made from fresh ginger. Use about 2.5cm (1 inch) per person. Simply peel the ginger, slice it up and pour on boiling water. The longer you leave before drinking, the more beneficial it will be. Adding lemon will make it even more alkaline.
Herbal Teas
Correctly called tisanes, herbal teas are made from flowering plants without woody stems. Herbal infusions can include flowers, herbs, fruit and spices. Unlike all other types of tea, these infusions are caffeine-free. Examples are fennel, chamomile, nettle, peppermint, and rooibos (tea made from the red bush tree in South Africa, see below). These teas are alkaline forming, whereas fruit teas like apple, blackberry or raspberry may be mildly acid forming. However, we always have a choice and a mildly acid-forming fruit tea will be much more beneficial than a cup of extremely acid-forming coffee.
Tea
Most of the tea we drink is black tea. In fact, 94 per cent of all tea consumed is black. Although tea has approximately half the amount of caffeine as coffee, it should not be drunk excessively as it can discolour your teeth and cause insomnia. Drunk with meals, tea inhibits iron absorption by the body. Tea is without doubt a better choice than coffee, but ideally you should be looking to make an even better choice. Opt for green tea, ginger tea or rooibos tea, all high in antioxidants and beneficial to your health.
Rooibos Tea
The tea made from the red bush tree in South Africa is 100 per cent organic and has seemingly endless medicinal value. It really is nature’s medicine. It is best drunk alone, but you can add lemon or ginger. Milk can be added, but takes away the refreshing taste of the tea. Wean yourself off cow’s milk being added to any tea and choose soya milk as an alternative.
Rooibos tea:
• acts as an antioxidant that slows the ageing process
• prevents cancer and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
• is packed with flavonoids, antioxidants more powerful than vitamin C, green or black tea
• supports the digestive system and is anti-spasmodic, relieving stomach cramps and colic in babies
• helps manage allergies
• soothes skin irritations when applied directly to the affected area
• replenishes iron levels, so is useful for pregnant and menstruating women
• is calorie-free
• boosts the immune system
• aids health problems like insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension and hypertension
• has a low tannin content (only 1–4 per cent)
• contains no artificial colours, additives or preservatives
• contains no caffeine, so can be drunk by pregnant women
• contains no oxalic acid, which prevents iron absorption
• contains copper, iron and potassium
• contains zinc for a healthy skin
• contains calcium, fluoride and manganese for strong bones and teeth
• contains magnesium for the nervous system.
Buttermilk
You might be surprised to learn that there is no butter in buttermilk and that it is quite a low-fat product. Old-fashioned, homemade buttermilk is the slightly sour, residual liquid that remains after butter is churned. The flavour of buttermilk is reminiscent of yoghurt, and most people prefer it well chilled. You’ll find it slightly thicker in consistency than regular milk but not as heavy as cream. It takes 4.5 litres (1 gallon) of milk to yield 0.25 litres (half a pint) of true buttermilk. Nowadays, adding lactic acid bacteria culture to pasteurized skimmed milk makes most commercial buttermilk. As far as the pH Diet is concerned, buttermilk is an excellent product and can be substituted for milk in endless recipes. Buttermilk is only slightly acid forming whereas regular milk is very acid forming.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is one of very few fruit juices that have an acidifying effect on the body. For this reason, cranberry juice should be consumed only as a temporary measure, usually because there is a urinary tract infection. Its only purpose is to acidify the body quickly in order to provide symptomatic relief. Cranberry juice contains aromatic acids that are not metabolized by the body. These acids remain intact throughout the entire digestive process, acidifying the urine and bladder as they exit the body.
Cranberry juice may be helpful while the digestive system is adjusting to the new healthy-eating programme. It contains betaine hydrochloride with enzymes, which may be beneficial to very toxic people. If you have been following a high-protein diet, you may suffer from bladder infections. Cranberry juice will quickly remedy the situation. Cranberries have strong antibiotic properties with unusual abilities to prevent infectious bacteria sticking to cells lining the bladder and urinary tract. Cranberries also have anti-viral activity.
Why Water Is Vital
The water you drink is just as important as the food you eat. The majority of us will admit that we do not drink enough fluid, and that when we do drink, we make poor choices, such as alcohol, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and fizzy drinks. Water is of the utmost importance to becoming and remaining healthy, and for the hydration of the body, particularly the skin. Our bodies are 70 per cent water and our blood 94 per cent water. If we exist on polluted water, or too little water, imagine the devastation to our bodies.
The least desirable water for human consumption is the tap water provided by most cities and towns. Most city water contains chlorine, a powerful oxidizing agent that is not beneficial to the body and may in fact be harmful. Which water you drink is a matter of personal taste. Look at the ingredients list of the bottled water you buy. Many mineral waters have different levels of calcium and magnesium in them. Look for a balance of these minerals, ideally one that has a high ratio of magnesium to calcium as it is magnesium that keeps calcium in the bones. Avoid flavoured water as many have artificial sweeteners added. Artificial sweeteners have been proved to be carcinogenic (cancer forming) in animals. Choose still mineral water as carbonated mineral water may hinder beneficial minerals being absorbed. Become a water connoisseur!
Do Coffee and Tea Count Towards My Daily Water Intake?
No, unfortunately. Coffee and tea are diuretics and acid forming, and actually encourage your body to eliminate fluids. Even though they are liquid and contain water, they dehydrate the body rather than effectively providing the cells with the fluid they need.
The best kind of water for the body is the water contained in fruits and vegetables. When you change your diet to include predominantly fruits and vegetables, you will be surprised at how little additional water you need to keep your body satisfied and hydrated. However,
