The importance of the body's acid-alkaline balance to overall health is increasingly being accepted. Researchers have recognized that the more acidic the blood, the most likely it is that disease will occur. Diets heavy with sugar, bread, cereals and meat, but low in fresh vegetables and fruits have been found to cause 'progressive acid saturation', whereas increasing intake of fresh vegetables and fruit increases the alkalinity of the blood and brings about improved health and vigor.

Foods are classed not by how acid or alkaline they are before they are eaten, but by the products they leave on your body after they have been digested, absorbed and metabolized. When food is metabolized, it leaves chemical and mineral residues that are either acid-forming or alkaline-forming.

Alkalized bodies are healthy bodies and acidic bodies are prone to degeneration, oxygen deprivation and parasites, which leads to disease.

Too Much acid, Not Enough Alkaline

Most people consume an abundance of highly processed foods which acidify the body. These include meats, refined sugars and flours, milk, coffee, tea and cheese.

Eating too many acid-forming foods results in acid saturation, and puts a strain on the body by making it work overtime to deal with the acid. It slows down the elimination of waste, causing a build-up of smelly gases, such as sulfur and phosphorus, which link up with other chemicals to form acids. A build-up of these aggressive acids over a long time can lead to a variety of health problems. Many experts believe that over-acidity is responsible for a whole range of common conditions, including rheumatism, arthritis, headaches, kidney stones and gallstones.

Create a Natural Balance

The body likes to maintain a pH of 7.4. When moved into acid, the body responds by using water and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron to regain the alkali balance. If the body is already dehydrated, it has no choice but to use minerals stripped from the body, including the bones, to restore the alkali balance.

To prevent over-acidity from happening in the first place, the body calls up reserves of alkaline-forming trace minerals which help to clear up any excess acids. But that will only work if there are enough of those elements around to do the job. One of the best ways to make sure we have plenty is to eat more alkaline-forming foods like vegetables, salads, herbs and fruit.

In general, proteins, starches, fats, sugars and beans leave acid ash residues. They turn into acid-forming minerals including chlorine, phosphorus and sulfur.

Most vegetables, salads, herbs and fruits are alkaline-forming. They leave residues of calcium, iron, magnesium and iron which help to remove excess acid.

Both types of foods are essential but to maintain good health, our bodies need to take in a higher level of alkalizing foods than acid-forming ones. Aim to eat around 80% alkali ash foods to 20% acid ash foods. Simple ways to achieve this are:

• Increase your intake of salad and vegetable produce

• Include a generous selection of vegetables or salad with every lunch and supper

• Eat at least two pieces of fresh fruit each day, between meals or first thing in the morning.

It's not just foods that have an alkalizing effect on the body. Rest, sleep, regular exercise, fresh air and a positive attitude are all alkalizing.