In order for your body to renew itself it must have oxygen. Your red blood cells are the vehicles that transport oxygen to your cells. Foods or supplements that you can eat that will make it easier for your body to make nice healthy red blood cells can improve your energy and make you feel and look younger. One of those groups of foods is called “Green Foods”. They are called green foods because they are rich in Chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll, amazingly, is almost identical chemically to the chemical in your red blood cells that transports oxygen except that in your blood the central atom is Iron and in Chlorophyll it is Magnesium. Foods that are awesome for supplying Chlorophyll are Wheat Grass, Barley Grass and Alfalfa. They are available as commercially produced powders and capsules.
Up to now I have tried not to get too technical with chemical terms, but we need to discuss alkaline and acid blood. In order for you to renew with ease your blood must be slightly alkaline. When your blood is not slightly alkaline and instead becomes acidic, really bad things can happen. You can die. You can become prone to heart disease, kidney problems, weak brittle bones and cancer. In addition to helping your body make healthy red blood cells Green Foods also supply lots of Magnesium, which help your blood stay slightly alkaline.
You see, stress, too much protein in the diet, over exercising, infections, and aging all challenge your body to keep your blood slightly alkaline. Your body balances your blood by using minerals to keep it slightly alkaline. These minerals are Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium. If your body does not have enough of these to keep your blood slightly alkaline, your body will take Calcium from your bones and use it to rebalance your blood! This is really a metabolic thing. One would rarely see the blood becoming acidic. However, evidence that the body is working hard to maintain proper conditions can be seen by looking at the saliva or the urine as it will change according to the “battle” that is taking place in the body. The harder your body is working to maintain the proper conditions for the blood the more likely you will age faster.
So, if you want to stay young or reverse the effects of aging, make sure your diet includes foods and supplements that can supply you with lots of these alkaline forming minerals. One inexpensive source for Potassium is Apple Cider Vinegar. Get the kind that has been processed under low heat and still has “the mother” in it. Nuts are rich in Magnesium. Dairy is rich in Calcium, but it is a kind of Calcium that is difficult for you to absorb. Sesame seeds and green leafy vegetables are some of the best food sources for Calcium.
Because it is so critical to have enough minerals in the diet you may want to consider taking supplements. However, it is very important to take the correct form of supplement-one your body can best absorb. For example, the Calcium in chalky tablets is very hard for your body to use. The best supplements are called high absorption Calcium and high absorption Magnesium, such as Magnesium Orotate or Aspartate. Don’t do guess work here. Ask for and take the advice of a Naturopath, the owner of a small health food store, or, if you go to a large chain, make sure the person is knowledgeable. How do you know if you have enough alkaline minerals in your diet? You can test your saliva or your urine with test strips available at health food stores.
