Alkaline Diet Questions with Gareth (#10)

Hey everyone!

Each fortnight we’re putting the best alkaline diet questions we receive from you to our Alkaline Diet Expert, Dr Young trained blood analyst and highly qualified nutritionist – Gareth Edwards.

Gareth is right at the very top of his field, so these answers are absolutely the best you’ll find from arguably Britain’s most qualified expert in this area!

Q&A With Gareth Edwards

Question One: What are the Core Benefits of an Alkaline Ioniser Water Filter?

Hi Gareth. I’m thinking of buying an alkaline ioniser water filter but want to know what the benefit is. Can’t I just add ph drops to tap water or with a brita filter? Andrew

Thanks for this great question Andrew. You might think that paying between £700 and £1500 for a machine which turns your water into … water is a big expense. That said, I finally took the leap of faith last year and I think it is one of the best £700 I have spent.

Ionisers do two things. Firstly they filter the water. The level of filtration is superior to that of the cartridge, if for no other reason than the larger area of the unit in the ioniser compared with the cartridge. Once filtered, the water then passes over electronic plates which separate positively charged (acidic) ions from negatively charged (alkaline) ones. The ioniser can affect this process to different levels allowing you to receive water of varying levels of alkalinity at the touch of a button. Acidic (waste) water passes from the machine via another tube.

As I understand, when you add pH drops to water, acidic mineral complexes remain present, but the highly alkalising solution that you add has an over-riding effect on the water’s pH. There is, apparently, a further benefit to the separation process of ionising. Minerals form clumps in water. The ionising process substantially reduces the size of these clumps, which means that the remaining, negatively charged (alkalising) minerals (in smaller clumps) can be more easily assimilated and metabolised within the body.

Ionising also dramatically reduces (a good thing) the ORP (oxidation reduction potential) of water (edit: Ross – ORP is how the antioxidant level of a substance is measured. The lower the ORP the greater antioxidants potential of the substance.). This also promotes the alkalising and de-toxifying effects of the water that the ioniser produces.

To understand more about water read the chapter you are what you drink in Dr. Young’s book the pH miracle for weight loss (it’s as much about health as weight loss!).

Editors comments: If you are interested in getting more detailed information about water ionisers, their specifications, prices, etc then please click here to have a look at our wide range of some of the best ionising machines available on the market from Chanson Water.

Question Two: How can you add Vitamin B12 to an Alkaline Diet?

Vitamin B12, which is essential for life, is not found in alkaline diet. It can be obtained from meat, fish, eggs and cheese, which are all acidic. So how can you add Vitamin B12 to an alkaline diet?

Another great question. Dr. Brian Clement, the principle of the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida (specialising in raw food diets for health and healing) has written some very interesting papers on this subject. He firmly believes that the vitamin B12 that is produced in our digestive tract is re-absorbed into our blood stream. Conventional medical wisdom would say that this is not the case.

This was an issue, quite high in my mind when I cut out most animal protein from my diet. A couple of factors however put my mind at rest on the subject. Daphne Lambert, award winning organic chef, soil association trustee and green and raw food nutrition teacher and advocate, lives on a vegan diet. She rarely visits hospitals, but after a car accident was forced to have a blood test in hospital. Her vitamin B12 levels were completely normal. She does not take a B12 supplement and, to my knowledge, does not eat any animal protein. If Brian Clement’s hypothesis is correct, then colon and intestinal function are more important to maintaining B12 status, than ingesting food sources containing it.

Further interesting information on this subject comes from research carried out by an acupuncturist friend of mine. It appears that Vitamin B12, which can only be synthesised by bacteria, not animals, is present in high levels in the soil attached to root vegetables. Fanatical hygiene, or even peeling root vegetables, could actually reduce our B12 intake from, relatively alkaline food sources. Soya yoghurt, although slightly acidifying, does provide B12 too.

B12 is principally required for healthy red blood cell formation. Chlorophyll (such as Young pHorever Liquid chloropHeal), healthy oils (such as Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend and Jarrow Krill Oil) and salt (such as Young pHorever pHlavor Mineral Salts) are also primary requirements for erythrocyte (red blood cell) formation, so you need to be sure to get those elements in abundance.

If you are concerned about your B12 status you could ask your doctor to test it or arrange to have it done privately with a qualified health professional. There are B12 supplements available, but I do not use them or specifically recommend them to clients.

Question Three: Can Alkalising help my with Bone Spurs and Arthritis?

Can alkalizing help my body with bone spurs and arthritis? I have a ridge of bone (calcification) and Stage 1 osteoarthritis in my right great toe. So far the options I’ve been given are surgery, cortisone injections, or just live with it. So far, raising my pH from 5 to 6.8 hasn’t shown any effect. How long would it take for effects to be noticeable?

For a start, alkaline diet and hydration should be able to help reduce pain and discomfort in this area. I used to have a particularly painful bony projection on the side of my foot, which has now reduced and rarely gives me any discomfort.

I think you’re going to need to get stuck in and be as dedicated as you can to see results. Osteoarthritis and calcification are likely to have resulted from acidity of body fluids and tissue. Calcium deposits are laid down to buffer acids and acids in their turn can be destructive to bone and cartilage structures.

Its outstanding work to get (presumably your urinary) pH up to 6.8. You need to keep going to get it up to consistently above 7.5 or higher! Drink your greens (such as Young pHorever Doc Brocs Power Plants), take pHour salts and eat as high a raw food diet as you can. Additionally I’d recommend acupuncture and a good chiropractor or osteopath.

Surround yourself with people who will help to keep you motivated. If you are taking any medication, arrange a consultation with a qualified practitioner who can help you develop strategies for reducing that in conjunction with your GP.

Question Four: How can I get in touch with you Gareth?

How can I get a hold of you Gareth? I have some questions regarding this lifestyle. I have been living 100% raw and alkaline for 7 months now and drinking 5-6 litres a day with greens and ph drops. I’m young and I have goals to achieve the body I want and the mental state. From the day I started to today I have not achieved anything. I have gained weight, I have NO energy etc. etc. So would be great if you could give me an email or something where I can chat with you.

People reading this may think this is a plant question to advertise my services! This is not the case. It does however happen sometimes that having a look at wider issues and a review of all the factors likely to be affecting your health would help you to get where you want to go.

There are several options for a consultation with me. Click here to see them. If trips to London are not possible then I can do a consultation with you on the phone or via Skype. You’ll need to fill in a health questionnaire and food diary and e-mail them to me. Most people find this helps clarify issues and get a broader perspective on all issues in your life that can effect pH balance, health and help you to achieve your desired weight.

You can book through Energise For Life or go to my website. I look forward to hearing from you.

Question Five: Is it ok to have Juice and a Snack at the same time?

One I’m not sure of now is – is it ok to have juice and a snack (like soaked almonds) at the same time? It’s just that I cannot see myself surviving my mornings with juice alone if to have it first thing in the morning….!

I get this. I just went to see Joseph McClendon with Callum (Partner in EFL). Joseph was recounting how he lives only on juice for two weeks a year. During that time he expects to lose several kilos in weight. It sounded powerful but tough. Dr. Young encourages people to feast, rather than fast when cleansing. This means that you put low sugar, high nutrient food into your body in abundance. He recommends green smoothies and juices.

My answer to your question would be yes. Chicken and chips or green juice and soaked almonds? Let common sense preside! A very good question though.

Question Six: Have you got any ideas for battling nasty sweat rash?

I have been battling with a nasty sweat rash under first one then both breasts, I am a large lady and very careful re hygiene but have always sweated badly. Oddly my deodorant (Mitchum) always seems to control it but has aluminum in it which I hate but it is the only one of many that works for me. Used Sudacreme although it stops the water it does not work. Very allergic to hydrocortisone and have even tried a new natural fungal treatment. I am at my wits end so wondered if you have any ideas. Does not itch now but left with very rough unhappy skin.

Thank you for your question. When our body fluids and tissue become acidic the body will want to excrete these acids. Urination, defecation, respiration and perspiration are the four primary “ways out”. If we are not drinking enough alkalising fluids or eating enough alkalising (high water, low sugar content) foods to promote urination or defecation, then the acids may well come out through the skin in the form of sweat. The acid that will be contained in the sweat is likely to cause irritation and rashes. Areas where there are folds in the skin or limited ventilation are likely to be the most effected.

I would strongly recommend that you heal from the inside. Use EFL’s alkaline lifestyle course and drink a green powdered drink (such as Doc Broc power plants) with pH drops (such as Young pHorever PuripHy). You should consume at least two to three litres a day of the drink a day. That will make you urinate more, which will be a good thing.

These answers are not intended to replace the advice that can be acquired from a personal consultation with a qualified physician. If you are experiencing persistent symptoms of any sort, you should consult with a nutritionally aware physician.

Ross says: more great questions and answers from Gareth! If you have any questions of your own or would like to ask a follow up question to any of the above feel free to leave a comment below!

Tagged as: Alkaline Water, arthritis, bone spurs, chanson, chlorophyll, green drink, rash, salt, Vitamin B12, water filter, water ioniser

Note: This blog is only my opinion. It is not medical advice or diagnosis. Only opinions based upon our own personal experiences or information detailed in medical/academic journals or other publications is cited. WE DO NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE or prescribe any treatments. Please consult with a medical professional before making any diet or nutrition changes. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.