BALANCING ACT

The most important balancing act you are doing right now is not what you think it is. Its balance is so important that it’s actually keeping you alive! Your body is currently balancing your pH levels to fight off disease and keep you alive. I have to admit, until recently, I thought pH balance had something to do with my hair.  Let me explain what pH balance is, and why you should care so much about it. 


Unscientifically speaking, pH is the acid/alkaline balance in your body. The “p” stands for potential and the “H” stands for Hydrogen. Your body won’t let you become too unbalanced or you would die. Instead, it uses precious minerals in your body to keep your pH balanced. Imagine a scale from 0 (Acidic) to 14 (Alkaline). A person’s ideal blood pH should be between 7.35 and 7.45. The next question you’re probably asking is, “Why should I care?”

As mentioned earlier, your body will do whatever is necessary to keep you from being too unbalanced. The problem arises when you force your body to work harder than it should. Disease, thyroid problems, poor bone health, and a slow metabolism are just a few problems that arise due to this inbalance. For brevity sake, I’d like to focus on the issue of disease and weight gain.

A friend of mine recently suggested that I do research on germs and how harmful or beneficial they are. This quasi-germ-a-phobic gal didn’t think that was such a good idea. I was really afraid of turning my “quirky” behavior into a full blown obsession. Sure I refuse to touch public bathroom doors and use napkins to pour my ketchup in restaurants, but that just makes good sense to me. Germs, in general, can be good for your body. But there is a reason why we wash our hands after we go the bathroom and require doctors to do the same before working on us. It’s all to prevent disease and sickness. What I found through my pH research however, is that I had the wrong battleground. It’s not about avoiding as many germs as possible, but rather creating a battlefield that uses germs for good instead of evil. This battleground is your pH balance.

To explain how this works, I came across an excellent analogy from The Wolfe Clinic. They explained that if you unplugged a sealed freezer for two weeks you’d come back to the food being covered in mold, bacteria, and microscopic bugs. Nothing got into the freezer of course, it was sealed. The point is that those things were already there in the first place. The only difference is that the environment changed. According to The Wolfe Clinic, “Maintaining proper alkalinity is essential for life, health, and vitality. Simply put - an imbalance of alkalinity creates a condition favorable to the growth of bacteria, yeast and other unwanted organisms."  (1) They go on to say that pH balance is the first major line of defense against sickness and disease and a strong immune system acts as a clean-up service. The Wolfe Clinic also provides a more scientific explanation, “The more acidic we become, the harder it is for oxygen to be present, so our biological terrain also becomes more anaerobic. Without adequate oxygenation, unfriendly bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungus can live and prosper. Then our cells cannot carry on their life-giving functions in a very efficient manner because our biological chemical reactions need oxygen.” (2) This explanation seems to make the most sense to me. Work on having a good immune system but keep your pH balanced and you won’t have to worry so much about those germs turning into something more dangerous in your body.

In a previous article, I wrote on how aspartame in diet drinks can make you fat. What I didn’t realize was that those diet drinks can make you fat for a whole different reason. A friend of mine shared with me a video on YouTube entitled, “How Diet Soda Causes Weight Gain.” What it really explains is the importance of your pH balance and how its inbalance can make you fat. I recommend watching the video after reading this blog. You can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpoAtwVyzZI

The Wolfe Clinic has an article that explains it in a more scientific way. I thought about summarizing the paragraph for you but it really was packed with interesting information. “The human body is very intelligent. As we become more and more acidic the body starts to set up defense mechanisms to keep the damaging acid from entering our vital organs. It is known that acid gets stored in fat cells. After all, if the acid does come into contact with an organ the acid has a chance to eat holes in the tissue. This may cause the cells to mutate. The oxygen level drops in this acidic environment and calcium begins to be depleted. So as a defense mechanism, your body may actually make fat to protect you from your overly-acidic self. Those fat cells and cellulite deposits may actually be packing up the acid and trying to keep it a safe distance from your organs. The fat may be saving your vital organs from damage. Many people have found that a return to a healthy inner biological terrain helps them to lose excess fat.” (3)

Now that you know an unbalanced pH can make you fat and bring disease upon you, let’s talk about what to do next. The first thing I plan on doing is testing my pH. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go to the doctor and get poked with anything. You would have lost me there. For $6 you can get your own pH test kit to monitor your pH balance. I plan on doing this every once in a while to see where I’m at and whether I need to make any changes in my diet. The next step is as easy as 1-2-3.

(1) Eat alkalizing foods. I’ve attached a website that has an excellent chart that lists food on a pH balance scale. This isn’t a list of foods to avoid, but will assist you in what foods you need to eat more of and some to limit. http://www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/pH.html

(2) Another tool is to purchase pH balancing products. I’m not sure I need to go down this path yet, but if my diet doesn’t assist me in balancing my pH I do plan on looking into some supplements. There are some out there that are just drops you can put into your drinks. For now I’m adding lemon to the water I drink and increasing the amount of water I consume.

(3) Less stress. Some scientists suggest that your stress levels can contribute to an unbalanced pH. Take time for yourself. I know this is easier said than done. I for one need to do better at this. Start out with 15 minutes a day and try to move up to 30. Try to think of at least three things that make you more relaxed and implement them in your daily life.

Sure this was another article telling you to eat your fruits and veggies and limit your fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. But I hope it gave you more of an incentive than just saying, “Because it’s good for you.” For those of you who read the food chart and notice that coffee is on the alkaline side, do not fret! There are healthy foods that are on that side of the chart. It’s not about staying away from those foods, it’s about balancing them with foods on the acidic side.

You still won’t see me use my bare hands to open public bathroom doors, but maybe I’ll grab that ketchup bottle without a napkin next time. Well, not until I get my pH balanced.

The Wolfe Clinic. http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/phbalancearticle.html (1)(2)(3)

SHOES OFF, PLEASE

Taking off your shoes when you enter your home has got to be the simplest thing you can do to live a healthier life. Not to mention that doesn’t cost you money or time. The Japanese were the first to introduce the “shoes off” policy and also happen to have the longest life expectancy. Coincidence? I think not.

Most people are concerned about toxins in their food, air or workplace, but don’t think twice about the ones they are carrying into their home. Parents want to take their children to safe playgrounds and yet have toxic playgrounds in their own home when they don’t take their shoes off. It’s the little ones who truly pay the price since they spend the majority of their time playing on the floor.

Shoes track in pesticides, fertilizers, lead and excrement. Yes, you read that correctly, excrement! We track in animal excrement which includes humans. Think of the last time you visited a public restroom and what you may have stepped in. Now think of bringing that into your home, having it turn into dust particles, and then inhaling it. The pesticides and fertilizers I mentioned earlier work the same way. They get trapped in your carpet and don’t break down as fast as they do outside in the sun. This leaves you with toxic dust particles that you inhale. In addition to taking your shoes off, it’s important to vacuum and wash your floors on a regular basis as well dust and clean those windows. These things aren’t about looking like you have a clean house, but about your own personal health.

Begin by making a commitment to yourself to take those shoes off. Some say that this can also be a good thing for your mental health. It’s a way to “take off” the outside and relax in your home. It can also be better for your back in the long run. Once you make it a habit, ask that your guests also take off their shoes. You can place a sign in your doorway simply stating, “Please take your shoes off.” If you’d like to be cheekier you could say, “You have two choices at my door. Take off your shoes or scrub the floors” or “Your soul is welcomed. Your shoes are not.” Do not, I repeat, DO NOT feel bad about asking people to take their shoes off. Your guests wouldn’t put their shoes on your kitchen table would they? If you have small children, that’s exactly what it would be like. My 1 ½ year old son will take his food, throw it on the floor, and then climb down and eat it. Doesn’t bother this germaphobe much since I know my floors are clean. Frankly, if that’s the only way he’ll eat his fruits and vegetables I might get rid of the kitchen table all together.

For those guests who do not feel comfortable taking their shoes off, you can offer them an alternative. Place shoe covers in a small basket and leave them by the door. This way your guests can choose whether to take their shoes off or use a slip cover. These covers are usually sold in the painting supply section of large stores. For guests that may be staying longer, you could purchase different sized slippers at a discount store.

Not to get all infomercial on you or anything, but one of my favorite household items is my carpet cleaner. It’s easy to use, cleans your carpet quickly, and pays for itself in one use. Not to mention it also prolongs the life of your carpet. I bought mine for under $200. You can use it once a year on the entire house and periodically for heavy traffic areas. No need to move all that furniture around when you can simply go over the areas that get the most traffic. We’ve also had disgusting accidents by dogs and kids where I was extremely thankful I had my carpet cleaner handy. Having a clean carpet will also make people less hesitant to take their shoes off. Who want to take their shoes off when the floor is dirty?

Now that you are in the know….begin your healthy lifestyle by kicking off those shoes. Before you know it, you’ll be doing yoga in your front room and drinking Kombucha. Hmmn… those are also Asian traditions.

HOW TO LOOK LIKE A DOMESTIC GODDESS WITHOUT WORKING LIKE ONE

On occasion, my friends have referred to me as a domestic goddess. Although I am always flattered by these comments, I feel a little bit dishonest. My dear friends, it is time that I finally came clean. Domestic goddess I am not. Overwhelmed wife, mother, and homemaker who finds the shortest cuts possible is more like it. These “short cuts,” are simple things that I have adopted over the years. I’d like to share a few of these with you so you too can appear to be a domestic goddess.


Cookies Anyone?
Nothing says homemaker better than a warm batch of cookies fresh from the oven. Who has time to put together the dough and watch over the oven after a long day of work? Work being a job that pays you, and/or the task of keeping your children from killing each other. (Not mine of course, they’re little angels) Solution…whenever you find yourself in the mood, make a large batch of cookie dough and roll them into small little balls. Spread them out on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer until they are no longer sticky. Then throw them into a large ziplock bag or glass container and put back in the freezer. When you have unexpected visitors, or are just in the mood yourself, take a few out and bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes or so. Sure I just spent an entire paragraph telling you about cookies, but you’ll love how this simple thing can make you look great.

Crockpot Paradox
When my husband and I first got married, we had the pleasure of using a scan gun to zap away at our department store wish list. As I approached the two gallon crock pot, gun ready to fire, my husband seemed to think we didn’t need such a large one. I explained that we could throw large parties or bathe our future children in it. Should have guessed then that marrying a 6’7 man would not provide me children that would fit. From this large crockpot a paradox occurs. It’s an appliance that allows you to throw food into it and then push a button that spends all day cooking for you. Brilliant! Yet with very little work, spouses and guests seem to be impressed by whatever comes out of the magic box. It’s a win-win really. So please, dust off that old crockpot and let it make you look like you’ve been slaving away over dinner all day.

Thank you. No, thank you!
I’d have to say that 90 % of my mail is recycled without ever being read. The other 10% are bills that are still sent to me via snail mail. However, every once in a while a bright star will appear. It doesn’t look like a bill, it has handwriting on it, and I sit with giddy anticipation on what it could be. Feverishly, I open the letter to find a sweet thank you card from a friend for something very small I did for her. None-the-less, this made me feel loved and admiration for someone who took the time out of their busy life to purchase a card, hand write me a note, rummage around for a stamp, and then manage to mail the darn thing. The phrase, “It’s the thought that counts” doesn’t apply when you just think about sending a card to someone. So here’s a simple way to get it done. Purchase numerous thank-you cards at one time. You can collect them when they are on sale or just pick up a pack of ten. Then write your return address on them, put on a stamp, and store them in your kitchen junk drawer. If one were to have such a thing. You are now three-fourths of the way there when wanting to thank someone for their kindness. It shows people love and makes you look like you really have your act together.

Just the way my mom’s mom made it.
Most of us did not grow up in a home where fresh baked bread was the norm. However, with modern technology we can bring this tradition back. I can’t begin to tell you how many compliments I have gotten over my homemade bread. The oohs and aahs are something I absolutely love to hear... especially since I’m not the best cook. I won’t go into great detail on my bread making journey since you can read all about it in a previous article entitled, Not By Bread Alone…Need Bread Maker. The point I want to share is that it’s not me people should be praising, but my bread maker. I simply throw a few ingredients in it and push a button, yet I am the one who gets to look like Martha Stewart. I’m seriously considering hiding my bread maker. I don’t want people to see the little woman standing behind a curtain pushing a button, but rather the Great Wizard of Bread.

Fake it.
The shortest cut of all…fake it. Some domestic goddesses seem to always have their stuff together. They appear to have everything under control. This is probably where the lawyer in me comes out. If you look confident and say things with confidence, people will have confidence in you. Whether any of that is true or not, is a different story. If you act like you have things together, people will believe it. Now I don’t mean having your hair and make-up done. For those of you who see my smiling face, you will surely not see make-up on it. In fact, you don’t want to see me with make-up on. If I’m wearing my war paint, it probably means I’m in court representing you on a criminal matter. Looking like you have things together really just means taking everything in stride. Your muffins got burnt on the bottom? Serve muffin tops! Your child throws a fit in the store? Simply speak softly and carry them out like they were just an item on your list. The longer you fake taking things in stride, the more likely you are actually to do it. Before you know it, you look like you have everything under control because you do! Being in control doesn’t mean planning everything that happens in your life, it means having a plan for how you’ll react to things that happen in your life.