Alkaline your way to extreme health

            Have you ever heard of the term Money is Energy or everything is Energy? Energy comes from many places such as emotional uplift, adrenaline, Biological processes at the cellular level, but at the core it is the state of someone’s Acid-Alkaline balance. There are some individuals who seem to be genetically alkaline.There are also even more people who are genetically acidic and seem to always be carrying around a bottle of Tums. Everything seems to bother there stomachs especially citrus drinks made with high fructose corn syrup, alcohol, coffee, large meals with red meat (you know the 28oz porterhouse).  The good news for someone who tends to be more acidic is you can help the body bring up your ph level with the proper diet.

The Acid-Alkaline balance is also known as the Bodies PH level. Your blood is constantly trying to maintain a PH of 7.4. Do you remember chemistry class when you stuck that piece of litmus paper in the different liquids? A PH of 7.0 is neutral. A Ph above 7.0 is Alkaline and a PH below 7.0 is acidic. Coffee, alcohol, colas, Red Meat, sugar, many sweetened fruit juices and canned fruits, Beans, Dairy Products and nuts are largely on the acidic side. Vegetables, fish, healthy oils and raw fruits are more alkaline forming. Most people think that lemons are acidic. Although the lemon itself has a low Ph, when swallowed, digested and assimilated it is alkaline forming in the body.

            How important is the concept of PH. If blood pH moves below 6.8 or above 7.8, cells stop functioning and the body dies. I would say it is extremely important. Unfortunately the Standard Diet is very acidic and foods are not the only things that cause us to live in a state of acidosis. Stress, extreme exercise, environmental toxins, and anything that deprives the cells of oxygen such as improper breathing or poorly ventilated buildings will make us more acidic.

            Our bodies are amazing and when we become acidic there are mechanisms which work to keep us alkaline. Minerals such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium which are some of the most alkaline substances on the planet, are robbed from other areas of our bodies such as organs and bones. This state of acidosis has been proven to be a leading cause of arthritis, osteoporosis, bronchitis, nasal infections, and many other illnesses. Research has even shown that cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment. I personally suffered from Bronchitis and nasal infections as well as arthritic conditions for many years. I believe there were two reasons for this.

1 – An overly acidic diet

2 – Participating in extreme sports such as marathons, triathlons track and field and cross country racing without the knowledge of how to stay alkaline

            Many athletes are unaware of the acidic forming oxidative effects that extreme exercise has on there bodies. Cyclist are seen with runny noses while riding there bikes. The oxidative affect of lactic acid build up combined with having an acidic body forces the body to react and remove the toxic build up. It can be a tendency for athletes to feel invincible and feel they could eat anything they want because of there cardiovascular or muscular fitness. I would say the opposite is true, we can never escape the truth that you are what you eat. An athlete needs to take on even more measures than most to continually alkaline the body with vegetable juices, high alkaline water, and minerals. Many health practitioners believe in taking small amounts of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) when one feels the onset of stuffiness or a cold to help increase the body’s alkaline state. Herbal teas, lemon and water, increasing sea salt and calcium intake will also help. Practicing deep breathing can also help in many ways. Many people do not breath deeply enough or exercise and therefore are not using there entire lung capacity. Toxins can build up in the lower portions of the longs over time which can lead to lung infections and coughing. When oxygen enters the full lung one can feel the energy almost immediately. Coincidently, oxygen is extremely alkaline. I truly believe that keeping the body alkaline is one of the most important aspects of health, wellness and longevity.

 

You can take this to any level you want.

Level A – Xtreme Health™ Practice deep breathing, educate yourself to what foods are alkaline and what foods are acidic, make yourself an alkaline kit that you can take when you travel and for when you feel under the weather (Buffered Vitamin C, minerals, sodium and potassium Bicarbonate), Drink vegetable juice everyday (raw and juiced from a juicer), drink alkaline water every day

Level B - Much better than most people

Drink alkaline water, drink vegetable juice every day, and take buffered vitamin C

Level C – A step above what you’re doing now

Drink water with lemon juice and increase your vegetable intake

 

Have the most Awesome day Ever.

Can we live to 125 years Old?

 I believe we as humans can live to 125 years old….  I know most people don't. In fact, we live in a world filled with a lot of skepticism, negativity and materialistic motivations. Those of us who can conquer the belief system that society forces upon us and truly connect with their own inner powers will have the greatest chance of longevity. The first step in longevity is believing it could happen to you. The power of your belief system is beyond written words. It is what helps underdogs win against all odds. It is the backbone of most miracles. It indeed could be your first awakening towards a new journey of healthy and joyous living.

                I know many people are dependent on the knowledge they hear from doctors or from what they hear on TV or in casual conversation. I have studied anti-aging and longevity in my journey towards finding the best foods ever. I have come across a lot of key ideas and wellness concepts that I believe if incorporated into your life will stack the longevity odds in your favor.

                For starters I do believe the belief system affects us on a genetic level. It just makes sense to me. There is a reason why as you think about things your heart rate goes up or your hair stands on your arms. Same goes for the feeling you get when certain songs come on the radio. That connection between your mind and your soul is really the communication between your mind and every cell in your body. You have the inert power to control your genes by controlling your thoughts and what you eat. We all have heard you are what you eat. Have you heard you are what you think? I believe it is just as powerful because it controls your stress levels and your ability to stay healthy. Let’s take a look at a quick action plan that we could start today to take ourselves on a positive journey towards living to 125 years old. (I would be happy with 100 but aim for 125)

                I know you have heard this before but you need to find a way to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Even the new food pyramid has increased the daily consumption up to 9 to 12 servings a day. This is almost impossible for most people so you need to do whatever you can to come close to that even if it means getting fruit and vegetable supplements in capsule or powder form that you can take on the go. It is a step in the right direction. We need to also stop putting toxins into our bodies. Get rid of the hydrogenated oils, the high fructose corn syrups, the pesticides and herbicides, the food preservatives, the dirty water and the dirty air. Dirty air can be a tough one because there are so many factors. Don’t leave your windows closed all winter. Open them at least for 15 minutes a day to circulate the air. Another good suggestion is plants. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and oxygenate your house. Some good oxygenating plants are bamboo plants, chinese evergreen plants, Aloe Vera, and spider plants.

                We also need to fight all the free radicals that are being generated in our bodies with some healthy antioxidants. These are best obtained from berries which come packed with 1000’s of other substances which work together to help our immune system and our cells. Exercising daily is another huge help for your body. Strength training especially has been known to increase human growth hormones which have been noted for their anti-aging properties. So many people go to anti-aging clinics which is a step in the right direction but some of the same benefits can be obtained from strength training.

                There are some foods in particular that I have read about that seem to be getting a lot of anti-aging attention. Resveratrol which is found in grape skin, grape seeds, peanuts and raspberries are well known anti-aging substances except most people associate it with red wine. However an overdose on red wine diminishes the affect in my opinion because of the toxicity of the added alcohol on the liver. In moderation, however, it can be a great way to reduce stress and add antioxidants. Coconut oil, which unfortunately most people say is bad for them, is actually an amazing product. It is good on your skin, it is one of the only oils I will cook with and recent studies have noted its anti-aging properties. Omega 3’s have always got a huge standing ovation on the anti-aging front because the Japanese who consume so much of it have a much longer life span than the western world. I get Omega 3’s from flax seed, hemp seed, avocadoes and Krill oil.

                Some other general items of interest in the arena of longevity is too eat less. This can be difficult for most people especially athletes who need carbs for fuel. However, whenever possible in between training cycles, or for one day here or there, eating lightly has been proven to help us live longer. Tests have been done in Russia on chickens which lived 3 times longer than other chickens when they were fed a small diet rich in raw organic foods. We should also maintain an alkaline body as much as possible. Cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment so eating alkaline foods, drinking alkaline water, and keeping stress at a minimum will keep you more alkaline and help your body keep minerals where they belong instead of using them to raise your alkalinity.

                By implementing some of these ideas I believe you will light a spark plug in your

longevity engine of life. It is true that there are people that have lived extremely long lives on this planet. They help their genes by putting good foods in their bodies. Don’t get tricked into thinking you are doomed because of your genes. Only 25% of your fate or less is decided by your genes and it is your lifestyle that not only affects the other 75% but will also act as a trigger on any “bad” genes that you think you have. The gene is the loaded gun. Your lifestyle is the trigger. Don’t pull the trigger and you may just live longer than you “think”.

You can take this to any level you want.

 

Level A – Xtreme Health™

                Follow all the suggestions in this article over the course of the next several months

Level B - Much better than most people

Eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise daily, believe you can in fact live a long life and feel vibrant and strong even as you age to over 100    

Level C – A step above what you’re doing now

                Stop taking in the bad foods. At least one day a week eat organic meals and celebrate the great foods that the earth has given to us.

SuperFoods!!

What is a superfood? I often get this question whenever I mention that my diet consists primarily of organic foods and in particular organic superfoods. Superfoods are foods which are extremely nutrient dense and give you the biggest bang for your buck compared to other foods. They contain amazing medicinal like properties in that they have been used in different cultures for thousands of years for healing, for endurance, for vibrant health, and for their so called anti-aging characteristics. They usually are high in antioxidants and minerals as well as enzyme rich. There are different levels of superfoods. In fact some superfoods are very well known and most people do not realize they are eating what has been “labeled” as a superfood. By labeled, I mean they are sometimes marketed as superfoods because there tends to be some evidence the foods are a healthier alternative and perhaps this is true, but in fact a true superfood will be at its healthiest state when it is in raw, uncooked form. Foods often marketed as superfoods include foods such as Garlic, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, papaya, Spinach, Parsley, Oats, Turkey, Eggs, Walnuts, Pumpkin, Almonds, Figs, Chili Peppers, Cayenne pepper, Pomegranate, Blueberries, raspberries, and Wild salmon. Some of these are in fact extremely healthy foods. Many of us have heard of these foods and have eaten them time and time again. It is certainly better to get the organic or wild variety of these foods in that they are even more “super” without the added chemicals and preservatives.

            Some other superfoods are not as well known. These are the foods which can get you to the next level of Xtreme Health™. I have spent the last year researching some of these superfoods which I consider to be some of the best foods in the world and have used them in my daily diet with tremendous success. These superfoods which I am about to talk about are absolutely amazing and have helped cultures for thousands of years avoid famine and disease. Kings and queens would go to war to get more of these superfoods. For instance, it has been said that Alexander the great was persuaded by Aristotle to invade Egypt for the Aloe Vera plant so he could use it on his injured soldiers. Back then we didn’t have clinical studies to tell us what was good and bad for us. They used foods to treat people and they either worked or didn’t work. This process over 1000’s of years brought the greatest of superfoods and herbs to the forefront of visibility by the leaders of great countries.

            The following are some of the greatest superfoods I have learned about over the last year and for which are available on the internet as well as local health food stores. Hemp Seeds and Hemp Protein, Bee Pollen, Wild Honey, Maca powder, Spirulina, Blue Green Algae, Chlorella, Sprouts, Wheat grass, Barley Grass, Dulse, Kelp, Goji Berries, Cacao beans, Organic MSM, Avocado’s, Coconut and coconut oil, Acai berries, Mangosteen, Agave Nectar, Royal Jelly, Flax seeds, and Green Tea. Spirulina in particular is a food which fed mexico city for thousands of years. It is the highest source of protein on the planet (62% protein). It is great mixed with just plain spring water. Goji berries are another complete protein source. They are high in antioxidants, iron and vitamin C and contain 21 trace minerals and many other nutrients. They are small light and portable. I usually eat just one handful of goji berries before a cross country flight and do not have to eat anything the entire flight. Cacao beans are the actual raw chocolate bean which most people have never eaten. Most are familiar with the processed version of cacao called cocoa or chocolate which is mostly sugar and dairy mixed together with the cacao bean.

            Most of these superfoods can be obtained in powdered form and added to your favorite super smoothie in the morning. You will get just about every vitamin, mineral, amino acid, good fat (Omega 3, 6 and 9) and hundreds of other phytonutrients by eating these foods. Every longevity and anti-aging diet should not be without these superfoods. Athletes in particular whose bodies are hungry for antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and minerals should incorporate these foods into their diet.

Cheers to living to 125 years old and beyond.

 

You can take this to any level you want.
 

Level A – Xtreme Health™

            Follow all the suggestions in this article over the course of the next several months

Level B - Much better than most people

Drink a smoothie every morning containing at least one of the superfoods in this article

Level C – A step above what you’re doing now

Make it a point to educate yourself on the superfoods in this article and once a week visit your health food store and purchase one of the superfoods and experiment with adding them into your diet

Organic Foods and Longevity

I remember the first time I really “got it” in regards organic foods and their enormous benefits. I was standing in a supermarket which sold primarily organic food products called Whole Foods market. I had just finished a long run and was just looking for something healthy to eat. I walked through the produce section and was in awe at the amazing beauty of the fruits and vegetables as the misty filtered water sprayed them as if in slow motion. The purple, green, and red kale in particular were as alive as if they had not yet been picked. In fact green leafy vegetables are indeed breathing living organic substances. They are packed with chlorophyll that is nearly identical to human blood. It is for this reason that green leafy vegetables are perhaps the greatest single food on the face of the earth.

            Introducing organic foods into your diet just may be the answer you are looking for that no one will tell you about. No one meaning the people you currently seek out for advice on your health. Unless you are going to a wellness professional that has dedicated his or her life to the prevention of sickness and the healing of mankind, the chances of you getting an empathetic response in regards to your own Xtreme Health™ is diminished.

            Organic foods are certified to be free of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. They are grown with love and respect verse greed and disrespect. Organic foods in essence are as close to your natural  make up as you can get. They are richer in nutrients and minerals. Vegetables are richer in chlorophyll and enzymes. Fruits are richer in antioxidants and flavonoids. Organic grains are not polluted with chemicals sprayed on them just so they don’t fall down from having so many pesticides sprayed on them. Do you think by ingesting some of this clean pure food your chances of living longer are greater? I say yes. So many people take advantage of their health not realizing that they could be a few twinkies away from toxicity.

            By introducing organic foods into your diet you will help your body eliminate the toxins found in non-organic foods. These toxins are really hard on the immune system including your lymphatic system, your blood, your liver, your gall bladder and your entire cardiovascular system. If you are not cleansing you are at further risk of toxic build up in the form of bloated fat cells which is where your body will tend to safely store toxic overload. Any longevity diet must consider the implementation of organic foods. I personally believe people can live to up to 150 years old. Especially if you are less than 50 years old and you begin to reverse the toxic overload and you further educate yourself in regards to organic superfoods, cleansing and proper exercise, you certainly will be ahead of most on the longevity train of this thing called life.

  

You can take this to any level you want.

 Level A – Xtreme Health™

            Follow all the suggestions in this article over the course of the next several months

Level B - Much better than most people

Eat more organic fruits and vegetables, exercise daily, believe you can in fact live a long life and feel vibrant and strong even as you age to over 100      

 

 Level C – A step above what you’re doing now

            Stop taking in the bad foods. At least one day a week eat organic meals and celebrate the great foods that the earth has given to us.