ALKALIZING SMOOTHIES:
PROTECT YOUR BONES AND KIDNEYS
T
hough there’s lots of hype about the importance of alkalizing your blood to prevent all kinds of
diseases, for the most part, hype is exactly what it is. Under normal circumstances, dietary
choices have little, if any, direct impact on your blood pH levels. Your body is alkaline by nature and
has a pretty nifty system of checks and balances to keep your blood pH somewhere between 7.35
and 7.45. What you eat can affect the pH of your urine and other bodily fluids, however, and that can
seriously impact your health.
Bones
It’s a fact that foods vary in acidity and need to be adjusted by the body. Your body also creates
acids that need to be neutralized just by performing basic activities such as breathing, exercising,
and digesting food. If you eat the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables, your body
can neutralize about 50 mEq of acid—anything more than that and your body starts pulling calcium
and other minerals from your bones to alkalize your blood.
Unfortunately, most people who live on a Western diet take in about 100 mEq of acid per day and
eat far less than the daily recommended servings of produce. That means that on a daily basis, your
body has to pull critical minerals from your bones just to keep you alive. On the other hand,
increasing your fruit and vegetable intake will provide your body what it needs and preserve the
strength of your bones, possibly helping you avoid such conditions as osteoporosis.
Kidney Stones
As mentioned above, whether or not you can alter the pH of your blood significantly with diet is
debatable, but the pH levels of your urine and other bodily fluids are influenced by what you eat.
When your body has to draw calcium from your bones and teeth to alkalize itself, that calcium can
build up in your kidneys and cause painful kidney stones. This can largely be prevented by eating
enough alkalizing foods.
Now that you understand a few of the reasons why it’s so important to eat plenty of fruits and
vegetables, it’s pretty obvious how adding a smoothie or two to your daily diet can help keep you
alkalized and healthy. Some foods are more alkalizing than others, and you’ll find a variety of
smoothie recipes that use them to their best advantage in the following pages.
Orange Carrot Smoothie
Though most people think of oranges as acidic, they’re actually alkalizing after they mingle with your
stomach acid. Coconut water is also soothing to your digestive tract, while the beta-carotene in carrots is a
great anti-oxidant boost. This smoothie tastes both fresh and a bit citrusy.
• 1 yellow beet
• 1 carrot with greens
• 1 orange, peeled
• 1/2 cup coconut water
Pulse the beet and the carrot, then add the orange and coconut water.
Yield: About 2 cups.
The Dish on Coconut Water
The Good: Coconut water is often used to treat diarrhea and other digestive issues because it’s
packed with enzymes and electrolytes. It’s also sterile and has a near-perfect pH, and can thus
be used in a pinch as a substitute for blood plasma.
The Bad: What makes coconut juice ideal for sports drinks actually makes it less so for people
concerned about sugar and sodium intake, as this refreshing juice is relatively high in both.
Potato Pineapple Potash
Potatoes are so alkalizing that they’re frequently used alone to treat acne from the inside out. Pineapples,
kiwis, and ginger are also extremely alkalizing, as well as delicious and good for digestion. The fruity,
tropical taste of the kiwis and pineapple meld with the spicy ginger, and you’ll never even know the potato
is there.
• 1 red potato• 1/4 inch slice ginger
• 1/4 pineapple, peeled • 2 kiwis, peeled
Chop the red potato and pineapple into 1-inch cubes.
Pulse the potato and ginger, then add the pineapple and kiwi. If you feel it’s needed, add 1/4 cup
water or organic apple juice.
Yield: About 2 cups.