Ready to get started on that New Year health goal? Whether you want to lose weight, get healthy, rebuild lost energy or simply shop organic, the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market has all the tools you need, according to Jayne Justice, certified lifestyle nutritional coach. Justice had a booth at this week's market and took some time with Patch to help make healthy market shopping simple. 

This week, Justice was focusing on alkalizing fruits and vegetables. You may have heard that buzz word "alkalizing" over the past few years as it has become popular in celebrity diets. Just what does it mean?

"An alkaline diet is based on consumption of specific foods which burn in the body and leave ash." Ash? Yes. But good ash. This particular ash will help balance your body's pH, which has a tendency to get too acidic in many American diets, said Justice.

"For a body that is too acidic, disease will soon follow," she said. And here's some bad news for most holiday party-goers: a few main culprits of acidity in the body include sugar rich food, beef, pork, poultry and alcoholic beverages. Justice also said, "Excess acidity can be the result of insufficient sleep, rest, exercise and changes in lifestyle."

That's right: after weeks of cookies, champagne, indulgent steak dinners and, yes, a lack of sleep and exercise, your body may be having an acid problem. To get healthy, consider Justice's recommendation for an alkalizing drink from this week's market.

Combine the juice of:

• 2 stalks of celery
• 1 cucumber
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 1 handful of dark greens
• a small fresh piece of citrus

Justice chose this menu based on the seasonal varieties at the market, and the options at hand did not disappoint. Navel oranges for sale at Atkin's Nursery at $4 for a 5-pound bag were a huge bargain. Oranges are generally available all year long, but they peak during the winter months, a rarity for fruits.

Kale was another great pick, available for $2 a bunch at Jaime Farm, a pesticide-free grower. Kale could be used as a "dark green" in Justice's menu. It is slightly bitter, but when mixed with citrus the stalks begin to break down and become milder.

Justice also recommends an Alkaline Liver Cleanse from this week's available goods. The recipe for this juice again includes combining the juice and liquid of:

• 2 large grapefruits
• 4 lemons
• 2 cups of water or coconut water
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons flax
• fresh root ginger

Young coconuts were available at Dave's Gourmet Korean, broken open for water before your eyes for just $4. Coconut water is extremely high in electrolytes and lacks the calories of other electrolyte-replenishing beverages.

Large "white" grapefruits from Atkins Farms peak during the month of January. Despite being labeled "inferior" to red grapefruit for years, white grapefruit is making a comeback in culinary menus.

If you over-indulged on acidic foods this holiday season, rebalance your pH with alkalizing juice and stay healthy, vibrant and young throughout the new year.