Your health: Go alkaline

Alkaline benefits

A new diet promises to help you look and feel your best, according to the website FabFitFun.com.

By eating the right balance of alkaline and acid-forming foods, the alkaline diet can improve your metabolism, energy levels, digestion, appearance and mental clarity, says nutritionist Dr. Lindsey Duncan.

Too much acid in our bodies — from foods like red meat, sodas, coffee, fried foods, sugar, dairy and alcohol — creates an environment that allows yeast, viruses and parasites to thrive.

While your appearance is a key indicator if your body is too acidic, you can determine your pH with strips that you can pick up at your local drugstore. Duncan said an ideal pH is 7.4 — or slightly alkaline.

If this sounds far too much like your high school science class, Duncan breaks it down for you. His top tips:

타 Kick off with a cleanse. To purge excess acid waste, try a 24-hour cleanse using a combination of freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices. Apples, oranges, watermelon, avocados, almonds, dark leafy greens and kelp can all help us to achieve more alkalinity.

타 Bring on the greens! Green veggies are super alkalizing so incorporate them with every meal of the day.

타 Drink water with lemon or lime. “Lime and lemon are both alkalizing and will help your liver rid the body of toxins,” Duncan said.

타 Sweat out your acids. Exercise helps oxygenate your blood, tissues and cells and supports detoxification. Plus, sweat removes acids.

Smarter eating

To eat well, you need to combine nutritional science, a jolt of common sense and pure enjoyment, says Harvard Medical School.

Most of us know that fresh salad, berries and slowing down when eating are better for us than wolfing down energy bars and sweets.

But how to make that leap from our current habits to healthier ones? Here are some ways you can eat healthy, delicious meals, and really enjoy what you’re eating.

1. Ditch whole milk. Not only does this reduce saturated fat in your diet, it shaves off calories.

2. Harness the power of nuts and seeds. Almonds, cashews, filberts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans and pistachios pack plenty of beneficial nutrients, including vitamin E, folic acid, potassium and fiber.

3. Taste food before you salt it.

4. Pack lunch once a week. This makes healthy food choices readily available to you at work or on an outing. And since you are controlling portion sizes, you can make sure that you’re not supersizing your meal.

5. Eat five or more veggies and fruits a day. It’s a nutrient-packed way to fill your plate that is generally low in calories.

6. Plan meals that are delightful, delicious and healthy. In an ideal world, food delights all our senses: it looks beautiful, smells heavenly and tastes delicious, and its textures feel and even sound satisfying.