How To Make Your Blood Alkaline

It might sound a little strange, but your blood has an acidity level that affects the rest of your body. Normally, your body keeps your blood's pH balance just barely on the alkaline side of neutral. This alkaline state helps keep your bones healthy. If your blood becomes too acidic, calcium is leached out of your bones as your body tries to recalibrate its pH balance, leading to weak bones. Diets high in sugar, processed foods, meat and dairy products often lead to acidic blood, according to Dr. Alejandro Junger, author of the book "Clean." But simple dietary changes can make your blood more alkaline, thus improving your health.

Step 1

Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially green vegetables. This is the best way to lower your blood's acidity, says Junger. The American Cancer Society recommends at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day for optimal health. But when it comes to fresh, vitamin-rich produce, the more servings per day, the better.

Step 2

Eat less meat. The typical Western diet is high in meat and other animal products, but these foods are often eaten to excess and can be detrimental to your blood's pH balance. To best raise your alkalinity, reduce your intake of meat and choose plant-based sources of protein -- beans, legumes, soy, nuts and seeds -- more often.

Step 3

Reduce your sugar intake. Added sugars are common in snack foods and processed foods, not to mention in sweet desserts and candy. All this sugar contributes to high acidity in your blood. Cut down on sugary foods as much as you can, perhaps substituting fresh fruit for the sweets you usually eat.

Step 4

Avoid processed, refined foods, especially refined white flour products. One good way to do this is to switch from refined grains to whole grains. Whole grains -- foods such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, bulgur, quinoa, popcorn, whole-wheat pasta and whole-grain tortillas -- are full of healthy fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. And, unlike refined grains, whole grains can help keep your acidity level down.