Body pH refers to the pH balance of acid to alkaline in the blood. Foods can have an effect on pH in the body in terms of how hard the body has to work to maintain a safe balance. If the body were for some reason unable to maintain this healthy range, serious health risks would arise. Consuming foods that support healthy pH balance will not actually readjust the pH of the body, but it will mean less stress on the body. Furthermore, a diet high in acid-forming foods promotes inflammation and allergy-related symptoms in the body, among other natural reactions.
Step 1
Find out which foods are acid forming and which foods are alkaline. Many graphs and explanations on the Internet and in books explain this concept. Simply put, most vegetables, fruits, herbs and herbal teas, nuts, seeds and some forms of protein such as tofu, eggs and chicken breast are alkaline producing in the body. Acid-forming foods include grains, dairy, fats, pastas, red meat such as beef and pork, beans and legumes, alcohol and additive chemicals in processed foods.
Step 2
Eat a diet with a healthy balance of acid forming and alkalizing foods. According to TheWolfeClinic.com, a suggested balance that works for most people is about 25 percent acidifying foods to 75 percent alkalizing foods. This is a guideline and not a definite proportion to follow.
Step 3
Write down what foods are eaten to get a clear picture of the acid-to-alkaline ratio. Try simply to eat more alkalizing foods than acid-forming foods as a goal at first.
Step 4
Change your diet slowly rather than all at once. Making healthy changes in the diet that remain permanent can be a difficult task. Furthermore, cravings for acid-forming foods are common and at times hard to ignore. Try aiming to replace only one or two acid-forming foods with alkalizing foods per week, and execute the changes slowly. Try many new alkalizing foods and experiment with new alkalizing recipes to have a better chance of developing new favorites that promote better overall health in your body.
References
- TheWolfeClinic.com: Acid and Alkaline Food Chart
- Rense.com: Acid/ Alkaline Forming Foods
- ''Staying Healthy With Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine''; Dr. Elson Haas; 2006
- ''Nutritional Symptomatology''; Danielle Perrault; 2009
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