Do you want the good news first, or the bad news?

Well, let’s start with the bad news….unfortunately, our contemporary American diet is filled with processed foods like white bread, other refined carbohydrates, meat, alcohol and dairy which can be really tough on our body’s systems that work to keep us healthy. And like most Americans, you may never have realized that this type of diet tends to be overly acidic! Over time this acidic diet may lead to numerous health problems.

Now for the good news! (We’re glad you kept reading). The good news is that it’s possible to have more control over how hard your body’s systems have to work, with an alkaline diet. An alkaline diet is not just a fad – it’s a long-term way of purifying your diet from overly acidic things you consume.

Before we get to the practical pieces we think you should know a bit of chemistry first. It’s important to understand what’s behind the alkaline diet (a measurement of acid vs. alkaline), and feel free to use this knowledge to impress someone at the next dinner party you go to. Ok, so what is acid/alkaline and how do you measure it?

The acid/alkaline level is measured on the pH scale. (Are you remembering your high-school chemistry class yet?) The scale goes from 0-14 with 7 being neutral and lower values indicating more acid while higher values reflect more alkaline. Your body works to maintain a pH level between 7.35 and 7.45. A slightly alkaline level of 7.40 is ideal. You can help your body maintain that optimum level by focusing on what you eat and what you drink.

Here are 5 simple steps you can take to purify your diet:

Hydrate

Drinking the right amount of water can make a huge difference to your health and the quality of your life. Some studies have shown that 90% of people are chronically dehydrated, and as a result they may lack vitality, suffer from low energy levels and even have reduced immunity.

The quality of the water you drink is important too; sparkling water for example is acidic. We recommend 6 to 18 cups of Qure water every day because it has a strong and stable 9.5 pH.

To determine how much water you need, drink half your body weight in ounces every day. (Don’t worry if you have to read that last sentence once or twice more – it might sound like complicated math, but we know you can handle it, smarty-pants) By this calculation, if you weight 140lbs you should drink 70 fl oz of Qure water, equal to 3 1/2 of our 16.9 oz bottles. If you weigh 190lbs you should drink 95 fl oz of Qure water equal to 5 1/2 of our 16.9 oz bottles. Now is the time to whip out your calculator!

You might also try drinking lemon water, which is alkaline forming in the body. Mix 2 cups of lukewarm water with half a lemon first thing in the morning. This can help cleanse your digestive system, and increase your alkaline intake. Surprisingly, though lemon is known to be acidic, it actually has an alkaline effect inside of you. But, that’s a whole different conversation for later…

Organic herbal teas are also a great alternative to plain water, and help keep you hydrated. There are many soothing teas on the market that do not contain caffeine.

Eat Green!

Green vegetables are alkaline forming in the body too. The foods you know are healthy tend to be alkaline. Those you know are unhealthy tend to be acidic. Check out which foods fall into each category:

1. Alkaline foods include leafy greens and other fresh vegetables, low sugar fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy oils, unrefined, organics and high water content foods.
2. Acidic foods include refined foods, fast foods, trans fats, condiments, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, meats and sugar.

Shoot for a minimum 80/20 ratio of the foods you consume: 80% alkaline food/20% acidic food. See the Acid/Alkaline chart below – it’s pretty cool!

Transition

Work toward long-term change toward and alkaline diet. Experiment with meals and menu plans. Don’t try to be perfect over night and end up hungry, feeling restricted, crashing or giving up!

Take steps at your own pace to gradually move to a high alkaline diet by adding one new element every day. A slower, focused transition is the key to success here. None of us are superheros, and to quote an old adage – “Rome wasn’t built in a day!”

Breathe

Your lungs also work to remove excess acid from the body by exhaling CO 2. Simple breathing exercises may help this process, not to mention the benefits of stress relief. Close your eyes and try this one:

1. Breathe in for a count of 4
2. Hold your breath for 8
3. Breathe out for a count of 4
4. Repeat this exercise 10 times. It feels so good!

Supplement

We suggest you supplement your diet with 3 elements:

1. Green Powder: This type of supplement includes alkaline foods like wheatgrass, vegetables and fruits.
2. Alkaline minerals: Sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium are all used in the body’s buffering process to maintain a healthy pH level.
3. Alkaline water: Qure water is recommended because it has a pH level of 9.5. It is a purified water infused with ionic minerals making it the perfect compliment to an alkaline diet.

Purifying your diet can be truly enjoyable when you take these simple steps, and the rewards are well worth it! Go for the long term and focus on the positive rather than perfection. We all mess up, but that’s no reason to stop your transition toward a healthier and more vital you. Enjoy your journey and allow Qure Water to be a part of it!

Acid/Alkaline Food Chart