Nakedgreenz

Written by guest blogger Susie Brient, founder of Nakedgreenz

Go Green and Get Naked in 2014

So, the season to be cheerful has fizzled out with the last drop of organic Champagne and you are left a little fazed, slightly larger than you were a few weeks ago and not prepared for the month of January to kick in.

Cold, wet and windy days brrrr!Might as well curl up and sleep until Easter. Unfortunately, you’re not a hamster, work needs to be done.

Where has your energy gone? How are you going to pull yourself out of the sleepy haze of January? Those were my thoughts before I discovered wheatgrass.

10 years ago I had a bout of illness that lasted a couple of years. Doctors told me I had ME but I wasn’t convinced. They also told me I was depressed. Yes, I was depressed but only because I wasn’t getting better and no one was giving me a solution. Several specialists and many doctor appointments later I gave up with everything medical. What I needed has come from a different source and I made it my mission to discover it.

I radically changed my diet as I found out I suffered from candida. I became vegan and ate only organic. Within six months I went from lethargic mother of three, who could hardly be bothered to get out of bed to a motivated mama on a mission.

The diet was great but there was still something missing I didn’t have the joie de vivre and energy I had in my youth, and that’s what I wanted! I searched through endless websites and books until I found Ann Wigmore (the mother of wheatgrass) and the Alkaline diet. The penny dropped, everything I read made complete sense.

Maybe you’ve heard about wheatgrass but not why it works on your health and energy levels. This is what I discovered.

Your health and energy directly relates to the pH of your blood. Our blood, measured on the pH scale is slightly alkaline, 7.365. The scale runs between 0 – 14. 7 is neutral, 14 very alkaline, 0 being very acidic. Your body has to keep the pH of your blood cells and other fluids at a slightly alkaline level, and it will do anything it has to do in order to maintain this balance.

Our body’s regulatory mechanisms work to maintain the internal acid/alkaline balance. We do not tolerate acid overload, the first signs of which are; headaches, acid reflux, allergies, IBS, indigestion and sinus problems. If the imbalances get greater then more serious conditions start effecting our organs, thyroid gland, adrenals, liver and so on. Eventually cancer, heart disease and diabetes take hold. These 3 western killers develop from an acidic state.

A declining pH just can’t be allowed. To stop this the blood begins to take alkaline minerals from the body tissues. There is a family of minerals particularly suited to neutralising strong acids these include sodium, potassium, and magnesium. When these minerals react with acids they create a much less harmful substance, which the body can eliminate.

A healthy body maintains a reserve supply of these alkaline mineral to meet emergency demands. However, if there are insufficient amounts in the diet they are recruited elsewhere. For instance calcium will be drawn from the bones to neutralize too much acid.

Have you ever wondered why there is such a huge increase in osteoporosis? People that eat a typical western diet tend to become acidic and lack alkaline minerals.

So how can you help boost your reserves of alkaline minerals so that your body doesn’t leech them from within?
The easy way is by eating them.

There are many mineral rich alkaline foods for example leafy greens, certain fruits, seeds and nuts, quinoa, wild rice and tofu. There are also many foods that cause acidity, especially meat, dairy, sweets, cakes, sugar and coffee to name a few. Stress also causes an acid build up.

Wheatgrass is the perfect alkaline food. Not only is it classed a super food due to its high nutrient content it has the same pH as our blood. It literally feeds our blood with everything it needs to balance its own chemistry.

The best wheatgrass comes from New Zealand. I was lucky enough to find a small organic family run farm located in the South Island that was just starting to produce wheatgrass. I have been successfully selling their wheatgrass for 7 years. There is no better quality product on the market.

If you would like more information on the wheatgrass and my brand Naked Greenz please check out my website www.nakedgreenz.com.

To get you going I am offering all Vintage Roots customers £5 off their first purchase. Simply go to the website and use code ‘vrgreenz‘ at the checkout.

Wishing you a healthy happy New Year!

Susie