pH

pH is a scale from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or alkaline something is. Your blood stays in a very tight range, around 7.35 to 7.45, and your lungs and kidneys keep it there no matter what you eat. Food can change the pH of your urine, but not your blood.

So why do so many people feel good on "alkaline" diets? Most likely because those diets are built on vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes, and go lighter on processed foods and sugar. That's a pattern worth following, whatever you call it.

Try this: aim to make half your plate vegetables at lunch and dinner. Leafy greens, cucumbers, fresh herbs, avocado and a squeeze of citrus are all easy places to start.