"Everything in moderation, nothing in excess."
--Socrates

Balance is an important concept in our lives especially in the way we eat. As we learn more about the effects of the foods we've grown to love we thankfully also learn how to take steps to stop the harm and to keep our bodies in a healthy state of balance. Some foods digested by our bodies create acid and others create alkaline. Both substances are needed for health but an Acid-Alkaline imbalance can cause illness.

The whole notion of this Acid-Alkaline imbalance is not new. Dr. William Howard Hay first introduced this concept in his 1933 publication "A New Health Era." In that work he argued that there is one basic cause for health problems and that is the wrong chemical condition in the body. Such a condition, he argued, causes self-poisoning through acid accumulation in the body.

Today we consider the pH balance in the body as one of the indicators that can be used to determine a person's degree of health. The term pH stands for "potential hydrogen" and the pH level is an indication of the level of alkaline or acidity in your body. A measurement between 1.0 and 6.9 is considered acidic, 7.0 is neutral and 7.1 to 14.0 is alkaline. A low pH number indicates greater acidity in the body and a higher pH number indicates greater alkalinity.

One of the easiest ways to test the body's pH level is to use pH test strips. You can get pH paper (also called hydrazine paper) in most drug stores.

For people with normal pH levels (between 7.35 and 7.45) the blood is slightly alkaline. Acid-Alkaline diet advocates believe that our diet should reflect this pH level and be slightly alkaline. Diets, therefore, that include a significant number of acid-producing foods may disrupt the Acid-Alkaline balance. As the body tries to restore equilibrium, essential minerals can be lost in the process and they include potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium.

Today health specialists believe that not only can various foods contribute to the acidifying of body fluids but the way we live has a factor to play as well. It is a commonly held notion by many health experts that allergic reactions and other forms of stress can produce acids in the body.

So what can we do to achieve more balance in our bodies? Depending on the acidity level in your body it is recommended that certain "alkalizing" foods be chosen to counter this acidity. Most vegetables and fruits alkalize, as do soybeans, yogurt, buckwheat, quinoa and almonds.

Foods that contribute towards high acidity levels in the body include meats, rice, pastas, cheeses, coffee, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, condiments, and most sweeteners, except un-pasteurized honey.

By adopting a diet that shifts away from acid-producing foods, many believe numerous health ailments can be addressed with some success including lethargy; nasal congestion, anxiety and headaches.

Before starting any new diet it is a good idea to discuss your plan with your health care specialist to ensure that your particular nutritional and therapeutic needs are being addressed in the healthiest and safest way possible.