From the Good Side

2.8
When I began my wellness journey years ago, I researched bodily pH and acid/alkaline balance in food. It was fascinating to me, and I committed much of it to memory. There is great information available on how our bodies metabolize foods and the fact that some foods, when digested, cause our pH to go up (become more alkaline) and some cause it to go down (become more acidic). What you realize as you dig further into the topic is that eating from the 'good' side of the charts (the alkaline forming side) supports whole food / raw food choices in our power pantry.

There is no denying that we live in a time of great health opportunity. I think the big question is whether we will step up and make the healthful choices available to us. The evidence is overwhelming... simple whole and raw foods (alkaline-forming foods) are vital to our health. Processed and refined foods (acid-forming foods) hold little nutritional value for the calories they impart, and are much more detrimental to our health.

So, what kinds of foods am I referring to on the good side and the bad side? Check out this acid / alkaline food chart from pHMiracle Living:
Acid / Alkaline Food Chart

An example Acid/Alkaline Food Chart

For a visual and nutritional information feast, go to Google Images and search for "acid alkaline food chart", and peruse some of the results. What you quickly realize is that whole, raw foods are more alkaline-forming as we metabolize them, and processed meats, refined grains and carbohydrates, as well as things like soda and sweeteners, are all acid-forming as we digest them.

I won't get into the details of how these acid-forming foods affect our health, but here is one resource to consider, from Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, who heads up the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, and has tremendous resources on anti-inflamatory eating and wellness. Here is a brief Q&A from Dr. Weil on acid-forming foods and alkaline-forming benefits:
Eating to Protect Bones

Have a look at your pantry and refrigerator today... where can you reduce the kinds of processed and refined foods which are more acid-forming (and much less healthful) and increase the alkaline-forming whole foods you eat? Begin to increase those alkaline-forming foods to the point where 80% or more of your calories come from the 'good' side of the chart, and your body and health will thank you for it.

By the Way

While you may find some inconsistent information on the web as to exactly where foods fall on the acid/alkaline charts, the basic premise is that the more refined they are, the more acid-forming they are (and less healthful). Just think fresh, raw, whole foods, and stock up on those wherever you can, and you'll be on your way to improving your power pantry.