Changing your diet to be healthier is not easy. It requires time and commitment. However, you can do yourself a lot of good by paying attention to the alkalinity and acidity of the foods you eat. This creates a more balanced pH in your body, which contributes to better health overall.
Understanding pH in the Body
For optimum health, your blood pH should stick in the 7.35 to 7.45 range on the alkaline side. A shift from these numbers--to more alkalinity or to more acidity--is a sign that you are unhealthy and may be sick. To be clear, if your pH is below 7.0, it is acidic; above, it is alkaline. Too much acid and your immune system will be impaired and make it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients.
Acidic Foods
Many foods are acidic, not just oranges or other citrus fruits. Other fruits are acidic including plums, blueberries and cranberries. Some vegetables are acidic, too, like lentils, olives and corn. However, you will really run into an acidity problem with grain-based foods like barley, oats, flour, kamut, rice, rye, wheat, pasta, bran, breads and crackers. Some dairy is on the acidic side of the pH scale as well including cheese, milk, ice cream and butter. Beans, nuts and legumes are just as suspect, however. Black beans, chick peas, soy milks, pinto beans, red beans, kidney beans, lentils, cashews, peanuts, tahini, pecans and walnuts are all considered acidic. Pay particular attention and moderate the amount of meats you eat that are on the acidic side of the scale. These would include beef, fish, lamb, shellfish, pork, poultry and organ meats. Other things to keep an eye out for are alcohol, artificial sweeteners, coffee, soda and prescription drugs.
Alkaline Foods
Your diet should consist of more alkaline foods than acidic ones though a healthy balance is key. A few alkaline vegetables include cucumber, broccoli, carrot, beets, cauliflower, eggplant, garlic, green beans, chard, lettuce, spirulina, peppers, mushrooms, kale, radish, onion, pumpkin, water cress, sweet potatoes and wheat grass. Many fruits are alkaline as well including banana, cantaloupe, apple, avocado, tomato, grapefruit, currants, cherries, berries, pineapple, rhubarb, peach, pear and watermelon. Stevia, a sweetener, is alkaline as are several spices including curry, ginger, cinnamon and sea salt. Some proteins are alkalizing as well including tofu, whey protein powder, chestnuts and almonds.
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