Put Your Body to the Litmus Test
Remember back in middle school science class, you learned about pH levels: acidic v. basic [alkaline]. If you put litmus paper into a solution, it would turn blue or pink depending on the solution being acidic or basic.
Would it surprise you to learn that this snippet of knowledge from seventh grade plays a key role in your health?
The typical western diet is highly acidic. An acidic body — one with a pH level below 7 — is an ideal hosting environment for all kinds of nasties. Viruses, bacteria, mould — they all thrive in an acidic environment. A body that is properly alkalized — a pH above 7, will fight unwanted organisms and disease.
So how do you achieve a properly alkalized body? It’s all about education and choices. Certain foods promote alkalinity; others drive our pH levels below 7.
Here are five of the most highly alkalized foods and five of the most acidic:
Highly Acidic [Bad] | Highly Alkaline [Good] |
Beer & Liquor | Stevia [natural sweetener] |
Coffee | Dark green veggies |
Red meat | Avocado |
Artificial sweeteners | Olive & coconut oils |
Most dairy products | Garlic & ginger |
Avoiding highly acidic foods or at least consuming them in moderation is a great anti-aging strategy. Even better is eating as much of the highly alkaline foods as you can every day. To help you, click here for The Alkaline Food Chart, a complete listing of the pH ratings of alkaline and acidic foods.