Alkaline foods boost your immune system, reduce inflammation and are chock full of anti-aging anti-oxidants. Many of our diets are too high in acidic foods and are not balanced with the health promoting alkaline foods.  One thing you can do to promote better health is to make sure you are eating plenty of alkaline foods each day. At least half your plate should consist of alkaline forming foods.

Alkaline forming foods include: Fruit (most), Vegetables (most), Lentils, Spices/Herbs, Nuts and Seeds (pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, almonds, cashews) shiitake mushrooms, sea vegetables

Acid forming foods include: Meat, Fish, Poultry, Eggs, Grains, Beans, Alcohol, Sugar

It’s not that acid forming foods are bad for us, it’s just that we eat too many! Eat more of the alkaline foods and less of the  acidic foods  to keep your body in better balance and health.

 

What is the problem with an acidic diet?

When the cells of the body become acidic, their function is compromised and this can lead to fatigue, susceptibility to illness, inflammation,  body pain and chronic illnesses. These excess acids in the body deplete essential mineral such as magnesium,  potassium and calcium. Losing minerals and build up of acids can lead to decreased function of your cells and tissues. The end result is that your cells don’t work quite as well, meaning your organs do not work quite as well. To compensate for the imbalance,  the body has to work harder to maintain equilibrium and there is less energy to handle stress and fight illness.

10 Ways to create a more alkaline body

• Fill at least 1/2 your plate with alkaline forming foods.
• Eat 2 servings of fruit per day (focus on berries)
• Add lemon or lime to water and drink green tea
• Add spices liberally to your cooking (basil, turmeric, oregano, rosemary)
• Drink 1-2 tsp of apple cider vinegar per day or use it to make salad dressings.
• Eat pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and almonds
• Have lentils as the protein in your meal a couple times per week
• Eat sea vegetables such as sea weed snacks, nori sheets and sushi
• Use good fats and oils – olive oil, coconut oil, whole avocado and avocado oil,  flax oil (add to smoothies and for salad dressings)
• Eat miso soup as a dinner appetizer

 

Here is a list of the most alkaline foods to include in your diet.

VEGETABLES

Cucumber                   Rutabaga                    Garlic                          Eggplant

Sea vegetables            Asparagus                  Kale                             Spirulina (algae)

Fermented veggies    Kohlrabi                    Sprouts                       Watercress

Lettuces (all types)     Squashes                  Beets                           Mushrooms

Alfalfa grass                Broccoli                   Mustard greens           Barley grass

Brussels sprouts        Novia Scotia duke       Wheat grass               Cabbage

Dandelion greens        Wild greens                 Edible flowers              Cauliflower

Onions                             Celery                         Parsnips                      Chard

Chlorella (algae)          Peppers                     Collard greens            Pumpkin

Dulce                           Maitake mushroom     Daikon radish              Burdock root

Shiitake mushroom     Kombu                         Reishi mushroom        Nori

Umeboshi                    Wakame                      Other sea vegetables

 

FRUITS

Apple                           Apricot                         Avocado                      Banana

Blackberry                  Blueberry                    Cantaloupe                  Cherries, Currants

Dates, Figs                 Grapes                       Grapefruit, Lime           Honeydew melon

Nectarine                    Orange, Lemon         Peach                             Pear

Raspberry                   Strawberry                  Tangerine                    Tropical fruits

Watermelon               Pineapple

 

PROTEIN

Free-range eggs         Whey protein powder   Organic yogurt       Almonds

Chestnuts                   Tofu (fermented)         Flax seeds                  Pumpkin seeds

Tempeh (fermented)   Sesame seeds           Sunflower seeds

Sprouted seeds                      Cashews                     Lentils

 

FATS AND OILS

Avocado oil                 Coconut oil                  Olive oil                Flax oil

Cod liver oil                 Primrose oil

 

GRAINS

Whole oats                  Quinoa                        Wild rice                      Japonica rice

Millet

 

OTHER

Apple cider vinegar     Bee Pollen                   Lecithin granules         Dairy-free probiotic

Cultured foods

 

BEVERAGES

Vegetable juices          Fresh fruit juice                       Mineral water              Purified water

Green tea                    Most herbal tea                       Dandelion tea

Kombucha                   Ginger root tea

 

SWEETENERS

Stevia                          Sucanat                       Rice syrup                  Molasses

Editor’s Note: The information in this article is intended for your educational use only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health practitioners with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.