Alkaline Diets are centered around the belief that all foods cause the body's pH level to become either more acidic or more alkaline. Proponents of the diet contend that consuming more alkaline foods than acidic foods can help you lose weight and prevent the development of certain health problems like cancer, fatigue, heart disease and food allergies. The Every Diet site reports that the ideal recommended ratio of alkaline to acidic foods in the diet should be about 75 to 80 percent alkaline fruits, vegetables, grains, fats and beverages to 20 to 25 percent acidic proteins, grains, fat and beverages.
Alkaline Produce and Grains
Fresh vegetables and fruits comprise the bulk of alkaline foods. The best vegetable choices include dark leafy greens like Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and asparagus; cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower; grasses like barley and wheat grass; carrots; celery; cucumbers; onions; radishes and beets. Recommended fruits include tomatoes, lemons, grapefruit and avocado. Nuts and seeds -- particularly almonds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds -- are alkaline, as well as lentils, soy products and grains like buckwheat groats, spelt and many types of sprouted seeds and beans.
Alkaline Fats
Fresh, cold-pressed oils like avocado oil, flax oil, hemp oil, coconut oil and olive oil, as well as any olive oil blends, are the most alkaline fats and should be the main fats used in cooking. Evening primrose oil and borage oil are also recommended.
Alkaline Beverages
Every Diet reports that you should aim to drink two to three liters of water daily while following an Acid Alkaline Diet. Ideally, the water should be ionized or distilled. In addition, focus on the following alkaline beverages: herbal tea, vegetable broth, soy milk, almond milk, freshly made vegetable juice and drinks made with wheat or barley grasses.
Acidic Protein
All animal proteins are acidic foods and should be eaten sparingly when you are on an Acid Alkaline Diet. This includes chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, beef, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy products like milk, buttermilk, yogurt, cheese or any cream-containing products. Beans like black beans and chickpeas are also specified as acidic.
Acidic Grains
All wheat-based grains are considered acidic; if you consume too many of them, proponents of the Acid Alkaline Diet believe you will decrease your ability to lose weight. All wheat products such as white flour bread, whole grain bread and pasta made from flour are acidic and should be eaten only rarely.
Acidic Fats
Oils like corn oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil and all hydrogenated oils are acidic. Butter, margarine and any type of saturated cooking fat is also classified as acidic.
Acidic Beverages
Acidic beverages include alcohol -- beer, liquor and wine -- black tea, both sweetened and unsweetened fruit juice, coffee and sodas.
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