I was hoping this book would teach me how to test my pH. Instead it says to forget testing, because it is almost impossible to tell accurately from body fluids the state of body tissues. OK, sounds reasonable. What then can you do? Just adopt foods and practices that are alkaline-forming and let your body sort it out. This book tells you what they are. And remember that some acid-forming foods are necessary for good health. Balance is the issue.

Included is a large catalogue of supplements for sale. Supplements are not necessary. They are concentrated and can create dangerous imbalances. If we cannot get a good read on the state of our body tissues, how can we know what they need? How can we safely self-medicate? Why not trust the wisdom of the body to maintain itself in homeostasis?

Dr. Baroody says that genetically engineered foods are a difficult topic, as "there are many pros and cons." I disagree! There are no pros at all for consumers. On page 60 he says that you need some table salt, which is not true. You need bio-available sodium and bio-available chloride, both of which are abundant in natural foods. Salt in any quantity is toxic and not bio-available. It can do nothing but harm. He advises drinking lots of water, another myth. Water drinking is entirely unnecessary if you eat a proper diet and, in the absence of thirst, is not beneficial. Of course, if you eat salt you will need water to dilute the toxic salt. He says that water drinking "assists proper digestion," but I agree with Dr. Emmet Densmore, who said, "Digestion goes forward much better when the gastric juice is not diluted with fluids."

If you adopt a proper diet and lifestyle, you need not be concerned about pH. Extraordinary measures are not needed. Get your trace minerals from foods, not supplements. This book can give you a general idea of what to do, but so can many websites. ( )