Your body uses macronutrients -- proteins, fats and carbohydrates -- for energy and to build your cells and tissues. Likewise, the vitamins and minerals in your diet, known as micronutrients, assist in tissue growth and repair. Each of these substances also contributes to your overall acid/alkaline balance, or pH. All the chemical reactions that occur in your body require a particular pH to function; some require an acid pH and some require an alkaline pH. Your diet determines to a large extent the level of acid/alkaline balance in your bloodstream, cells and tissues.
Expert Opinions
Experts differ in opinion on which foods contribute to acidity in the body and which offer an alkalizing effect, says Felicia Drury Kliment, author of the book, "The Acid Alkaline Balance Diet: An Innovative Program That Detoxifies Your Body's Acidic Waste to Prevent Disease and Restore Overall Health." Some traditional healers regard foods such as bananas, avocados, asparagus and artichokes to be acid-forming, while Western science sees them as alkaline-forming foods, due to their alkaline residue when burned, a process that simulates the effects of the digestive process. Additionally, some foods that science regards as acid-forming, such as carrots and beets, actually reduce acidity by helping the liver, kidneys and bladder filter out acidic wastes. Cabbage juice, which contains acidic chlorine and sulfur, has a similar cleansing and alkalizing effect on the lining of the stomach and intestinal tract.
Weak Acid Foods
Three categories of acid/alkaline foods determine your overall acid/alkaline balance, says naturopath Christopher Vasey, author of the book, "The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health: Restore Your Health by Creating pH Balance in Your Diet." The first group, alkaline foods, always has an alkalizing effect and the second group, acid-forming foods, always acidify the body. The third group, called weak acids, can have either an alkalizing or acidifying effect, depending upon your personal physiology and how your body handles these foods. The group of weak acids comprises primarily fruits, whey protein and vinegar, which will be alkalizing if your body metabolizes these acids properly. However, if you metabolize acids poorly, these foods will have an acidifying effect on your system. As a general rule, if you have good ability to process acid foods without becoming overly acidic you can eat a diet of 50 percent alkaline and 50 percent acid foods. If you do not process acids well, your diet should consist of 60 to 80 percent alkalizing foods.
Weight Loss
Alkalizing foods promote weight loss, says Dr. Ric Alexander, author of the book, "Victory Over Fat: 6 Steps to Permanent Fat Loss and Super Health." When your blood is alkaline, your body is encouraged to burn stored fat. High-protein foods, such as meats, fish, poultry and eggs, are acid-forming. Likewise, peanuts, lentils and walnuts, though not pure protein foods, leave an acid residue when burned and are likely to shift your pH balance into the acidic zone. Conversely, fruits, vegetables and legumes, with the exception of lentils, are alkalizing. You can also choose soybeans, almonds, mushrooms and amaranth for their alkalizing effects.
Minerals
Include plenty of foods with high mineral content to help alkalize your body, says Adina Niemerow, author of the book "Super Cleanse: Detox Your Body for Long-Lasting Health and Beauty." Without sufficient quantities of these nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, your body will utilize stores in your bones, muscles and nerves to alkalize the blood. High-calcium foods that are alkalizing include deep green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and collards; also soybeans, almonds and sesame seeds. Plain yogurt is high in calcium and has a more neutral pH effect than other forms of dairy, which tend to be acid-forming.
References
- "The Acid Alkaline Balance Diet: An Innovative Program That Detoxifies Your ... "; Felicia Drury Kliment; 2010
- "The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health: Restore Your Health by Creating ... "; Christopher Vasey; 2006
- "Victory Over Fat: 6 Steps to Permanent Fat Loss and Super Health"; Ric Alexander; 2005
- "Super Cleanse: Detox Your Body for Long-Lasting Health and Beauty"; Adina Niemerow; 2008
- Rense.com: A List of Acid / Alkaline Forming Foods
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