​Hello and a warm welcome from all of us here at The Healthy Juice and Diet Life to another spotlight-on article.

​It's great to have you with us as we delve deep into the oozing world of a most wonderful, sticky delicacy our lovely planet provides - MANUKA HONEY!

If you haven't already been fortunate enough to have had this awesome, medical grade, New Zealand-born honey cross your path then you sure are in for an eye-opening, sweet treat today! 

Read on below to get the full raw Manuka honey lowdown covering questions such as what is Manuka honey, where and what to look out for when buying Manuka honey, how to use Manuka honey, a look at some of the best Manuka honey products available and, of course, why there's such a buzz around the benefits of Manuka honey.

We've even thrown in a bonus Manuka Honey Smoothie Recipe from our post 'The 5 Best Manuka Honey Smoothie Recipes for you to Try!' Be sure to bookmark the rest for later.

OK, so we know there are some awesome honey's out there, but what makes Manuka honey so particularly unique?

In short, manuka honey is simply a mono-floral honey from New Zealand. Simple!

But what does that mean for us?  The honey is harvested from bees that ONLY collect pollen from the Manuka bush (Leptospermum Scoparium). The Manuka bush is a tough, hardy, perennial flowering evergreen, native to New Zealand, whose countless benefits, from medicinal applications to aromatherapy and therapeutic uses, have been known to the original inhabitants of New Zealand for thousands of years. 

​However, despite the long-dating use of Manuka honey in its native region, it was only since the 1980's when a Dr Peter Molan of Waikato University began researching into the healing and antibacterial properties of manuka honey that the way was paved for today's centralized understanding of its commercial application and global benefits! Thankfully so as manuka honey is one of the worlds most rewarding researched honeys' to date!
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As such a beneficial plant in terms of health-improving ingredients and uses, coupled with the focus of modern research it comes as no surprise that we have managed to find ways to incorporate these benefits into not just Manuka Honey as food!
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Methylglyoxal is the active ingredient responsible for setting manuka-based products apart in the antibacterial game. Its powerful antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties lead to it traditionally being used for wound healing, soothing of sore throats, improved oral hygiene from prevention from tooth decay and boosting the digestive function as well as reversing many digestive issues!

The mild antiviral and antibacterial benefits of your typical honeys comes in the form of peroxide-based agents, which are susceptible to breaking down when exposed to heat, light and moisture, thereby reducing the effectiveness of desired therapeutic benefits. The antibacterial and antiviral agents found within manuka honey, however, come in a non-peroxide form, in a significantly higher concentration. Manuka honey ratings sometimes use NPA (non-peroxide activity) as a measure of strength - more on this later.

Today these benefits can be seen across the board with Manuka Essential Oils as well as cosmetic and beauty products such as Manuka Lip Balms, Hair Washes, Facial Masks and more. The manuka bush is set to be one of the most rewarding rediscoveries of the 20th century in a range of fields from culinary and medicinal applications, to cosmetic and therapeutic practices!
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​Not just a sweet treat, manuka honey comes packed full of healthy goodness! ​Manuka Honey is the natural product produced by the bees after collecting the nectar from the Manuka Bush. 
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​The health benefits of manuka honey far outweigh that of any other honey thanks to its higher concentration of the ingredient Methylglyoxal.

​Used for culinary purposes and consumption this hugely taste-packed ingredient can sway the flavour of an entire meal, visually enhance that perfect, mouth-watering glaze or give a natural, nutritious immunity boost to any slap up meal or smoothie! But don't make the mistake of thinking that pot in the cupboard is only for your stomach!

Here are a few of the fantastic health benefits of Manuka honey:
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• ​IMPROVED DIGESTIVE FUNCTION
  Clostridium Difficile (often called C. diff) is a particular bacteria responsible for causing severe diarrhoea and inflammation of the bowel. Manuka honey has been observed to kill C. diff strains. Common digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and more complex issues such as Ulcerative Colitis and Diverticulitis will find effective soothing and analgesic effects (pain relief) using Manuka Honey. Manuka honey has been proven to  improve antioxidant status and reduce inflammation.
  
  
• WOUND, BOIL, BLISTER AND SORE TREATMENT
  Since ancient times, honey has been used as a remedy to treat ailments from burns to blisters and sores. In more recent years the US FDA approved Manuka honey as an option for wound treatment (since 2007). Studies across the world have corroborated the findings which all indicate that wounds treated with Manuka honey not only benefited from an increased rate of tissue regeneration  but also were noted to be less painful and, further, where scarring occurred, it was more malleable and less stiff.
  
  
• IMPROVED ORAL HEALTH
  Wait a minute! I thought sweet things were bad for your teeth!? While it may seem counter-intuitive using something sticky and sweet as a means of improving oral health, due to the antibacterial properties of Manuka Honey, that is exactly what it does! In order to maintain healthy teeth and gums we must minimise the bad bacteria while trying to keep the good ones intact. Manuka honey is not your typical candy made from refined sugars. Research shows the high antibacterial activity is effective at inhibiting the growth of harmful oral bacteria like P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans, while not contributing to cavities. Provided use was not excessive results observed were not detrimental. Awesome!
  
  
• SORE THROAT AND TICKLY COUGH RELIEF
  Manuka honey has been found to decrease the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans, a type of bacteria responsible for sore throats. Not only working as an antiviral and antibacterial reducing pain and inflammation. Manuka honey also physically lines the throat and digestive tract for immediate relief and a soothing effect, reducing symptoms of tickly cough and dry, sore throat.
  
  
• MANUKA HONEY FOR ACNE
  At one time or another many of us have had the unpleasant joy of waking up to somewhat of a 'rough patch'. While acne usually presents itself around puberty as a result of hormonal changes it is also true our diet, hygiene and stress play an important role in their popping up. While more research is needed to confirm the current findings, Manuka honey's antibacterial properties have been seen to reduce inflammation associated with sore spots by cleansing bacteria from clogged pores thereby reducing recovery time.
  
  
• PREVENTION OF GASTRIC ULCERS
  Stomach ulcers are one of the leading afflictions of today's poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption. H. pylori is a type of bacteria that is responsible for the majority of gastric ulcers. Once again Manuka honey's powerful antibacterial properties act as both a symptomatic cure and preventative. With the research still in its infancy the cat is still in the bag with this one but we have every confidence the correlation is true.
  
  
• SYMPTOMATIC RELIEF FROM CYSTIC FIBROSIS
  An inherited condition affecting the respiratory tract and lungs, Cystic Fibrosis affects the cells responsible for producing mucous causing it to be abnormally thick and sticky. For this reason upper respiratory infections are unfortunately commonplace for those with Cystic Fibrosis. Manuka honey has been shown to attack the harmful bacteria and inhibit their growth leading to significant relief in observed patients. 

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Did you ask? Probably not! ... Do you want want one? DEFINITELY YES!

Naturally, here at the Healthy Juice and Diet Life we like to do our bit to take things that one step further, breaking free from the typical boundaries and limitations to the possible health benefits we can squeeze out of any situation - Manuka Honey doesn't escape our grasp!

As avid lovers of mouth-watering, nutritious smoothies we just couldn't miss out on such a fantastic opportunity to play around and make a few of our own. Below is a smoothie recipe taken from our post 'The 5 Best Manuka Honey Smoothie Recipes for you to Try!' -which we fully recommend you check out! Each smoothie has been uniquely designed as a perfect blend of intense, distinctive flavour and nutritional content to leave your thirst quenched, and taste buds dancing, with a stoked immune system, and rejuvenated bodily function! What more could you ask for!?
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​INGREDIENTS

• 35g Oats
• 1 Large Pear
• 3/4 Banana
• 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
• 100g Greek Yogurt
• 150 Ml Milk
• 1 Tbsp Manuka Honey

​PREPARATION
Simply toss the ingredients into a blender and blend until an even consistency throughout. Pour and enjoy!​

Check out our other manuka honey smoothie recipes in our post 'The 5 Best Manuka Honey Smoothie Recipes for you to Try!'

​There has been some controversy between the authentic original manuka honey manufacturers and those looking to make a quick buck under the Manuka name. You can be sure you are buying authentic manuka honey by looking at the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating, also referred to as the Non Peroxide Activity (NPA). A rating over 10 UMF is considered to be authentic manuka honey or 'Active Manuka Honey' that is potent enough for the therapeutic effects to be effective.

Typical honey attributes its mild antibacterial properties to the hydrogen peroxide antiseptic released when the enzyme glucose oxidase produced by the bees as a preservative in the honey comes in contact with moisture in the body. However, this activity is easily destroyed by heat, light and other fluids. In Manuka honey the antibacterial effects come from Non-Peroxide Activity which is more potent and stable - leading to our immense list of benefits.

WATCH YOUR RATINGS!
A WORD OF WARNING. Be wary of other rating systems. UMF / NPA is the only official standardised rating system to measure the actual effectiveness of the Manuka by means of both concentration and potency.

For example one company, Wedderspoon, have created their own KFactor rating system which they say is to measure the 'purity' of the honey. While we would hope that all products already are arriving in their jars in a pure state regardless of the ingredients, the main issue here is the rating system disregards measurement of the active, beneficial ingredient responsible for the effects you probably wanted the honey for in the first place, namely the Non-Peroxide Activity agents.

However, as a cheaper 'Manuka honey' alternative it is easy to see why many are choosing to buy it as it serves as a great introduction at a more accessible cost. However, make sure you know that what you are buying falls into the category of 'premium honey' rather than 'medical grade', which cannot promise to deliver on the therapeutic benefits with a honey with UMF 10 or above.

Thankfully it couldn't be easier for you to get your very own pot of New Zealand Manuka wonder-honey in your cupboard regardless of whether you live half way around the world or just next door to the apiary!

IN STORE
If you're the kind of person who likes to visit a store for your purchases we are pleased to say this is possible!

• For our USA readers you can find Manuka Honey in Walmart, Whole Foods and most large stores.
• For those in the UK Manuka Honey can be found in most larger supermarket stores: Boots, ASDA, Morrisons, Tesco etc.

*Just beware of the rating system as we mentioned previously and you should be well on your way!

ONLINE (recommended)
In the digital era it's hard not to see the benefits the internet has afforded us. When it comes to grabbing something as specific as a medically graded honey we would always recommend doing so online from a trusted source. No where else can you so specifically search out a particular product and have all the customer feedback in one place that you can trust is both accurate and up to date.

What's more we've already done the leg work and found the best Manuka honey products available online!
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Find our recommended Manuka Honey products listed below. The New Zealand Honey Co. and Kiva are two of the most respected names in the Manuka Honey industry, with a select few other organic honey manufacturer names cropping up repeatedly. Other brands such as Comvita and Wedderspoon are not to be completely ruled out, however in a comparison of price versus reward, we preferred the following for introducing Manuka Honey into your diet and regular consumption for desired effect. These brands also offer higher concentration alternatives for those looking for a real power-packed, super-strength manuka honey.

Well that's it for our look at manuka honey - thanks for sticking around! We hope you've enjoyed this article and can't wait to hear how you choose to add manuka honey into your culinary experience!

If you did like this article, please feel free to share this information with friends, family and anyone you know that likes their honey or could benefit from a little extra bang for their buck!​

​Here at The Healthy Juice and Diet Life we pride ourselves on our mission to help as many people as possible with our combined knowledge of healthcare and nutrition. Being in good health in general, alongside having an understanding of how this plays an important role in our mental processes such as decision making and emotional harmony, has been shown to have a strong positive correlation with key indicators of a positive, happy and fulfilled life.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that affects between 250,000 and 500,000 people across the USA and just shy of 150,000 people in the UK. These are not small numbers!

With something as important as quality of life at stake for this many people we know just how frustrating it can be trying to find reliable, accurate and trustworthy information to point you in the right direction for specific ailments and conditions when it comes to not just medication but also, more importantly, effective, natural and nutritious goodness!

So, if you're sick of feeling sick, this article will set you well on your way to a full and well rounded understanding of Ulcerative Colitis, what it is, what it means for you and what you should (and shouldn't!) be doing. We also give you some great examples of juice recipes for Ulcerative Colitis to get your taste buds tingling and have found some of the best resources available online to assist in maintaining a, flare-free, full and rewarding life with Ulcerative Colitis. 

Let's get to it!

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic (long term) condition whereby the colon (large intestine / bowel) and rectum become inflamed. Ulcers can develop on the lining of the colon as with other similarly affecting Gastro-intestinal diseases such as Diverticulitis and Chrohn's disease, these can become infected, bleed and ooze puss into the affected areas.

The main symptoms of Ulcerative colitis include:

• Abdominal cramping and stomach pains
• Frequent diarrhoea, often containing blood, puss, or mucus
• Feeling the need to empty your bowels more than usual

Sufferers also note other symptoms including fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.

When a 'flare up' occurs some people also encounter symptoms in other areas of the body including:

• Mouth ulcers
• Arthritis (Painful and swollen joints)
• Irritated, itchy, red eyes
• Patches of red, painful, swollen skin

Having to empty your bowels 6 or more times a day is defined as a serious case of Ulcerative Colitis and has been documented with additional symptoms such as:

• Fever and having a high temperature
• Shortness of breath
• An irregular or fast heartbeat
• More prominent blood in stools

Depending on the extent of the affected area, Ulcerative colitis is identified in differing terms: Ulcerative Proctitis refers to when just the area inside the rectum is affected, Proctosigmoiditis involves the rectum and the Sigmoid colon (the lower end of the colon), Distal (or commonly 'left-sided') colitis includes the rectum and up the left side to the Sigmoid and descending colon, and finally, Pancolitis refers to when the entire colon is affected - at this stage one should absolutely seek both medical and nutritional intervention if not already doing so.

Progression from Pancolitis to the more life threatening Fulminant colitis is absolutely avoidable with a diligent focus on diet, which we highly recommend as further progression from this stage can lead to severe and lethal conditions including toxic megacolon and bowel perforation! Not to get the wind up your back!

While it's no 'Cotton-eyed Joe' the exact cause of Ulcerative colitis is unknown. However, as an autoimmune condition, the leading theory is that the immune system mistakenly identifies healthy gut bacteria as a threat, thereby attacking the tissues of the colon leading to inflammation. Experts point to both underlying genetic and environmental factors that cause the immune system to act in this way.

Ulcerative colitis is a tricky condition to tackle with a 'one size fits all' approach. While there are certain preferences in terms of food groups and types, lifestyle factors including stress and more typical factors such as local infection, Ulcerative colitis 'flare ups' can come and go with almost very little to no warning and often with seemingly no identifiable cause.

​The coming and going of Ulcerative Colitis flare ups (relapses) and subsequent periods of milder symptoms (remission) can make life particularly troublesome if a good understanding of the nutritional and medical requirements during each phase is not in place.

While a specific diet has not been linked to the cause of Ulcerative colitis, it is clear that dietary changes will help to manage the condition once acquired and also minimise the impact and duration of flare-ups. On an individual basis you will find specific or alternative foods that work best for you which may not necessarily exactly match someone of a similar condition. Remember this is your journey and your body and while you won't be able to gorge on too many 'cheat foods' there will certainly be a healthy selection for you to enjoy!

In general, people with Ulcerative colitis will benefit from dietary changes including:

• Eating smaller, more frequent meals. 5-6 smaller meals is preferable over 3 main meals.
• Hydration is key make sure you do not become dehydrated especially during bouts of severe diarrhoea. Water, water, WATER is your go-to.
• Nutritional supplements. As a condition of the intestine, often our nutritional uptake is negatively affected - be sure to keep on top of your daily vitamin and mineral intake! Your GP should be able to advise if this course of action is likely to benefit you. Typically the increased intake of magnesium and potassium is advised to recover those nutrients lost from the body during diarrhoea.
• Blackberries, raspberries and blueberries contain phyto-nutrients are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants which induce intestinal anti-inflammatory responses.
• Apple, pears, guavas, plums, gooseberries and oranges, along with other citrus fruits contain large amounts of pectin which soothes the intestinal mucous membranes.
• Apricot, beetroot, carrot and papaya are high in beta-carotene which heals inflamed intestinal mucous membranes.
• Cabbage, dandelion, and garlic are high in organosulfur (organic sulphur/sulfur) which plays an important part in the effective protection of the liver function while healing the bowel.
• Leafy, green, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, spinach and pak choi (bok choy) are high in vitamin K which strengthens the immune system positively enhancing natural gut bacteria decomposition.

• Fiber. Whilst the intake of a certain amount of fiber aids smooth digestion, those suffering from severe Ulcerative colitis want to avoid a high-fiber diet as this will help reduce the frequency of bowel movements and abdominal cramps.
• Most high-fructose corn based products, processed fruit juice, honey and molasses are poorly absorbed leading to typical digestive irritation including bloating, gas and diarrhoea.
• Caffeine. Found in chocolate, coffee, tea and many carbonated drinks. Caffeine has been identified and pointed to as a potential cause of irritation and flare-ups across the globe.
• When looking for pectin, be aware soft fruits such as grapes, cherries and strawberries only contain small amounts. See above for high-pectin foods.
• Dairy products are well-documented as an 'avoid' food group for many digestive disorders. The consumption of too much lactose can negatively affect digestion and can cause or develop symptoms including diarrhoea, gas, and cramping.
• Alcohol. On the best of days alcohol doesn't do wonders for our digestion. As a rule it is best avoided or consumed in regulated quantities in line with a balanced lifestyle.
• Nuts and Seeds can cause cramping, abdominal pain and, bloating and diarrhoea. Small seeds may become lodged in the intestine and can cause, or irritate, a flare-up.
• Gluten - found in wheat, rye, barley and many processed white-bread products can trigger symptoms of Ulcerative colitis.

So now we have a good understanding of Ulcerative colitis, what food groups are potential triggers and which food types and groups can counter the symptoms, you can see the endless possibilities for delicious, mouth-watering concoctions! Of course, you don't want to overdo it on any drastic diet changes as this can cause inadvertent upset so we recommend a gradual shift so as not to force the natural transformation of the gut to a healthier state.

So, here are three fantastic juicing recipes for Ulcerative Colitis pain management for you to get whipping up!

​*PLEASE NOTE* As fiber is not our intended goal here please ensure you use a pulp-separating juicer and not a blender when following the recipes below.

• THE CRUCIFEROUS BETA-CRUNCH!
• THE BANANA, ORANGE, AND RASPBERRY DELIGHT
• DOUBLE APPLE AND PEARS PAIRED WITH CARROT

There are many many more great smoothies and juices we whole-heartedly recommend too so don't feel limited - use the category headings on the right hand side of this page to click on an ingredient to see all our recipes containing that particular ingredient if you have a preference or see our links below to some of the best resources online for Ulcerative colitis treatment, natural remedies and management strategies! 

With an improved diet and the inclusion of smoothies and juices packed with nutritional goodness we have every confidence that in no time at all you will feel like a totally new you! Good luck!

Do you need to lose weight fast for your special day? Is your dream vacation around the corner and you'd love to ‎enjoy it in your dream body?‎ But you'd also like to lose that weight in a healthy way so you don’t feel sick and washed out? Then welcome to the 10-day smoothie cleanse! This evidence-based cleanse program will help you lose 10 to 15 pounds and improve your health in just 10 days!

Well, it revolves around healing using REAL foods –the 10 days of the cleanse involve enjoying three specially formulated DELICIOUS and filling fat burning green smoothies daily plus two healthy snacks.

Doing so helps:

• The body get rid of accumulated toxins that can make it hard to lose weight and keep it off.
• Nourish the cells from the inside out.
• Rebalance hormone levels to promote weight loss.
• Reset the brain to help eradicate food cravings that can thwart weight loss.
• Optimize energy levels by healing the metabolism thus putting the body in a fat burning mode.

The above, in addition to the simplicity of this program, is what makes it revolutionary and unique. The best part is that all these facts are based on scientific literature.

The cleanse guide also provides:

• A master formula to create the perfect filling and FAT-BURNING smoothie.
• Tips on how to deal with unplanned events.
• A list of proven health benefits of green leafy vegetables.
• Details about the six foods that need to be avoided for optimal health and rapid weight loss.
• A thorough explanation about why blending is way healthier than juicing.
• A list of scrumptious meal recipes and snack ideas.
• Tips on how to optimize the cleanse, save time when making smoothies and how to blend the perfect smoothie.
• Suggestions on how to safely modify the green smoothie recipes to suit individual preferences.
• Tips on how to maintain the lost weight as well as factors that can cause weight fluctuations.
• Unique advice on how to choose the best protein powders out there and how to add them to the smoothies for those who are highly active and need more protein.
• And much, much more!

There is ZERO guesswork involved in this 10-day cleanse– everything is laid out in a very simple ‘start with this, then do that’ set of advice. Once the program is purchased, the user gets instant access to step-by-step instructional videos, printable shopping list and delicious recipes, as well as the PDF manual to guide you through the entire program. Worried that this program will break the bank? Don’t be: the ingredients required in the smoothie recipes are easily affordable and widely available – you won’t need to go on a safari to find the ingredients needed during the 10-day cleanse.

Need to lose more than 10 pounds? The cleanse also offers a 30 day challenge which consists of three 10-day cleanses and three to five days of rest in between each cleanse. If the challenge sounds daunting, you also have the possibility to try the modified daily cleanse plan during which one of the three green smoothies is replaced by a solid meal.

All the recipes are gluten-free and vegan and the smoothies can be consumed by everyone irrespective of age, ethnicity or amount of excess weight to lose. However, you may still want to get the green lights from your health care provider before starting this cleanse. Moreover, we do not recommend that you start the cleanse if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

For way less than you'd spend on a dietitian or personal trainer, you can download the complete 10-day green smoothie cleanse that has the potential to completely change your life. Pay only $47 today for immediate access to the program. If for whatever reason you are not completely satisfied with the program within 60 days after purchase, simply ask customer service for a no-question-asked refund.

The diet of our ancestors is completely different from what we are so accustomed to these days. With the advancement of technology, the types of foods we consume are dragged along. A trip to the modern grocery store would shock you with its aisles and aisles of processed food items and animal products. You will not have a hard time finding fast food when eating out as practically every corner of the street has some form of take-away. 

Even fad diets are partly to blame, for introducing a whole new approach to eating, treating drastically ever-changing diets as the norm. In the recent years, consumption of animal products and refined food items has increased, as more and more people leave out the daily supply of fruits and vegetables in their diet. 

It comes as no surprise why, these days, many are suffering from different types of allergies, bone diseases, heart problems and many others. Some health experts link these diseases to the type of foods we eat. There are certain types of food that disrupts a certain balance in our body that, during such instance, health problems arise. If only we could modify our eating habits, it's not unlikely that prevention of diseases and restoration of health is achieved. ​

The Importance of Alkalinity 

Our bodies need to maintain a healthy and steady alkaline to acid ratio, which is signified by the pH level of our body. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, and anything lower than 7 is considered acidic. Processed food items, meat and meat products, sweets, and some beverages and condiments generally produce excessive amounts of acidity in the body. 

Acidosis, abnormally high acidity level in the blood and other tissues of the body, is the one thing that several different diseases have one thing in common. And many health experts believe that acidosis is responsible for a lot of fatal diseases that many people are afflicted with these days. 

Alkaline, on the other hand, naturally occurs in the body to neutralize excess acidity in the body, which is its main role. However, alkaline also becomes depleted at times – especially when there's too much acid it needs to get rid of, and we do not consume foods that replenish our body's alkalinity. 

Maintaining a Healthy pH Level 

As mentioned earlier, acidosis leads to many health-related problems. Dangerous levels of acid get to circulate in our body and break into tissues and organs when not properly neutralized. To prevent this, one must see to it that a healthy pH balance in the body is maintained. To offset the excessive amounts of acid is to increase your body's alkalinity. 

Determining whether or not your pH levels are prevalently alkaline may be done with easy-to-use pH level strips which you can purchase in drug stores or medical supplies stores. There are pH level strips meant for testing using your saliva, and there are those for using your urine. 

Basically, a saliva pH level strip will determine how much acid your body is producing; normally it's between 6.5 and 7.5 throughout the day. While a urine pH level strip will tell how well you excrete excess amounts of acid; you should get between 6.0 and 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 at night. ​​

The Dangers of Excessive Acid 

If you constantly experience exhaustion, headaches and having frequent colds and flu, then that could mean you have high acid levels in your body. But the ill effects of acidosis in the body don't stop there; you might be surprised at the wide-ranging types of diseases you could get with dangerous levels of acid in your body. 

Depression, hyperacidity, ulcer, skin dryness, acne and obesity are some of those linked to excessive acid levels in the body. Then there are those that are more serious such as joint diseases, osteoporosis, bronchitis, frequent infections and heart diseases. 

Even if you begin to take medications for these illnesses, the symptoms may be masked, but they will still continue to affect your health as you are not attacking them from their roots. No matter what medications you take - pills, anti-inflammatory and the like - your body will only become more acidic because of these medications. 

Alkaline Diet Approach 

To get to the roots of these health problems, the body's pH level must be brought back to normal. There are alkaline foods that can help replenish the depleted alkaline levels in the body while neutralizing excess amounts of acid. Through an alkaline diet, sufficient amounts of alkaline are re-introduced into the body, thus bringing back the pH level to predominantly alkaline. 

So how do you incorporate an alkaline diet into your eating habits? First, you can start by cutting down your intake of processed foods. These type of foods contain chemicals that only increase the acidity of your body ones they're digested. Second, steer clear of meat and meat products, dairies and alcohol. Third, load up on fresh fruits and vegetables, as they naturally are high in alkalinity. 

Even acidic fruits like oranges and lemons become alkaline after they have been digested and absorbed by the body. As a general rule, 75% of your daily food consumption should consist of alkalizing foods. The more alkaline foods we provide our bodies with, which form the basis of the healthiest foods by no mere coincidence, the more efficient the neutralization of excess acids will be.

Originally designed to reverse heart disease, The Alkaline Diet has been extensively studied and recommended by experts. This diet is low in salt, low in fat and high on vegetables and whole grains. The Alkaline Diet is a fantastic way to get your body working in its optimum state by focusing a keen eye on your dietary intake to lead you on a clear roadmap to a healthier you.

Discover how you can kick start your alkaline diet with Emma Deangela's program by clicking below now.

As concerned health enthusiasts we've made it our goal to help as many people as we possibly can with our combined knowledge of healthcare and nutrition not just for general day to day living but also, perhaps more importatly for some, as a means of effective management for a range of ailments and conditions.

As such, it only seemed fitting we addressed the increasingly common condition known as Diverticulitis in the best way we know how - by finding the best way to incorporate the right Smoothie and Juice Ingredients into your Diverticulitis diet to ease, manage and as best as possible, remedy this uncomfortable, debilitating and often embarrasing condition!

Let us take you through it now - don't despair - you might just be surprised!

Diverticular disease and diverticulitis are related digestive conditions that affect the large intestine (colon).
​
In Diverticular disease, small bulges or pockets (diverticula) form in the lining of the intestine. Diverticulitis is the condition whereby these pockets become inflamed or infected.

"Diverticula" is the medical term used to describe the small bulges protruding from the side of the large intestine (colon). "Diverticulosis" is a condition that describes small pouches in the wall of the digestive tract that occur when the inner layer of the digestive tract bulges through weak spots in the outer layer.

Symptoms of diverticular disease include:

• lower abdominal pain
• feeling bloated

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The majority of people with diverticula will not have any symptoms; this is known as diverticulosis.
Symptoms of diverticulitis tend to be more serious and include:

• more severe abdominal pain, especially on the left side
• high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• diarrhoea or frequent bowel movements

​

A high-fiber diet is the mainstay of diverticulosis and diverticulitis prevention.

• Start a high-fiber diet because it will decrease the risk of complications and the accompanying symptoms; however, will not make the diverticula a person has go away.
• Drinking plenty of fluids will also help the stool stay soft and pass quickly to prevent constipation and decrease the risk for diverticulosis.
• Get plenty of physical activity to keep bowels functioning properly.

Foods high in fiber include:

• Whole-grain cereals and breads (brown rice, quinoa, and bulgur)
• Fruits (apples, berries, peaches, pears)
• Vegetables (squash, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach)
• Beans, peas, and lentils
• Potatoes

• hot cereals (oatmeal, amaranth)

For a (dare we say?) pretty much complete list of Diverticulitis Fiber Foods check out our dedicated article here: Finding Fiber in our Foods! A Comprehensive List of Foods and their Typical Fiber Content 

Notice the focus on the combination of hydration and fiber intake? This immediately screams out that there is an effective and simple way to approach this condition. That list above is SO IMPORTANT for all of us here looking to create beneficial Smoothies and Juices to remedy your ailments and pains (which to be honest is the reason we put it together)!

In the past patients with diverticulosis/diverticulitis were told that foods to avoid included seeds, corn, and nuts because it was thought fragments of these foods would get stuck in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, current research has not found this to be the case, and the fiber content of such foods may actually benefit individuals with diverticulosis/diverticulitis.

​With smoothies and juices you actually avoid this problem entirely thanks to varying degrees of pulp separation, so even though the research is on our side, using Juicers and Blenders is just one great way to reduce any risk of this being a problem even further in an effort to source that nutritional goodness.

So what are the foods to avoid with Diverticulitis? Well, let's be honest with the list above of what you should eat, working out what you shouldn't eat isn't that hard - but for completeness here you go!

AVOID

• ​Foods high in fat
• Fried foods 
• Processed and 'refined' foods which are packed with sugars, chemicals, and nutritionally devoid calories (Cookies, Crackers, Chips, etc)
• Excessive salt intake will dehydrate the body and aggravate the colon and cause constipation
• Red meat feeds bad bacteria in the gut -  best avoided with potential infection sites 

​

So now we have a good idea of what it is we want to be including in our smoothies (if not have a quick look over our Fiber Foods article above as a refresher) you can see that the possibilities for smoothies really are endless! Of course you don't want a fiber overload so our best recommendations for Smoothies & Juices for Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis pain management, in no particular order, are:

• THE BANANA, ORANGE, AND RASPBERRY DELIGHT
• AVOCADO, PINEAPPLE AND BANANA IN COCONUT PARADISE
• DOUBLE APPLE AND PEARS PAIRED WITH CARROT

There are many many more great smoothies and juices we whole-heartedly recommend too so don't feel limited - use the category headings on the right hand side of this page to click on an ingredient to see all our recipes containing that particular ingredient if you have a favorite (just make sure at least one ingredient is on THIS LIST)!

With all the great information contained above it can be easy to get carried away. Perhaps one of the most important things we can tell you now that we have equipped you with this knowledge is to NOT GET CARRIED AWAY.

Remember this is your gut we're talking about here. While we wholly recommend a change to a healthier diet and lifestyle if you aren't consciously doing so already, remember that ANY drastic and abrupt change to your diet, particularly if you suffer from a gastro-intestinal condition, is not going to be welcomed by your expectant, regular body chemistry and processes.

We therefore recommend careful planning to phase your way into incorporating the smoothie and juice recipes into your diet while you cut out the bad stuff to give your body the best possible chance to adapt to its new surroundings with the least amount of upset to yourself.

With an improved diet and the inclusion of smoothies and juices packed with nutritional goodness we have every confidence that in no time at all you will feel like a totally new you! Good luck!