By Dr. Stephan Domenig, http://www.alkalinecure.com/cure, ISBN-10: 1906761507

From one of the world’s most famous health clinics comes a powerful anti-ageing program that will transform you from the inside out.

For over 100 years, the teachings of Dr Franz Xaver Mayr have formed the basis of one of the most effective European diet and health regimes. Mayr, born in Austria in 1875, pioneered a radical new approach to wellness. One of his pupils, Dr Eric Rauch, opened the first Mayr health clinic in Dellach, Austria. This clinic, The Original F.X. Mayr Health Center, is much admired, much copied, and a source of help to many.

The alkaline cure evolved from research begun by Mayr, and is based on clinical understanding of the effects different foods have on the digestive system. According to the Mayr philosophy, good digestion is the most important factor in determining human health. It is a holistic and preventive approach, not focused on treating any single disease, but on keeping the whole body healthy.

Be your own doctor

By purchasing pH-testing litmus strips, you can monitor your body’s pH. It will take longer for the alkalising effect of the cure to reach the urine, so you can generally expect a higher alkaline reading from your saliva. However, testing your urine will give you a more accurate reading as it shows how well your kidneys are eliminating acid. The pH range is numbered from 1 to 14. The higher the number, the more alkaline the substance; 7 is neutral; and the lower the number, the higher the acidity. Test yourself daily at home every morning shortly after you wake and before eating. Don’t worry if your initial readings are 6 or below, in the acid range. After two weeks of the cure you will notice a marked improvement.

Acid-Alkaline Balance

To enable the body to absorb and utilise nutrients, the digestive system needs to break down foods appropriately. Unhealthy eating habits, such as overeating, impair digestion, which also damages the body’s acid-alkaline balance. If your pH reading is lower than 7, it means your body has excess acid, or acidosis, which occurs when your kidneys and lungs can’t keep your body’s pH in check. Both what you eat and how you eat may cause acidosis. Lifestyle habits are also a factor: stress, lack of sleep, pollution, and over-exercising (which causes lactic acid to form).

The Alkaline Cure

In an acidic environment, body cells perform less efficiently and cannot get rid of toxins. Many health problems are caused by acidic environments, including irritable bowel syndrome, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, candidiasis, diabetes, and obesity. The single most effective change you can make – and the aim of the alkaline cure – is to increase your intake of alkaline foods so that two-thirds of everything you eat is alkaline and only one-third is acid. All the foods we eat can be classified as either acid-forming or alkaline-forming, meaning the foods release an acid or alkaline residue during the process of digestion (see “Acid vs alkaline”). The strongest acids are found in animal proteins, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, and sugar. The weakest acids are found in vegetable proteins, as present in beans.

While acidosis and its effects – hardening of arteries, clogging of digestive system – may have built up in your body for years, the process is swift to reverse. And the benefits are extraordinary; it will

Slow signs of ageing: Restoring alkalinity immediately eases many skin, hair, and nail problems.
Renew energy: Cells have an increased capacity to pass oxygen around the body, and so restore vitality.
Encourage weight loss: Your clearer digestive system will help you eliminate the toxic load you have been carrying.
Reduce bloating and constipation: If you drink enough, your stools will be softer; if you chew properly, your stomach’s workload is eased.
Improve mood: A study has shown that an alkaline diet reduced or eliminated psychological and stress-related symptom severity in 85 percent of participants.
Defend against disease: In essence, the healthier your stomach, the healthier your immune system.
Strengthen bones: By reducing acidity, we support bone formation with alkalising minerals.

The 2:1 rule

To increase your alkalinity, we do not suggest eating only alkaline foods. The best balance of foods to aim for is two parts alkaline to a maximum of one part acid. Ideally, this 2:1 ratio should be on your plate at every meal. Realistically, this ratio is what you should bear in mind over the course of your daily and weekly diet. Be mindful, not fanatical. Note that acidic-tasting foods, such as lemon, are not necessarily acid-forming. In fact lemon, once digested, actually has an alkalising effect on the body.

Strongly acid-forming foods

Animal protein: pork, fish, chicken, lamb, beef
Aged dairy products: matured cheese
Refined fats and oils: margarine, corn oil
Industrially processed products, canned foods
Foods containing refined sugar and flour: preserves, fizzy drinks, cakes, sweets, chocolate, white bread
Coffee, alcohol

Mildly acid-forming foods

Vegetable protein: chickpeas, beans, lentils
Fresh dairy products: fresh cheese
Nuts: cashews, peanuts, pistachios

Alkaline-forming foods

Vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, spinach, kale, salad leaves, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bean sprouts, beetroot, cucumber
Ripe fruits: bananas, watermelon, papaya, mango
Grains: amaranth, quinoa, rye, buckwheat
Fresh, aromatic herbs: basil, rosemary, thyme
Nuts: almonds
High-quality, cold-pressed virgin vegetable, nut and seed oils: flaxseed, olive, pumpkin seed, hempseed
Pure and mineral water, herbal teas, vegetable teas

Dr Stephan Domenig was the medical director of The Original F.X. Mayr Health Center, and the author of The Alkaline Cure (Viking).

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