Most people don't contemplate the acid-producing levels of their food when sitting down for a meal. However, a 2008 study by the Agriculture Research Society found that an overly acidic diet needs to be balanced with alkaline foods for optimal health. Benefits include decreased risk for the development of chronic disease and the preservation of muscle mass. The USDA recommends eating fruits and vegetables to reap the health rewards of an alkaline-balanced diet.
Spinach
Mothers have long extolled the benefits of green, leafy vegetables to their children for good reason. Besides the vitamins and essential nutrients they provide, vegetables such as spinach are alkaline forming. Their presence in your diet can offset the effects of acidic foods that can build up in the body and cause acidosis, a condition where the body's fluids show abnormally high levels of acid. A 1995 study in "Journal of the American Dietetic Association" rated the acid loads of many foods, providing an idea of how alkalanizing and acidifying they were upon metabolization. Spinach was highly rated as an alkaline-producing food in this study. Take advantage of spinach's alkalinizing benefits by regularly adding it to salads, stir-frying it with other veggies or steaming it and enjoying with a main dish.
Kiwi Fruit
Although kiwi may be regarded as an acidic fruit based solely on taste, it is in fact an alkaline-producing food. The USDA states that what's important is how the food is metabolized by the body, not how acidic the food is in and of itself. In the 1995 study rating food acidity, kiwi was rated high in the fruit category and overall for its production of alkaline residue in the body. Kiwi is a perfect breakfast food when cut up and added to a fruit salad, or it can be snacked on during the day.
Celery
Celery is a healthy option when adding more alkaline foods to your diet. This very adaptable crunchy, green vegetable can be used as an on-the-go snack dipped in peanut butter or added to salads, soups or main dishes. Like many high-alkaline foods, celery is potassium rich, giving it added health benefits. One study in the journal "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine" found that a balanced diet of alkaline and acidic foods helps reduce the chance of chronic disease development and helps decrease toxins in the body. Regularly munching on celery can help in this detoxification.
General Categories
In general, the American diet consists of a lot of acidity in the form of grains and protein. Adding more fruits and vegetables increases potassium intake as well as levels of alkaline in your system. Benefits include a decreased risk of chronic disease. According to a study by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, alkaline foods prevent muscle mass loss, which is a particular problem with aging. Overall, the benefits of balancing a diet rich in acidic foods with alkaline ones are overwhelmingly positive for your health.
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