A List Of Acid, Alkaline & Neutral Foods

Foods either produce acid or alkaline in the body after they are metabolized. Acid and alkaline foods cannot be determined according to taste. Too much acidity or an abundance of alkaline occurs after foods have been digested. Acid or alkaline output can be measured by an at-home pH test. For tests that measure either too acidic or too alkaline, eating from the opposite food group, or eating foods that act as buffers, can help.

Alkaline-producing Foods

Foods that produce the strongest amounts of alkaline are baking soda, sea salt and mineral water. Most vegetables and fruits are alkaline-producing foods to varying degrees, and this includes celery, alfalfa, cucumber, peppers, cauliflower, rutabaga, eggplant, sprouts, greens, sea vegetables and tomatoes. Most fruits are alkaline-producing, even acid fruits such as lemons and most dried fruits, according to Dr. Elson Haas, author of "Staying Healthy with Nutrition."

When you think of food that is grown outdoors naturally, you might have identified an alkaline-producing edible such as onions, burdock root, sweet potatoes, yams, tangerines, cinnamon and soy. The lists of alkaline-producing foods are vast and include poppy seeds, chestnuts, pepper, cashews, parsnip, garlic, kale, parsley, endive, mustard greens, ginger root and broccoli.

Neutral Foods for Acid State

In most cases, people consume more acidic foods than alkaline foods. For an acid state, the neutral foods are vegetables, especially sea vegetables and fruits. In addition, oatmeal, brown rice, most dried beans and peas and sunflower seeds can help neutralization, according to Haas. Some dairy products tend to act as buffers, including fresh, unsalted butter, fresh raw cream, milk, whey and yogurt. For a neutralizing drink, mix the juice of 1/2 lime, lemon or apple cider vinegar in water.

Acid-producing Foods

Most diets consist of primarily acid-producing foods, which might upset the body's acid/alkaline balance. The most acidic foods are jams, jellies, sugar and ice cream, along with table salt, yeast, white vinegar, beef products, barley and fried foods. Dr. Elizabeth Lipski, in her book "Digestive Wellness," says that nutmeg, pecans, aspartame, saccharin, soy milk and coffee are acid-producing. Less acidic foods are pine nuts, yogurt, honey and rice vinegar. The digestive system produces acid from meat and fish, including pork, veal, chicken, tuna and sardines. Other acid-producing proteins are eggs, lamb, white rice and white bread.