Laura Knoff, Certified Nutritionist shows us her fast Fantastic Greens. Chard, kale, and collard greens are complimented by immune boosting shiitake mushrooms. Within minutes you can make an alkalizing dish that is packed full of minerals. The greener your diet, the better you feel!
The Balancing Act!
Digesting food leaves a mineral ash residue that circulates and eventually is deposited in tissues. An abundance of acidic ash can cause disease. Your body borrows minerals from your bones to alkaline and find balance again. Often calcium is leached from bones, and may result in osteoporosis! Therefore, it is important to balance your diet with alkalizing foods! Acidic foods are necessary for a balanced diet but should be eaten in moderation.
Acidic Forming Foods: Protein
Meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, gluten grains, beans, processed foods, sugar, and coffee are examples of acidic foods. They leave a mineral ash of phosphorus, sulfur, and chloride that must be neutralized by the body. Eat these foods with a large portion of alkalizing foods to maintain healthy Acid/Alkaline balance.
Alkaline Forming Foods: Carbohydrates
ost vegetables and fruits are alkalizing. Green foods and fresh vegetable juices are especially alkaline forming and essential for optimal health! These foods neutralize acidity, using magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium minerals. To read more about alkalizing your body, you can check out one of my favorite books, Alkalize or Die.
Laura's Fantastic Greens from Nutrition Consultant, Laura Knoff's cookbook, Veggiewoman's Guide to Health is a perfect alkalizing dish that would balance acidic forming food such as meat. Kale contains a high amount of calcium that is easily assimilated by the body. It is a helpful food for osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone loss. Kale is also rich in lutein, an extremely important antioxidant for eye health. It can protect the eyes from free-radical damage, reducing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
Try Quick Kale Chips:
- Wash and strip kale from stems. Break kale into medium size pieces.
- Toss with olive oil, sea salt, and spices. (Curry, Italian, or nutritional yeast make great choices)
- Spread kale out on a baking sheet and bake until slightly crisp at 200 degrees.
