Ok Brian, I finished the review you asked for me to do .

Just a couple of comments about the info presented.
1.) The average diet of Americans is horrendous; too much fat, sugar, protein, caffein, alcohol, and not enough fruits and vegies. I agree with that as does most any dietician in America.
2.) Tony says that you want to avoid becoming TOO acidic. I couldn't find anywhere that he recommends becoming alkaline. I agree that you want to have the correct pH in your body which is 7.4 and acidosis is much more common than alkalosis. Before you start trying to change your pH one way or the other, read on.
The people that become acidic or alkaline usually have some serious health problems (usually with thier metabolism). The healthy human body will maintain the normal pH in order to regulate the chemical reactions your body needs for normal functioning. It does this primarily through breathing (respiratory system). If the pH of your body changes by as little as .2, your body will automatically change its function to return to 7.4. If the body stays in an acidic or alkaline state {for whatever reason} for a prolonged period of time, the kidneys become involved and secretes the excess chemical (either hydrogen in acidosis or sodium bicarbinate in alkalosis). The body then returns to 65-75% normal in 1-6 days even if the persons breathing is still poor (page 449-450 "Textbook of Medical Physiology" 7th edition by Guyton, published 1986). When the body is in alkalosis neuronal excitability greatly increases (nerves becoming much more sensitive) while acidosis has the opposite effect [page 449, 560-561 of above text]. In other words; in alkalosis, your muscles start to go into spasms (and other nerves with other functions undergo increased activity as well [such as pain nerves]). If severe enough your diaphragm becomes affected leading to the inability to breathe at which point you start pushing up daisies . Acidosis has the effect of slowing down the nerves and if severe enough you go into a coma. Alkalosis decreases breathing rates and acidosis has the opposite effect [page 449 of above text].If you want to check your body pH you will need to go to the hospital and ask. (They may or may not comply with your request without a doctor ordering the test.) The human body is an INCREDIBLE, self repairing, adaptable machine and can adapt in ways that are not yet understood or even known.
3.) Americans are too sedentry as Tony rightly states.
4.) If you exercise properly (including BOTH aerobic and anaerobic activities) your breathing and oxygen intake will mostly take care of itself.
5.) If you elliminate all meat from your diet I suggest you add vitamine B12 and Lipoic acid (thank you whatthe222 ). I prefer to include meat in my diet rather than rely on synthetic supplements. Now, thats not to say that all synthetic supplements are ineffective or bad or that your are wrong for doing so. I just prefer to get as much of my dietary requirements from my food as I can rather than through supplements.
6.) I'm not sure I agree with the "Living Water" concept. This is the first time I heard of it and haven't made the time to research it (I probably won't as there are many other things I am doing right now and don't want to dedicate the time involved.)
7.) I also don't know about not drinking during meals. This is the first time that I've heard this as well. I'm not sure what to think of this as I would need to research this as well.

Overall I think the concepts that Tony puts foreword are time honored and valid; anaerobic and aerobic exercise, more fruits and vegies, less fat and protein, drink more water, stay away from alcohol and caffein... Mostly old information in a new package (in my opinion).

The only thing that one really needs to remember is that too much of anything will kill you. For example: did you know that breathing pure oxygen can lead to convulsions and even death (page 499-500 of above text)?

If you are trying to change your pH level to something other than 7.4, you will not be successful. There are three buffer systems in your body that are present to regulate rapid pH changes and there are two systems set up to regulate the overall pH of your body. Let your body work as it has been designed. It's a beautiful machine .

I hope you found the information I have provided useful and helpful. Let me reiterate that I am not attacking any individuals or thier beliefs in the information or statements that I have provided in this post. I have provided factual information and added my own opinions or preferrances in certain places.

So Brian, now that you have my opinion, if you have any other questions just ask.

Tim/with/a/t, did you experience the problems with your diet after your visit to Brazil? If you were in the jungle down there and these changes are recent (like in the last 6 months) you may want to go to an MD who is trained in tropical diseases as you may have unknowingly picked up a nasty bug while you were down there. Just a place for you look if you run out of other options.

Sincerely,
Gregory

[This message has been edited by Gregory (edited December 20, 2000).]