Alkaline foods :  Guaranteed health benefits are what you will get when you include them in your diet.

People without concerns for their health abuse their bodies by eating toxic foods and ignore alkaline foods. Most of their foods are very acidic. Eat foods rich in alkaline, but please keep in mind the body needs both acidic and alkaline foods to work well.

There is always a balance, in that 65-80% of your diet should be alkaline forming foods. The remaining 20-35% should be acidic foods. Eating a balanced diet can prevent unwanted illnesses.

What are Alkaline Foods?

Alkaline foods are foods that help to keep the body at a healthy PH balance. A typical PH is 7. PH is Potential Hydrogen or hydrogen power used to determine the acidity or alkaline level of the blood. The experts say the PH level of your blood is 7.4.

To illustrate further, a PH higher than 7 means the blood is alkaline. A PH level below 7 means the blood is acidic. The alkaline level of the blood has to stay the same at all times. If the PH level of your blood is 6.95, you could become unconscious or die.

If the PH level of the blood increases from 7.4 to 7.7, the person could sustain muscular contractions or go into convulsions.  You can test PH levels via a blood test or a home kit using litmus or Nitrazine paper. Test the saliva and urine with the litmus or Nitrazine paper.

Some foods have a higher percentage of alkaline than others. The following alkaline foods have  a high percentage:

• Alfalfa Grass
• Broccoli
• Cucumber
• Green Drinks
• Kale
• Kelp
• Parsley
• Sprouts

The following alkaline foods also have a high percentage, but not as strong as the above list:

• Arugula
• Avocado
• Beetroot
• Butter Beans
• Cabbage
• Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum)
• Celery
• Chia
• Collard Greens
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Green Beans
• Lemon
• Lettuce
• Lime
• Mustard Greens
• Okra
• Onion
• Quinoa
• Radish
• Red Onion
• Tomato
• White Beans

These alkaline foods have a lower percentage than the above lists:

• Almond Milk
• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Avocado Oil
• Buckwheat
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Carrot
• Chives
• Coconut
• Coconut Oil
• Flax Oil (Udo’s Oil)
• Goat Milk
• Grapefruit
• Leeks
• Lentils
• Most Herbs & Spices
• New Potatoes & Peas
• Other Beans & Legumes
• Spelt
• Tofu
• Watercress
• Zucchini

What are the health benefits of eating alkaline foods?

You can lose weight eating foods rich in alkaline. First, you need to cut out foods such as meat, dairy, and eggs. Other foods to remove from your diet include beverages high in caffeine, processed foods, and fast foods.

When you eat alkaline foods, the body will have access to necessary minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and Sulfur.  A diet rich in alkaline also helps to make sure chemotherapy treatments are effective.

What are acidic foods?

Acidic foods are foods that contribute to the PH balance of your body. The body needs both alkaline and acid-based foods. It requires less acid-based foods because the stomach has more acid. Your stomach has a PH level of 3.5 or lower.

When the body has too much acid, it forces itself to borrow essential minerals from the blood and major organs. The minerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and Sulfur. Foods will not break down to exit the body in the form of waste matter. Eating too many acid-based foods can lead to many diseases and viruses.

Foods with high acid content:

• Alcohol
• Artificial Sweeteners
• Beef
• Black Tea
• Caffeinated Beverages
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Cocoa
• Dried Fruit
• Eggs
• Farmed Fish
• Fruit Juice (Sweetened & concentrated)
• Honey
• Jam
• Jelly
• Liver
• Miso
• Mushroom
• Mustard
• Oysters
• Pork
• Shell Fish
• Soy Sauce
• Syrup
• Veal
• Vinegar
• Yeast

The following foods have a lower acidic level than the above list:

• Apple
• Apricot
• Banana
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Brown Rice
• Butter
• Cranberry
• Grapes
• Ketchup
• Mango
• Mayonnaise
• Oats
• Orange
• Papaya
• Peach
• Pineapple

The following list could be either alkaline or acidic:

• Amaranth
• Black Beans
• Brazil Nuts
• Chickpeas (Garbanzos)
• Cantaloupe
• Currants
• Fresh Dates
• Freshwater Wild Fish
• Grapeseed Oil
• Hazel Nuts
• Millet
• Nectarine
• Oats/Oatmeal
• Pecan Nuts
• Plum
• Rice/Soy/Hemp/Protein
• Rice Milk
• Soybeans
• Soy Milk
• Spelt
• Sunflower Oil
• Sweet Cherry

What makes food alkaline or acidic?

The experts state inorganic compounds decide the alkalinity or acidity of foods. The inorganic compounds include sulfur, phosphorus, and calcium. Other man-made compounds include potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Some foods are both alkaline and acidic.

Natural foods have both alkaline and acid-forming elements. The reason foods are more alkaline than others is because of the affect the food has on the body in its natural state.

For example, if you eat both alkaline and acidic foods and most of it alkaline, then the foods are alkaline. When you eat more of one, it decides whether the foods are alkaline or acidic.

The same argument goes for acidic foods. The key is to balance the meals. When you have a balanced diet, it helps to support the PH level of the blood. Make 65-80% of your diet alkaline per the experts and 20-35% acidic.

How to balance your PH Level

You can balance your PH level by eliminating dairy products from your diet. Get rid of red meat, chicken, and turkey. It will also help if you remove beverages high in caffeine, soft drinks, and soda. Stay clear of white flour and cut out processed foods altogether.

Conclusion

Please learn how to balance foods to maintain the average PH level of your blood. Consume 65-80% alkaline rich foods and 20-35% acidic foods. Keep processed foods out of your diet. Remember, the PH level of your blood is 7.4; it has a little alkalinity. Try to keep that level by eating a balanced diet. Maintaining this level will help to keep diseases out of your body.

Recipes:

Lemony Leeks with Chickpeas and Feta

Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie

All-Natural Vegetable Nut Salad

References:

Top Six Foods with Alkaline to eat every Day for Vibrant Health

Your Guide to Eating Alkaline: What are the Top Alkaline-Forming Foods?

Alkaline Acid Food Chart

Acid – Alkaline Forming Foods

Diet and Weight Management

AnneElBey™

Anne El Bey is a freelance writer, specializing in copywriting, editing, and blogging. She also writes content, product descriptions, SEO blogs and more. To read more about Anne El Bey, please visit her website: http://www.anneelbeycopywriter.net.