By eating a diet of 80% alkalizing foods, you can get rid of the excess acid in your body. Take a look at the list of high alkaline foods presented here...
Leena Palande
Modern lifestyle is full of stress leading to acid reflux or 'acidity'. Consumption of oily or processed food late at night can lead to heartburn, a commonly observed symptom of acid reflux.
If ignored, it can end up in serious health complications. Some drugs and medications can also cause acid reflux. Excessive consumption of tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, oil, sugar, etc. can lead to increased level of acids in your body.
Blood pH Facts
The average pH level of blood is 7.4, wherein pH is the parameter used to measure the acidic level of blood on a 'power of hydrogen' scale. The 'power of hydrogen' scale is abbreviated as pH scale which measures the concentration of hydrogen in a solution.
As the pH level of the body fluids determines the function of each and every cell in the body, any altered pH level can prove to be harmful for the cells, tissues, and organs. Following an unbalanced diet, high in acidic foods, can affect the body's regulating systems which help maintain pH neutrality.
Normally, various organs help neutralize pH levels and remove the excess acid from the body. Bodily systems work to maintain your digestive health. But, wrong diet, unhealthy lifestyle, excessive stress, etc., can affect the functioning of the digestive and the endocrine systems.
If you often suffer from 'acidity', then it is better to consume alkaline foods regularly. They can help fight gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
List of Alkalizing Foods
Studies show that when the body's pH is too acidic, the risk for diseases, including cancer, increases. More studies are required to understand the exact relationship between alkalizing foods and cancer. These days, dietitians recommend an alkaline diet for weight loss, when none of the fad diets work.
An alkaline diet consists of 80-90% of high alkaline foods and 10-20% acidic foods. Though an it helps lose weight, boosts your energy levels and even reduces your risk of heart disease and cancer, the diet cannot be a totally healthy option, as the food items that are eliminated from the diet are actually essential for the body for various other purposes.
Such diet should be followed for a few days only, and that too under the guidance of a physician. It is better to opt for a balanced diet and maintain the balance between acidic and alkaline foods.
Vegetables
Alfalfa
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cucumber
Dandelions
Eggplant
Garlic
Green beans
Green peas
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard greens
Onions
Kale
Kelp
Peppers
Pumpkin
Radishes
Spinach
Parsley
Sweet potatoes
Wheat grass
Spinach
Fruits
Apples
Apricots
Avocado
Berries
Dates
Dried figs
Cherries
Fresh coconut
Raisins
Bananas
Peach
Lemons
Pineapple
Orange
Melon
Pear
Tomatoes
Sweeteners
Stevia
Maple syrup
Rice syrup
Proteins
Fermented tofu
Almonds
Chestnuts
Whey protein powder
Millet
Chicken breast
Sprouts, sprouted beans
Milk Products
Cottage cheese
Plain yogurt
Goat milk
Oils
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Flax oil
Beverages
Lemon water
Herbal tea
Fresh veggie juice
Wheat grass juice
Mineral water
Pure water
Unsweetened soy milk
Almond milk
Unpasteurized organic milk
Vegetable broth
Spices and Seasoning
Ginger
Cinnamon
Sea salt
Tamari
Chili pepper
Seeds and Grains
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
Flaxseed
Buckwheat
Brown rice
Quinoa
The most important point to note is that a food's acid or alkaline forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. Though lemons are acidic, after digestion and assimilation, they are very alkaline. Similarly, meat is alkaline before digestion; but it is responsible for formation of acid in the body after digestion.
You may hold citrus fruits responsible for an acidifying effect on the body, but the citric acid from these fruits actually leaves behind an alkalizing effect. So you have to be very cautious and careful while including high alkaline foods in your diet.