With so many colds, flus and viruses flying around in Winter, we’re all looking at ways to boost our immune systems. Whilst upping our vitamin intake, drinking hot lemon and honey and getting early nights are popular go-tos, did you know that having a stable pH is crucial to keeping your immune system strong?
You may recall from chemistry class that pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is:
O is extremely acidic
7 is neutral
14 is very alkaline
As a human being, the pH of your blood should naturally be slightly alkaline – around 7.30-7.45 on the pH scale. Anything above or below that mark is either too acidic or too alkaline and often almost every area of your body will suffer as a consequence.
Now usually, the body is very good at keeping the pH balance in check via its detoxification organs and systems - the liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs and lymphatic system.
But, if there is excess acidity in the body (known as hyperacidity), then these organs will start to struggle and can lead to an array of potential health problems and diseases.
And the common winter ailments many of us are suffering from at the moment such as recurrent colds and flus, sinusitis and bronchitis can indicate the early stages of a pH imbalance. Read on to find out the every day ills which are causing acidity in the body and how to rebalance your pH from home...
What causes excess acidity to build up in the body?
Unfortunately, modern day living. Eating processed, fried and sugary foods, heavy drinking, stress, shallow breathing (often resulting from chronic stress and infections), taking antibiotics, being exposed to toxins like pesticides and not getting enough exercise, can increase your acidity levels and the body can struggle to rebalance.
How can I bring my body back to balance?
The good news is that there are a number of simple ways you can achieve a healthy pH and restore your body back to its best this winter. These include:
Reducing harmful acidic foods from your diet: refined sugar and flours, food additives, caffeine, meats and dairy, processed foods and alcohol.
Choosing healthier acidic foods (remember, it’s also not healthy to eat 100% alkaline foods as the body needs balance): Fresh fruits, black beans, kidney beans, oats, brown rice, raw unsalted nuts and seeds, cold pressed oils, honey/maple syrup.
Increasing alkaline foods: Vegetables, legumes, quinoa, sprouted seeds, avocado oil, peppermint tea, lemon water.
Optimising your digestion by taking a good probiotic.
Staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep.
Nurturing practises to help reduce stress, flush toxins from the body and encourage deeper breathing such as regular exercise, yoga, meditation and breathwork.
Building techniques into your daily self-care ritual to help with lymphatic drainage and stimulating the lymphatic system like massage and dry body brushing.
If you’re worried - or curious - about your pH levels, you can easily buy a simple at home urine or saliva test strip from a pharmacy or online with step by step instructions. We’ll also be giving each guest on our upcoming Yoga, Immune Boosting and Radiant Health Retreat a pH test-strip when they arrive and leave. Led by our founder Vidya Heisel and our team of expert teachers, we’re confident that our rejuvenating schedule of yoga, meditation, breathwork, hikes in the fresh mountain air and resistance training combined with delicious organic vegetarian food, daily green juices, Golden Milk workshop and dips in our sparkling saltwater pool, will leave our guests with a neutralised pH by the end of the week! If you’d like to join us, drop us a line at info@suryalila.com or pop to our website for more details. We look forward to welcoming you to our retreat in the sun-kissed Andalusian mountains.
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