1. The Link Between Animal Products
and Blood-Glucose Concerns
Study reveals an unhealthy
relationship between
acid-heavy foods and
the need for more fruits
and vegetables in
our diets.
by Timothy Rosin!
A
. nimal products have been part of
our dietarylifestyle for thousands
of years (Johnson 2012). These
recognizable staples include the many
forms of meat, as well as eggs and dairy.
Although often touted as a valuable
source of protein, animal products
have also become well known for their
saturated fat content and its effects on
weight management, cholesterol levels,
and circulatory health (Huntley).
According to a recent study there is
another-and maybe just as serious- .
reason why you should monitor your
animal product intake, and it has to do
with blood-sugar levels. When you think
of high blood-sugar and its connection
to your diet, you may tend to conjure up
images of foods like candy bars, cakes,
18 GardaVita®I© 2014 Vol.3 I No.22
•
.,.
...:
cookies, and foods packed with sugar,
sugar, and more sugar (Kirkpatrick
2013). So how is meat connected?
A 14-Year Connected Effect
Many foods can be categorized as
either being acidic or alkaline. The
measurement of how acidic or alkaline
a substance is-or pH value-varies
throughout your body. Blood is slightly
alkaline while the stomach is very acidic
in order to help digest foods.
According to research done on over
66,000 women whose dietary habits and
health were tracked over a 14-year pe-
riod, during this stretch of time 1,400
ofthose women were eventually discov-
ered to have blood-sugar related health
concerns (Preidt 2013). Evidence from
the study that was published in the jour-
nal, Diabetologia, indicated that those
with highly acidic diets were 56% more
likely to develop serious blood-sugar
health concerns than those with diets
lower in acidic foods. A meat-heavy diet
or a diet laden with foods that are highly
acidic can cause an acidic overload in
the body, which has been shown to lead
to reduced insulin sensitivity, and can
be a contributing factor in controlling
blood-sugar levels.
The Sensitive Ability to
Process Glucose
High or low insulin sensitivity in the
body can cause changes in the ability
to process glucose. Under normal con-
ditions whenever blood-glucose levels

2. "
are high, the pancreas release insulin
to help metabolize the glucose. In this
case, a diet high in acidity from animal
· products can cause blood-sugar lev-
els to range higher than recommended
because it reduces insulin sensitivity,
meaning that the body requires higher
levels of insulin to metabolize glucose.
According to researchers, this places an
even greater precedence to balance our
diets with alkaline-based fruits and veg-
etables.
''A diet rich in animal protein may fa-
vor net acid intake, while most fruits and
vegetables form alkaline precursors that
neutralize the acidity;' wrote Dr. Guy
Fagherazzi and Dr. Fran<;:oise Clavel-
Chapelon, of the Center for Research in
Epidemiology and Population Health at
INSERM, in Paris. "Contrary to what is
generally believed, most fruits-such as
peaches, apples, pears, bananas and even
lemons and oranges-actually reduce
dietary acid load once the body has pro-
cessed them" (Preidt 2013).
The Reoccurring Theme
of Balance
While your body requires a balance
of both acidic and alkaline food groups
for nutrition, most experts agree that a
diet that is slightly more alkaline is more
beneficial to overall well-being. Besides
influencing blood-sugar and insulin sen-
sitivity, acidic foods draw minerals and
nutrients out of bones and tissues. Low
calcium concentrations in bones, for
example, can lead to thin'ner bones and
increased risk offractures. Acidic tissues
can also decrease muscle mass and affect
the lymphatic system, which helps your
body detox (Stengler 2008).
Alkaline foods, on the other hand,
help bones and tissues retain minerals
and nutrients more efficiently. Fruits
and veggies such as root vegetables (rad-
ishes, beets, carrots), crucifers (cabbage,
broccoli, cauliflower), leafy greens (kale,
spinach), garlic, cayenne peppers, and
lemons can not only help balance your
LIFESTYLE STORY
' ' When it comes to nutrition and
longevity, the push for avegetable-
and-fruit-heavy diet can help balance
your alkaline-acid levels and benefit
other areas such as healthy weight
management. ' '
body's pH, but they also provide phyto-
nutrients that support your heart, vision,
and overall health (WebMD.com 2012).
Awareness in Health
and Nutrition
It's no coincidence that fruit and
vegetables are not just a more whole-
some choice, but a necessary choice to
promote weight management as well as
other health aspects- in this instance
blood-glucose levels (FoodMatters.tv).
Blood-glucose concerns have be-
come a major topic in health discussions
(Diabetes.org 2013), and the acidity
in animal products can not only affect
your blood-sugar levels, but it can also
strip your nutritious intake of miner-
als, leading to bone, kidney, muscle, and
joint-related concerns. When it comes
to nutrition and longevity, the push for
a vegetable-and-fruit-heavy diet can
help balance your alkaline-acid levels
and benefit other areas such as healthy
weight management. Knowing how cer-
tain foods can negatively or positively
impact your diet can lead to better deci-
sion making and a healthier future. a
References
Doss, A. (2012). "Top six alkaline foods to eat
every day for vibrant health." December 8:
www.naturalnews.com/038274_aIkal ine_
foods_i mproved_health_conscious_eating
.html.
FoodMatters.tv. (n.d.). "Acid-Alkaline: Tips For
Balancing Your Diet." foodmatters.tv/articles-1
acid-aIkaline-tips-for-balancing-your-diet.
Huntley, P. (n.d.). "Animal products."
nutritionfacts.org/topics/animal-products/.
Johnson, S. (2012). "We've been eating meat
for 1.5 million years, discovery of ancient child's
skull proves." October 7: www.dailymail.co.uk
/sciencetech/article-2214186/Weve-eating
-meat-1-5-million-years-discovery-ancient
-childs-skull-proves.html.
Kirkpatrick, K. (2013). "1 0 Things You Don't
Know About Sugar (And What You Don't Know
Could Hurt You)." July 30: www.huffingtonpost
.com/kristin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld/dangers-of
-sugar_b_3658061 .html.
Stengler, M.A. (2008)."Is Your Body Too Acidic?" .
www.bottomlinepublications.com/content
/article/natural-remedies/is-your-body-too
-acidic.
WebMD.com. (2012). "WhatAre Phytonutrients?"
www.webmd.com/diet/phytonutrients-faq.
References not listed above are
available upon request.
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