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My body feels 10 years younger!

I feel like I’ve won the lottery…or better.

I turned 40 at the end of last year. Ever since, my knees have ached, and I haven’t been able to bend them well. It’s actually been so bad that when Scott and I went to Utah last month and when we hiked down a mountain, I had to sometimes sit and scoot down bigger rocks because it hurt too bad to put all of my weight on one leg and bend. I had 80 year old people passing me. It was embarrassing and even more so…very depressing. All I could think was….”forty sucks.”.

While for the past year it was just my knees hurting, it more recently spread to my big toe. I could hardly bend it one way or another and had lost all flexibility in it it.  Worse, when running, my toes would go from feeling tingly to numb to having this really sharp pain. Oh and then my heel began to hurt.  All I could think “if this is 40, what is 50, or 60 or 70 going to be like”? I can’t clean up my diet, I mean, not really. I exercise, but at a moderate amount (but much less than in the past which apparently is a good thing for my adrenals). So am I just destined to have a really old body, at 40? After my MRI last year my orthopedist said I just had “really bad arthritis”, and I could get cortisone shots. After hiking in Utah, I thought, maybe a cortisone shot isn’t such a bad idea (you know I’m desperate if I am thinking that way). They also suggested I get a shot between my toes (ouch!!) for the tingling and numbness. And then I figured well, I might as well do it all because at this point I don’t know what else to do.

Fast forward to today, I feel amazing. Like REALLY amazing!!! My knees don’t hurt!! My big toe will bend! My little toes aren’t as numb! I still cannot get over it!!! It’s like I won the lottery. I ran all last week, the most I’ve run in a year (probably a little too much) but I felt incredible. I felt, for the first time, like my age! I felt like 40 and I was happy with it! I do still feel a little pain now and then in my big toe and a little in my knees but it’s NOTHING like it was before. Quick side note: while I felt so good, I may have pushed it a bit. While my arthritis is better still, I may have done something else to my knee….so, if you see me walking instead of jogging, know still that the arthritis is still better, but my knee is just a little jacked up. But, at least it’s not arthritis!

So…what changed?? I started a regimen of apple cider vinegar and baking soda three times a day.

Having an autoimmune disease, my gut/body has always been more acidic than the average person. But many people tend to become more acidic with age due to diet (refined sugars and carbs), stress, etc. When our bodies become too acidic, as was mine, we build up uric acid. I use to test myself to see how acidic my body was years ago by using these test strips. I somehow got out of the habit and, honestly, I wasn’t sure how much it was really helping me to try to stay more alkaline. Recently, I found some old strips and tested myself. I was a 4.5 on a scale of 4.5-9  (6.5-7.5 is ideal alkaline).  After testing, I used my old remedy of baking soda powder and apple cider vinegar to get things back on track. Within 24 hours I noticed while in bed that the sheets didn’t hurt my toes. The next day, my knees felt much better during a workout. Then, I did some research on acidity and arthritis. Sure enough, the first thing I read about explained the link between uric acid and arthritis. I had no idea! So, it’s hard to say it was a placebo effect for me since I had no idea before drinking my concoction, but regardless, it worked for me! And I’m happy to say I’m back to 6.5. While I still have days where I feel a little tingling in my toes, my knees still feel 90 percent better than before and that makes me so happy!

My point to sharing all of this? If your knees are hurting or your joints are aching more, test your acidic/alkaline balance and if you’re acidic, you might want to try this drink. What do you have to lose? I’m just so happy that rather than taking care of the symptoms, I took care of the root of the problem. I couldn’t be happier!! I feel like I won the lottery. Bring on 40, or 50, or even 60!

This is a great drink too if you’re fighting a cold. Here are some other benefits of being more alkaline. Oh and last thing, if you do have arthritis and are looking to lower the inflammation tart cherries and turmeric can be great to take as well. 

I never said it tasted good though…

 

 

Arthritis remedy
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Ingredients
  1. 2 tbsp Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
  2. 1/4 tsp baking soda
  3. 1/4-1/2 cup water
Instructions
  1. Add 2 tbsp of ACV to a large glass and 1/4 tsp baking soda. Let it fizzle like a volcano and then add your water. I said 1/4-1/2 so you can do it to your own taste preference and drink up!
Notes
  1. Do this on an empty stomach 3 times a day until you start to feel better. I did it for about 3 weeks. Then just do it once or twice a day for maintenance. Be sure to test your urine Ph so you don't become to alkaline.
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  • Coleen - That’s great, Landria! I’m going to get the test strips and check my pH, though my aches and pains are pretty good unless I eat gluten.ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Thanks Coleen! Hope it can help you some (as long as you stay away from that gluten, which I know you do! :)) !! Hope you’re well!!ReplyCancel

  • Patty - This sounds like something I will do. Couple of questions – how long after a full meal is your stomach empty?; how about after a snack?; and how long after you take this vinegar/baking soda mixture can you put something in your stomach? for example, if I take it upon rising in the morning how soon can I have coffee or smoothie or breakfast?ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Hey Patty! I take it on an empty stomach, usually just before a meal. The ACV helps with digestion, too! After a full meal…I would say 3 hours, but also, it’s more important to take it when you can, too. You know what I mean? I try to take it at certain times, but more so, I take it when I remember. Hope it helps you!! I’ve already heard back from many people that it’s helping, and in many different ways. It’s so cool to hear!!ReplyCancel

  • Diara - I have used ACV for a while now, but I have to say the addition of baking soda made a huge difference! I have only been using it for 3 days and I have already seen major changes. My inflammation is gone in my heads and ankles. I have seen my sugar cravings go way down and my digestion is def better! I also feel more energized after I drink it. Thanks Landria! I will def be making this a part of my daily routine.ReplyCancel

    • landriav - SOOO great to hear Diara!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • courtney - Thank you! I tested myself and am at a 6 so I’d like to do this, I am trying to find out if there are any negatives to doing so while nursing. Do you know?ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Hey Courtney, I’m sorry but I don’t know. I wouldnt think so but do some of your own research first. My only thought is it could change the flavor of your milk?ReplyCancel

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