Your blood registers a pH balance of about 7.4, which means it is always alkaline. In order to help the body keep this alkaline balance, it is important to consume the best ratio of alkaline foods and acid foods. The ratio that experts suggest is 80% alkaline foods to 20% acid foods.

The pH balance is a way to calculate the acid or alkaline mineral content of substances on a scale of 0 to 14, with a pH of 7 being considered neutral. A pH lower than seven is believed to be acidic and a pH balance above seven is alkaline. For every unit a solution moves on the pH balance scale, it registers a tenfold increase in the degree that it is acid or alkaline. When measuring alkaline foods and acid foods, the mineral makeup of the substances after metabolization is what is being evaluated.

Managing a perfect pH balance plays an important role in your total well-being since viruses, yeast, bacteria and harmful organisms flourish when the body is more acidic. So, consuming more alkaline foods than acid foods creates an uninviting environment for the little things that could turn into chronic illnesses.

The most reliable alkaline foods to eat are alkaline fruits, fresh veggies, and herbal teas. Simple seasonings like sea salt, cinnamon and oregano can be healthy choices. Leafy green vegetables such as lettuce, spinach and beet greens are excellent alkaline foods. Squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers and other orange or yellow vegetables also help add alkalinity to the diet. There are a handful of fruits and vegetables considered to be acid foods, so notice your intake of plums, corn, green olives, and cranberries. It is interesting to note that ripe bananas are usually considered alkaline foods while green bananas are not. Also, this may seem to go against typical thinking, but citrus fruits are usually thought to be alkaline foods. Keep in mind that we are talking about the pH balance these foods register once they have been digested.

It is important to remember that you do need some acid foods to balance out the alkaline foods. Most experts recommend primarily alkaline foods, but about twenty percent of your intake should be acid foods. Common acid foods are candy, chips, and hot dogs. Of course, refined sugars, processed snack foods, and sodas can really tip pH balance to the acid side of the scale. Other items that are considered healthy may also be acid foods, such as nuts, whole grains and beans. This doesn't mean you should never include them in your diet. It just means that you should pay attention to the blend of alkaline foods that you eat each day.