Our society is plagued with a torrent of health concerns. Many herbalists and nutritionists now believe the explanation for this may

come down to two small words:

Acid & AlkalineAn Important Issue: High acidity can affect all major body systems, especially the digestive, intestinal, circulatory, respiratory and immune systems. A pH-balanced environment maintains proper metabolic function andallows the body to function optimally. It also maintains alkalinereserves that are used to meet emergency demands.

pH Balancing SimplifiedYour Health is in the Balance

Understanding pH pH is a measure of theacidity or alkalinity of asolution. The lower the pHnumber, the more acidic thesolution is. The higher a pHnumber, the more alkalinethe solution is.

Your Body’s Chemistry Water is the most abun-dant compound, comprising70% of the human body.The body has an acid–alka-line ratio called pH (poten-tial of Hydrogen), which is abalance between positivelycharged ions (acid forming)and negatively charged ions(alkaline forming). The body continuallystrives to balance pH.During times of imbalance,however, body systems canbecome weakened and theseweaknesses may manifestthemselves outwardly. Because our bodies naturallyuse hydrochloric acid tobreak down foods and nutri-ents, the optimal saliva andurine pH for our bodies isslightly acidic, around 6.4–6.5.

2

ALKALINE

-9.0-

-8.5-

-8.0-

-7.5-

-7.0-

-6.5-

-6.0-

-5.5-

-5.0-

ACID

Hea

lthy

Bod

y pH

Ran

ge

{

Test Your Acidity or Alkalinity with NSP pH Strips It is important for you to test your pH level to deter-mine if your body’s pH needs addressing. By using Nature’s Sunshine pH test strips, you candetermine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacyof your own home. If your urinary pH fluctuates between6.0–6.4 in the morning and 6.4–7.0 in the evening, yourbody is functioning within a normal range. If your salivastays between 6.4 and 6.8all day, your body is functioning within a normalrange.

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR pH TODAY?

The best time to test your pH isabout one hour before a mealand two hours after a meal. Testyour pH two days a week.

3

What You Don’t Know AboutYour pH Might Surprise You

High Acidity in the Body Most people who haveunbalanced pH are “acidic.”This condition forces thebody to borrow minerals—including calcium, sodium,potassium and magne-sium—from vital organsand bones to buffer the acidand safely remove it fromthe body. This process canweaken these organs andbones over time.

High Alkalinity in the Body Though relativelyuncommon, high alkalinity in the body causes many of thesame kinds of mineral problems as acidity. It often takeslonger for a person who is “alkaline” to achieve balance thanone who is “acidic.” Alkalinity may lead to:• Digestive system sluggishness.• Intestinal system concerns, including poor elimination.• Respiratory system compromise.• Immune system concerns.• Urinary system weakness.• Nervous system exhaustion.

Acidosis may lead to serious healthconcerns and affect body systems.

• Cardiovascular weakness.• Weight gain.• Bladder and kidney concerns.• Immune deficiency.• Acceleration of free radical

damage.• Structural system weakness,

including brittle bones and hip fractures.

• Joint discomfort and other discomfort associated with lactic acid buildup.

• Low energy.

4

Urine pH The results of urine testing indicate how well your bodyis assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium,sodium and potassium. These are called the “acid buffers”because they are used by the body to control acid levels.When acid levels begin to increase, the body becomes lesscapable of excreting acid. It must either store the acid inbody tissues, or buffer it—that is, borrow minerals fromorgans, bones, etc., in order to neutralize the extra acid.

Minerals are used to bufferacids

The Body’s AcidManagement—Acids Do NotStay in the Blood1. Excretion of Acids—

colon, kidneys, lungs, skin2. Buffering of acids—

calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium

3. Storage of acids—tissue,joints, muscles, arteries

A study conducted at the University of California–SanFrancisco on 9,704 post-menopausal women showed that thosewho have higher acidity levels (also called chronic acidosis) from a diet rich in animal foods are at greater risk for lower bone densitylevels than those who have “normal” pH levels. The researcherswho carried out this study hypothesized that many of the hip fractures prevalent among older women correlated to higher acidityfrom a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. The bodyapparently borrows calcium from the bones in order to balancepH, and this calcium borrowing may result in a decrease in bonedensity.

—American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan. 2001, Vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 118–122.

5

Calcium

Calcium

Calcium

Saliva pH You’ll also want to test the pH of your saliva. The resultsof saliva testing indicate the activity of digestive enzymes inyour body, especially the activity of the liver and the stom-ach. This reveals the flow of enzymes running through yourbody and shows their effect on all the body systems. Somepeople will have acidic pH readings from both urine andsaliva—this is referred to as “double acid.”

6

Saliva

Liver

Stomach

Pancreas

Small Intestine

Colon

River of Enzymes

Keeping the Balance Right forOptimum Health

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrientsonly when its pH is properly balanced. It is possible for youto be taking in healthy nutrients and yet be unable toabsorb them. This is true because, while some minerals canbe utilized through a wider range of pH than others, all pro-vide their greatest benefits when the body’s pH level ofurine fluctuates between 6.0–6.4 in the morning and 6.4–7.0 in theevening, andthe saliva staysbetween 6.4–6.8. For exam-ple, though thebody can uti-lize iron whileat a pH any-where between6.0 and 7.0, itcan only fullyutilize iodinewhen body pHlies between6.3 and 6.6.Thus, it is inyour body’sinterest for youto maintain thebest pH balancepossible.

7

When pH is outof balance, herbalprograms can benegativelyaffected. Our cells will extract

nutrients from the bloodonly when the correct pHratio is maintained.

8

What if I’m Acidic?Basic Nutrition for an Over-Acid System—(if urine and/orsaliva test below 6.4 pH) Start with Steps 1, 2 and 3, and continue adding stepsuntil desired results are achieved. Be sure to monitor yourprogress with easy-to-use NSP pH test strips.

1. Enzymes are essential. Take 1–2 capsules DigestiveEnzymes™ during or after meals. If you have bothover-acid urine and saliva, use 1-2 GardenEssence™.. Take 1-2 Protease Plus or ProteinDigestive Aid™ between meals on an empty stom-ach.

2. Correct Calcium is needed! Take 3-4 tbsp ofLiquid Calcium™ daily, which contains a veryabsorbable Calcium/Magnesium to buffer acid. Ifyour urine and saliva are both over-acid, take 4-6SynerPro™ Calcium-Magnesium or Herbal CA.Children should use 1-2 tbsp of Liquid Calcium.

3. Alkaline minerals are essential. Take 1 oz.Essential Liquid Minerals™ or 1 oz. Mineral ChiTonic™ once daily. Or, take 1 tsp LiquidChlorophyll in 8 oz. water up to eight times daily.

4. Anything green is alkaline. Take GreenZone™ orPotas™ herbal combination according to directions.

5. Vitamin A&D holds calcium in the body. TakingNSP Vitamin A&D™ will help the body bufferacid (contains natural cod liver oil).

6. Cleanse as needed. Take 2 or more capsules each ofLBS II™ and Psyllium Hulls at bedtime to maintainregular bowel movements. Use NSP’s Tiao HePak™ or the CleanStart kit twice a year for liverand kidney detoxification.

Food

Dig

esti

ng T

oo Q

uick

ly

9

Other helpful hints:• Eat more alkalizing foods (see chart on page 15), especially

those that contain calcium, magnesium, sodium andpotassium (refer to The Chemistry of Man by Dr. BernardJensen). Follow the principles of Live Right for Your Typeby Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo with Catherine Whitney.

• Use a buffered Vitamin C or switch to Rose Hips or CitrusBioflavonoids.

• Take 1000 mcg Vitamin B12 daily with probiotics.• A lemon/maple syrup drink may be helpful to promote

alkalinity. (Add 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 2 teaspoonsmaple syrup to 8 oz. water and drink.)

• Drink 8 glasses of pure water daily.• Drink 2 oz. alkaline juice made from carrot, celery and

beet once a day.• Alkaline bath soak: 1 cup Epsom salts, 1 box baking soda,

10 capsules Ginger. Soak for 20 minutes, then rinse. • Exercise: any movement is better than no movement.

For extra support for an acidiccondition, be sure to followthese steps to improve yourdigestion and re-supply your

minerals.

What if I’m Alkaline?Basic Nutrition for an Over-Alkaline System—(if urine andsaliva test above 6.4 pH) Start with Steps 1, 2 and 3, and continue adding stepsuntil you achieve desired results. Be sure to monitor your

progress with easy-to-use NSP pH test strips.1. Enzymes are essential. Use 1–2 Digestive

Enzymes or Garden Essence™ with meals. Forstronger enzymatic action, use 1-2 Protease Plus orProtein Digestive Aid between meals on an empty stomach.

2. Correct calcium is needed! Use NSP’s milk-freeLiquid Calcium—this product contains calciumlactate, potassium sorbate and glycerin. For extrasupport, take 6 Herbal CA daily.

3. Vitamin C. Use Timed-Release or Vitamin C 500with Bioflavonoids. This will bring down high pHlevels. Use 3,000 mg or more—to maximumbowel tolerance. (If diarrhea occurs, reduceintake.)

4. Flax Seed Oil. Use 1 capsule three times a day. 5. Cleanse as needed. Take the Tiao He Pak or the

CleanStart cleansing program for the liver andkidneys.

10

Food

Dig

esti

ng T

oo S

low

ly

11

For extra support for an alkaline pH, besure to take the following steps to improveyour digestion and re-supply your minerals.

Other helpful hints:• Eat more acid-forming foods (see chart on page 15),

especially those that contain phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine, including whole grains, beans and other proteins(refer to The Chemistry of Man by Dr. Bernard Jensen).Follow the principles of the Live Right for Your Type diet by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo with Catherine Whitney.

• Eat a lot of high-fiber foods with acidophilus.• It may be necessary to avoid red meats, cheese, nuts and

nut butters depending on your digestive ability.• Take 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with a little honey

three times a day.• Take 1,000 mcg vitamin B12 with probiotics. • Drink 8 glasses of purified water daily.• Bath soak and dry skin brushing: 1 cup Epsom salts and

10 capsules Ginger. Soak for 20 minutes. Then rinse.• Practice deep breathing.• For urinary system support, use Cranberry & Buchu

Formula as needed.

12

What if My pH Is within Normal Range?pH Balance Maintenance Program—(if both urine and salivatest near 6.4)

1. Enzymes Without enzymes, the body cannot maintain a bal-anced pH.

Digestive Enzymes and Garden Essence supplements thebody’s production of enzymes necessary for proper digestionand thereby supports correct mineral utilization (especiallycalcium). Protease-Plus , taken between meals, increases the flexi-bility of red blood cells and cleans up cellular debris bybreaking down the protein compounds, parasites, fungi,viruses and bacteria that have a protein coating.

2. Calcium Calcium is one of the most important minerals in maintaining pH balance.

Bones are affected by pH perhaps more than any otherpart of the body. Liquid Calcium is highly beneficial. SynerPro Calcium-Magnesium can replenish your bodywith an array of minerals, including healthy amounts ofphosphorus, zinc, calcium and magnesium with vitamin D,which works synergistically with these minerals to maintainbody functions.

13

3. Minerals Alkaline min-erals are essential to a bal-anced pH. Essential LiquidMinerals and ChineseMineral Chi Tonic pro-vide an array of essential trace minerals,especially potassium. Liquid Chlorophylloffers excellent body-cleansing support whileproviding vital minerals(especially sodium) fromgreen alfalfa plants thatare easily assimilated by the human body.

4. Cleanse as needed Use LBS II, Psyllium Hulls, CleanStartor the Tiao He Pak.

5. Diet Eat a balanced diet of 80% alkaline-forming foods and20% acid-forming foods (see accompanying chart).

Follow the principles of the Live Right for Your Type dietby Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo with Catherine Whitney.

Summary1. pH balancing is the foundation of your health-building

program.2. Follow the principles of Live Right for Your Type to

better match the fuel that your body “engine” specifi-cally needs.

3. Follow your personalized herbal and food supplementprogram. Refer to the Lifestyle Analysis for help.

For extra support:GreenZone Foods that are green are pH balancing. By combining protein-richingredients with alkaline-supportingfoods like carrots and broccoli,GreenZone is easily metabolized andhelps promote proper bodily functions,including waste elimination and immunecapability.

Children’s Maintenance ProgramCalcium NSP Liquid Calcium is a great-tasting, easi-ly assimilated liquid that allows the body toretain a large percentage of the total calciumingested. This helps maintain balance in achild’s pH and calms the nervous system. Sunshine Heroes Multiple Vitamins plusIron also gives your children the Vitaminsand Minerals they need in order to maintaina healthy lifestyle.

14

Food

Eff

ects

on

Aci

d–A

lkal

ine

Bod

y C

hem

istr

y, T

he E

ffec

ts o

f Com

mon

Foo

ds o

n pH

Bal

ance

Ref

eren

ces:

Acid

& A

lkal

ine

by H

erm

an A

ihar

a, A

lkal

ize

Or

Die

by T

heod

ore

A. B

aroo

dy, P

h.D

., N

.D.

Eat

80%

alk

alin

e fo

ods

and

20%

aci

d fo

ods

for

perf

ect

pH b

alan

ce.

“Die

ts t

hat

are

rich

in a

nim

al fo

ods

and

low

in v

eget

able

food

s, ty

pica

l of i

ndus

tria

lized

cou

ntri

es, l

ead

to a

die

tary

net

aci

d lo

ad

that

has

a n

egat

ive

effe

ct o

n ca

lciu

m b

alan

ce.”

The

Am

eric

an Jo

urna

l of C

linic

al N

utri

tion,

Vol

. 73,

No.

1, p

g. 1

18.

Mos

t A

lkal

ine

Alk

alin

eLo

wes

t A

lkal

ine

FOO

D C

ATE

GO

RY

Low

est

Aci

dA

cid

Mos

t A

cid

Stev

iaM

aple

syr

up,

Ric

e Sy

rup

Raw

Hon

ey,

Raw

Sug

arSW

EE

TE

NE

RS

Proc

esse

d H

oney

,M

olas

ses

Whi

te S

ugar

,B

row

n Su

gar

Nut

raSw

eet,

Equ

al,

Swee

t ’N

Low

Lem

ons,

Wat

erm

elon

,Li

mes

, Gra

pefr

uit,

Man

goes

, Pap

ayas

Dat

es/F

igs,

Mel

ons,

Gra

pes,

Pap

aya,

Kiw

i, B

erri

es,

App

les,

Pea

rs, R

aisi

ns

Ora

nges

, Ban

anas

,C

herr

ies,

Pin

eapp

le,

Peac

hes,

Avo

cado

sFR

UIT

SPl

ums,

Proc

esse

d Fr

uit

Juic

esSo

ur C

herr

ies,

R

huba

rbB

lueb

erri

es,

Cra

nber

ries

, Pru

nes

Asp

arag

us, O

nion

s,V

eget

able

Jui

ces,

Pars

ley,

Raw

Spi

nach

, Bro

ccol

i,G

arlic

Okr

a, S

quas

h,G

reen

Bea

ns, B

eets

, C

eler

y, L

ettu

ce,

Zuc

chin

i, Sw

eet

Pota

to

Car

rots

, Tom

atoe

s,Fr

esh

Cor

n,M

ushr

oom

s,C

abba

ge, P

eas,

Pota

to S

kins

, Oliv

es

BE

AN

SV

EG

ET

AB

LES

LEG

UM

ES

Coo

ked

Spin

ach,

Kid

ney

Bea

ns,

Stri

ng B

eans

Pota

toes

, Pin

to B

eans

, N

avy

Bea

ns,

Lim

a B

eans

, Soy

bean

sC

arob

Alm

onds

C

hest

nuts

NU

TS/

SEE

DS

Pum

pkin

See

ds,

Sunf

low

er S

eeds

Peca

ns,

Cas

hew

sPe

anut

s,W

alnu

ts

Oliv

e O

ilC

anol

a O

ilO

ILS

Cor

n O

il, F

lax

Oil

Am

aran

th, M

illet

,W

ild R

ice,

Qui

noa

GR

AIN

SC

ER

EA

LSSp

rout

ed W

heat

Bre

ad,

Spel

t, B

row

n R

ice

Whi

te R

ice,

Cor

n,

Buc

kwhe

at, O

ats,

Rye

Whe

at, W

hite

Flo

ur,

Past

ries

, Pas

ta

ME

ATS

Ven

ison

, C

old

Wat

er F

ish

Turk

ey, C

hick

en,

Lam

bPo

rk, B

eef,

Shel

lfish

Bre

ast

Milk

Goa

t M

ilk,

Goa

t C

hees

e,W

hey

EG

GS

DA

IRY

Egg

s, B

utte

r/Yo

gurt

, B

utte

rmilk

, Cot

tage

Che

ese,

Soy

Milk

Soy

Che

ese,

R

aw M

ilk,

Che

ese,

H

omog

eniz

ed M

ilk,

Ice

Cre

am

Lem

on W

ater

Her

b Te

asG

reen

Tea

Gin

ger T

eaB

EV

ER

AG

ES

Tea

Cof

fee

Bee

r,So

ft D

rink

s

© 2009 Nature’s Sunshine Products of Canada Ltd.

pH testing is not a diagnostic test, but a useful tool in evaluating overall health.

Your Independent Nature’s Sunshine Associate is: