What can he do?

Question
My husband and I follow a healthy diet Monday through Friday. On the weekends, we enjoy going out to eat, and on the weekends we don't exactly eat so healthy! We sometimes go to a Chinese restaurant, or a Mexican restaurant. After the meal at one of these places, my husband gets terrible gas and abdominal bloating that lasts the whole weekend. We have tried to minimize these effects, by going out to a different restaurant, and he simply gets a meatball sub. Unfortunately, the problem still exists. He's frustrated because he wants to be able to eat "bad" foods occasionally! But when he does, it's like his system rejects it. Can he do anything to help this problem, without skipping an indulgent meal once in a while? Perhaps a digestive enzyme supplement may help?

Answer
Hi Kristy,

I am interested to know what foods make up your everyday diet. Usually and indulgent meal, once-and-a-while, is no more than once (maybe twice) a month; or longer. When you are eating indulgent foods every weekend it is considered more of a regular intake.

Keep in mind that I do not know what you are eating on a daily basis or of other health issues. I want to talk about acid/alkaline balance as that is normally the cause of the symptoms your husband is suffering from. I also recommend a visit to the doctor.

When a diet consists primarily of foods that are acid forming, not enough alkaline foods, a symptom is often heartburn and indigestion. The problem usually grows unless the diet is corrected and today acid-reflux has become common. Fortunately this is totally preventable.

We are naturally alkaline beings and our daily diet should reflect this. A person who strives to stay alkaline has loads of energy, rarely gets sick, normally is allergy free or close to it, fatigue problems are rare, skin is radiant, hair is healthy, and digestion is great. Acid forming diets bring out the opposite!

Alkaline forming foods (acid/alkaline refers to the metabolized form or ash that is left, not how it tastes) include all green leafy vegetables, summer squash, tomatoes, green beans, asparagus, artichokes, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, snow and snap peas, red and yellow or orange sweet bell peppers... vegetables. Avocados are highly alkalizing and believe it or not- lemons are highly alkalizing. These foods should make up at least 75% of your diet. A serving is 1 cup; lettuces need two cups. Try to get as close to 9 as you can.

Drink plenty of pure water! Squeeze a fresh lemon into a glass of distilled water, very alkalizing.

Most fruits are slightly alkalizing. Eat 1 to 2 each day.

All other foods are acid forming and should make up 25% of your diet. This includes meat of all kinds, all grains (accept buckwheat which is slightly alkalizing), all legumes, nuts and seeds. Of course you should greatly reduce or avoid the unhealthy acid foods including soft drinks, coffee, candy, and all white flour products.

Unfortunately, your husbands problem may continue without dietary changes. There are medicines that may help but I believe they simply mask the issue. You can try a dietary enzyme blend and see if that helps. I recommend that you avoid these foods and focus on an alkaline diet. I also strongly recommend visiting your doctor to make sure there is not a more serious health problem.

If you are interested in hearing more please let me know.

Thank you and enjoy your holidays,
Dan Haley, CNC

www.marketamerica.com/alkalinenutrition

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