The Acid Alkaline balance in the body has been looked at for many years. It all started some 76 years ago when William Howard Hay, a New York doctor, wrote a book which claimed that acid build-up in the body caused almost all disease.

Since then, many studies have indicated that eating too much acid-forming food actually may lead to disease.

So, what do we know about the acid/alkaline balance?

Acidity is indicated by what is termed pH. This is is a way of measuring the alkalinity or acidity of a solution. The scale is from 0 to 14. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it will have a pH of 7. This means that it is neutral. The body constantly strives to keep its pH in the neutral zone.

It is necessary to understand that pH does not measure stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. It measures this balance in our bodily fluids (the blood) not in the alimentary canal

The ideal pH range for the human body is said to be between 6.1 and 7.0. Although some others indicate it should be 6.5 to 7.5. This latter level may take into account metabolic variances during the day. Some authors have advocated attempting to reach high alkalinity levels, apparently unaware that the highly alkaline ammonia which this generates is as deadly and corrosive as highly acidic sulfuric acid on the acid side of pH.

The majority opinion seems to favor small variations from a neutral level of 7.0 as being the practical norm.

The Acid Alkaline Diet states in fine detail what might be expected if one goes on the regimen it proposes. Is there is scientific backing for most if not all of what this site claims? Apparently there is. A lot of information is provided, including a huge chart which gives an acid/alkaline rating for many, many foods. (We didnt count them — just too many).

The ideal pH for the human body will vary from individual to individual and compensate for a variety of factors including these:

o Basic Personality

o Energy blocks

o Imprinting

o Blood Type

o Education

o Culture

o Food.

The amount of information given appears to be certainly adequate if one is to take this path. The enormous chart is rather unbelievable in its detail. Lots and lots of foods are given along with measurements for each. It is well arranged in a logical fashion so it should not be hard to use.