Where's
the Beef?
Well, you would think I would listen to my own advice. This
weekend I was in the mood for meat. I don’t know why,
because as a Monkey Diet
Type (higher carb, lower fat and
protein diet) I try to eat more vegetarian meals and feel
best when I do. I made BBQ pulled pork, roasted chicken,
and the end-all-be-all, roast sirloin stuffed with garlic
cloves and wrapped in bacon! (I will include a few of those
recipes because, boy, were they good!) Well, you might be
thinking, “What’s wrong with those foods—they
sound great!” They are great—if
you are supposed to be following the Lion
or Otter Diets or even the Bear
Diets.
What’s happening in Chicago right now? We are experiencing
an unseasonably warm spell right now, with temperatures reaching
the low 80’s. All of a sudden we went from the 40’s
to the 80’s in what seemed to be overnight! What happens
to people with alkaline blood pH tendencies in the heat?
That’s right—they get hotter! Instead of realizing
that I better adjust my diet to be more vegetarian, I went
ahead and went for the beef! What was I thinking?
ADJUST!!! Well, better late than never! Last
night I made a huge salad for dinner with fresh veggies,
orange slices, onions, dried cranberries, and tomatoes.
I added a homemade vinaigrette dressing with minimal oil
to drizzle on top of it. I served the left over beef to
my Lion husband and stuck with the garlic smashed Yukon
gold potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts along with my
salad as my staples for the night.
As I was cycling this
morning, I felt somewhat better, but still tired, hot,
and sluggish. After cycling, I had a piece of whole grain
bread with sliced tomatoes and fresh basil. Hum, I am feeling
better already! Seriously, I feel good today! Not only
my physical, but my mental state as well. The power of
food is truly amazing. I did not test myself, but I am
sure eating all that meat, pushed my alkaline blood pH
even more alkaline, making me feel unlike myself. It’s
amazing how often patients will come in feeling anxious,
upset, or just not “themselves” and we end up
determining that all that they needed was a little pH adjustment
using food!
How does this apply to the athlete? Well,
Sunday our Oak Park Cycling group went out for an afternoon
ride. It was 80 degrees. I should have felt great, but I
didn’t.
I would have been really disappointed if it were race day
and I did the same thing! Remember to take the weather, as
well as your blood pH, into consideration when you are training
or better yet, when doing a race.
Here are some pH tips to
keep in mind:
For those with Alkaline blood pH
You tend to feel warm all the time and perform best in cooler
temperatures.
Carbs are your friends—choose whole grain breads
and cereals, veggies, and some fruits.
Fats and proteins may cause your “hotness” to
worsen and drain your energy, so avoid them when the temperatures
are rising!
Add a vitamin C or other acidifying supplements to your daily
routine.
For those with Acid blood pH
You tend to feel cold all the time and perform best in warmer
temperatures.
Protein and fats are your friends—choose meat, chicken,
fish, eggs, nuts, nut butters, and seeds.
Carbs are not your friends! Avoid simple carbs such as sugary
foods and drinks, fruits, and fruit drinks, as well as white
bread and pasta. These will give you less energy in the long
run.
Some carbs are okay for short runs/races. But for endurance
events, make sure to include adequate protein and fat in
your bento boxes!
If you are an athlete and you don’t
know your pH level—you
should! It is one of the keys to not only training better,
but smarter!
Okay—for you Lions/Otters out there—here’s
a great, simple recipe:
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