The ratio of acids to alkalis in blood is generally 20:80. For proper functioning of the body organs and to keep your body system away from the accumulation of toxic substances, it is very important to keep the ratio of acids to alkalis maintained. The body naturally exerts its utmost to maintain this ratio.

Some of our foods leave alkaline resides in the body after undergoing the full cycle of digestive and metabolic processes; some others leave acidic residues. We may call such foods alkali-genic and acid-genic respectively. Generally, the acids produced by the metabolic activities, (such as uric acid, lactic acid, etc.) react with the alkalis in the blood, lymph, bile, etc., thus being neutralized and rendered innocuous. But if our diet is replete with acid-genic foods, the body cannot cope with all the resulting acids. When the acids accumulate in the blood, heath problems like fatigue, anorexia, insomnia, headache, nervous tension, hyperacidity, coryza, etc., begin to appear.

Acidic blood is an abnormal condition that hinders the physical development of children and adolescents, causes degeneration in older people, and diminishes vitality. It causes difficulties in pregnancy and lactation. It is the origin of diseases like measles, pneumonia, tuberculosis, appendicitis, and cancer.

All the toxic substances in the body are in the form of acids, and that in order to prevent or counteract the accumulation of acids in the body we must take food that is mainly alkali-genic.

Meat, eggs, fish and pulses are highly acid-genic. Wholemeal wheat flour, manually dehusked unpolished rice, and such other cereals in their more or less natural forms are only mildly acid-genic, but processing or refining them makes them much more acidic in effect. All vegetables, tubers, roots and fruits are alkali-genic. Green leafy vegetables are of special importance in this respect.

It is quite possible to maintain a balance between the acids and alkalis in the body by a judicious combination of various unprocessed cereals, raw vegetables, fruits and nuts in our daily diet. The alkalis in such foods neutralize the acids in other foods, but they also help in extracting the acids and toxins accumulated in the cells of the body, and ejecting them from the system. These qualities make a diet made up of alkali-genic components not only pure and wholesome, but also an efficient cleansing and eliminating agency.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.