The Acid/Alkaline Balance of a Woman’s Cycle

As I sit here writing this, I am sipping on white tea, this is alkalising me. I am in the second half of my cycle, the luteal phase, post ovulation; the phase in which women are at there most acidic. The first half of the cycle (the follicular phase) from day one of the menses to ovulation is the alkaline phase, this also coincides with when a women’s basal temperature is at its lowest. During ovulation our temperature rises and we then become more acidic.

Many women feel bad, naughty or even guilty when they reach for that chocolate or cup of black tea. However it is worth considering, especially if you are in the first half of your cycle that you may have gone too alkaline. This is simply the way in which your body is communicating with you in order for you to listen, and bring it back into balance. I am not suggesting you pig out on sugar during the first half of your cycle, it’s more about observing yourself and watching your food tendencies and preferences during the month. This is another way of getting to know yourself.

The 80% Alkaline, 20% Acid Diet
Very basically, alkaline foods consist of whole fruits and vegetables. Acid foods, other than junk food, coffee and alcohol; are acid starches and proteins. All is not cut and dry however, take for example nuts; almonds are alkalising and peanuts and acid-forming. Millet is the only alkalising grain, but make sure you purchase hulled millet, unhulled millet is like eating bird seed!

Disease cannot exist in an alkaline body
If you have cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid or oesteo-arthritis, or by and large any type of chronic illness, chances are you will be too acidic. In fact, you have probably been leaning towards the acidic scale of things for some time. Start by juicing and reducing or giving-up red meat entirely, you will soon notice the difference…

The pH refers to parts hydrogen. The pH scale is from 1 to 14, with 7 representing neutrality. The optimum pH range of human tissue and blood plasma is about 7.35 to 7.45, slightly favoring the alkaline side.

A Detox
Alkalising an individual’s diet is powerful enough to be considered a detox within itself, particularly if his or her diet currently includes quantities of fast food, cigarettes, coffee, alcohol, wheat, refined sugar, red meat and orthodox medication. Before launching people straight into a powerful herbal and pure plant detoxification programme, I will first and foremost encourage them to take steps in order to alkalise their diet. Herbal medicines are in general perfect alkaline foods, rich in hundreds of essential nutrients, minerals and trace elements. These healing plants not only speed up the process of achieving this alkalinity within the blood, tissue and organs, but also simultaneously aid detoxification through the eliminatory channels, including the kidneys, liver and intestines.

Love is Alkaline
On the Acid/Alkaline chart hanging on my wall, it states that overwork, fear, jealousy and stress are acidic, in fact the most acidic! These emotions are up there will artificial sweeteners! On the alkaline end, it says prayer, peace, love and kindness are alkaline, along with lemons and wheatgrass juice! This is yet another way that emotions are directly linked to our health. If you work long hours and/or night shifts, in a closed environment, this will immediately shift you towards an acidic condition and it may be worth taking white tea and lots of fruit to work with you. Particularly powerful foods which alkalise the body quickly and effectively are: apple cider vinegar, dark cherry concentrate, beetroot, carrot and celery juice, lemon, alfalfa, parsley, sea vegetables, cucumber, watermelon, pawpaw, goat’s milk yoghurt and wheat grass juice.

Miriam Young is a Medical Herbalist, specialising in detoxification programs and Natural Fertility. She practices from Flourish Remedies, in Doonan and Fig Tree Pocket in Brisbane. You may contact her on www.detox4life.com.au or 07 5449 1130. Miriam’s next ‘Detox For Life Retreat’ is in September 2010. This month’s topic is also covered on the ‘Whole Woman’ course facilitated by international teacher Jo Le Rose.