Why “alkaline” is good

For the last couple of months, I’ve been monitoring my body’s acid/alkaline balance. It’s simple to do.

Each month, for several days in a row, I stick a short strip of litmus paper into a little of my first morning urine (sounds lovely, I know), which then turns a color that I compare to a color chart on the box of litmus paper.

If it’s close to a dark blue, I’m alkaline and that’s good. If more of a green, I’m acidic and need to add more vegetables to my diet.

Why do I bother?

A diet high in protein and refined starches (think bread, pasta, rolls, muffins), plus other acid-forming foods and supplements, can render you acidic if you fail to consume adequate amounts of potassium-rich vegetables and fruits. (And while I don’t eat many refined starches, I do eat my share of protein and indulge in coffee and the occasional red wine).

When you’re acidic, calcium gets leeched from your bones to buffer the acidity. And calcium-deprived bones are weakened bones, prone to fracture. Not something you want!

Still more benefits  

Staying alkaline helps you maintain muscle while you age.

That’s according to a study published last year out of the Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

Preserving lean muscle tissue is a good thing, since, as you age, you’re likely going to lose muscle unless you do something (say, weight training) to keep it.

Big deal, you say? It is a big deal, since less muscle means your metabolism slows (you can’t take in the same number of calories), you lose youthful tone and contour, and you’re more at risk for falls and fractures.  

In the study, researchers looked at 384 adults 65 years old and up and found that those who got more potassium in their diets (potassium is found in ample amounts in many vegetables and fruits) had more lean tissue mass than those who consumed lower amounts of potassium.

So…make sure to get those vegetables (and fruits) in, no matter what’s on the menu. If you’re having pizza or a sandwich, have a salad or a bowl of vegetable soup, too.  

You can try this at home

You can pick up some pH test paper at a health food store (I got mine at Vitamin Shoppe) or find it online.

According to Susan Brown, PhD, of www.BetterBones.com, the ideal urine reading should be between 6.5 to 7.5. (A list of acid- and alkaline-forming foods is available on the site.)