If you're like most people in today's fast-paced world, mealtimes usually consist of grabbing a bagel or donut with coffee in the morning, gulping down a sandwich and a cola for lunch, snacking on crackers or cookies, and dining on meat, bread and potatoes. Unfortunately these kinds of foods are very acidic to your body, and acid is the perfect breeding ground for a host of bacteria, germs and viruses. An overly acidic body has been shown to be more prone to allergies, illness, and diseases. Fresh fruit, vegetables and grass juices on the other hand, contribute to a more alkaline body. According to many experts, an acid/alkaline balanced body is vital to maintaining health.

WHAT'S YOUR PH?
Every cell in your body is affected by the pH level (acid-alkaline balance) of your internal fluids. The body's entire metabolic process actually depends on a balanced internal alkaline environment. A chronically over-acidic pH can corrode body tissue and may lead to hypersensitivities and allergy symptoms. Other symptoms of a high acidic body can include low energy, frequent colds, flues and infections, headaches, dry skin and hair, indigestion, formation of cysts, joint pain and arthritis. The yeast and fungus produced within an overly acidic environment can even feed on the nutrients in your body and reduce the absorption of everything you eat by as much as 50%!

By using pH test strips (available at drugstores), you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily. The normal range is between 7.36 and 7.44. If your pH registers lower than that you should consider adding additional alkaline foods to your diet. A healthy diet should actually consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods.

COUNTER-BALANCING THE "BROWN"
Okay, so you say you've got no time to sit and munch on salads, and it's not too convenient for you to fix them during the day when you're constantly on the go anyway. Why not at least try and counter-balance some of that convenient "brown food" with a quickie "green drink". Green drinks consist of natural grass juices or concentrated green powders added to water. These are easily absorbed by the body, have a rapid alkalizing effect and are high in fibre that can also help to eliminate toxins from the body.

Of the various kinds of green drinks available, it's best to look for those consisting of a variety of organic grasses and green vegetables. The grasses that you should typically include in your green drink include: wheat, barley, alfalfa, and kamut. If possible, include dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, and broccoli. Some of the powders may contain additional vitamins as well.

FIVE WAYS TO ALKALIZE
(Note: that a food's alkaline or acid-forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH level of the food itself. For instance, lemons are acidic, but the end-products they produce after digestion and assimilation by the body are alkaline, so lemons are actually an alkaline-forming food.)

1. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
2. Try to eat at least 2 servings of greens daily (that includes those quickie green drinks!).
3. Eat fish and lamb instead of beef (which is highly acidic to your body).
4. Choose barley, millet, wild rice, or quinoa instead of oats or wheat (wheat flour is acidic).
5. Squeeze a lemon or lime into your water and voila - instant alkalization!

A recent seven-year study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, on 9,000 women showed that those who have chronic acidosis are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have normal pH levels. The scientists who carried out this experiment believe that many of the hip fractures prevalent among middle-aged women are connected to high acidity caused by a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. This is because the body borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH. - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition