A healthy diet consists of a combination of acidic and alkaline foods. However, too much of either can cause serious health problems like immune deficiency, disease, fatigue and in severe cases, coma or death. However, these dire consequences can be avoided by taking care to maintain a pH-balanced diet that errs slightly on the alkaline side.
Difference Between Acidic and Alkaline Foods
The acidity and alkalinity of foods are determined by the pH scale. While a pH of 7.0 is considered neutral, a pH of below 7.0 is acidic and one above is alkaline. To maintain your health, your blood pH should fall between 7.35 and 7.45, which is just slightly alkaline. Any deviation from this range is a sign of illness and could be dangerous if not controlled. For instance, if your blood becomes too acidic, you may not be able to absorb the nutrients you need, leading to illness.
Acidic Food List
Acidic foods no doubt infiltrate your diet from all angles. They are an important part of maintaining a balanced diet, to be certain, but they should be approached with moderation. Acidic veggies include olives, lentils and corn. Acidic fruits include the likes of cranberries, plums, blueberries and others. Many dairy products like milk, ice creams and cheese are acidic, as are numerous grain products like oats, white flour, wheat, bran, rye, rice, kamut, barley, crackers, breads and pastas. Many nuts and legumes are acidic like peanuts, cashews, tahini, pecans and walnuts as are beans including pinto, red, kidney and black varieties, along with lentils and chick peas. Many animal products are acidic as well and should be approached with moderation, especially beef, poultry, pork, fish, shellfish, lamb and organ meats. Other acidic foods or products to watch include coffee, soda, prescription and over-the-counter drugs and artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet and Sweet 'N Low.
Alkaline Food List
Alkaline foods can be incorporated into your diet more liberally, but you should still be able to identify them to make sure you are nutritionally balanced. Alkaline fruits include cantaloupe, apple, tomato, grapefruit, avocado, banana, cherries, rhubarb, pineapple, peach, watermelon, pear, currants and apple. Alkaline veggies include carrot, pumpkin, water cress, wheat grass, onion, kale, radish, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, garlic, beets, peppers and lettuce. Only a few proteins qualify as alkaline. They include whey, almonds, tofu and chestnuts. Luckily, you can spice up your food with any herb and spices like sea salt, ginger, curry and cinnamon while maintaining alkalinity.
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