Understanding Alkaline pH Balance: Health Benefits & Diet

All food is acidic or alkaline. Alkaline foods are those that have a pH level above 7.0. By contrast, acidic foods have a pH level below 7.0. Maintaining the proper pH level helps keep the body healthy and disease-free.

Ideal Range

• According to Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, a clinical nutritionist, a pH of around 7.0 is ideal for a healthy lifestyle.

Importance

• Alkaline balance in they body allows the immune system to function properly, helps tissue heal and promotes a healthy metabolism, according to Loscalzo.

Balance

• Many activities--including digestion and exercise--result in increased acid production in the body. According to Loscalzo, balancing these fluctuations with a diet that includes alkaline-containing foods is important.

Acid Over-Balance

• Having too much acid in the body can lower the immune system and increase susceptibility to free-radical cells. According to Dr. Robert Yound, author of "The pH Miracle," alkaline levels counteract these symptoms of acid over-balance.

Alkaline Foods

• Most fruits, vegetables and nuts have positive alkaline levels. Meats, bleached flour products and sugars are a few examples of foods that are more acidic.