Eating For A Healthy pH

Naini Setalvad educates us on how to include certain foods in our diet to maintain the body’s acid-alkali balance

- Naini Setalvad

Post the New Year celebrations, my phone has been buzzing with numerous inquiries on juice flushes, meal replacers, and superfood diets. I always reply with the mantra I live by: Health is not a matter of intensity but of balance, harmony, and rhythm. The human body is all about balance too. It is sustained by a balance of the elements and, most importantly, a balance of the pH levels (a measure of acidity or alkalinity). Our bodies are sophisticatedly monitored by strict pH levels that ensure we are functioning at our best.

The pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. Seven is neutral. Below seven is acidic, above seven, alkaline. The digestive system has an affinity for a certain pH. Think of the digestive process as a raging fire where the ash left behind depends on the type of wood used. Similarly, the type of food you eat leaves behind either an acidic by-product or an alkaline one. The modern diet is more acidic in nature, and its acidic waste increases the acidity of the blood, which affects our health.

“But Naini, my diet is very healthy without any junk food” is what most people tell me, and you probably believe the same too. But I’ve got news for you: Not all ‘healthy foods’ account for the desired acid-alkaline balance. Take a look at these foods to know how to pile your plate henceforth.

1 Fresh Fruits: Lemon is my go-to alkaliser. I squeeze it over all my meals as it is acidic to the tongue but alkaline to the body. Add seasonal fruits like Indian gooseberry (amla), guava, oranges, strawberry, papaya, and fresh figs to give yourself the alkaline dose.