Is It Really "National Doughnut Day?" [Insert Eye Roll Here]

A few weeks ago, I talked about the importance of having a healthy, balanced pH level (“pH” stands for “potential of Hydrogen,” in case you were wondering). Determining your pH is actually quite simple: You just pee on a piece of special tape.

I finally got my pH kit today and waited until I had to go (I was nervous my level would be off and so it took awhile before I had the urge). The tape I got measures pH from 5.5 to 8.0, and 6.8 – 7.2 is ideal. It’s the perfect balance your body is always striving for, between alkaline and acid; some Doctors theorize that sickness is a result of the body’s efforts to get back in balance.

So what was my number? You’re so impatient! It was 7.2. In other words: Perfect.

Now, you should know, there’s not much perfect in my life (or in anyone’s, really) so I found this news to be really encouraging. But if the news wasn't good, the good news is that it's relatively easy to get into balance. I've been eating raw-until-dinner (and sometimes through dinner) since November, and so I'm living proof that food is powerful medicine and that consuming close-to-the-source, organic, unprocessed food is really healthy.

For optimum balance, follow the 80/20 rule: eat 80 percent alkaline-forming foods and 20 percent healthy acid-forming foods by volume.

Alkaline-forming foods include:
· Almonds
· Avocado
· Beets
· Broccoli
· Carrots
· Celery
· Coconuts
· Cucumber
· Kale
· Lemon
· Lettuce
· Limes
· Raw Veggies
· Spinach
· Sweet Potatoes
· Wheatgrass

[In other words, everything in my refrigerator . . . well, except the wheatgrass.]

Acid-forming foods include:
· Bread
· Corn
· Lentils
· Most Grains
· Most Nuts
· Rice
· Vinegar

And here’s one of those scary facts for you: To neutralize a glass of cola, with its pH of 2.8, you’d have to mix it with 32 glasses of alkaline water with a pH of 7.0. Got thirst?

Question of the blog: In honor of National Doughnut's Day, where do you think a Krispy Kreme measures on the pH scale?

P.S. I'm waiting for "National Real Food Day."