7 Surprising Benefits Of Alkaline Foods

Published on: 01 April 2019 Last Updated on: 30 October 2024
Alkaline Foods

When it comes to the workings of these wondrous human bodies of ours, we truly reap what we sow. What we choose to put into our bodies has a profound effect on how it chooses to support us and perform for us. Our modern convenience food diets are riddled with acidic and overly processed foods that are harmful to our health. Things that we may have grown up with—meats, dairy, and coffee—are robbing us of our strength and vitality at every meal.

Dangers of acidic foods:

acidic foods

Our bodies strive to maintain a delicate PH balance throughout the day; this eliminates the acidic ash that can take its toll on bones, tissues, and organs that might otherwise function to support us. A body that is placed in a chronic, highly acidic state is more prone to disease, weight gain, and even a shorter life span.

An alkaline diet rich in fresh, whole, organic foods becomes the very lifeforce of the body as it rebalances the PH and gives the body a chance to heal and regenerate itself. While it may seem at first that making the switch from acidic foods to alkaline foods is going to saddle you with culinary limitations and all sorts of unpleasantness, the feeling you will experience when you give your body a chance to “sigh” will be worth any comfort foods that you will be giving up for this new lifestyle. Whether you have been recently diagnosed with a chronic illness, or you simply want to improve your quality of life you owe it to yourself to give alkaline foods a chance. Here are some ways they can benefit you and your marvelous body:

1. Alkaline foods eliminate fatigue issues:

An excess buildup of acid in the body depletes its natural store of oxygen; as a result, the body feels fatigue and so do you. Cells don’t function as they should, and every system is working harder than ever to dump toxins and breathe once more. Switching to snacks that are alkaline in nature will reduce acidic buildup and release life-giving oxygen back into your system once more.

2. Alkaline foods strengthen the immune system:

immune system

An imbalance in your PH levels weakens your body’s ability to fight off disease and infection. Bacteria and viruses thrive in an anaerobic, or low-oxygen environment. Increasing your intake of alkaline foods brings more oxygen back into the body, battling disease and viruses and strengthening all systems.

3. Alkaline foods reduce inflammation:

An acidic body is an inflamed body; when you have a buildup of acid in your body, you are prone to the development of chronically acidic and diseased states such as heart disease, arthritis, and even cancer. Bringing alkaline rich foods into your diet will reduce your risk for the development of these diseases and bring inflammation under control.

4. Alkaline foods strengthen bones and tissues:

As we age, our bodies naturally pull calcium and other minerals from bone material to balance our body’s PH. As a result, we grow gradually weaker and more prone to illness and injury. Consuming alkaline foods puts much-needed calcium back into our bodies and restores our strength and vitality in natural and healthy ways.

5. Alkaline foods can prevent the occurrence of cancer:

Cancer cells thrive in an anaerobic environment, and by bringing alkaline foods into your diet, you increase the healing properties of vitamins, minerals, and vital oxygen that makes it difficult for cancer cells to multiply and grow. When you give your body the natural tools that it needs, the wonderful self-healing mechanisms present in your makeup go to work on their own, bringing your body into a state of balance once more.

6. Alkaline foods can help you lose weight…and keep it off:

lose weight

Giving your body the vital nutrients it needs through nutritious, whole foods is always preferable to the Standard American Diet, or S.A.D., for short. When you replace high-calorie acidic items like pizza, chips, cookies, and soda with high-quality fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, the equation is so simple. You’ll experience permanent and lasting weight loss and you’ll feel great!

7. Alkaline foods improve your quality of life:

There are the whole brain, whole body benefits to eating alkaline foods–they heal and repair body tissues at a cellular level, they help to flush out harmful toxins that might slow you down, and they provide the energy necessary to lead a healthy and active life well into your later years. Alkaline foods can improve how you look, how you feel, and what you experience as your body gives back to you based on the wonderful, life-giving foods that you feed it with.

Is An Alkaline Diet Right For Me?

No matter what diet you choose to follow, it has to be manageable and sustainable in order for it to work. If you are going to derail yourself two weeks after starting an alkaline diet with a cheeseburger and fries, then perhaps going all in isn’t for you right now. Making small, deliberate changes to your diet and assessing how you feel will help you create healthy habits for long term success. Many people become overwhelmed at the thought of having to replace everything in their diets; finding some tried and true alkaline diet snacks that you can use for a quick and healthy pick me up in between meals is one way to begin establishing new habits that will move you toward better health. Examples of healthy alkaline snacks include:

  • fresh veggie sticks and hummus
  • celery sticks with almond butter
  • avocados with fresh salsa
  • green juices
  • smoothies
  • nuts, seeds, and berries
  • lara bars
  • chia pudding with fresh berries

Once you see how tasty and filling these new foods can be, it will become easier and easier to incorporate healthy, life-giving foods into your diet.

Are you ready?

Get ready! You are about to embark on an exciting journey to delicious food and better health. You’ll experience vibrant energy, improved mood, and you’ll feel better than you have in years. Don’t look at all the things that you “can’t” have on your new journey, focus instead on how much better you’ll look and feel with a few simple changes and a whole new positive outlook on your health. Best of luck to you on your alkaline journey!

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How to harvest potato

How to Harvest Potatoes: A Complete Guide from Planting to Storage 

If there is something that I have learned in life, it is about gardening. Well, almost everything if not all. And if there is one thing that took me some time to master, it was knowing how to harvest potatoes at home!  Potatoes are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. They can be cooked in many different ways, such as boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted. Moreover, they are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. But how do you grow and harvest your own potatoes at home? You see, potatoes are not like cilantro or other plants. These are tubers.  In this article, I will show you everything you need to know about how to harvest potatoes, from planting to storage. So, if that is something that you are interested in knowing, then I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more...  How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers?  The first step in how to harvest potatoes is to plant them. You can start with either potato seeds or tubers. Potato seeds are small, round, and black, and they are usually sold in packets. Potato tubers are the actual potatoes that you eat, and they have eyes or buds that can sprout new plants. You can buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or garden center, or use organic potatoes from the grocery store.  Here are some if the steps that you must take to plant them:  Planting Potato Seeds  To plant potato seeds, you need to sow them indoors in pots or trays filled with moist potting soil. Place them in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy. The seeds will germinate in about two weeks and produce small green shoots. When the shoots are about 3 inches tall, you can transplant them outdoors in your garden or in containers.  Planting Potato Tubers  To plant potato tubers, you need to cut them into pieces, each with at least one eye. You can do this a few days before planting to let the cut surfaces heal and prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can plant whole small potatoes with several eyes. To prepare the soil, you need to loosen it and add some organic matter, such as compost or manure.   You also need to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0. You can use a soil test kit to check the pH level and adjust it with lime or sulfur if needed.  Planting Potato Pieces  To plant the potato pieces, you need to dig a trench about 4 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Place the pieces about 12 inches apart, with the eyes facing up. Cover them with 3 inches of soil and water well. As the plants grow, you need to hill up the soil around them to cover the lower stems and prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and bitter. You can also mulch the soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.  How to Care for Your Potato Plants?  The second step in how to harvest potatoes is to care for your potato plants. You need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You also need to fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Also, you can add some wood ash or bone meal to provide extra potassium and phosphorus, which are essential for tuber formation.  You also need to protect your potato plants from pests and diseases, which can reduce your yield and quality. Some of the common potato pests are:  Colorado potato beetles, which are yellow and black striped insects that feed on the leaves and can defoliate the plants. You can handpick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or use an organic insecticide, such as neem oil or pyrethrin.  Potato leafhoppers, which are small, green, winged insects that suck the sap from the leaves and cause them to curl and yellow. You can spray them with a strong jet of water, or use an organic insecticide, such as garlic or hot pepper spray.  Wireworms, which are thin, brown, worm-like larvae that bore into the tubers and cause holes and tunnels. You can trap them with pieces of carrot or potato buried in the soil, or use beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill the wireworms.  Common Potato Diseases  One of the most common reasons why a potato cannot grow or survive is the diseases. If you were wondering what some of these can be and how to deal with them, I have you covered!  Some of the common potato diseases are:  Late Blight: It is a fungal disease that causes brown spots on the leaves and stems, and black or brown lesions on the tubers. It can spread rapidly and destroy the entire crop. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, avoiding overhead watering, and removing any infected plants and tubers. You can also use a fungicide, such as copper or sulfur, as a preventive measure.  Scab: This is a bacterial disease that causes rough, corky patches on the tubers. It does not affect the taste or edibility of the potatoes, but it reduces their appearance and storage quality. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, maintaining a slightly acidic soil pH, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization.  Potato Virus Y: Lastly, this is a viral disease that causes mosaic patterns, mottling, or yellowing on the leaves, and misshapen or knobby tubers. It can reduce the yield and quality of the potatoes, and it can be transmitted by aphids or infected seed potatoes. You can prevent it by planting certified virus-free seed potatoes, controlling aphids, and removing any infected plants and tubers.  How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest?  The third step in how to harvest potatoes is to determine when they are ready to harvest. This depends on the type and variety of potatoes you planted, and the size and maturity you want. There are two main types of potatoes: early and late. Early potatoes are ready to harvest in about 10 to 12 weeks (about 3 months) after planting, and they produce small to medium-sized tubers that are tender and thin-skinned. They are best for boiling, steaming, or roasting.  Late potatoes are ready to harvest in about 15 to 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) after planting, and they produce large, starchy tubers that are firm and thick-skinned. They are best for baking, mashing, or frying.  Early Harvesting  To harvest early potatoes, you can start digging them up when the plants begin to flower, or when the lower leaves start to yellow. You can use a garden fork or a spade to gently lift the plants and tubers from the soil, or you can use your hands to feel for the tubers under the soil. You can harvest as many or as few potatoes as you need, and leave the rest in the ground until you are ready to use them. You can also harvest some of the young, tender leaves and stems, which are edible and nutritious.  Late Harvesting  To harvest late potatoes, you need to wait until the plants have died back completely, or until the first frost. This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin, which helps them store better. You can use a garden fork or a spade to dig up the entire row of plants and tubers, or you can use a potato digger, which is a special tool that lifts and separates the tubers from the soil. You need to be careful not to damage or bruise the tubers, as this can cause rotting or spoilage.  How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes?  The final step in how to harvest potatoes is to dig up, cure, and store your potatoes. This is important to preserve the quality and shelf life of your potatoes, and to prevent them from sprouting, rotting, or shrinking. Here are the steps to follow:  Digging Up  After digging up your potatoes, you need to brush off any excess soil and remove any damaged, diseased, or green tubers. Do not wash your potatoes, as this can remove the protective skin and invite bacteria and fungi. You can wash them just before cooking or eating them.  Curing  You need to cure your potatoes for about two weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a basement, garage, or shed. This allows the skin to harden and heal any minor cuts or bruises and enhances the flavor and texture of the potatoes. The ideal temperature for curing is between 50°F and 60°F, and the ideal humidity is between 80% and 90%. You can spread your potatoes in a single layer on a newspaper, cardboard, or wooden crate, and avoid exposing them to light, which can turn them green and bitter.  Storing  You need to store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a cellar, pantry, or closet. The ideal temperature for storage is between 40°F and 50°F, and the ideal humidity is between 65% and 70%. You can store your potatoes in paper bags, cardboard boxes, mesh bags, or wooden crates, and check them regularly for any signs of sprouting, rotting, or shriveling. You can also store your potatoes in a root cellar, which is an underground or partially underground structure that maintains a constant temperature and humidity. Additionally, you can also store your potatoes in a clamp, which is a mound of straw, hay, or leaves covered with soil, that insulates and protects the potatoes from frost and rodents.  Wrapping It Up!  If you want to know about how to harvest potatoes, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. However, if there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you! Read Also: How to Harvest Lettuce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fresh and Crispy Salads Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil!

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types of Coffee

All you Need to Know About the Different Types of Coffee

Coffee lovers would want to try different types of coffee to find their perfect match. A tasty cup of coffee in the morning would brighten your day. If you are working in the office you would want to have a cup of coffee at lunchtime. Whenever you visit a cafe or a coffee shop, you are likely to see an ad of a newly launched taste or flavor. You would love to give it a try, right? Below is a discussion of different types of coffee. Read on for more information Different Types of Coffee: You must be willing to know how many types of coffee are out there in the market, for example, Kimbo coffee. However, you would be interested to know that there are more than thirty different types of coffee. Let’s discuss a few of them. 1. Cappucino: This kind of coffee is quite common and whenever you would visit a cafe or coffee shop you are likely to see this particular type in the menu. You can enjoy it at breakfast or it would depend on your preference. It has three layers for you to enjoy the flavor. Enjoy cappuccino! 2. Espresso: Who is not familiar with this type of coffee! You can see it around quite often. Some people enjoy espresso a lot and making a good one is truly an art. Not everyone is great at making espresso. It falls under the category of black coffee. Thus, if you prefer no milk in the coffee this is what you are going to try for sure. Enjoy espresso! 3. Ristretto: It is a regular espresso but it is made with half the amount of water. It is a type that falls under black coffee. Thus, if you are among the ones who enjoy coffee without milk, you can try this particular one. Due to the difference in the amount of water, this particular coffee has a different taste than the regular espresso. Enjoy ristretto! 4. Americano: This type of coffee is said to be common with the soldiers of the second world war. Later on, it gained popularity. However, espresso is the main base of this particular type of coffee. Actually, in this type, a small espresso shot involves a large amount of water. Maybe this is the way American soldiers had been trying to keep their coffee for a longer period! Enjoy americano! 5. Long Black: You can consider long black as a type of coffee, which is similar to Americano, but instead of one, there are two espresso shots in it. The amount of water in this type would remain the same, though. This type of coffee could also be made with ristretto as well. Whatever you like the most. It is quite rare to find good-tasting premium coffee. However, with the right cafe, person, or equipment, you can find an amazing cup. Enjoy long black! 6. Instant Coffee: You must be quite familiar with this type of coffee as it is the simplest one to make. All you need is hot water and the coffee powder. Mix the two and you would get your instant coffee. It is interesting to note that this kind of coffee has a longer shelf life. Enjoy instant coffee! 7. Flat White: For those who like milk-based coffee would like to try the flat white. It has espresso but the amount of steam milk in this particular coffee type is lower. You can still feel the amazing espresso aroma but you can still enjoy the milky base. This would be great for milk coffee lovers. Enjoy flat white! 8. Latte: This kind of coffee would have a lot of milk in it. So, the milk lovers are definitely going to enjoy the taste, flavor, and aroma. It is different from the Capuccino and Flat White. It would be a good idea to try all the milk-based coffee types and decide for yourself which one you like the most. In fact, learn to make some good coffee as well. It would be great to make a cup of coffee for someone and yourself. Enjoy latte! Above are some of the types of coffee that you can commonly find. There is a huge variety available out there. However, here only a few are discussed especially the common ones. What you can do is try a few of these and see for yourself which one you like the most. You can also order the home use coffee equipment online too! Finding The Best Coffee Equipment: You can make great coffee if you have the right beans and equipment. Not everyone is a great coffee maker, which is why people rush to their favorite cafe in the morning. People love to have some coffee at breakfast as their day is incomplete without a good cup of coffee. Life is short, enjoy simple moments. One of which is savoring a great cup of coffee at your favorite place in the world. Try different flavors and make sure you find the one that suits your style statement and your taste. Learn to make some good coffee as well so that you can be a proud host! Get home use coffee equipment and beans in Kuwait from the Qavashop Kuwait. Visit the official website for more information. Final Words: In order to understand how many different types of coffee are out there in the market, you can simply visit a coffee shop or a cafe. In that cafe or coffee shop, you would be able to take a glance at the menu and you would know what is available. It is a great idea to learn about the most common types of coffee. But, it would depend on you what type or kind you enjoy the most. Not everyone serves great coffee, which is why it is important for you to find your signature style and invest in good equipment that can make great coffee for you. Find your best! Enjoy Coffee! Read Also: Monthly Best Coffee Subscription How To Make Coffee With Aeropress Machine 7 Fantastically Unusual Uses Of Old Coffee Beans  

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Black Coffee

The Health Benefits of Drinking Black Coffee

Have you ever heard about black coffee for weight loss? Well, it helps in weight loss because it contains natural antioxidants that help in the reduction of excess fat cells. This means you don’t have to invest in fat-burning supplements. Besides, it has many other health benefits, especially for those who are suffering from osteoporosis. So, here are some benefits of consuming black coffee. May prevent cancer & enhance liver function The major health benefits of coffee include the prevention of cancer, helping in preventing heart disease, slowing down the aging process, and preventing dementia. However, the most outstanding side effect of Black coffee is its ability to increase the normal functioning of the liver. In simple words, if your liver functions properly, it will help in burning fats and calories which results in a decrease in weight loss. So, drinking two cups of Black coffee a day can help in enhancing liver functions which significantly helps in weight loss. Improves digestive health Another great benefit of black coffee is that it aids in digestion. When making black coffee, the caffeine content increases the speed of the metabolism in our body which consequently enables our body to burn more fats faster. If you prefer drinking a cup of black coffee with some hot milk, you can add a dash of natural sugar to taste and enjoy the healthy benefits of caffeine. Good source of antioxidants Black coffee is loaded with antioxidants. The antioxidant content of black coffee is 20 times higher than that of green or decaffeinated coffee. Including a cup of hot black coffee in your diet can do wonders for your health. It also works as a detoxifier and speeds up the metabolism which aids in losing weight. Burns excess calories When you are dieting, you should reduce the number of calories you take in a day. The main benefit of drinking coffee is it burns off excess calories quickly. Thus, the consumption of black coffee can help you in reducing your calorie intake while you are following a diet regimen. However, you should ensure that you do not increase the number of calories you take in when you switch over to black coffee. This will result in increasing the number of calories you consume later in the day resulting in gaining weight. Detoxifies digestive system In addition, black coffee helps in detoxifying the digestive system. As a result of its healthy and natural ingredients, it helps in cleansing the digestive tract. It cleanses the stomach of toxins which eventually results in improving your digestion and decreasing the risk of digestive diseases. Constipation and indigestion are common problems that affect millions of people across the globe. Black coffee provides an effective solution to both of these problems by helping you to relieve the symptoms and prevent future indigestion. May elevate mood Apart from the healthy properties, drinking black coffee may also be good for your mental health. The caffeine content in this beverage acts as a mood elevator and provides a pleasant state of relaxation. However, excessive use of this beverage may lead to insomnia and may adversely affect your mental health. Conclusion Black coffee beans without adding any sugar help in retaining the flavor of the original blend. You will get a delicious and rich taste by drinking black coffee. However, it should be noted that too much use of black coffee may result in a sour taste in your mouth. It has been seen that excessive use of caffeine leads to the weakening of the teeth' enamel. Therefore, people with weak teeth should avoid drinking this beverage or consult their dentist before they start using this product. So, make sure to have coffee at the recommended dosage. How do you prefer to have your black coffee? Feel free to share with us in the comments section below. Read Also: 10 Best Coffee Places in the US How You Can Create a Coffee House Experience in Your Own Home 7 Fantastically Unusual Uses Of Old Coffee Beans Monthly Best Coffee Subscription

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