Eating healthily isn't always easy. For instance, foods that are too acidic can damage your body, prevent repair, impair healing and boost the likelihood of developing cancer. To prevent these nasty side effects, it's wise to stick to a more alkaline diet and avoid the most acidic offenders.
Soda
To reduce your acidic intake, cut soda out of your diet. It not only contains caffeine, which is very acidic and can irritate the digestive tract, it also has high fructose corn syrup. HFC is terrible for your body, boosts your overall acidity and can lead to health problems.
Artificial Sweeteners
Fake sugars are commonly used to reduce calorie and sugar content in a variety of products. However, artificial sweeteners can do more harm than good. They boost acidity in the body and harbor toxicity. Common brands include NutraSweet, aspartame, Equal, Spoonful and Sweet 'N Low.
Coffee
Coffee is a prime acidic offender. Coffee beans themselves are highly acidic, but the caffeine in them adds further fuel to the fire, irritating the digestive tract and contributing to a welcoming environment for toxins and disease.
Alcohol
Alcohol is another highly acidic substance and should be avoided to keep your body's pH alkaline. All kinds of alcohol, from hard liquor to plain old beer cause acid problems.
Meats
Many meat products are acidic. Everything from beef to pork and chicken to shellfish is acidic. Organ meats are especially suspect. You don't have to quit eating meat or become a vegetarian to keep your acid intake low, but a diet high in vegetables and fruits is recommended.
Beans
Though healthy for you in several ways, beans are also acidic and should be eaten in moderation. Examples include pinto beans, red beans, soy beans, chick peas, kidney beans, and lentils. Legumes are also acidic. Examples include tahini, cashews, peanuts and walnuts.
Grains
Finally, several kinds of grains can boost your body's acid level, leading to damage over time. They include bran, oats, rye, wheat, corn, kamut, rice and barley. Pasta and bread are often on the acidic list as well. Again, you can't exclude all of these foods from your diet. Moderation is the key.
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