Our bodies are comprised of 70 percent vital fluids. To maintain optimal health, these fluids should be at a slightly alkaline pH value of 7.365. This is no different than our body temperature which remains at 98.6 degrees Farenheit for us to be healthy. A slight deviation up or down in body temperature signifies disease, infection, or a compromised immune system. Just like our temperature will go up a few degrees to fight off an invading virus, our bodies contain self-preserving mechanisms for keeping our fluids slightly alkaline, by driving toxins and acidic substances into our organs, muscles, and fat cells where they can be stored, be it at a delayed risk to our health. The main cause for weight gain, obesity, diabetes, cancer, migraines, arthritis, aches and pains, hormonal, mood, and energy imbalances is the presence of acidic toxins in the body. The fortunate news about this is that most diseases, if not all, can be cured by shifting towards an organic, whole foods, alkaline, and unprocessed way of eating and living. Therefore, an added benefit in most instances is the eventual elimination of the use of prescription drugs for such ailments. It is crucial to consult with a holistic nutrition therapist in order to understand which foods and guidelines will suit each individual’s needs, and, via adjunct therapeutic modalities, it is also important to address mental and emotional issues which may cause stress and the overproduction of acidity and toxicity-promoting hormones in the body.

In the interim, the following guidelines will assist for getting started on a path of alkalizing and energizing:

The pH scale is a standard measurement system in the form of a ladder scale beginning at zero and ending at 14. Zero is equivalent to carbonic acid, the most acidic element, and 14 is equivalent to bicarbonate, an alkalizing agent, while 7.0 is neutral, which is also the value of distilled water. All elements in the universe have a pH value, including all foods. We can look at our food intake like we look at a bank account where we deposit and withdraw money; the foods we eat either withdraw energy, if acidic, or deposit energy, if alkaline. To understand the full impact of our food choices being acid or alkaline we also need to know that each whole number value on the pH scale is represented to the power of 10, therefore, if distilled water measures 7.0 which is neutral, then 6.0 is ten times more acidic than distilled water, 5.0 is 100 times more acidic than distilled water, 4.0 is 1000 times more acidic, and 3.0 is 10,000 times more acidic than distilled water  So, if we look at our ‘energy bank’ we quickly understand that soft drinks with values at 3.0 are 10,000 times more acidic than distilled water, and coffee with cream and sugar at 4.0 is 1000 times more acidic. Such foods drain the body’s energy by making it work extra hard at drawing these vital-enzyme depleting substances out of the bloodstream, a crucial factor in the avoidance of toxins crossing the blood-brain barrier, which could yield fatal results.

The most acidic substances, to be avoided at all costs if possible, include refined sugar in all its forms (sucrose, lactose, dextrose, maltose, high fructose corn syrup, etc., and also all artificial sweeteners), white flour, processed dairy products, table salt, excess of red meat and commercially-produced  poultry, fried foods, hydrogenated and rancid saturated oils, cold cuts, processed soy products, genetically modified foods, overcooked, canned and frozen products, additives, preservatives, artificial ingredients in foods, and excessive caffeine intake. This does not mean that occasional ingestion of such foods will be lethal, yet if someone suffers from any disease, steering clear of these foods will increase the chances of recovery and reestablishing balanced health. 

At the alkalizing end of the scale are the energizing and life-supporting foods. The pH value of broccoli, spinach, and all green and yellow vegetables is 7.5 to 8.0. Also alkaline are citrus fruits, except for oranges, sea salt, pumpkin seeds, sea vegetables, sweet potatoes and squashes, berries and grapes, herbal teas, melons, avocados, apples, pears, all vegetables, olive oil, and other seed and nut oils. Slightly acidic yet healthy are legumes, whole grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, kasha, and millet, cider and balsamic vinegars, raw nuts, seafood, and herbs and spices. Always eat fresh rather than canned or frozen vegetables, and preferably from organic sources, therefore containing the most nutrients, enzymes and Megahertz energy-- present from direct sunlight absorbed into the plant through photosynthesis. Avoid overcooking vegetables in order to benefit from their life energy. 

Osteoporosis is most prevalent in the United States, due to the acidic content of our Standard American Diet (S.A.D. ). The body leaches calcium and other alkalizing minerals from the bones in its attempt to buffer the acidity of all the dead, processed fast foods ingested on a regular basis by a large portion of our population. Dairy is a major culprit in this dilemma, although we have been brought up to believe that ‘milk does a body good’. Rather, it promotes excess secretion of mucus in the intestinal tract which then becomes a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria and disease, leading to chronic congestion, allergies, colds, toxicity and bowel irregularity. Then, to compound the problem, other acidic foods ingested are not eliminated as easily and contribute to further toxicity and imbalance. The calcium in milk is not easily absorbable in the human body, as it does not contain the appropriate ratios of other minerals such as magnesium and manganese as well as vitamin B 12 which our bodies require in order to properly assimilate calcium. These substances are not present in milk in a way that our bodies can absorb; cow milk is for calves, not for human adults.

Excellent non-dairy sources of calcium, B 12, magnesium, manganese, and other minerals include black sesame seed paste, raw tahini, raw almonds and brazil nuts, all dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables which include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and all cabbages, salmon and sardines, and sea vegetables. Drinking at least two to three liters of purified water daily, as well as regular exercise, is a major aid in the detoxification of acidic substances, as is the use of alkalizing green vegetable drinks (see below for further information). The less acidic foods we eat, the less our cravings for such foods are perpetuated, and our body chemistry shifts towards supporting an energetic lifestyle, and towards desiring what it instinctively knows is vibrating at a higher level. Eating an alkaline diet not only energizes the body, but is a major contributor in weight loss, healing from disease, and also detoxifying the emotional, mental, and energetic plains. In turn we can feel more present, focused, clear, and able to accomplish our goals. What we eat is truly who we are and how we think, feel, and behave, and vice versa. Who do you choose to be as of today, a ‘junk-food equals junk thoughts’ being, or a vibrant, life-celebrating fully expressed being?

Rohi Custage, Co-Founder Of Energy Of Breath based in NYC, along with her partner Giten

Tonkov, offers Osho Active Meditation and Breath Therapy workshops, trainings, and retreats, as well as individual sessions. Please log on to www.EnergyOFBreath.com for further information, to find out about upcoming events,order meditation CDs, and to join Rohi and Giten's newsletter.