Tame Your Sugar Cravings by Balancing Your Body's PH

You may not have thought about the pH scale since secondary school biology/chemistry class. As it turns out, that lesson is actually applicable to your life outside of the classroom. We all know sugar has addictive properties so it’s no wonder that eating it only makes us want more. Sugar is one of the most acid forming foods that you can eat and the acidic state it creates in your body is partly responsible for leaving you wanting more.

Having a more alkaline, balanced pH is vital to your health because it enables all of your cells, organs, and systems to function at maximum performance. If you struggle with sugar addiction, this could be your entrance onto the road to recovery. Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline ( 7.35 - 7.45 ).  Below or above this range means symptoms and disease.  A pH of 7.0 is neutral.  A pH below 7.0 is acidic.  A pH above 7.0 is alkaline.

An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients.  The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals.  If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

An acidic imbalance will:  decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it's ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it's ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.  A blood pH of 6.9, which is only slightly acidic, can induce coma and death.

Acidosis is mostly due to consuming a diet, which is far too high in acid-producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fresh vegetables.  Additionally, we eat acid producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks.  We use too many drugs, which are acid forming; and we use artificial chemical sweeteners like Aspartame, which are extremely acid forming. 

Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts. Generally, acid forming foods include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.

An acidic body is a sickness magnet.  What you eat and drink will impact where your body's pH level falls.  Balance is Key !!!

Practical Ways of Taming Sugar Cravings

• One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle. To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods.  To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods.

• Another way to alkalize your system and keep sugar cravings at bay is to get moving! Take a walk! Exercise! Your cardiovascular system helps regulate many body components including its acidity levels.

• Taking deep breaths also aids in removing excess acid from the system through the release of carbon dioxide. Make sure to get a good dose of fresh air and exercise as a non-edible way to help balance your system.

• Adding more fermented foods and beverages to your diet is also a great way to level your pH as well as assist in digestion and nourish the gut – which is another culprit for sugar cravings when not functioning properly.

Here is a list of a few acidic and alkaline foods to evaluate where you can make small changes or swaps in your diet to improve your health, balance your body’s pH, and in turn gain control over your sugar cravings. 

Sugar addiction can’t be cured in a day so do your best and be proud that you are taking yet another step in the right direction!