Acid & Alkaline Balance

The balance of acid and alkaline foods is important for the maintenance of good health.

The body is ideally balanced when pH is 7.35 to 7.45, which is slightly alkaline.

The body needs to be slightly alkaline to perform effectively, so foods should be selected accordingly. However, it is important to understand that the important criterion is the effect of acid or alkaline foods within the body. In practice this means that foods should not be chosen by a simple classification of whether they are acid or alkaline, but rather as to whether they are acid or alkali-forming after digestion.

Acid-forming foods include animal protein foods, eggs, fish, fowl, sugars and sweeteners, most nuts and grains, flour products, raw tomatoes, honey, most dairy products, and fats.

Alkaline-forming foods include most vegetables, potatoes, buckwheat, millet, most fruits, and sea vegetables.

It should be noted that the eastern system of classifying foods also includes the concept of yin and yang, which states that these two energy forces are both antagonistic and complementary. The yin and yang approach can classify an acid forming food as either acid or alkali and vice versa. So to avoid confusion the acid and alkali food classifications given above are sufficient as a guide.

The following table is not a comprehensive list of foods

Positive and negative health factors.

Further positive health factors are outlined below. These are complementary to the process of reforming health.