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The acid-base balance

Our organisms need alkalis and acids in order to achieve healthy digestion and effective detoxification processes. Both are absorbed via food and drink, whilst the body is also able to produce acids itself. The ratio between acid and alkali is expressed in the form of a pH value. Our bodies impose strict controls on this so-called acid-base balance in order to maintain constant pH values in individual areas and to avoid any over-acidification. Stress, toxins from the environment, an excess of acidic foodstuffs and irregular and late mealtimes which inhibit digestion will, however, all cause the acid load to rise constantly. An acid load which is too high will exert a negative impact on our metabolism. Such a circumstance will, however, also increase vulnerability to allergies and modern lifestyle diseases.

An acid metabolism does not develop overnight and, by the same token, there is also no short cut back to a good acid-base balance. The most certain pathway is a balanced diet which includes alkaline and acidic foods in a ratio of 2:1. For this reason, alkaline vegetables will always play the main role in the recipes presented in the following chapters.