Acid And Alkaline Diet For Ph Balance

To be in good health, the human body should have a slightly alkaline pH level of between 7.35 and 7.45. According to David Wolfe, president of the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and author of "Eating for Beauty," to maintain a healthy pH level, you should eat a ratio of 60 to 40 percent in favor of alkaline-forming foods. However, if you have been accustomed to a standard American diet, high in animal products, soda and processed foods, you should eat a ratio of 80 to 20 percent in favor of alkaline-forming foods to restore a healthy balance.

Most Alkaline

When you have been eating a diet rich in acid-forming foods, it is possible you may be suffering from acidosis. Common symptoms include headaches, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, muscular aches and joint pain. You can kick-start your efforts to create a more alkaline body environment by consuming plenty of high alkaline-forming foods.

Stevia is a sugar substitute derived from plants and is highly alkaline-forming. Widely available in North America, stevia can be purchased from health food and regular grocery stores. As regular sugar is acid-forming, replacing sugar with stevia can help to reduce acidosis.

The majority of fruits and vegetables are alkaline-forming; lemons, watermelons, limes, grapefruits and mangoes are particularly good choices if you are suffering from acidity. Raw spinach, asparagus, broccoli and garlic should also be consumed frequently to reduce acidic waste.

To combat acidity, use olive oil as a salad dressing, and drink herbal teas and lemon water.

Alkaline

Other alkaline-forming food options include common fruits such as dates, figs, grapes and apples. Green beans, beets, zucchini and sweet potatoes are alkaline-forming vegetables that can usually be found all year round, and almonds are a good source of alkaline-forming protein. Flaxseed oil is alkaline forming and is a preferable choice to corn oil if you suspect you are suffering from acidosis.

Include plenty of leafy green vegetables in your diet to address an over-acidic imbalance.

Neutral

Some foods will not overly affect your pH levels in either direction. These include bananas, avocados, chestnuts, canola oil, quinoa and wild rice.

Dairy products are generally acid-forming. Neutral alternatives are products prepared with soy or goat's milk, such as soy yogurt or goat's cheese.

Acidic

While it is very rare in the Western world, where the typical diet is more acid-forming, it is also possible for a body to become over-alkaline. Symptoms of being too alkaline include laziness, spaciness a lack of drive and feeling cold in a warm climate.

Sour cherries and rhubarb are two unusual types of fruit in the sense that they are acid-forming. Legumes such as pinto and navy beans are an acid-forming protein source, as are turkey, chicken and lamb.

Brown and white sugars should be avoided if you wish to restore a more alkaline pH level.

Most Acidic

Red meats, shellfish, products made with white refined flour, and soda pop are extremely acid-forming. Alcoholic drinks, particularly beer, will also create an acidic environment. Sugar substitutes such as aspartame, or NutraSweet, are also high on the list for the most acid-forming consumable products.