Are you trying to go alkaline too?
If you are in the midst of the alkaline process, it helps a
lot when you know which foods to consume to stay alkaline as long as possible.
A general rule of thumb is that you can eat these 9 foods without worrying
about the acidic side effects they might have – although some of them are more
alkaline than others.
Let’s make this clear: It is not necessary to eat only
alkaline foods in order to get your body’s pH levels at an alkaline level. On
the contrary, a certain percentage of foods consumed can be acidic, but it is
best if they are natural, whole foods like fruits for instance.
1. Almonds
It is no wonder that almonds are alkaline nutriment since
they consistently rank on the list of healthiest foods to eat.
And did you know that most nuts and seeds are considered acidic unless they are
sprouted?
However, there are some nuts that are neutral, or just
slightly alkaline, such as almonds.
Top stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 27%
Iron – 25%
Protein – 44%
2. Amaranth
Although the great majority of people are NOT familiar with
this grain, it does make a great addition to any alkaline-streamed diet regime.
Today the amaranth is valued worldwide. The United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization have fostered amaranth’s use since 1967
because wherever it is eaten there is no trace of malnutrition! The amaranth
has more protein compared with wheat and it is higher in the amino acid lysine
than other grain sources of protein.
Distinguished botanists note that the amaranth belongs to a
remarkable group of photosynthetic super performers called the C4 group,
meaning it is super-efficient in converting soil, sunlight, and water into
plant tissue.
Top stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 16%
Iron – 42%
Protein – 14g
3. Artichokes
One can often see artichokes on top of salads, or used in a
dip, but there are a number of reasons why you can bring them to the very
forefront of your diet.
Artichokes are known to have the highest antioxidant levels
out of all vegetables, according to a study done by the USDA, and out of 1,000
different types of plant-based foods, they ranked No.7 in antioxidant content!
Antioxidants are one of the primary means of defense of the human immune system
against the devastating effect of free radicals – the natural byproducts of
cell metabolism that can lead to a number of dangerous conditions and diseases
in the body, including cancer and heart disease, among others.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 20%
Vitamin K – 12%
Folates – 17%
4. Arugula
Here’s a leafy green that is no doubt worth getting to know.
The arugula is often used as part of a detox diet scheme, and the fact that it
is an alkaline plant is a big part of that.
The arugula also provides high levels of plant protein,
thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, zinc, copper, and pantothenic acid (vitamin
B5) for raising good cholesterol levels and lowering the bad ones. Its
flavonoid content has multiple benefits: it prevents cholesterol from sticking
to arteries, lowers high blood pressure, improves blood circulation, lowers
inflammation, and improves blood vessel function.
Top stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 16%
Vitamin A – 47%
Iron – 8%
5. Asparagus
The asparagus just so happens to be one of the strongest
foods you can eat in terms of alkalinity.
Each food is ranked as to how alkaline it is, and the
asparagus is one of the “big stars.” But it brings a lot more than alkalinity
to the dinner table, including antioxidants, nutrients, and plenty of
detoxifying agents. It has even been noted that the asparagus has strong
anti-aging benefits, which is enough for most people to start adding more of it
to their daily menu.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin A – 15%
Vitamin C – 9%
Iron – 12%
6. Avocado and avocado Oil
You shouldn’t be taken by surprise that avocado is on our
list of alkalizing foods. It has managed to make it onto our list of superfoods
as well, so you know it is a nutritional punch.
Avocados are high in potassium as well as healthy fat, so in
addition to helping you get more alkaline, you are getting other “perks” as
well. You can also use avocado oil in favor of other oils that don’t provide
any alkaline points, or even worse, when they are acid-forming in the body.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 17%
Vitamin A – 3%
Fiber – 27%
7. Basil
You might not have thought that the herbs and spices you use
on your food have an effect on how acidic or alkaline your body pH level is.
But, it turns out that there are good spices and bad ones.
The basil happens to be one of those that helps you keep alkaline tone, and it
also has plenty of other things going for it, such as the flavonoids it
contains. These help the body heal and the basil in general can help you with
several different ailments of the body.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin A – 175%
Vitamin K – 345%
Calcium – 18%
8. Beetroot
The beetroot is getting more attention now than ever before,
and it is one of the foods out there that will act to help raise your pH
levels.
The reason why it is an important vegetable to be included
in your vegetable “arsenal” is that it is one of the only sources of the
phytonutrient betalain which may have anti-cancer properties. Add these as a
side, or use them as a salad topper. Be sure to buy this one fresh and steam
it, as the pickled variety has reduced nutritional value.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 8%
Vitamin K – 11%
Folate – 75%
9. Broccoli
The broccoli is a quintessential healthy food, which makes
it easy to understand that it is an alkaline food too.
Indeed, the broccoli is one of those veggies with so much
going on for you that you simply have to make an extra effort to get more of it
into your system. Some people eat broccoli every day as a way to maintain good
health and make sure they are on the safe alkaline side. You need to eat it at
least multiple times a week, with 3 or 4 times being a good rule of thumb.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 135%
Vitamin A – 11%
Calcium – 4%
Understanding how an alkaline diet works
Nowadays, alkaline diets are a popular choice for people who
want to achieve optimum good health. However, many people don’t actually
understand this diet and how it works.
The concept in fact is fairly simple:
The diet simply focuses on restoring the balance that was
lost when man started to eat a more domesticated diet. Rather than focusing on
foods that are high in sugar, fat, and cholesterol, an alkaline diet primarily
consists of organic fruits and vegetables, healthy whole grains, wholesome
protein sources such as soy, beans and legumes, and healthy oils such as
canola, olive and flax seed.
These foods may be either alkaline or acid in their natural
state, but they all produce what is termed as an “alkaline ash” once digested
and metabolized by the body. When the body’s pH is kept at a slightly alkaline
level, all the systems can run more efficiently.
Understanding the effects of the body’s pH level
The pH level of the body has the ability to affect every
single cell of the body. When the blood has an alkaline pH value, instead of an
acidic pH, it will have a positive effect on how every bodily system functions.
The brain, circulatory system, nerves, muscles, respiratory
system, digestive system, and reproductive system can all benefit from a
healthy pH level.
On the other hand, when the pH of the body has gone too
acidic, it is susceptible to many diseases and problems. Weight gain, heart
disease, premature aging, fatigue, nerve problems, allergies, muscle disease
and cancer are all more prevalent when the body’s pH is not optimal.
Because these problems are all more likely to occur when the
body’s pH is overly acidic, it makes good sense to switch to a diet rich in
alkalizing foods.
The primary goal is usually to eat approximately 75-80%
alkaline foods along with only about 20-25% acidifying. If you maintain
this level in your diet, the end result is a slightly alkaline body pH, which
is just perfect for optimal health!
The choice of foods for an alkaline diet
In fact, it is quite easy to eat a diet rich in
alkalinity-producing foods. Most fresh produce (fruits and veggies) is an
excellent choice! Red meat is NOT a good choice, but you can add plenty of
protein to your meals by using soy products, delicious beans, legumes, and nuts
such as first-mentioned almonds.
You should eliminate unhealthy fats from your food, but you
can use good fats such as olive, canola, and flax seed oil. High fat dairy
products should be avoided, and you can drink soy milk and goat’s milk instead.
Cheeses made from soy milk and goat’s milk would also be
good choices. Replace the empty calories of soda with delicious iced herb tea,
green tea and lemon water.
Coffee should be avoided as much as possible, but you can
drink hot herbal and green tea. Replace pasta with healthy whole grains such as
wild rice, millet and quinoa.
When sweetening your foods, focus on natural products such
as raw sugar, Stevia and maple sugar.
As you can see, you will have many nutritious choices that
are both delicious and high in alkalizing properties.
GO ALKALINE AND SHARE IT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Sources:
http://www.acidalkalinediet.net/
http://greenopedia.com/
