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alkaline water

Alkaline and Ionized Water: Healthy or Hype?

What is alkaline water?

There are many rumors about alkaline water. Some people say it’s healthy for the body while others disagree with it but what is alkaline water?

The word “alkaline” is a chemical term which defines the level of pH. Alkalinity ranges from 8-14 pH value. That means alkaline water pH value ranges from 8-14? Well, actually alkalinity water pH ranges from 8-9 but we will consider any matter alkaline if it’s pH is greater than 7.

Where does it come from?

There are two ways of making alkaline water. One is a natural way and other is a chemical way.

In natural, water (from rivers) usually interact with other minerals. Most minerals are alkaline in nature therefore when they dissolve then they make water alkaline. Sometimes when water hits big rocks (which are alkaline in nature), water absorbs the alkalinity from rock hence creating alkaline water.

Nowadays, we can create alkaline water by adding some chemicals. Don’t worry, these chemicals won’t harm your body. Not only that, you can create your own alkaline water as well! Just use ingredients which are alkaline in nature (such as baking soda etc.) and mix it with water.

Is alkalinity good or bad?

Everything in this word posses good effects as well as bad effects too. If we talk about alkalinity is good or bad then there is a big debate. What is the conclusion then? To be honest, it is still not properly decided.

Alkaline water has many positive impacts on the body and one of the best effects is the slow aging of people. That’s not all, do you know that alkaline water is one of the remedies for curing cancer? It also boosts your metabolism as well.

Although alkaline water is considered as healthy and safe there are negative impacts on the body as well. It disturbs the pH level of your stomach which can result in the killing of undesired pathogens which helps human bodies. It also causes vomiting, nausea, skin irritations, gastrointestinal issues, muscle twitching, and hand tremors as well.

Conclusion

Although alkaline water doesn’t change too much pH of the blood because blood acts as a buffer. There is not much to worry about drinking alkaline water. Alkaline water is safe and healthy but excess of alkaline water can result terrible.

salt free healthy diet

Health Benefits of Dieting without Salt

Salt is one of the essential ingredients for cooking food. The chemical composition of salt is NaCl, which means it comprises of sodium and chloride. As we know salt is a very common ingredient in food but in the quantities found in most foods we eat today, it isn’t healthy. In fact, it leads to diseases such as heart diseases, blood pressure and many more.

You might be thinking if salt is dangerous for health then what shall we do? Don’t worry, you can always rely on low-sodium diets. Why low-sodium foods? Because recent researches showed that low sodium intake can improvise your health conditions.

Fewer chances of kidney disease

A research was carried out in CKD (chronic kidney disease). It was observed that intake of low sodium resulted in significantly reduced chances of high blood pressure as well as of protein in the urine.

If you are eating a lot of salty products then this will result in high blood pressure. Now how is high blood pressure related to kidney disease? It is simple, that high blood pressure will damage your kidneys.

The National Kidney Foundation took an amazing step. They recommended all people, suffering from CKD, to limit the sodium intake up to 2 grams (i.e. 2,000 mg) per day.

Lower risk of blood pressure

If you are eating too much salt then it will increase the risk of high blood pressure. The reason is that sodium reacts with your blood. The blood then behaves in such a way which triggers the heart to pump fast.

Recently research was conducted in which patients were given less or no sodium foods. The results concluded that more than 3,000 people showed positive results.

Nonetheless, it’s recommended to have zero sodium diet.

Reduce the risk of heart disease

Last but not least, less sodium intake can decrease the risk of heart disease. Heart disease can lead to kidney disease and water retention.

A review of studies showed that people who eat less or no salt products are more likely to have a healthy heart.

If you want to try out a new healthy diet, think about the amount of sodium you can reduce. Your body will thank you.

heart health

Heart Attack Recovery: Foods to Eat and Avoid

After surviving from a heart attack, the first though that comes in mind is to change the lifestyle. Healthy eating, exercise and stress-free routine are the basic needs of a post heart attack person. But usually people don’t know how to customize their meal plan. Here we are mentioning some of the foods to eat and avoid after a heart attack.

  1. 1.) Avoid foods fried in saturated fats. As an alternative you can use stir fried foods in unsaturated fats like vegetable oil or nuts oil
  2. 2.) Do not eat processed meat such as hot dogs and sausages. Instead of these you can use chicken or turkey meat.
  3. 3.) Stay away from desserts and sweets containing milk chocolate and sugar. For chocolate items you can use dark chocolate which contains more antioxidants good for you health.
  4. 4.) Say no to baked items such as cakes and pastries containing white sugar and plain flour. As an alternative you can bake food for yourself containing natural sugar and whole grains.
  5. 5.) Do not use salad dressings, cream sauces and ketchup that contain sugar and saturated fatty acids. Instead you can make your own homemade ketchup and dressings without sugar and high fat dairy products.
  6. 6.) Avoid salted nuts and snacks. You can opt for unsalted ones in limited quantity.
  7. 7.) Cut back on sugary soda and fizzy drinks. As a replacement you can add fruits to your water or drink fresh homemade juices without sugar and preservatives. Reduce your intake of coffee, tea and alcohol and drink more water daily.
  8. 8.) Avoid take-aways like pizza, hamburgers, chips, fried potatoes, pasta and noodles etc. Replace fatty red meat with the lean meat or white meat in your food.
  9. 9.) Avoid processed foods. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits daily and go for wholegrain cereals, breads, rice and pasta etc.
  10. 10.) Include legumes, egg and fish in your food and replace them with high fat dairy products.

Making heart-healthy changes to lifestyle can help you live strong and vibrant for many years without the thought of having another heart attack. Taking care of yourself after a heart attack is very important. Eating right, avoiding stress and daily exercises and basic lifestyle modifications that can help you a great deal in this regard.