Improving Your pH Balance

Columnist - Kristine Valenzuela

pH isn’t just something you may have heard about in science class. Our bodies have a measurable pH that plays a huge role in your health. Lately, I’ve done a lot of research on this subject in attempt to gain a better understanding of what it truly means to be healthy and stay away from feeling my worst. Peaks and valleys in your pH is directly related to how you feel. Eating too much of the wrong things - processed foods, alcohol, red meat, sugars, salt, etc. - can lead to an acidic pH. On top of this, stress adds additional acids to your body. I think back to all the days I felt awful, tired, headachy, bloated and supreme head of the crankmeisters and I know the one thing those days had in common was too much of all the wrong foods and beverages.

On the other hand, a well-rounded, balanced diet will lead to an alkaline pH. This is your goal; to be more alkaline than acidic. Like most benchmarks of health, the key to becoming alkaline is eating well: lots of green vegetables, fresh fruits, healthy oils, etc. While you’re at it, make sure all those healthy foods are organic too. I think I’ve already mentioned in previous posts how harmful pesticides and additives in non-organic foods are. Many are so harmful that they have been banned in several countries around the world (why the U.S. doesn’t do the same, I have no idea but I’ll save that rant for another day). Besides, had we been meant to consume these ‘killers’, we would’ve been born with them in our bodies or they would occur in nature. Wanna be scared? Pesticides and additives are just two substances that lead to a highly acidic body condition. This condition is directly tied to cancer, heart disease and diabetes among others. Wanna turn things around? These same diseases cannot grow or exist in an alkaline environment. Eating a healthy, organic diet really can save your life!

In general, you don’t have to stay away from acidic foods entirely (whew!) but just make sure you’re eating more alkaline foods than acidic ones. This website is one of the best ones I’ve come across that details which foods are either alkaline or acidic. The best news of all is that you can easily test your pH level at home if you’re so inclined. pH test strips are available through amazon.com or any local health food store and are pretty affordable. So load up on your fruits and veggies! Until next time...

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