How Alkaline are You?

Most people have never heard of alkaline-acid balance, but many holistic doctors and nutritionists consider a properly balanced diet to be important to optimal health and preventing diseases such as cancer.

The theory behind an alkaline diet is that because our body's pH level is slightly alkaline, with a normal range of 7.36 to 7.44, our diet should reflect this and also be slightly alkaline. An imbalanced diet high in acidic foods such as animal protein, sugar, caffeine, and processed foods tends to disrupt this balance. It can deplete the body of alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, making people prone to chronic and degenerative disease.
 

Thorough scientific studies are lacking on the alkaline diet.  Many conventional doctors do not believe in the alkaline diet.
 

Acid-Alkaline Food List

These list are combined from various resources. Among these food, some are obviously alkaline, some obvious acid, some are weak acid / alkaline. Choose the strong alkaline food. The other one basic principle: nature, plant-based food is always preferred as healthy input; processed food, artificial food should be watched out. 

The following information comes from several sources.  There are some items that appear on both alkaline and acid lists.  I have no idea what the qualifying ground for that is.  My basic pHilosophy is to consume those in moderation.  The diet is about balance - it should never be used to be strictly alkaline - think 75% alkaline, 25% acid for a healthy balance. 

These lists are followed by yet another compilation I have come across listing the foods in alphabetical order, as well as other web sites to check out for further information. 

Enjoy and happy eating.

Extremely Alkaline

Lemons, Watermelon    

Strongly Alkaline

Asparagus, Cantaloupe, Cayenne, Celery, Dates, Figs, Fruit Juices, Grapes (sweet), Kelp, Kiwifruit, Limes, Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley, Passionfruit, Pears (sweet), Pineapple, Raisins, Seaweeds, Seedless Grapes (sweet), Umeboshi Plums, Vegetable Juices, Watercress

Moderately Alkaline

Alfalfa Sprouts, Apples (sour), Apples (sweet), Apricots, Avocados, Bananas (ripe), Beans (fresh, Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carob, Cauliflower, Currants, Dates, Figs (fresh), Garlic, Ginger (fresh), Grapefruit, Grapes (less sweet), Grapes (sour), green), Guavas, Herbs (leafy green), Lettuce (leafy green), Lettuce (pale green), Nectarine, Oranges, Peaches (less sweet), Peaches (sweet), Pears (less sweet), Peas (fresh, Peas (less sweet), Potatoes (with skin), Pumpkin (less sweet), Pumpkin (sweet), Raspberries, Sea Salt (vegetable), Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn (fresh), sweet), Turnip, Vinegar (apple cider)

Slightly Alkaline

Almonds, Artichokes (Jerusalem), Brussel Sprouts, Cherries, Chestnuts (dry, Coconut (fresh), Cow's Milk and Whey (raw), Cream (fresh, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Eggs, Goat's Milk and Whey (raw), Honey (raw), Leeks, Margarine, Mushrooms, Neutral Butter (fresh, Oils (except olive), Okra, Olive Oil, Olives (ripe), Onions, Pickles (homemade), Poultry (white meat), Radishes, raw), roasted), Sea Salt,  Sesame Seeds (whole), Soy Beans (dry), Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Spices, Sprouted Grains, Tofu, Tomatoes (less sweet), Tomatoes (sweet), unsalted), Vinegar (sweet brown rice), Yeast (nutritional flakes), Yogurt (plain)

Moderately Acidic

Adzuki, Bananas (green), Barley (rye), Beans (mung, Dry Coconut, Fructose, garbanzo), Blueberries, Bran, Butter, Cereals (unrefined), Cheeses, Crackers (unrefined rye, Cranberries, Goat's Milk, Honey (pasteurized), Ketchup, kidney, Maple Syrup (unprocessed), Milk (homogenized), Molasses (un-sulfured and organic), Most Nuts, Mustard, Oats (rye, Olives (pickled), organic), Pasta (whole grain), Pastry (whole grain and honey), pinto, Plums, Popcorn (with salt and/or butter), Potatoes, Prunes, Rice (basmati and brown), rice and wheat), Seeds (pumpkin, Soy Sauce, sunflower), Wheat Bread (sprouted organic)

Extremely Acidic

Artificial Sweeteners, Beef, Beer, Breads, Brown Sugar, Carbonated Soft Drinks, Cereals (refined), Chocolate, Cigarettes and Tobacco, Coffee, Cream of Wheat (unrefined), Custard (with white sugar), Deer, Drugs, Fish, Flour (white wheat), Fruit Juices with Sugar, Jams, Jellies, Lamb, Liquor, Maple Syrup (processed), Molasses (sulfured), Pasta (white), Pastries and Cakes from White Flour, Pickles (commercial), Pork, Poultry (dark meat), Sugar (white), Table Salt (refined and iodized), Tea (black), White Bread, White Vinegar (processed), Whole Wheat Foods, Wine, Yogurt (sweetened)

Sources

The above lists are a compilation of information taken from two web sites:

The Wolfe Clinic web site at:

http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/index.html

and the Essense-of-Life web site at:

http://www.essense-of-life.com/index.htm

WARNING - an alkalizing diet will deplete your body of potassium. You must take potassium supplements while on this diet. The amount of potassium you need many vary, but athletes who sweat a lot need three or four grams (1000 mg) a day of additional potassium.

-© 2002-2008 Saga Stevin. All rights reserved.
Success Strategies International, Inc.
Email: sagastevin@aol.com
Telephone: (612) 251-5187

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