The alkaline diet is an eating plan that supposedly works by balancing the pH of the blood. It splits foods into two categories – acid-producing foods and alkaline-producing foods. It then asks that you cut out all acidic foods from your diet to achieve optimal health.
We recommend eating a plant-based diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans/lentils, and nuts and seeds and cutting back on meat, processed food and alcohol.
Most fruits and vegetables, soybeans and tofu, and some nuts, seeds, and legumes are alkaline-promoting foods, so they're fair game. Dairy, eggs, meat, most grains, and processed foods, like canned and packaged snacks and convenience foods, fall on the acid side and are not allowed.
And not only are bananas alkaline, they're also rich in pectin — a soluble fiber that helps keeps food flowing nicely through the digestive tract. This can help you feel full longer, so you're less likely to overeat. Other alkaline foods include melons (particularly cantaloupe and honeydew), cauliflower and almonds.
The Alkaline Food Chart
The alkaline diet divides food into three categories: acidic, neutral, and alkaline. Acidic foods include red meat, chicken, fish, chocolate, wheat, and alcohol. Neutral foods include natural fats like butter, most oils, milk, and cream. Alkaline foods include most fruits and veggies.
Umeboshi is often referred to as the ” King of alkaline foods”. Despite the sour taste, umeboshi has a strong alkalising effect on the blood.
Generally, the pH level of plain yogurt is between 4.4 and 4.8, making it slightly acidic.
There are different types of blueberries, and the pH level also varies. However, the scale usually falls between 3.11 and 3.35. As a result, these fruits are classified as acidic.
Food to consume in moderation
Examples include: Grains, like buckwheat, rice, corn, oat, wheat, rye and pasta. Protein, like chicken, eggs, pork, lamb, fish and seafood.
7 Most Alkaline Foods... Celery, Cucumber, Kale, Spinach, Bell Peppers, Avocado & Broccoli.
Popular alkaline drinks include water, dairy, some juices, some teas, and almond milk.
Broccoli has slightly acidic PH of around 6.30-6.85. Since it is almost neutral, it does not make the environment within the stomach more acidic. Even though broccoli is slightly acidic, it actually functions as an alkaline-producing agent within the body.
Foods with a pH below 7 are considered acidic, while those with a pH above 7 are alkaline. Potatoes, with their pH range of 5.1 to 5.9, fall into the category of mildly acidic to neutral foods.
Carrots are mildly acidic, but interestingly, they have an alkalizing impact on the body — making them a friendly veggie for people who have acid reflux. Some acidic foods have an alkalizing effect on the body once they're digested.
Here's how it works. A lemon is acidic before it's ingested. After it's been processed by the body it has an alkalizing effect. Too much acid-forming food can cause the human body to be out of balance, so the alkalizing effects of warm lemon water have become quite popular.
Achieving acid-alkaline balance is essential for supporting many bodily functions. Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which has an alkalizing effect on the body. According to a study published in the Journal of Diabetes Care, consuming apple cider vinegar could aid weight loss.
Stay Hydrated – One of the easiest ways to neutralize acid in your body is by consuming alkaline water. Alkaline water offers the premium hydration your body needs. By staying hydrated, your body will naturally eliminate the excess acid through the digestive tract.
Oats are a delicious and healthy breakfast option, and they are also very alkalizing. You can make oats in many different ways, but our favourite way is simply to cook them with almond milk or alkaline water. Ingredients: - 1/2 cup rolled oats.
Apples, avocados, cantaloupes, bananas, and dates are a few examples of alkaline fruits. These fruits are rich in alkaline water content.
In fact, our body requires us to eat foods labeled as 'acidic': our diet should be 60-80% alkaline promoting foods and 20-40% acid promoting foods. After all, there are still some key, healthy, plant-based whole foods that are acidic promoting including corn, oats, chickpeas, peanut butter.