Remember how you measured the pH of water in science class? Seeing how our bodies are made up of 70 percent water, the pH in our body matters now more than ever before. The pH (potential of Hydrogen) is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. pH is measured on a scale from zero to 14. The lower the pH, the more acidic, the higher the pH, the more alkaline. According to Dr. Robert Young, author of the pH Miracle, our blood is ideally maintained at a 7.365 pH.The average American diet is overly acidic, consisting of three times the animal protein needed. Other factors causing acidity include coffee, alcohol, dairy, smoking, genetically modified and processed foods, prescription drugs, environmental pollution, stress, shallow breathing and lack of exercise. Dietary acidosis increases bone loss, osteoporosis and kidney stone formation. This over acidity, coupled with poor elimination by the body and the lack of periodic detoxification, is the perfect recipe for disease.A pH-balanced environment is paramount for the body to resist disease and optimally function. To the best of your ability, reduce the factors listed above and follow a predominantly plant-based diet. Start your mornings with a glass of warm water and slice of lemon. While lemons may seem acidic, they are alkaline when metabolized by the body. Drink green juice daily or mix green powder in your water. Replace one meal a day with a giant salad tossed in olive oil and lemon juice. Perform periodic detoxification that includes a liver cleanse, lymphatic massage and colonics. Lastly, remember that some of the best things are free—take long breaths, exercise, sweat and sleep well.