When you're building a fire in your fireplace, you usually pile up the wood and add some type of lighter fluid before igniting a flame. When the fire burns out and the smoke clears, there's usually an ashy residue left. The same can be said when your body burns food for energy. After the food is burned, through exercise and regular activity, you end up with food ash. Acid-ash diets are sometimes prescribed to people who have suffered from kidney stones.
The Food We Burn
Food ash can be neutral, acidic or alkaline depending on the mineral content of the food you consume. A healthy diet should consist of 70 to 80 percent basic, or alkaline, foods.
The remaining percentage should consist of acidic foods. While most elements are considered to be alkaline, foods rich in sulphur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine leave an acid ash. Meat, eggs, dairy, processed foods, yeast, grains, artificial sweeteners, fruit, sugars, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, tea and soft drinks are all considered acidic foods. Cooking your food rather than eating it raw also adds to the production of acid ash.
The Acid-Ash Diet
Acid-ash diets are prescribed to patients who have suffered from kidney stones that may contain phosphorus. A low-phosphorus diet is usually recommended. This type of diet is also recommended for people who suffer from struvite stones, which contain the compound magnesium ammonium phosphate. Be wary of putting too many acid-rich foods in your body, though. Acidosis happens when there is a depletion in the alkali reserve and fixed bases in blood and tissues of the body, and this can result in arthritic and rheumatic diseases.
To increase your intake of acid in your diet, put some bacon or ham on your breakfast plate. Incorporate several acidic fruits or vegetables into your lunch and dinner and even as snacks. You can find a chart of acid and alkaline foods at liferesearchuniversal.com (see Resources).
Be sure to consult with your physician before committing to any diet.
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