Aside from their nutrient and acid content, all foods produce acidifying or alkalizing compounds when metabolized. Because cells and tissues require a slightly alkaline environment for proper function, consuming a diet that emphasizes alkaline-forming foods supports the body’s natural homeostasis. A diet that regularly features acid-forming foods can lead to acid buildup, or chronic metabolic acidosis, a condition characterized by a slightly acidic body pH.
Acid Vs. Alkaline
All foods have pH values that reflect their acid content, but a food’s acid content doesn't affect its pH nature in the body. Most vegetables, for example, contain enough organic acids to give them slightly acidic pH values, but are moderately to highly alkaline-forming in the body. Eggs have a slightly neutral pH, but are slightly acid-forming. In general, vegetables, herbs and fruits are alkaline-forming, while processed foods, sugary desserts, animal and dairy products, alcohol, coffee and soft drinks are acid-forming.
Processed Food
All processed foods are acid-forming in the body, according to “The Acid Alkaline Food Guide” and “The pH Balance Diet.” Any food made with refined sugar, such as cookies, cakes, ice cream and muffins, is highly acid-forming because all refined sugar is very acidifying. Likewise, most grains, including wheat, are acidifying. Crackers, bread, cereal and pasta made of whole or refined grains are moderately to highly acid-forming. Other acid-forming processed foods include popcorn, rice cakes, and corn and potato chips.
Animal Products
All fish, seafood, poultry and meat, including sausage and lunch meats, are acid-forming in the body. Poultry, lamb, pork, fish and seafood tend to be moderately acidifying, while beef and beef products are usually very acidifying. Cow’s milk, all types of yogurt, butter and eggs are slightly to moderately acid-forming. All cheeses are acid-forming; aged and highly processed cheeses produce more acids in the body than younger, less-processed varieties, such as cottage cheese.
Other Foods
With the exception of almonds and chestnuts, all nuts are acid-forming, with walnuts and hazelnuts among the most acidifying. While lentils and string beans are alkalizing, all other beans and legumes are slightly acidifying. Oats, quinoa and wild rice are alkaline-forming, but most whole grains are acid-forming. All alcohol is moderately to highly acid-forming; wine and dark ales are slightly less acidifying than other alcoholic beverages. Coffee and regular and diet soft drinks are other acid-forming beverages.
Considerations
A diet consisting of 70 to 80 percent alkaline-forming foods maintains a balanced body pH that supports normal body function. When minimizing the intake of acid-forming foods to 20 to 30 percent of your diet, it’s important to make nutritious choices. Chicken, eggs, hummus, salmon, brown rice, cottage cheese, whole wheat bread and black beans are some of the many nutritionally valuable acid-forming foods. Likewise, the few acid-forming fruits — including cranberries, plums, prunes and blueberries — provide numerous health benefits.
References
- “Encyclopedia of Healing Foods”; Michael Murray et al.; 2005
- “Acid Alkaline Food Guide”; Dr. Susan Brown et al.; 2006
- “The pH Balance Diet”; Bharti Vyas et al.; 2007
- “Alkalize or Die”; Dr. Theodore Baroody; 1991
- Oklahoma State University; "The Importance of Food pH in Commercial Canning Operations"; William McGlynn
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