9/23/11 Friday

I have finally come across the information that I've been looking for. I have heard much erroneous information regarding acid-forming foods from the raw-food community and the dogmatic myths that they've touted as being absolute truth and the key to health, wellness, etc. There was this myth that vinegar even raw apple cider vinegar is acid-forming and that our bodies should be all alkaline. But that is in fact not the case. As apple cider vinegar is listed here as a low alkaline forming food. Because of bodily processes which are very scientific, it ends up becoming alkaline in our liver. So this in fact dispels the myth. Also our lives should be balanced. We need some acid, we need to digest our food, and that's a very acidic process. So having vinegar in your salad isn't going to ruin your health or throw off your body's entire Ph balance.

Another rule which I feel strong opposition toward is the rule of avoiding cold beverages. According to Eastern medicine, cold beverages shock our body and digestive system. I couldn't find any good sources to refute this claim other than the blog posts claiming that it's pseudoscience. So I am simply relying on reason; how much "shock" does our body actually experience? I mean our bodies warm up any cold substances in a matter of minutes. It's not as if cold beverages are liquid nitrogen. I wouldn't want to spend my day consuming ice cold beverages nor would I want to spend my day consuming all hot beverages. I believe in balance and "everything in moderation". So I don't really care if icy beverages "shock" my body, I will consume them when and if I feel like having them. I will continue to use ice in a smoothie and I will have ice water if I'm feeling in the mood.

Since I'm somewhat lizard-like, I tend to feel the temperature of the atmosphere around me. I will usually opt for room temperature water in cooler temperatures as I will feel cold if I consume cold water during cold weather times. But as everyone's body is different, I think it's also up to the individual. I know many people who are always hot. I call them hot potatoes and consuming warm or room temperature water would be very unappetizing for them.

This site beyondveg.com is great at dispelling most of the raw food/vegan/vegetarian dogmatic myths which are touted by the raw food and veg. community. I am an informed, conscientious, and rational vegetarian. And I encourage others to be the same.