The PH Diet: The pHenomenal Dietary System. Bharti Vyas
by the body, or any substance that promotes the excretion of a beneficial nutrient. Alcohol, cigarettes, man-made chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics and synthetic hormone residues can all be described as anti-nutrients. Even tap water may contain nitrates, lead or aluminium, all of which are anti-nutrients in their own right. Fried food, food cooked on a barbecue and burnt food can all be classed as anti-nutrients as they cause ‘free-radical’ damage to our cells. Free radicals are incomplete cells that attack healthy cells, causing damage that can lead to certain diseases, especially cancer and heart disease.
Many common medicines are also anti-nutrients. Aspirin, for example, irritates the gut wall, making it more permeable. The more anti-nutrients you take in, the more toxic and acidic you will be and the longer you should stay on Level 1, gradually reducing your intake of anti-nutrients over the coming weeks.
If you drink alcohol on most days – even just a glass of wine with dinner – introduce some alcohol-free days into your life. Start with one a week, and gradually build up. Alcohol is rich in calories and poor in nutrients. It also weakens your resolve and is likely to result in cheating, snacking or going off the rails completely. If you do not drink much alcohol but caffeine is your poison – in the form of coffee, tea or cola drinks – then try a caffeine-free day once in a while. As with alcohol, caffeinated drinks are deficient in nutrients, and there are many alternatives you may enjoy (see page 8). Again, start with one day a week and increase it gradually.
Nicotine is another anti-nutrient and should be reduced slowly. If you are having problems giving up smoking, you may find that alkalizing your body reduces cigarette cravings. A recent study has found that people smoke more when their diet is acidic.
Replacement Drinks
It will be easier to give up coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fizzy drinks and alcohol when you find an enjoyable alternative. There are a few ideas to help you in the table (see page 8). Treat your body gently – and give up gradually. Giving up completely is the ultimate goal, but start by omitting the sugar and/or cow’s milk, or make the drinks less strong, and drink less often. Your water intake will dilute the acid from the acid-forming drinks you are still having. So don’t forget the water – on the hour every hour until 6pm.
Your aim is to reach the unlimited column of the table over the coming weeks and months. If you are starting from the most acidic column, drinking coffee, tea, milk and/or alcohol on most days, you can either reduce the number of times you consume the drink, drink it weaker, alternate it with water, or move on to the next column. Each time you move along a column you will be choosing a less acidic type of beverage. Over the coming weeks and months, work your way through the columns from left to right, making better choices and reducing the toxic load each time you move along a column. If your choices currently include tea and cow’s milk and sugar, then gradually reduce the sugar and eventually the cow’s milk before moving on to the next column.
Occasionally you may have a glass of wine, a cup of coffee or a milkshake. On these occasions, make sure you drink more water to detoxify the acidic drink and return to the alkaline-forming drinks and the unlimited column as soon as you can.
Gradually decrease your toxic load by moving along the columns until you reach the Unlimited column. This may take several months – persevere! As you move along the columns, your hair, skin, nails and eyes will look brighter, healthier and stronger.
Acid- and Alkaline-forming Drinks
Green Tea
The health benefits of green tea have been well established by many reputable studies. They contain powerful antioxidants, which have been shown to fight viruses, slow ageing, reduce high blood pressure, lower blood sugar, fight cancer and have an overall beneficial effect on health.
There are three types of tea: green, oolong and black. During the fermentation process, green tea is steamed, baked or pan-heated to prevent oxidation, thus the leaf remains green. Oolong tea is partially fermented. Oxidation is cut short so the leaves are black only on the edges. Black tea is fully fermented, producing black leaves. So why is green tea getting all the attention in the science world? It is mainly because of an antioxidant called EGCG that is preserved in green tea, but lost in oolong and black tea when fermented. Antioxidants are thought to prevent harmful free radicals. The highest amount of any known antioxidant is found in green tea. EGCG has been found to be 100 times more effective than vitamin C, and 25 times more effective than vitamin E, at neutralizing free radicals.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is warming and extremely good for settling the digestive system. It is best made from fresh ginger. Use about 2.5cm (1 inch) per person. Simply peel the ginger, slice it up and pour on boiling water. The longer you leave before drinking, the more beneficial it will be. Adding lemon will make it even more alkaline.
Herbal Teas
Correctly called tisanes, herbal teas are made from flowering plants without woody stems. Herbal infusions can include flowers, herbs, fruit and spices. Unlike all other types of tea, these infusions are caffeine-free. Examples are fennel, chamomile, nettle, peppermint, and rooibos (tea made from the red bush tree in South Africa, see below). These teas are alkaline forming, whereas fruit teas like apple, blackberry or raspberry may be mildly acid forming. However, we always have a choice and a mildly acid-forming fruit tea will be much more beneficial than a cup of extremely acid-forming coffee.
Tea
Most of the tea we drink is black tea. In fact, 94 per cent of all tea consumed is black. Although tea has approximately half the amount of caffeine as coffee, it should not be drunk excessively as it can discolour your teeth and cause insomnia. Drunk with meals, tea inhibits iron absorption by the body. Tea is without doubt a better choice than coffee, but ideally you should be looking to make an even better choice. Opt for green tea, ginger tea or rooibos tea, all high in antioxidants and beneficial to your health.
Rooibos Tea
The tea made from the red bush tree in South Africa is 100 per cent organic and has seemingly endless medicinal value. It really is nature’s medicine. It is best drunk alone, but you can add lemon or ginger. Milk can be added, but takes away the refreshing taste of the tea. Wean yourself off cow’s milk being added to any tea and choose soya milk as an alternative.
Rooibos tea:
• acts as an antioxidant that slows the ageing process
• prevents cancer and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
• is packed with flavonoids, antioxidants more powerful than vitamin C, green or black tea
• supports the digestive system and is anti-spasmodic, relieving stomach cramps and colic in babies
• helps manage allergies
• soothes skin irritations when applied directly to the affected area
• replenishes iron levels, so is useful for pregnant and menstruating women
• is calorie-free
• boosts the immune system
• aids health problems like insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension and hypertension
• has a low tannin content (only 1–4 per cent)
• contains no artificial colours, additives or preservatives
• contains no caffeine, so can be drunk by pregnant women