Questioning the foods you eat and how they affect body pH is becoming increasingly common practice. This comes as growing evidence shows that maintaining your body's acid-alkaline balance and a balanced pH is important to overall health. And according to the "Nutrition Journal," typical Western diets tend to be highly acidic. This makes consciously incorporating more alkaline foods into your diet even more important to acheiving this ideal balance.
Fresh Vegetables
According to the book "The New Balanced Diet," ideal body pH should be maintained at a slightly alkaline level of 7.4 for ideal metabolism. Most fresh vegetables are metabolized into alkaline-producing residuals when eaten. This is ideal for maintaining a balance of alkaline-acid in your system. Good vegetables to eat are spinach, kale, broccoli, lettuce, watercress, carrots and celery, to name a few. Be conscious of what you cook and think about adding fresh vegetables to your dishes as often as possible for a more alkaline-rich diet.
Fresh and Dried Fruit
Most fruits are highly alkaline-producing. The taste of fruit may seem acidic, but what's most important is how the fruit is metabolized in the body, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and most fruits metabolize into alkaline-producing reserves. Fruits like kiwi, apples, pears, mangoes and oranges may taste acidic, but all are alkaline-metabolizing, and this contributes to a more balanced diet. Dried fruit is also available as an easy-to-go snack option, and fruit in this form is also nutritious. By balancing your diet with fruits, you can help preserve muscle mass and help detoxify the body, states the USDA.
Sprouts
Sprouts are always alkaline and are a very healthy addition to any diet, states "The New Balanced Diet." You can add sprouts to your diet by adding them to a sandwich on potato bread with a vegetable spread. Eating a sandwich like this helps balance the acid-producing protein component, such as turkey or ham, of the sandwich. Sprouts are a versatile food and can be added to sandwiches, soups and stir-fry dishes. Increasing the alkalinity of your body with sprouts and other foods can reduce your risk of chronic disease development too, according to a study published in 2007 in the journal "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine."
References
- "Nutrition Journal"; Effect of a Supplement Rich in Alkaline Minerals on Acid-Base Balance in Humans; Daniel König et al.; 2009
- "The New Balanced Diet: Enhance Your Well-Being With Delicious, pH-Balanced Food"; Dagmar Von Cramm and Susie Eising; 2000
- PubMed.gov: Acid-Alkaline Balance: Role in Chronic Disease and Detoxification
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Plant Foods for Preserving Muscle Mass
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