Our bodies are amazing, miraculous organisms that have the ability to heal and regenerate even in challenging conditions. Although we are not aware of it, there are hundreds of functions going on inside of us every second, keeping us alive so we can go about our daily business.

Consider that just as we maintain a body temperature of around 98.6 degrees Farenheit despite weather changes, another one of our crucial body functions is that of maintaining a slightly alkaline chemical balance. If our body temperature fluctuates more than a few degrees, we experience severe damage to our health, even death. Just as serious, consuming overly acidic foods can lead to severely impaired health and obesity over time.

The pH scale is a measurement system in the form of a ladder scale, beginning at zero and ending at 14. This scale measures the acidity and alkalinity level of all substances, including foods, with zero representing the most acidic substance, and 14 representing the most alkaline substance. Our blood, organs, and tissues are healthiest at a slightly neutral pH of 7.365. All foods have a pH value, and those with a pH value below 6 drain energy from the body, creating stress and disease, whereas foods with a value of 7 and above revitalize, nourish, and cleanse the body.

To understand the full impact of our food choices, we also need to know that each value on the pH scale is multiplied by 10, therefore, if distilled water has a value of 7, and brown rice has a value of 6, the brown rice is 10 times more acidic than the distilled water. French fries, at a value of 4 are 1000 times more acidic than distilled water. Carbonated sodas, sugar, dairy, and processed packaged foods are some of the most acidic foods, valuing in at zero to 2 pH–up to a million times more acidic than distilled water  Such foods make the body work extra hard at drawing these toxins out of the bloodstream so as to avoid death, and guess where these substances go? Primarily to fat cells and the liver. This is why simply cutting out fat or carbohydrates, or counting calories, is not enough. To lose those last stubborn pounds or heal from all kinds of disease, eating alkaline food is a must.

Due to genetics and lifestyle we each contain certain weak spots where disease can manifest. Even if one person develops cancer and another develops obesity, arthritis, or heart disease, it all stems from the same source–unhealthy food and lifestyle. A direct approach to health and healing is through eating life-affirming alkaline foods. Alkaline foods include all green vegetables, lemons, grapefruits, berries, herbal teas, squashes, sweet potatoes, sea salt, olive oil, raw nuts and seeds, and whole grains in moderation. The more alkaline foods we eat, along with drinking plenty of good quality water, and the less acidic foods we eat, the more our body chemistry shifts towards supporting an energetic lifestyle, craving healthy foods, healthy body weight, and healing from disease.

Rohi Custage, M.A., HHC, Co-Founder Of Energy Of Breath Institute, 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.