New to alkalising? Here is my single biggest #1 tip

sugar

Cut out sugar!

If you are ready to start alkalising then your first main aim should be to start cutting out the most acidifying foods, beverages and behaviours from your life. Alongside this you should also start to try and increase the amount of alkalising foods, beverages and activities. But, as I’ve always maintained – don’t necessarily try to do everything at once!

So where to start?

Personally, I think that cutting sugar from your life is the single most effective step you can take to revolutionising your health. To fully understand why, lets get back to some basics of alkalising.

The key to health is balance. Look around you now, wherever you are (if you’re on your own right now then think of five people you met today). The chances are at least 90% of these people are out of balance and are sufering the symptoms – overweight, underweight, prematurely aging, suffering from allergies, low energy & fatigue, stressed, depressed immune system with coughs, colds and splutters, unfit, sick and tired?

To be truly healthy and on top of our game we need balance. And guess what, sugar makes us wildly out of balance. If we remember back to the very basics of the alkaline balance approach to health, we know that the pH level of our internal fluids, particularly our blood, effects every cell in our bodies and to keep an optimal alkaline balance in our blood, it takes about 20 times as much alkaline to neutralise one part acid (hence most green drinks being concentrated at 20:1).

(I think it is important to point out at this stage that not everywhere in the body needs to be at pH 7.365. Blood and tissues, yes, but each area of the body has different acid/alkaline requirements. For instance the lower bowel should be slightly acidic, urine should be about neutral).

According to Dr. Young (alkaline diet pioneer and author of The pH Miracle):

‘Physiological disease is almost always the result of too much acid stressing the body’s pH balance, to the point where it provokes the body into producing symptoms of disease…All the body’s regulatory mechanisms (including breathing, circulation, digestion, and hormone production) work to balance the delicate internal acid/base balance. Our bodies cannot tolerate extended acid imbalances. In the early stages of the imbalance, the suptoms may not be very intense and include such things as skin eruptions, headaches, allergies, colds and flue and sinus problems. As things get further out of whack, more serious situations arise. Weakened organs and systems start to give way, resulting in dysfunctional thyriod glands, adrenals, liver and so on. If tissue pH deviates too far to the acid side, oxygen levels decrease and cellular metabolism will stop. In other words, cells die. You die.’

I know that was a long quote to pull from Dr Young, but it is a really powerful one to demonstrate the basic premise of this approach to health and vitality.

So how does the body deal with an onslaught of acid? It does whatever it can to maintain the alkaline balance where we need it. Just as our body does whatever it takes to maintain our body temperature at 37C/ 98.6F it will do whatever it takes to maintain our blood pH at 7.365. When we give our body too much acid to deal with, it will strip alkaline minerals from our tissues and bones to compensate. The most alkaline and called upon minerals in our body include sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium (so you can see how being over-acid can lead to calcium deficiency problems such as osteoporosis).

Alkaline Diet Recipe Book BannerIf we continue to bombard our body with more acids, then the next line of defence for the body is to neutralise what it can and then dump the rest into tissues for storage – putting the pressure on the lymphatic system to neutralise whatever it can. However, the lyphatic system has a very limited capability to neutralise acids and whatever is left over is then…….dumped back into the blood.

So a vicious cycle begins with more alkaline minerals being leached from our organs and tissues. This literally effects every single cell in our body and set the stage in which illness and disease thrives. In the beginning you will notice the symptoms of the body trying to get rid of as much acid as it can through whatever organ it can. For example, eliminating toxins through the skin results in acne, irritation, eczema, dry skin, rashes, headaches, cramps, soreness etc. Once all possibilities to remove acids have been exhausted chronic symptoms appear. If there is too much waste to handle then the acid wastes are dumped into our major organs such as the heart, lungs, liver etc. and in our fatty tissues such as the breasts, hips, thighs, stomach etc. (and I’m sure you know what the result of that is!). There is also another name given to the process of acid wastes breaking down and being deposited around the body…’the aging process’

And then it gets worse…yeast…candida…fungus!

An acidic environment is an environment in which candida absolutely thrives. Candida is actually the latin name for yeast, which is actually a type of fungus. And herein begins ANOTHER cycle of acidity as the more acidic – the more yeast – the more yeast the more acid. So while you might naturally only think of a couple of symptoms caused by yeast overgrowth, the truth of the matter is that with our typical Western diet, the majority of people have massive yeast overgrowth within our body and the result of this is disasterous. And it is not just candida, it is also mold, bacteria and viruses that are all thriving in an acid environment.
And worse still! ANOTHER CYCLE emerges, as the wastes produced by these microforms (mycotoxins and exotoxins) are even further damaging to our bodies. These toxins are produced by the fungus when it ferments on sugars (which we are getting to!), proteins and fats – the same three sources our body uses for energy.
By creating an acid environment within our body we are essentially giving these toxins and yeasts licence to run riot.

And the outcome of yeast/fungus overgrowth? Well you’ll probably be aware of a couple of common ones such as athletes foot, thrush – but what about:

  • diabetes
  • cancer
  • atherosclerosis
  • osteoporosis
  • fatigue
  • thyroid failure
  • diarhea
  • asthma
  • PMS
  • dizziness
  • joint pain
  • arthritis
  • hay fever
  • acne
  • insomnia
  • dry skin
  • lack of sex drive
  • depression
  • bad breath
  • lethargy
  • headaches

The list could easily go on and on. Yeast overgrowth creates an environment in which these symptoms develop and thrive. It underpins a absolutely HUGE list of symptoms.

So you can see the problem here:

Overacidity and microform overgrowth are inextricably linked. Microforms are a major source of acid in the body. Acidification creates a comfy environment for microforms…This is what I call the cycle of imbalance

Which brings us on to…SUGAR!

So lets recap. To be truly healthy, we need to create an environment in which our body can thrive and easily maintain a pH balance in our blood, tissues and organs. By eating the typical Western diet we are actually putting an incredible amount of stress on our body by overconsuming sugar in the form of sweets, cakes, biscuits, cordials, fruit juices, alcohol, fizzy drinks, chocolate and putting sugar directly into our teas and coffees.

‘Sugar feeds microforms like petrol feeds a fire’

Microforms, yeasts and fungus adore sugar. Sugar is literally the perfect fuel for microform s, overgrowth of these utterly destructive acids that only serve to produce more acids and put more and more stress on your body. Sugar is literally the most destructive food you can consume.

And it is not just white sugar. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that there are ‘good’ sugars. All sugars are bad. And while it is true that the body obviously needs some sugar – we get more than enough from the sweeter vegetables such as carrots and beetroot.

Mainstream media is finally catching onto this fact. The number of times people have told me that sugar from fruit is good for you over the years is incredible. But look around now and you can see the evidence is more widespread now particularly here in Australia where nutritionists are now strongly recommending only having one glass of fruit juice per day (or not at all), insisting that you water down juice for kids, and instead of suggesting 5 pieces of vegetables OR fruit per day, they now recommend 5 serves of veg, and only 2 serves of fruit.

And some of you Tony Robbins fans might remember him teaching to eat only fruit til noon? He’s admitted that he was ‘dead wrong’ (I think the original suggestion was in Unlimited Power – he’s admitted he was wrong on Get the Edge and in his live shows.)

So all forms of sugar must be cut out, including – white sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrup, sucrose, fructose, refined sugar, sweets, soft drinks, chocolate etc.)

The more sugar we consume, the faster the microforms will develop. And the more they develop the more they reproduce. And the more they reproduce the more acid we become. And the more acid we become the more microforms will produce…

So how can we stop this? Quite simply – cut off the supply. Stop consuming sugar, foods containing sugar and foods that break down into sugar.

Top 5 Tips for Beating the Craving

Be aware though, this isn’t easy. Sugar is a drug. When you stop consuming sugars, the microforms in your body will demand more, you will get cravings. You have to ignore them. Again, this is not easy. But when you get these sugar cravings give your body something different. Give it healthy, cleansing water, greens, salads, almonds, vegetables. Teach your body to switch back to healthy fats for energy, consume omega oils from flax, hemp or oily fish.

So here are my top 5 tips:

  1. Drink something instead! It really works! Have a glass of lukewarm water, and perhaps squeeze a bit of lemon in for variety.
  2. Try a chromium supplement – this is a great solution, but a temporary one! Chromium is a mineral that helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels – so you don’t experience the big peaks and troughs and the cravings that go with it.
  3. Eat some raw carrots and other slightly sweeter vegetables. This will definitely help as it gives your body more physical fuel from the sugar in the vegetable, but also the fibre in the veg helps to balance out blood sugar peaks.
  4. Eat more fibre! High fibre snacks are excellent at regulating blood sugar levels
  5. Finally, take it one meal at a time – start with breakfast and eliminate sugar from there. This could be tricky if you are used to breakfast choices such as toast with jam, fruit juice, sugary cereals, tea or coffee with sugar etc. But if you can nail this meal then you will be 9/10 of the way there because starting the day with a big sugar hit sends you on a spiral that is really difficult to control. If you can get breakfast sorted then all of the other meals will be really easy to de-sugar from then onwards!

Best of luck! If you have any questions just let me know below!

PS And if that wasn’t enough – here are 146 other reasons why sugar is ruining your health!

PPS a note about sweeteners…

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  1. Dine Reply

    Hi
    New fan! I was surprised that fermented foods are highly acidic. I make my own sauerkraut, and am under the impression that it exceeds all other foods for improving gut health (probiotic content). Also – Macadamia nuts are acidic. How does the ph respond to Macadamia oil. I am under the impression that it is unrivalled as far as anti-oxidants go.
    X Dine

  2. Susan Heal Reply

    Thanks so much for having taken the time to care enough to write all the valuable information that you have. As of today I have taken my daughter of all sugars and I know she will benefit from it and this decision was reached as a result of your blog and the truth that I know you speak..
    Thanks again for the insight.
    Sue

  3. Kora Zinger Reply

    I REALLY want to know if any of these ideas are backed by any scientific research. Anybody can come up with some sort of a theory, but are they just making it up or have there been actual real empirical validation to it? (and I don’t mean anecdotal evidence, I mean scientific evidence).

    Thanks

  4. Doris Reply

    Good stuff! Thanks for sharing. Appreciate the encouragement. Have a terrible weak spot for the goodies!! Have found that kefir is very effective at eliminating that craving for sugar. My problem is keeping the kefir grains well fed and alive. Love Love Love those kefir smoothies though and when I make one with frozen strawberries and bananas, raw goat milk, and a raw egg, my appetite definitely is satisfied. Keep up the good work. I anticipate reading through much of your material. !! =)

  5. Sabine Chiquet Reply

    Did you forget to mention alcohol and main stream medication. Aren’t they doing the same as sugar in terms of acid?

  6. Harvey Mann Reply

    I do agree with the fact that artificial sugars and added sugars are really bad for you, but that fruit is bad for you is pure nonsense.
    To illustrate this point the widely recognized Ayurvedic system…its important to remember that yoga, meditation, pranayamas and so many other great sciences came from the Vedas …(of which the Ayurvedic system is only a portion)…none of these literatures (including the Bhagavad Gita) agree with you on the subject of not eating fruit, in fact most fruit is considered to be in the mode of goodness (Sattva Guna).
    There are many fruit that are recommended (according to the body type).
    Of course you may not be interested in this, but just to put you in the picture the Srimad Bhagavatam stated that the atom was the ultimate particle over 5000 years ago, modern science only relatively recently discovered this (Srimad Bahavatam is part of the Vedas).
    Most diets, science and so on is more or less based on emperic study and experimentation and is therefore flawed or subject to change, the vedic system does not use this method, the knowledge is descending.
    Anyway you may or may not agree, but I just thought I would point out that fruit is not bad for you and there is ample evidence to support this.
    Personally I know if I had a choice who to listen to …either “Vyasadeva” (who compiled the Vedas) or Tony Robbins…I know who I would listen to.

  7. Linda Reply

    Ross,
    I have been keeping my PH level in the mid 7’s (urine test) for a year now. In order to do this, I have been having a bowl of fruit for breakfast. What would your breakfast suggestions be to keep the PH level up but stay clear of sugar. I always start the day with Greens+.
    Linda

  8. Janie Reply

    Hi,
    no need to print this, but please spell fibrous correctly not with an ‘e’ as you do!

    Other than that, MANY THANKS for info. I have had cancer twice, many years apart, and no-one in the medical profession has ever told me about the ‘sugar feeds cancer’ factor, or that cancer loves an acidic environment. And as sugar is so drug-like in its addictive qualities, people do need support to give it up and then stay away from it.

    cheers,
    J

  9. Chris Reply

    Just wanted to add a couple things. Chocolate is very good for you! Dark Chocolate with a high percentage of Cocoa. Not Hersheys that is mostly sugar and milk. Also Stevia is not a sugar. It is an herb and I saw it on a couple charts as having an alkaline effect. I think keeping a good ph balance is important, but eating to get a mix of nutrients is important also.

  10. Joanna Reply

    Hi Ross 🙂

    HELP! i am really struggling with my war against sugar and am gutted to read that it includes fruit! what about goji berries and blueberries? my head is spinning a bit with it all if i’m honest.

    I am not giving up though 🙂 i’m off to the supermarket to get all the ingredients for the basil and coriander alkaline sauce after work……

    really looking forward to feeling better and getting to grips with everything….your blogs are a massive help!

    have a great day! 🙂

    P.s……bananas ok?

    • Ross Reply

      Hey Joanna

      Bananas are actually one of the worst offenders at 25% sugar. Don’t let your head spin though! Remember fruit can still be eaten as a treat and is always a better alternative to chocolate, biscuits etc – just don’t treat it as a safe food and overindulge on it!

      Take everything step-by-step and day-by-day – don’t be overwhelmed!

      Good luck!
      Ross

  11. Ross Reply

    Hi Samantha

    Thanks for the great feedback (but it’s Ross, by the way!)

    All sugar is treated similarly by the body in this respect – whether it is fructose, glucose, lactose, sucrose etc.

    That means fruit should be treated as a treat, like any other sugar I’m afraid – albeit it is a much healthier alternative to chocolate or sweets!

    Denis – the same goes for all sweeteners.

    Hope this helps, than thanks again for the praise!

    Ross

  12. Samantha Reply

    Hi Tim,

    a quick question if you don’t mind. If all sugars “ferment in the blood” how about the sugars we consume when eating a pice of fruit?

    I write this while eating an apple.
    Great blog, thank you for the info!

  13. Denis Reply

    What about xylitol? Does it have the same side effects as sugar and other sweeteners?

  14. SugarPlum Reply

    I recognised that sugar was the enemy some time ago.
    I suffer with bouts of IBS – my main reason for cutting sugar in the 1st place however was to get away from the high/low blood sugar rollercoaster – The knock on effects have been positive for general health.
    I do sometimes lapse and give into the cravings but usually end up paying the price with an episode of IBS.
    Sugar – just say no !

  15. Ross Reply

    Hi Tim

    Unfortunately sugar is sugar is sugar as far as this approach to health is concerned. All sugar, no matter whether it is glucose, dextrose, fructose etc etc all ferments in the blood, creating a highly acidic effect, producing mould, bacteria, fungus and mycotoxins that all wreak havoc on our cells and tissues.

    Wilf – thank you so much for your message! I really hope you can get through to your friends. Your encouraging words are exactly the reason why I carry on writing this blog (despite some of the ridiculously negative comments people leave on some of my other posts).

    Have yourself a great day

    Ross

  16. Wilf Field Reply

    I’ve been off the sugar for a while now and have noticed the benifits. Please everyone take Ross’s article seriously. I know people with high sugar diets that are dying of the diseases listed and their doctors are telling them there is nothing they can do and to not worry about that pop they drink or the desert they eat. It’s time to take matters into our own hands. The only thing I don’t like are the sugar lows. Can’t seem to nail that one. Thanks Ross, don’t stop writing.

  17. Tim Benz Reply

    On the topic of sugar, what about sugars like molasses, sorghum molasses, barley malt syrup, stevia, slim sweet, that are apparently much better?

  18. Ross Reply

    Oh, and thanks for the complement by the way! 🙂

  19. Ross Reply

    Hey Ash

    Yeah, that can happen as your body gets used to having less sugar. The worst thing you can do is give in, because this will just start another blood sugar peak and trough. Try to have something fibrous to eat, or at least something that is filling.

    If you find the effects too strong, then try cutting out sugar from one meal a day for a week and then move onto the next. i.e. week one do breakfast, week two breakfast and lunch, week three breakfast, lunch and dinner. A phased approach is a bit softer and might make it easier on your body.

    Good luck!

    Ross

  20. Ash Reply

    Hey Ross, this is a brilliant article, and whenever I read things like this, I /try/ to cut out sugar completely.

    My problem is that I get tired and dizzy after not having sugar for a while. Is this normal?

  21. Oliver Reply

    hey,
    what have you written really inspired me to write more about the downside of sugar. Its such an informative article that i wish many health-aware personel has the chance to read it as well. good luck and keep up the good work.

    I decided to add u in my link address

    Dean
    http://www.nutrition-resource.blogspot.com

  22. lizzi Reply

    Hey
    Great article, really enjoyed it! Has anyone else suffered with itchy skin? I get terrible itching on the tops of my arms and shoulders, worse at night and heat. I think its a sluggish liver, but is it caused by sugar.
    It’s such a drug and hard to give up!

  23. Spencer Reply

    I have been thinking about quiting sugar for a while now. I have a friend who gave it up about six months ago and seems to be much healthier. I think I might try it for a while, if I can keep my caffeine that is.

  24. LifeofEgypt Reply

    Thanks for educating everyone on the dangers of sugar consumption. This anti alkaline agent is the root cause of many ailments in the western world. I need to do a better job eliminating it from my own diet.

  25. Ross Reply

    Hey Frances

    Thanks for stopping by! Had a look at your blog and I love it – you can really tell when someone is blogging with absolute honesty and integrity. Great work.

    Good luck with cutting out sugar! Don’t beat yourself up over it – just take it one step at a time!

    Have a great day
    Ross

  26. Frances Reply

    GREAT article. I wrote something similar in my blog a couple of weeks ago, but I’d given up sugar for a different reason. I really agree with you about how bad sugar actually is. Problem for me though is I have such an addiction to sugar that it seems to be all or nothing. I was SO good for a few weeks, but now I’m getting back into the habit of eating it.

    You’ve inspired me to cut down again. …I feel like such a sugar addict.

    Frances

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