As you know, your body is made up of about 70 percent water, and for you to be healthy, all that water needs to have a healthy “potential of hydrogen,” or pH balance. This pH balance is the measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Your pH is measured on a scale of 0 (100 percent acidic) to 14 (100 percent alkaline). A pH of 7 is a perfectly neutral pH, from 0 to 7 indicates acidity and from 7 to 14 indicates alkalinity. Although we should fall somewhere between 7 and 7.5, most of us fall in the acid range of 6.2 to 6.4.

And that can mean bad news for your health. Theodore A. Baroody, M.A., D.C., Ph.D., stated the following in his book, Alkalize or Die,“The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What does matter is that they all come from the same root cause…too much acid in the body!”

According to many noted researchers even mild acidosis can cause cardiovascular damage… dangerous constriction of blood vessels and oxygen starvation throughout your body… weight gain… obesity… blood sugar problems… and bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.

Mild acidosis has also been associated with…

• Immune deficiency
• Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to abnormal cell growth and premature aging
• Joint pain
• Weak, brittle bones
• Hip fractures and bone spurs
• Aching muscles and chronic low energy

Even the slightest acidic tissue pH is believed to result in cold hands and feet, mild headaches, allergies, acne, bloating, rapid breathing, panic, irritability and low sex drive.

Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to escape from an acidic environment…

• Every minute of the day, each of the 100 trillion cells in your body absorbs nutrients and excretes acid waste. And over the years that waste builds up inside you.
• More acid is produced as a byproduct when you digest food, drink acid-producing beverages or take prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
• Acid is everywhere in your external environment including acid rain, air pollution, pesticides, herbicides, food additives and household toxins in furnishings and carpets.

But the good news is your acidic pH level doesn’t have to remain a permanent enemy of your body and mind. You can start by making smarter choices in the foods you eat.

Try to avoid too many acid-forming foods like fatty animal meats, processed foods, fried foods, refined sugars, pasteurized dairy products and white flour products. Boost your intake of the more wholesome alkaline foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, limited lean meats and other foods high in fiber.

You should consume 80 percent of your diet from alkaline wholesome foods and limit your intake of acid-forming foods to 20 percent. By remembering this 80/20 rule, you can start to restore your alkaline balance from head to toe.