Wellness Wednesday: Why it's so important for women to balance their pH levels

How PH Levels Affect Your Skin

There's a lot of data that goes into understanding our bodies. We pay attention to calories, the number of steps we take in a day, heart rate, BMI, BFP and so many other numbers, but one metric that often gets overlooked, however, is pH.

And for good reason -- pH can be pretty complicated! But there's a new wellness brand looking to change that. WelleCo, founded by Elle Macpherson, Andrea Bux and Dr. Simone Laubscher, seeks to fast track a person's wellbeing by way of alkalization (which basically means changing the body from an acidic state to an alkaline state). When your body is properly alkalized, you get better sleep, have a stronger immune system, are more mentally alert and even look younger!

The benefits are great, but it all sounds very complicated, right? WelleCo wants to make it simple, and to make things even simpler, we asked founder and supermodel Elle Macpherson to explain the methodology. Read our Q&A with her below!

What does it mean to 'live alkaline'?

I am not about extremes or fad dieting. I truly believe in the profound effect good nutrition can have and the benefits of a balanced life. I've learned that an acidic body is out of balance -- today's diet of processed food, sugar, alcohol, too much red meat, dairy, and coffee (especially for me!), combined with stress and lack of sleep can effect the way the body functions.

I was feeling tired and toxic. My solution was to take a plethora of synthetic vitamins. After seeing my nutritionist, she suggested I change to an absorbable whole-food alkalizing greens powder to replace my synthetic vitamins. I started to feel the benefits straight away after I made lifestyle changes and started to become more alkaline.

First was an upbeat energy and proper deep sleep at night (often associated with the body's natural alkaline state). I believe in the importance of sleep, and waking up refreshed increases my ability to deal with my day. It's transformative. Then as my metabolism started functioning more efficiently I felt lighter, I had more energy and therefore lost stubborn weight around my middle, and had better digestion (so no IBS). It also started to show on the outside – they call it the 'Alkaline Glow'. I noticed my skin glowed and felt plump and moisturized, even though I've always had dry skin. Also, my hairdresser commented that my hair was growing quickly and was strong and shiny. That's why I encouraged my friends and family to give The Super Elixir a try.

I am a firm believer in the profound effects of good nutrition. For me, 'living alkaline' is nothing extreme, but all about balance and eating whole foods and a predominately plant-based diet.

Why is it so important for women to balance their pH?

I believe in the power of good nutrition and looking after the body from the inside out. The most important thing to me is how I feel...and I've found if my body is getting the nutrients it needs, then it shows on the outside.

When I was in my 20s and 30s, my schedule was so busy with work, travel and children that I didn't have enough sleep and wasn't able to eat well all the time. I found myself run down and fatigued and as the years go on, I have learned that looking after myself on the inside is key to feeling and looking my best.

That's when I met Simone Laubscher, Ph.D., who specializes in the science of nutrition. She explained that my body's alkalinity wasn't balanced: my pH levels of acid to alkaline were off-kilter, causing my body to try to compensate. As she put it, my body was "working overtime, all the time," leaving me feeling exhausted. I didn't realize that stress, worry, jet lag, not getting enough sleep and eating too much red meat, dairy or not enough greens can make the body acidic.

This is actually when The Super Elixir was born.

Chrome Hearts Celebrates Art Basel With Laduree & Sean Kelly And A Live Performance By AbstraktoSo how do the WelleCo products work to help balance your pH?

So many of us are time poor and are not consuming the whole foods our body craves so it can function to the best of its ability. Our Alkalising Greens provide a simple and effective solution for integrating more plants and whole foods into the diet, just by mixing 2 teaspoons into cold water, coconut water or a smoothie. Not only is it a source of super greens (spirulina, barley grass, wheat grass, broccoli, spinach), but specialized ingredients for immunity, liver function, digestion and inflammation.

We are not saying you need to be vegan -- I have a simple routine where I try to eat more plants and less animals. I love fish and chicken and clean protein, but as a general rule l integrate lots of leafy greens and vegetables. This in combination with our Alkalising Greens, and I believe I feel my best.

Many supplement products are manufactured, processed and synthetic -- ours just aren't. We hold the ingredients in The Super Elixir Alkalising Greens and Nourishing Protein to a very strict standard, and every ingredient is taken from the best available resource and derived from whole foods that are bioavailable (meaning that they are easily absorbed at a cellular level). The ingredients are curated in such a way that the integrity is preserved and is delivered to the body in efficient and complete ways.

What other things can women do to keep their pH on the right track?

First, water -- hydration is so important! Second, more plants and less animals is the simple guide that most nutritionist agree on, accompanied with a good night's sleep and being active (I try to stick to 45 minutes a day). This could be as simple as walking the dog or going for a paddle board.

Why is this unique health concern particularly important to you?

I experienced a health scare on my 49th birthday. I was on an island location shooting Britain and Ireland's 'Next Top Model' and found a lump on my breast.

I couldn't see my doctor, and I was really panicking. It was four weeks before I got the biopsy results, so it was a long-drawn-out and stressful period of not knowing. I was lucky -- it was a fibroadenoma (a benign growth of fibrous tissue), but it was a really big warning. I realized something had to change.

Elle Macpherson launches The Super Elixir at SelfridgesAt the time, I was flying regularly between London, Australia, New York and Los Angeles and sleeping for just three to fours hours a night. I would put the boys to bed at 9 pm or 10 pm and work until 2 am, because that was the only quiet time. Then I would get up at 6 am, and I did that for years. I thought I was incredibly productive; I didn't realize I was burning my adrenals and hurting myself just from not getting enough sleep. The first thing I'd put into my body each morning was an espresso to kick-start my day.

I was eating and exercising the same as always, but my body was numb and unresponsive. I experienced imbalanced digestion, fatigue, listlessness and my joints ached. I was approaching 50 and it seemed normal that my body would be adapting to the next phase of maturity. I decided that if I was to maintain my body, it had to come from the inside. It wasn't going to come from the external or only putting creams on my face.

I went to see a Harley Street nutritionist, Dr. Simone Laubscher, who told me to stop taking synthetic vitamin supplements and start eating more plants, less red meat and other acidic type foods

I didn't realize that stress, worry, jet lag, not getting enough sleep and eating too much dairy and not enough greens was unhelpful and making me feel fatigued.

After starting on my new regimen, I was sleeping more and within weeks I felt like a completely different person. I didn't realize how these relatively small changes to my routine could make me feel and look so much better.

So there you have it! Are you ready to start living alkaline? Shop the WelleCo products below!

WelleCo products to shop
See Gallery
WelleCo Fruit & Veggie Wash, $14
WelleCo pH Tester Kit, $10

By Molly Winding

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