For one, to be honest I didnt know about alkalizing and the importance of it until I started in It Works, then I started noticing it in all the health circles, and I went on a google quest. Personally I love LiveStrong.com, tons of great information on anything health wise, everything in this post besides the Greens and my personal opinion have been taken from that site. But please note the date when reading an article, you need to look at the most recent date, information is always changing what was 2-10 years ago may not apply now, with new information coming out so frequently.
Also, from my personal research, I do not recommend an All Alkaline Diet. It is a full on diet. And some of the foods they cut out can be detrimental to your health, not everyone but some. That is the biggest reason I would recommend trying the greens and see how they make you feel. Because you are not cutting out vital fats and nutrients that your body needs you are adding them. This is my personal recommendation. I also do not like the word diet. When you are changing you need to be doing a full life style change. Not a diet or fad. You need to be into the health and function of your body!
If you hate fruits and vegetables you should still try to get in as many as you can. I know that many of you are looking at this thinking "right...". Well it is true! I also love the "Greens". Because I know that there are times that I do not intake enough fruits and vegetables. And many times there isn't a high availability of some that your body really needs. They provide 8 servings of fruits and vegetables while pH-balancing and detoxing the inside of your body and boosting your immune system with whole foods. The ingredients are available under product information. More into what alkalizing your body can do and why!
While diet and its relationship to obesity and other health problems have received worldwide attention, little or no research prior to 2008 attempted to link the body’s pH, its acid-alkaline balance, to food intake. A study reported in the "Proceedings of the Nutrition Society" testifies to the relationship between diet, body pH and health issues. The study concludes excessive consumption of protein foods – classified as acidic – contribute to bone loss. According to Dr. Timothy R. Arnett, “even slight chronic acidosis could be sufficient to cause appreciable bone loss over time.”
I want to keep my bones!! Diseases can thrive on a non alkaline body. I choose to have an alkaline body!
The Food Connection
The "British Journal of Nutrition" in a 2008 issue reported the results of one of the first studies to evaluate the relationship between urine pH and habitual dietary intake of foods in a large population. Although other testing methods exist, the report states, “urine pH has advantages of convenience as an indicator of the acid-base status of the body.” Study participants, totaling 22,034, followed two different dietary combinations using standardized portion sizes. The acid diet consisted of fruits and vegetables – classified as alkaline foods – with higher intake of acidic foods, such as meats, dairy foods and cereal. The alkaline diet consisted of a greater intake of fruits and vegetables and lower consumption of meats. Researchers compared casual urine samples and 24-hour samples taken from the subjects. Upon conclusion of the study, researchers evaluated data from urine samples, Food Frequency Questionnaires and seven-day diaries and found a significant relationship between acid/alkaline urine pH and food intake. Researchers also noted a change in dietary protein from vegetable to animal sources resulted in a reduction in pH levels from 6.55 to 6.17.
Cancer and Cellular pH
According to the "Journal of Biological Chemistry," researchers discovered the enzyme carbonic anhydrase IX controls the acidic environment of cancer cells, enabling them to flourish while healthy cells perish. The University of Florida News states that researchers have “synthesized chemicals that can inhibit this enzyme.” Further research is currently underway to alter the cellular pH of cancerous tumors and reverse their growth.
Dr. Otto Warburg
In the 1920s, German biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg first discovered the acidic environment of cancer cells as opposed to the alkaline environment in which normal cells thrived. Cancer cells use glucose, a main source of energy, differently than normal cells. Dr. Warburg’s discovery sparked years of research for scientists trying to unravel the mystery of cellular metabolism.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancer is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells, triggered by an initiator (such as certain chemicals, viruses or cigarette smoking), and exacerbated by a promoter (such as fat or hormones). Lifestyle factors, such as diet, play a role in cancer prevention. Consuming a plant-based, mostly vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of developing cancer over your lifetime.
High Fiber Plant Foods
Plant foods, such as whole grains, legumes and beans offer many beneficial nutrients and fill gaps in the diet where fatty meats and sugary foods might otherwise be chosen. Beans are full of B-vitamins and dietary fiber, which is beneficial for fighting cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, people who eat fewer animal foods and consume a plant-based diet have a more nutritious diet in general. Plant-based diets, rich in vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients, are cancer-preventative. Choose at least three 3 oz. servings of fiber-rich whole grains daily, such as whole wheat bread, whole oats, barley, and brown rice. Try incorporating beans and legumes into your diet most days of the week.
Fruits and Vegetables
According to the 2007 National Cancer Institute's Complementary and Alternative Medicine annual report, plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables, offer a host of protective nutrients, including vitamins, phytochemicals (chemicals in plants that fight disease) and antioxidants. These nutrients offer protection against the development of many types of cancer. Think in terms of bright colors and a wide variety of textures. Concentrate on cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli, onions and garlic; citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit; berries, such as raspberries and strawberries; and dark green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach. These contain beneficial phytonutrients important for decreasing your risk of developing many forms of cancer. Choose whole, unprocessed fruits and vegetables most often and try to consume five to nine servings daily.
Vitamin D-Rich Foods
There is evidence which suggests that vitamin D may play a role in cancer prevention, according to the National Cancer Institute. Sunlight is the best form of vitamin D (our bodies are able to convert UV sunlight exposure to the active form of vitamin D in the body). Geographic correlation studies, including one published in 2006 in the "American Journal of Public Health" entitled, "The Role of Vitamin D in Cancer Prevention," by C. F. Garland, E. D. Gorham, M. Lipkin and others, revealed an inverse relationship between sunlight exposure levels and the death rates for certain types of cancers. Individuals living in southern states were found to have lower cancer rates than those living in northern states. Vitamin D may initiate cancer cell death (apoptosis) and slow their multiplication. It may be wise to consume a vitamin D-rich diet. Consume vitamin D-fortified foods, such as milk products, cereals, and fruit juices, as well as foods naturally high in vitamin D, such as egg yolks and fatty fish.
The ingredients in "Greens"
https://workstation.myitworks.com/FileUploads/DocumentLibrary/Documents/gbl001productinformationgreensl.pdf
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 packet (3.1g) Servings Per Container: 30
Amount Per Serving %DV
Calories 10
Calories from fat 5
Total Fat 0.5 g <1%*
Total Carbohydrates 1 g <1%*
Sodium 10 mg <1%*
Proprietary Blend: 2,350 mg **
Soy lecithin (97% phosphatides), soy protein isolate, apple fiber, Spirulina pacifica, eleuthero root extract, wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa leaf, barley malt, brown rice flour, probiotic blend (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum), bee pollen, royal jelly, beet juice powder, acerola, chlorella, astragalus root extract, milk thistle seed, green tea leaf extract, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, dulse, bilberry extract, aloe vera leaf and glycamil powder
Proprietary Blend: 360 mg **
Broccoli, black walnut hull, blackberry fruit, blueberry fruit, cabbage, celery seed, corn silk stylus, cranberry, dandelion leaf, goldenseal herb (aerial parts), kale, lemon grass, marshmallow root, meadowsweet herb (aerial parts), oat straw (aerial parts), papaya leaf, parsley, pau d’arco bark, plantain leaf, red raspberry leaf, rose hips, rosemary leaf, sage leaf, slippery elm bark, spinach, strawberry fruit, thyme, tomato, turmeric root, watercress, white willow bark, okra and kamut grass
*Percent Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. **Daily value (DV) not established.
