When we refer to alkaline foods and acidic foods, we’re not describing the taste.  We’re talking about what’s left over after the body uses what it needs - similar to the ash left over after a campfire.

Foods like tomatoes, avocados, and green vegetables leave an alkaline ash.  They burn very clean, if you will.  Whereas, meat, alcohol, and sugar on the other hand are acidic and leave an acid ash behind. 

A good example of a highly acidic diet would be the Atkins diet, which consists mainly of meat, eggs, and dairy products, with very few vegetables and virtually no fruit.  On the other hand, the very alkaline Macrobiotic diet consists of whole grains, nuts and seeds, vegetables, beans, local fruit, seaweed, natural sea salt with very little animal foods.

Although highly unlikely, one can become too alkaline, which can cause the body to digest foods too slowly resulting in toxicity; therefore balance is key.

To maintain health, we should aim for 70 percent alkaline forming foods and 30 percent acid forming foods.  To restore health, the diet should consist of 80 percent alkaline foods and 20 percent acidic foods. 

A diet too high in acidic foods will decrease the body's ability to absorb nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells and it's ability to repair damaged cells and make it more susceptible to illness. 

Saliva pH Test:  Wait two hours after eating to ensure saliva is clean.  Put some saliva onto pH paper, which is available at pharmacies or health food stores (never put pH paper in your mouth).  The paper should turn blue.  This indicates your saliva is slightly alkaline at a healthy pH of 7.4.  If it is not blue, compare the colour with the chart that comes with the pH paper.  If your saliva is acid (below pH of 7.0) wait two hours and repeat the test.  If the same reading occurs, a change in diet is warranted.

Tips for Alkalinizing Your Diet

1. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits.  Most are alkalinizing.
2. Avoid all forms of dairy products: milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, etc. Choose almond milk or rice milk instead.
3. Avoid alcohol and sugar.  These have no nutritional value and are highly acidic.
4. Drink one teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar in one cup of water once or twice a day.
5. Choose millet or buckwheat over wheat and refined flours.
6. Eat one cup of alkalinizing greens daily (kale, collards, mustard greens).
7. Make blender drinks using alkaline juices, green powdered supplements and fruits.
8. Avoid caffeine; choose green tea or herbal teas instead.
9. Choose fish and lamb over beef and chicken for less acid forming animal protein.
10. Use olive oil for cooking and salad dressings.
11. Add sprouts to sandwiches, salads and omelettes for extra enzymes, nutrients, and flavour.
12. Use Vitamin C (1,000mg - 3,000mg a day) to alkalinize the system.