Our body's are composed of 70% water. Just like a swimming pool or fish tank, our body's water has a range that the pH level MUST be in. Too much acid puts excessive strain on the organs and cells of the body which work to buffer the pH levels back to a safe range.

In addition to this, having too much acid in the body can be a breeding ground for bacteria. It may also promote chronic inflammation, weaken the immune system and slow down the healing process.

If we go back to high school sciences we can recall the following pH scale:

• 1-6 Acidic
• 7 Neutral
• 8-14 Basic / Alkaline

Our body must maintain an average pH level between 7.35 - 7.45.

That is why we must alkalize our body on a daily basis! The term alkalize means to create a more basic environment. We must ingest foods that are closer to our body's own natural pH levels and eliminate the harmful acidic foods from our diets as well.

Below are examples of acidic & basic (alkaline) foods:

Acidic -

• Fast foods
• Processed foods
• Artificial Sweeteners
• Juice
• Coffee
• Milk (whole, 2%, and skim)
• Meat (non organic - corn fed)
• Fried foods
• Fish (farm raised)
• Cheese (fat free is the most acidic)
• Bread (white and whole wheat)
• Dairy (regular yogurt and greek yogurt)
• Soda (regular and diet)
• High fructose corn syrup

Alkaline -

• Green leafy vegetables (the higher the ANDI score the better)
• Organic meats (grass fed, hormone/antibiotic free)
• Eggs (cage free, hormone free)
• Fish (wild caught)
• White meat (grass fed, farm raised)
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Avocados
• Fruits
• Mushrooms
• Red, yellow and orange peppers
• Asparagus
• Coconut oil
• Water *
• Olive oil

The idea is to maintain a ration of 80:20 meaning 80% of your diet is alkaline and the other 20% may be acidic.

IKnow we are not living in a perfect world; work, family, kids etc. can get in the way from eating 5 - 6 alkaline meals a day.

In this situation, supplements are beneficial.

Active Chiropractic Care carries the Greens Plus product for this reason. It helps alkalize your body on the go. Simply mix it with water and drink it to get it into your system.

People who have drank the Greens Plus product on a regular basis claim to experience a higher level of energy and immune function.

In addition to getting more green leafy foods into your system and eliminating the acidic foods above, drinking water which is more alkaline will help you keep your pH levels more consistent.

After determining your body's pH, we make specific recommendations to either eliminate acidic foods or add alkaline foods and supplements to your diet.

It is the pH of your body that helps determine how much energy, inflammation, healing ability, immune function and pain that you have!

This is why we focus on pH testing ALL of our patients. It is an essential part of the "D.R.E.A.M." acronym when it comes to living a healthy and active lifestyle.

Call us today if you would like to have an evaluation and learn more about the services we provide at our office!