Your body needs a balanced pH for optimum health and proper functioning. When acid accumulates in your body, you may experience poor health, weight gain and chronic fatigue, according to the 2005 book "Digestive Wellness." Acid imbalances can also be caused by dietary habits, stress, disease, smoking and alcohol consumption. Adjusting your diet to include more alkaline foods can restore your pH balance and improve your heart health.
Vegetables
Vegetables are strong alkaline foods. Watercress, celery, peas, avocados, asparagus, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, eggplant, collard greens, cauliflower, garlic, beets, spinach, seaweed and peppers all fall into this category. Since many types of alkaline-forming vegetables can be used in a salad, eating salads is a healthy way to alkalize your diet. In the book ''Staying Healthy With Nutrition," the author notes that overcooking vegetables reduces their nutrient content. As a result, vegetables offer the best nutrition benefits when they are consumed raw or steamed.
Fruits
Fruits are strong alkaline foods. A diet rich in fruit also provides your body with water, phytochemicals, fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other vital nutrients, reports "The Optimum Nutrition Bible." Strong alkaline fruits include lemons, grapefruit, limes, oranges, mango, pineapple, papaya, apples, peaches, bananas, mangoes, tangerines, kiwi, apricots, pomegranate, pears, watermelon and cantaloupe.
Protein
Dairy, poultry, fish and meat are acid-forming foods. Protein sources that possess more alkaline properties include nuts and seeds such as Brazil nuts, almonds, chestnuts, sunflower, flaxseed and pumpkin, notes "The Optimum Nutrition Bible." Strong alkaline legumes and grains include tempeh, millet, lentils, buckwheat, lima beans, miso and tofu. Whey protein powder and human breast milk are both high in protein and are alkalinizing.
Spices and Herbs
A substantial amount of spices and herbs are considered non-acidic or alkaline. These include garlic, sea salt, fennel, basil, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, curry and cilantro. Sweeteners such as maple syrup, molasses and honey are alkaline-forming foods. As a result, these foods are healthy alkaline choices for seasoning foods when steaming, baking or broiling, reports "Digestive Wellness."
References
- American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets
- "The Optimum Nutrition Bible"; Patrick Holford; 2004
- "Digestive Wellness"; Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D., CCN; 2005
- Acid Alkaline Diet: Tips on Eating Alkaline Rich Foods
- ''Staying Healthy With Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine''; Dr. Elson M. Haas; 2006
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