Alkaline Diet Questions with Gareth (#13)

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 the alkaline diet!

Alkaline Diet Q&A With Gareth Edwards

Question One: Is Sodium Bicarbonate Sufficient To Alkalise My System?

Admittedly an all round healthy diet is important and beneficial to heath in lots of ways, but why can’t a person simply take sodium bicarbonate to alkalise their system when sodium bicarbonate is a natural product produced by the body in large amounts (and the very same substance discharged by the pancreas to neutralize stomach acid HCL). If hypertension was deemed as issue then potassium bicarbonate could be substituted for the sodium bicarbonate, or better still a mixture of the two.

Taking either sodium bicarbonate or Dr. Young’s pHour salts combination (sodium, potassium, bicarbonates along with calcium and magnesium) is recommended by practitioners wanting to help people promote alkalinity. This does indeed supplement a substance produced in large quantities by the body.

Read Dr. Young on the subject of how the body actually transforms food into blood by increasing it’s pH in the digestive tract. His strong, and totally credible view, is that hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach is the by-product of sodium bicarbonate production. The sodium bicarbonate is produced in response to the ingestion of acidic foods and fluids.

Taking supplemental bicarbonate salts may facilitate the body in buffering acids but there are essential biochemical building blocks in alkalising foods and fluids, such as vitamins, phyto-nutrients, fibre and chlorophyll that are required to build and promote health.

Remember also that a lot of buffering (neutralising) of acids takes place in the kidneys. While it is essential to have the minerals present to complete this, heavy buffering can lead to stone formation.

Question Two: What Are The Differences Between Juicers And Blenders?

What are the disadvantages of using a really powerful blender [Blend Tec] (instead of a juicer) where I juice greens along with fruits? To buy a juicer on top of the blender is a huge amount of money. Are there advantages in also consuming the fibre?

I think this is a tough question to provide a scientific answer to. I am not aware of any studies where people have been fed on juices or blended foods and their nutrient levels and other markers of health subsequently measured. This research should of course be done…

My own view and experience is that juice really does give you quick and pure entry of nutrients into the blood stream. This can be particularly useful if someone’s digestive system is impaired. It’s also useful if you are looking for ultimate health.

Some people do use blended vegetables and low sugar fruits such as cucumbers as cornerstones to alkalising programmes. Pre-digesting your food like this can lead to more being absorbed. The presence of the fibre can mean that less is absorbed than from a juice. Avoid putting high sugar fruits (apples, pears bananas) in blended smoothies.

Better quality juice machines are a substantial investment, but they should last a life-time. Powdered supplements can act as a bridge while you put the money in the bank! Money to help you get healthier is always well spent and usually returned in increased energy!

Question Three: How Can I Increase My Cholesterol Levels With The Alkaline Diet?

I have been on Dr Young’s programme for the last 9 months. I felt really good. Trouble is I am underweight 84lbs for a 5 footer. Lately, I seem to get low blood pressure and hypo (low sugar level). My cholesterol is very low. By consuming the alkaline diet, all this seems to lower further cholesterol. How can I increase cholesterol? Is it by consuming more healthy oil? I take a variety and a fair portion (at least 6-8 tablespoons/day) on top of coconut milk and oil. I know cholesterol is important to regulate my hormone levels. The last month was my worst supposedly pre-menstrual symptoms. Please advise. Will consuming eggs be safe?

If our bodies produce cholesterol in order to buffer (neutralise) acids and you are on a highly alkalising diet and hydration programme, then low cholesterol might be due to a reduced need. That said, our bodies are constantly producing metabolic acids and these do need to be buffered.

Low cholesterol has been associated with compromised health conditions [1] and you might therefore choose to continue to monitor it. I would not, however, suggest that you start eating a food containing high levels of cholesterol (such as eggs) in order to raise your levels. The link between eating cholesterol containing foods and changing your cholesterol levels has been repeatedly disproved.

I would recommend that you measure your urinary and saliva pH to see if you are still acidic. (Energise sell some pH stix to measure this). You might also consider blood analysis to see if you are successfully addressing the issues associated with acidosis. Even when you change to an alkaline diet and hydration programme, certain supplements (such as digestive enzymes, pro-biotics and vitamin C) and stress can keep you acidic.

Underlying acidity (that can take time to remove) is likely to be the cause of being under-weight. It can also be the reason for low blood pressure and low cholesterol. Continuing to have a very high intake of fresh (and powdered) green vegetables and their juices along with bicarbonate and un-refined salt should increase alkalinity and help promote cardio-vascular health. You can order Himalayan salt and bicarbonate salts (pHour salts) from Energise.

You are right to have reasonably liberal quantities of healthy oils and that should give you the nutritional building blocks to make cholesterol. Make sure it’s fresh and kept refrigerated. I’d be cautious about coconut milk, particularly if it comes from a tin. Drinking fresh coconut milk (from a coconut!) could be an occasional treat.

If your liver is compromised (e.g. due to a history of pharmaceutical use) that may effect your ability to absorb and “process” healthy fats. A pH and nutritionally aware practitioner should be able to help you assess this and support you with rebuilding.

Sprouted seeds and pulses are a healthy, alkalising source of protein and carbohydrate to help increase calories. Low blood sugar is not necessarily a problem if you are alkaline and have enough salt.

1. The Lancet, Vol 358, Number 9279, Aug 2001

Question Four: Bluish-Purple Colour Along The Nail Bed Area. Any Reason For This?

I’ve been on the alkaline diet for about 2 months now since I went to Tony Robbin’s conference and have started noticing my finger nails are sometimes a bluish-purple along the nail bed area. Have you heard of any reason for this? Am I lacking a certain nutrient I may not be getting? I am a pharmacist and have already explored the medical reasons and have come up with nothing. Any insight you may have would be greatly appreciated.

According to my highly trusted acupuncturist friend, discolouration of the nail bed can be a sign of liver toxicity. If you have been on prescription medication (or are still on it) this may be the cause. There is also a suggestion that it may be associated with reduced oxygenation of the blood.

Having been taught about essentiality (nutrients your body must have from the diet and cannot be made) over many years, I am increasingly convinced that Dr. Young’s acronym C.O.W.S. really does cover all bases. A diet high in chlorophyll, from low sugar green plant foods, healthy oils, containing omega 6 and three fats, water and unrefined salt will give your body all the building blocks that it needs. Chlorophyll and salt should help build healthy haemoglobin. That will facilitate oxygen delivery in your body.

Make sure that your liver load is minimised and see if the altered colour disappears. Reviewing your regime with a qualified practitioner may be beneficial.

Question Five: Lack Of Strength and Flu On The Alkaline Diet!

I’ve been on the alkaline diet for a while and have lost 21 pounds in weight making me 12 stone 7lb. I am 36 years old and haven’t weighed this since I was 18 years old! I am blown away by the weight loss, and how healthy my insides feel. As an IBS sufferer all my life I can honestly say that all of my symptoms have been relieved. I used to have constant bloating and the pain I was in 24/7 trying to hold in “wind” in public is something I’ve almost forgotten about. On the down side though I have never felt so weak. I seem to be lacking enthusiasm and strength. I have also had the flu 2 weeks ago and was off work for 4 days. Now I don’t know if I was going to get the flu anyway or not, or whether following this diet would have left my immune system slightly deficient I don’t know, I’m not a nutrition expert. I welcome your advice.

Well …. great work! Remember that acids stored in body tissue (fat!) have to pass through the blood in order to be eliminated. This can give you flu like symptoms and leave you feeling weak.

I would encourage you to keep doing everything you can to eliminate the acid. That would mean continuing with your diet, 3 – 4 litres a day of alkaline water with greens, gentle enjoyable exercise and skin brushing. Colonic hydrotherapy or enemas, using clay and skin brushing may also help.

Ensuring adequate intake of dark green leafy vegetables, their juices and wheatgrass juice should help build haemoglobin and therefore energy levels. Avocados, hemp oil and nuts and seeds should provide calories. Sprouted seeds, beans, pulses and grains are alkalising and calorific too. The pHlavor spray can help energise you too.

Please Note: The answers above do not replace the advice of a qualified physician.

Another set of great questions and great answers! If you have a question for Gareth – leave it in the comments below!

Tagged as: blenders, cholesterol, green drink, himalayan crystal salt, juicers, omega oils, phour salts, skin brushing, sodium bicarbonate

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.