by Sam Graci

When you hear the word health, what comes to mind? Unless you are ill or overweight, it’s likely that you consider yourself to be healthy.

If I were to ask you if you’d like to achieve incredible energy, mental clarity, improved digestion, easier weight loss and reduced risk for serious disease, you’d wonder what the secret is. The answer is an alkaline pH level.

Without getting too scientific, your body’s pH (potential of hydrogen) represents the balance of positively charged (acid-forming) ions to negatively charged (alkalinizing) ions. For optimum health, studies show that the ideal blood chemistry is slightly alkaline. Unfortunately, most people are overly acidic due to poor diet. When the body is overly acidic, it becomes an opportune environment for disease and chronic illness, not to mention the negative impact it has on your energy levels, metabolism and bone health.

The good news is that you can achieve a more alkaline pH beginning with the foods you put on your plate. That’s because after food is consumed, digested and absorbed, it leaves an ash residue in the body. Foods that produce an alkaline ash are called “alkaline forming foods,” whereas those that produce acid ash are called “acid-forming foods.” While the body requires both types of foods, studies indicate that the ideal diet is 75 percent alkalizing and 25 percent acidifying, by volume.

Natural healthy bone with strong honeycomb	Osteoporotic bone that is thinner, weaker, and more prone to fracture.

An acidic body is a body at risk
What happens when your body is too acidic? Researchers believe that, due to the following effects, your health becomes impaired:

• Free radical oxidation occurs, impairing antioxidant activity.
• Vitamins and minerals are not properly absorbed.
• Calcium is leached from the bone, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
• Friendly bacteria in the small intestine dies.
• The immune system becomes weak/impaired.
• Physical and mental energy is depleted, affecting stamina and mood.

Acid-forming foods
The minerals sulphur, phosphorus and iron form acid ions inside the body. These minerals are primarily found in proteins, such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, grains, legumes and most nuts and seeds. Other highly acidic food sources that are full of phosphoric and carbonic acids include cola soft drinks, coffee and alcohol.

It’s no wonder that North Americans experience the highest incidents of heart disease, obesity and osteoporosis, to name only a few health conditions. We’re the largest consumers of animal proteins, processed foods, grains and dairy, and we’re overly acidic!

The alkaline diet
Fresh fruits and vegetables are the most alkalinizing foods available. Spinach, broccoli, apples, cherries, spices, green food drinks and a variety of herbs represent only a few of the best sources to include in your daily diet.

So does this mean you must eliminate all acid-forming foods to achieve optimum health? Not necessarily. Instead, buffer their acid overload by including alkaline-forming foods in combination. For example, combine lean, white chicken with vegetables such as asparagus and kale.

If you can’t consume the recommended five to 10 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, try adding a green food supplement rich in phytonutrients. Specifically, look for one that’s research-proven and more alkalinizing than any other food, including spinach and raisins.

Popeye was right
According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded scientists, a diet rich in alkalinizing plant foods was shown to help preserve muscle mass in older men and women.

Despite the natural aging process and the increase of acidosis, which causes muscle loss, the older subjects in this study averaged 3.6 more pounds of lean muscle versus subjects who did not consume an alkaline-rich diet. Scientists attribute these results to the alkalinizing effect of plant foods rich in potassium, among other important nutrients.

Another cause of acidity in the body is intense exercise. So if you’re the type to hit the gym hard and often, you’ll want to include a green food drink directly following bouts of strenuous exercise. Not only will this help neutralize the acid overload, it will also promote stronger, healthier bones without losing lean muscle mass as you age.

To determine your pH level, you can purchase a pH test at your local health food store. Ideally, you want to achieve a neutral score of 6.8 to 7.1. Anything below 7 is acidic. Using your saliva or urine, the test is relatively easy and can provide an accurate measurement.

In closing, as a nutritional researcher who’s worked with some of the world’s best medical experts, doctors, pharmacists and scientists at some of the most prestigious institutions, I can tell you that the path to phenomenal health starts with you. By changing your diet to one that is more alkaline, I can guarantee your body will thank you with increased health and vitality.

For further information about the acid-alkaline health connection, including a complete list of recommended foods, visit www.genuinehealth.com and search “pH.”

Sam Graci is a nutritional researcher and author of The Bone Building Solution.