Has anyone ever said the old "you are what you eat" line in a half joking, half serious tone in response to your choice of food or meal size?
Well, they may have been on to something, especially when it comes to thinking about excess acidity.
Acid-forming foods include meat, dairy, processed and sugary foods, as well as some grains and alcoholic drinks. Alkaline-forming foods are much more nutrient dense and vibrantly colored. They include fresh ingredients - fruits and vegetables - as well as some nuts and certain oils that are not heavily processed.
But how do you know if your body is struggling with a diet that focuses too much on acid-forming foods? Maybe it is time to learn about how the body warns us when things are not going to plan.
Our bodies naturally fight to keep things in balance. Acidosis (where your bodily fluids contain high levels of acid) is fought off by the organs. But organs need to work really hard to counteract acidic effects and eventually, they may run out of steam. This is when the body will start to warn you that things are not going according to plan.
Signs of excess acidity in the body
- Waking up in the morning after a good sleep but still feeling low in energy.
- Dry skin and nails that break easily.
- Frequent headaches.
- Mouth ulcers and sensitive teeth, as well as bad breath.
- Digestive issues, especially heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers and gastritis.
- Issues with muscles such as leg cramps, muscle spams and pain.
- Stiff and sore joints (including inflammation) is another discomfort you may experience.
- A burning sensation in the bladder.
- Developing symptoms associated with gout and osteoarthritis.
While the body may be sending a red flag, don't discount a change to your mental well-being. The mind and body acts as one, so if you see greater levels of anxiety and depression, it may also be a sign of excess acidity.
What can you do to better support your health?
We mentioned this briefly in our last blog, but let's go into some more detail!
Check in with your doctor to understand which symptoms you are experiencing, and what changes you need to make immediately in the short term versus the lifestyle changes you can make over the long term.
Rethink your nutrition. The first step is to keep a food journal - this will highlight the proportion of acid versus alkaline-forming foods and drinks that you consume most frequently. From there, you can start to make small food swaps until you get into a habit of eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and less processed and sugary foods.
It can also be very helpful to look at supporting activities, such as drinking more water and exercising more regularly. These things help to cleanse the body and support the organs to function more optimally so that they can get back to countering excess acidity in the body.
How can we help you during this process?
Multiforce is a great way to naturally add important minerals to your daily routine. The calcium, magnesium and potassium act together as an alkalizing blend to support your system in countering excess acidity.
Head to our store to give it a try.
Healthline Media, Heathline. pH Imbalance: How Your Body Maintains Acid-Base Balance. Accessed 08/20/2020.
Spike Media Property, Medical News. 15 Signs that Indicate Your Body is Too Acidic & How to Fix it Fast. Accessed 08/25/2020.