A List of High Acid Foods

Studies show that most people are ignorant of the types of foods they consume in their daily diet. They aren't aware if a particular food is acidic or alkaline in nature, or in other words what is its pH value.

pH or potential of hydrogen is basically a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution; depending upon the concentration of positively-charged or acid forming ions, and negatively-charged or alkaline forming ions in the solution.

The pH range is from 0 to 14 wherein 7.0 is considered to be neutral, and anything below or above it is said to acidic or alkaline in nature, respectively. In our body, the normal and healthy pH level of our blood should be somewhere between 7.35 to 7.45.

Though it is slightly on the alkaline side, anything below or above this pH level can be a major reason for diseases and infections. Hence, here we will discuss some of the high acidic foods whose excessive consumption can disturb the body's normal pH value and result in various health problems.

Foods high in acid content when consumed in excess can impact our digestive system, and trigger some annoying symptoms, like sour tummy, bloating, acid reflux, etc. Moreover, they can affect the body's ability to absorb nutrients and minerals, and decrease the energy production in the cells, and the ability to repair damaged cells.

In more severe cases, if the blood's pH is 6.9 which is slightly acidic, one can even go into a coma, which can be fatal. Hence, to maintain normal pH level of the blood, and stay healthy on the long run, it's vital that our diet contains 60% of alkaline foods, and only 40% of acidic foods, and for this, we need to know the foods which are acidic in nature.

In order to know whether or not we are unknowingly consuming acidic foods in excess, here is a list of foods to be eaten in right amounts, categorized according to the food category they belong to.

◉ Beans, Vegetables, Legumes- Picked vegetables, pinto beans, black beans, green peas, soy beans, kidney beans, navy beans, corn, lentils, tomatoes, asparagus, olive, onion, garlic, scallions, winter squash, almond milk, rice milk

◉ Fruits- Canned fruit, plums, prunes, cranberries, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, apple cider

◉ Grains and Cereals- White rice, white bread, wheat grain, amaranth, rye grain, pastries, biscuits, rice cakes, barley, buckwheat, oats, quinoa, pasta, macaroni

◉ Meat- Beef, pork, veal, shellfish, canned tuna, sardines, fish, turkey, chicken, lamb, sausage, lobster, organ meats, bacon, mussels

◉ Egg and Dairy Products- Parmesan, processed cheese, eggs, camembert, butter, hard cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream

◉ Nuts, Seeds, and Oils- Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios, avocado oil, canola oil, olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, lard, hemp seed oil, safflower oil

◉ Beverages and Sweets- Tea (black), coffee, beer, liquor, wine, soda/pop, distilled water, artificial sweeteners, milk chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, jam, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar

To conclude, we can say that excess of anything is injurious to health, and so, the same is applicable for high acid foods. Hence, it is essential for all of us to maintain the normal body pH level by monitoring the foods we eat, and making healthy food choices.