HUNGRY FOR A REVOLUTION

Written by Tiffany Pollard M.S., LAc,
Submitted by our friends at Eating For Evolution

In my private alternative medical practice I hear variations of the following phases on a daily basis: “I just don’t feel my best,” “I don’t feel like I used to,” “ My energy is low and I don’t feel 100%.” These are relatively young people (ages 30 to 50) coming in because they are in the all too common state of half health. When one is in half health he or she is too “well” to have been diagnosed with a serious illness, based on western testing, yet they intuitively know that something is not quite right within their body-mind. The most common symptoms of half health are low energy, irritability and restlessness, poor sleep, digestive disturbances, weight gain, frequent colds and flu, and skin issues.

As a Chinese Medicine practitioner I am ever aware of the delicate balance within the dynamic, holistic, unit that we refer to as the “human being.” Chinese medicine was founded on the principle of opposites, termed “yin” and “yang,” the forces of which are in a continuous dance with one another in order to maintain the perpetual cycle of life. When we observe the human body we can see that it’s balance, its life in fact, hinges on critical, deeply interconnected relationships.

One such relationship is the pH balance; the balance between acid and alkaline. The pH of the blood and body fluids should be slightly alkaline (7.385 to 7.4). It is imperative to life functions that the blood is kept in a very narrow pH range; this allows critical enzymes to activate. Other areas of the body may be relatively more acidic, for example the stomach, and yet others have a bit more leeway in terms of pH range. The body is constantly working on this homeostasis or balance despite what we do to disrupt it; but there are consequences.

The standard American diet (S.A.D.) is high in animal products, and processed and refined foods that cause our body to become acidic. Unfortunately, the standard American lifestyle of too much or unmanaged stress does the same. When the body becomes relatively more acidic this imbalance can lead to overgrowth of yeast, viruses, unfriendly bacteria, cancer cells, and parasites. This affects the entire body, including your mouth. The homeostasis within your mouth is intimately connected with the rest of the body. As the body grows more acidic, unfriendly microbes can over-grow in your mouth and digestive track, making you more susceptible to cavities and gum disease.

Compromised dental health may just be the beginning of a vicious cycle. As the body attempts to correct pH imbalances, it calls on the reserves of alkaline minerals, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. If one continues with an acid forming diet and lifestyle more minerals are leeched from the body, creating substantial mineral deficiencies over time. This process in essence, is an accelerated degradation of the body; a big push in the direction of degenerative disease and illness.

Long before one is diagnosed with a specific disease, there have been underlying pH imbalances developing. The pH balance is key to optimal health, so it is important to know that you have significant influence over it. Have you heard “you are what you eat?” Well it is certainly true that your pH is in large part determined by what you eat (other factors include stress, drugs, and toxic chemical exposures), and you are your pH! Knowing that disease is intimately linked to acidic body conditions, wouldn’t you want to eat in an alkalizing way?

In general, the alkalizing foods are land and sea vegetables, fruits, a few grains; quinoa (my favorite!), amaranth, and millet, raw apple cider vinegar, kefir (fermented milk drink), seeds and sea salt. The acid forming foods are all flesh foods, fish, most animal products, oils, and all other grains (wheat is especially acid forming). Acid-forming foods are not bad; they are in fact necessary for nutrients and pH balance. The key is this: Consume 70% to 80% alkalizing foods and 20% to 30% acid-forming foods to reach and maintain optimal body health. This is no passing diet fad; this is a fact of life that has stood the test of time.

It is truly exciting for me to witness my patient’s transform and thrive as they alter their relationship with food. It is possible to fall in love with scrumptious, life giving whole foods that are abundant to you, even if you always hated your veggies as a kid. I recommend that you begin to look at these foods with new eyes: See in them not just cabbage, or cauliflower, but nothing short of life itself! If you begin to understand the gifts that these alkalizing foods bestow upon you, I believe true love is inevitable.

Here is one of my favorite recipes. I created it out of the bounty of fresh Northwest produce that is available to us. It is LOADED with life giving anti-oxidants and cancer fighting phyto-nutrients, and guess what… it tastes amazing! I hope that you’ll enjoy this power packed, alkalizing Northwest Salad as much as I have! For more recipes visit www.EatingForEvolution.com

Here’s to foods that heal!

Northwest Salad

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Yields: 2-4 servings

This salad just looks like the northwest! It has beautiful greens, orange and reds with the browned nuts. You’ll experience an explosion of flavor in your mouth! All of these ingredients are filled with vitality, and that is what you’ll feel as you eat it!

2 cups, packed Kale, washed and de-stemmed (chard and kale make a good combo as well)

1 1/2 cup grated raw carrot or beet (washed well, with skin on) 3/4 cup of each is nice

1 washed apple grated with skin on (about 1 cup)

2-3 tablespoons unrefined olive or sesame oil

1-2 tablespoons fresh citrus juice (I like lime)

2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

Pinch of sea salt to taste

If you have a food processor, pulse kale and chard until well chopped, but not mush: if not, use knife to chop fine. Place in medium/large mixing bowl. Use food processor (to grate) or a hand grater for carrots and/or beets. Add to greens. Next grate apple with skin and add to the mixture. Be sure to put in any juice from the apple

Add oil, citrus juice, apple cider vinegar and mix. Toast pumpkin seeds on skillet over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until fragrant and browning. Pour into salad, toss and serve. Apple slices make a nice garnish. This salad will keep nicely in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Copyright 2009 Eating For Evolution LLC

www.TheSynergyWellnessCenter.com

Tiffany Pollard is a Bastyr University graduate and a Chinese medicine practitioner. She owns Synergy Wellness Center, a holistic health center, and she has also founded Eating for Evolution, LLC through which she creates inspirational cooking programs in order to increase awareness of the healing properties of foods, and help folks with food sensitivities. Tiffany has studied the energetic and healing properties of foods for years, mentoring with well known author Paul Pitchford. In her practice, she encourages her patients to let food act as healing medicine. Tiffany has been cooking ever since she can remember, and she is passionate about teaching people how to connect to the enormous healing power in whole foods.

She can be contacted at Tiffany@EatingforEvolution.com

References:

Gates, Donna. The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity. Tenth Edition, 2007

Young, Robert O Ph.D. The pH Miracle Diet: Reclaim Your Health, 2002

Colbin, Annemarie. Food and Healing, 1986