINE FORMING
________________________________________
Cantaloupe, Cayenne Celery, Dates, Figs, Kelp, Limes, Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley, Seaweeds, Seedless Grapes, Watercress
________________________________________
Asparagus, Fruit Juices, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Passionfruit, Pears, Pineapple, Raisins, Umeboshi Plums, Vegetable Juices

MODERATELY ALKALINE
________________________________________
Apples, Alfalfa Sprouts, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Currants, Dates, Figs, Garlic, Grapefruit, Grapes (less sweet), Guavas, Herbs, Lettuce, Nectarine, Peaches, Pears (less sweet), Peas, Pumpkin , Sea Salt
________________________________________
Apples (sour), Green Beans, Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carob, Cauliflower, Ginger, Grapes (sour), Lettuce (pale green), Oranges, Peaches (less sweet), Peas (less sweet), Potatoes (with skin), Pumpkin (less sweet), Raspberries, Strawberries, Squash, Sweet Corn, Turnip, Apple Cider Vinegar

SLIGHLTY ALKALINE
________________________________________
Almonds, Jerusalem Artichokes, Brussel Sprouts, Cherries, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Eggplant, Honey (raw), Leeks, Mushrooms, Okra, Olives (ripe), Onions, Pickles (homemade), Radishes, Sea Salt, Spices, Tomatoes, Brown Rice Vinegar
________________________________________
Chestnuts (dry, roasted), Egg Yolks, Essene Bread, Goat's Milk and Whey (raw), Mayonnaise (homemade), Olive Oil, Sesame Seeds (whole), Soy Beans (dry), Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Sprouted Grains, Tofu, Tomatoes (less sweet), Nutritional Yeast
NEUTRAL
________________________________________
Butter (fresh, unsalted), Cream (fresh, raw), Cow's Milk and Whey (raw), Margine, Oils (except olive), Yogurt (plain)
MODERATELY ACIDIC
________________________________________
Bananas (green), Barley (rye), Blueberries, Bran, Butter, Cereals (unrefined), Cheeses, Crackers (unrefined rye, rice and wheat), Cranberries, Dried Beans (mung, adzuki, pinto, kidney, garbanzo), Dry Coconut, Egg Whites, Eggs Whole (cooked hard), Fructose, Goat's Milk (homogenized), Honey (pasteurized), Ketchup, Maple Syrup (unprocessed), Milk (homogenized), Molasses (unsulferd and organic), Most Nuts, Mustard, Oats (rye, organic), Olives (pickled), Pasta (whole grain), Pastry (whole grain and honey), Plums, Popcorn (with salt and/or butter), Potatoes, Prunes, Rice (basmati and brown), Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), Soy Sauce, Wheat Bread (sprouted organic)

EXTREMELY ACIDIC
________________________________________
Artificial Sweeteners, Beef, Beer, Breads, Brown Sugar, Carbonated Soft Drinks, Cereals (refined), Chocolate, Cigarettes and Tobacco, Coffee, Cream of Wheat (unrefined), Custard (with white sugar), Deer, Drugs, Fish, Flour (white wheat), Fruit Juices with Sugar, Jams, Jellies, Lamb, Liquor, Maple Syrup (processed), Molasses (sulphured), Pasta (white), Pastries and Cakes from White Flour, Pickles (commercial), Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Sugar (white), Table Salt (refined and iodized), Tea (black), White Bread, White Vinegar (processed), Whole Wheat Foods, Wine, Yogurt (sweetened)