We’ve all been to the doctor and have seen a pH number on lab results and have overlooked it because we didn’t think it was important. Your pH is actually very important and is a good indicator of what’s going inside your body. pH stands for potential hydrogen and it is a gauge of the alkaline- acid balance in your body. When the body is in an acidic state it is breeding ground for chronic illness and disease. Many conditions and diseases like arthritis, acid reflux, cancer, etc., require an acidic environment in order to thrive.

pH is measured on the scale of 0-14 with 0 being acidic and 14 being alkaline. A neutral pH is right in the middle at 7.0 and a “normal” or slightly alkaline pH is right is between 7.35-7.45; however there are many diseases and conditions that can survive in a neutral or slightly alkaline environment. In order to give your body a real advantage the ideal pH range is from 7.9-9.5. This is above that neutral mark and makes the body alkaline enough to drive out and prevent destructive processes from taking place in the body. You can buy some pH strips at your local health food store to give you an idea of your current state.

How to increase the alkalinity in your body?

There are many things you can do to help your body reach or maintain an alkaline state to improve your health.

1. Add a pinch of baking soda to your water on a regular basis. This will automatically boost the pH of your water by adding hydrogen molecules. If you are on a low sodium diet or have any sensitivity with sodium you want to be careful when using this method as the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will also increase your sodium level over time.
2. For those that have diseases like, cancer, heart disease, ulcerative colitis, etc., it would be a good idea to invest in a water ionizer machine which produces potent alkaline water. These machines can be pricey but if you have a serious disease or condition that you’re trying to fight, it is a beneficial investment in your health.
3. A very important way to maintain an alkaline state is to reduce foods and beverages in your diet that are acid producing.  

   Some acidic foods you want to reduce or eliminate all together are:

   • White Flour
   • Dairy Products
   • Pork
   • Artificial Sweeteners
   • Sugar
   • Soft Drinks
   • Alcoholic Beverages
   • Processed Foods
4. Another important method to improving your alkaline state is to consume alkaline foods daily. You can also add a few slices of your favorite alkaline fruit to your filtered water to drink throughout the day. If you’re someone who typically does not like the taste of water, this method will help you to increase your water intake while raising your body’s pH. 

   Some foods you want to increase or include in your diet are:

   • Spinach
   • Kale
   • Cucumbers
   • Almonds
   • Raisins/Figs
   • Grapefruit
   • Pineapple
   • Lemon

Purchase a BPA free water bottle preferably 32 oz, or buy a fruit infuser water bottle and fill it up every morning with filtered water. You should typically be drinking half your body weight in ounces a day. For instance if you are 200 pounds the ideal amount of water for you would be 100 ounces. Set a realistic goal for yourself; if you are only drinking 1 cup of water a day then to go to 100 ounces a day right away will be a stretch. If you have to start with completing 1 32oz bottle a day, start there and work your way up to the ideal for your body weight.

Get creative, have fun with it, try new things your body will thank you for it!

Until Next Time,

Be Healthy, Be Whole, Be You!