Day 34

Thoughts: Are You Getting Enough Alkaline Foods in Your Diet? 'Your health depends on an alkaline environment, created by eating foods such as tomatoes, avocados and green vegetables...striking the optimum 80/20 balance and regulating your body's acid/alkaline chemistry through simple changes in diet can result in weight loss, increased stamina and strength,a stronger immune system and a greater sense of wellbeing.' Dr Robert O. Young, Pioneering scientist and author of The pH Miracle. 
How did we become so out of balance?After years of societal changes, millions of dollars of marketing spend and technological advances we, as a race, are now facing more dietary based health challenges than ever before. It is no coincidence that the rapidly growing numbers of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes correlate almost exactly with the rise in consumption of acid forming foods such as sugars, saturated fats, and white breads. At the same time our consumption of fresh vegetables and essential fatty acids has decreased dramatically, making way for convenience and a generation hooked on sugary treats.
Becoming Alkaline This is not as difficult or as technical as it sounds. When we talk about eating alkaline foods or starting an alkaline diet we are referring to consuming those foods and drink which have an alkaline effect on the body. This effect is based upon the mineral content of the food and therefore the ash residue that remains after our foods are consumed. Some foods leave an acid ash, whereas others leave an alkaline ash. Conveniently for us, it just so happens that the foods that contain alkaline minerals (and leave an alkaline ash) are all the foods we already know are good for us: low sugar foods, fresh vegetables etc. And the foods that contain minerals that leave an acid ash? You guessed it, sweets, alcohol, saturated fats, meats, dairy etc.
Of course, everybody is different - but most of us should aim to eat 70-80% alkaline foods and a maximum of 20-30% acid forming foods.
This does not have to be measured in calories, grams or anything technical, just look at your plate! Is 70% of the food on it alkalising? And for the other 30%? You can do with this what you like (how acid is up to you - dependent upon the results you want), but feel free to go for some oily fish, wholemeal pasta or wild rice for example. 
ALKALINE FOODS: VegetablesAsparagusArtichokesCabbageLettuceOnionCauliflowerRadishSwedeLambs LettucePeasCourgetteRed CabbageLeeksWatercressSpinachTurnipChivesCarrotGreen BeansBeetrootGarlicCeleryGrasses (wheat, straw, barley, dog, kamut etc.)CucumberBroccoliKaleBrussels Sprouts
FruitsLemonLimeAvocadoTomatoGrapefruitWatermelon (is neutral)Rhubarb
Drinks'Green Drinks'Fresh vegetable juicePure water (distilled or ionised)Lemon water (pure water + fresh lemon or lime).Herbal TeaVegetable brothAlmond Milk
Seeds, Nuts & GrainsAlmondsPumpkinSunflowerSesameFlaxBuckwheat GroatsSpeltLentilsCumin SeedsAny sprouted seed
Fats & OilsFlaxHempAvocadoOliveEvening PrimroseBorageCoconut OilOil Blends (such as Udo's Choice) 
OthersSprouts (soy, alfalfa, mung bean, wheat, little radish , chickpea, broccoli etc)Bragg Liquid Aminos (Soy Sauce Alternative)HummusTahini
General Guidance:Stick to salads, fresh vegetables and healthy nuts and oils. Try to consume plenty of raw foods and at least 2-3 litres of clean, pure water daily (ideally enhanced with pH drops). 
ACIDIC FOODS:MeatsPorkLambBeefChickenTurkeyCrustaceansOther Seafood (apart from occasional oily fish such as salmon)
Dairy ProductsMilkEggsCheeseCreamYogurtIce Cream
OthersVinegarWhite PastaWhite BreadWholemeal BreadBiscuits Soy SauceTamariCondiments (Tomato Sauce, Mayonnaise etc.)Artificial SweetenersHoney DrinksFizzy DrinksCoffeeTeaBeersSpiritsFruit JuiceDairy SmoothiesMilkTraditional 
Convenience FoodsSweetsChocolateMicrowave MealsTinned FoodsPowdered SoupsInstant MealsFast Food
Fats & OilsSaturated FatsHydrogenated OilsMargarine (worse than Butter)Corn OilVegetable OilSunflower Oil
FruitsAll fruits aside from those listed in the alkaline column.Seeds & NutsPeanutsCashew NutsPistachio Nuts
General Guidance:Steer clear of fatty meats, dairy, cheese, sweets, chocolates, alcohol and tobacco. Packaged foods are often full of hidden offenders and microwave meals are full of sugars and salts. Over cooking also removes all of the nutrition from a meal!
How Alkaline Are YOU?You can test your acidity/alkaline level by going to a naturopath or health food store and buy some strips that you put under your tongue, they will appear different shades of green/yellow depending on your level. :) 
http://www.energiseforlife.com/list_of_alkaline_foods.php
Challenges: My great friend JD told me about his "diet/lifestyle", he is eating raw foods. It's amazing his dedication to his health and vitality, and it seems like it's on a-whole-nother level (is that a word?!). So I was challenged with that, I was like whoooohoooo there is so much more about health and food and nutrion I am yet to find out. Both exciting and challenging, as I know I will be giving up some foods. JD mentioned rice how it is a trapped grain, so to release it's nutrtion and to digest it properly we need to soak the rice in water first for it to sprout. JD is like the health godness, and when I get back India I will interview him and write a blog about him and his health! Wooo wooo!
Triumphs: Another day on the Earth Diet! woooo woooo! Day 34!
What I Ate Today:
Breakfast: Beetroot, carrot, ginger and celery juice. Goji berries, macadamias, and walnuts. 
Lunch: a pear, chocolate balls, macadamia nuts, goji berries and walnuts. 
Dinner: My awesome friend Steph made us dinner...woooo! All inside the Earth Diet...
Dessert: Chocolate ball. 
Snacks: a boiled egg and a green apple. 
Recipe:1. Free range organic chicken breast2. honey3. rosemary4. olive oil5. juice from a lemon6. brown rice7. broccoli8. bokchui 9. fresh basil10. zuchinni11. Carrot
Directions:1. Cook chicken breast in olive oil with honey and rosemary. 2. Stir fry the raw vegetables in with the chicken. 3. Cook the brown rice. 4. serve 
Exercise: cartwhees and a fully self expressed run on the beach at Surfer's Paradise