How Alkaline Are You?
The Alkaline Diet
Most people have never heard of alkaline-acid balance, or the alkaline diet, but many holistic doctors and nutritionists consider a properly balanced alkaline 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. The alkaline diet can deplete the body of alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, making people prone to chronic and degenerative disease. Please be sure to watch your levels for these important minerals – again do the alkaline diet in balance.
Thorough scientific studies are lacking on the alkaline diet. Many conventional doctors do not believe in the alkaline diet.
Who is the alkaline diet for?
The alkaline diet is for people who feel unwell on a high fat, low carb diet. The alkaline diet is also for people who lead stressful lives and consume large amounts of acidifying foods such as protein, sugar, processed food, cereals, starches, and caffeine, with little alkalinizing vegetables.
What are the symptoms of excess acidity?
Low energy, chronic fatigue | |
Excess mucous production | |
Nasal congestion | |
Frequent colds, flus, and infections | |
Nervous, stressed, irritable, anxious, agitated | |
Weak nails, dry hair, dry skin | |
Formation of cysts, such as ovarian cysts, polycystic ovaries, benign breast cysts (fibrocystic breasts) | |
Headaches | |
Joint pain or arthritis | |
Neuritis | |
Muscle pain | |
Feel better after a detox diet | |
Hives | |
Leg cramps and spasms | |
Gastritis, acid indigestion |
Medical doctors try to test the acidity or alkalinity of the body tissues and cells by analyzing the blood. Alkaline diet pioneers Carey Reams, Harold Hawkins, or Emanuel Revici developed methods to measure urine pH and other factors such as saliva pH. Modern proponents of the alkaline diet look at the pH of blood, saliva, and urine, in addition to health symptoms and other factors.
The following alkaline diet charts can be used in conjunction with the blood type diet charts as well. It works well to cross reference this with the alkaline diet. Since no disease or infection – including a fungal infection – can live in an alkaline state it is a good idea to keep the body close to it’s natural pH using the alkaline diet. If you have athletes foot fungus, toe nail or foot fungus this is a good combination to follow in addition to soaking in the Aztec Natural Foot Soak. That’s how you get Happy Feet!
What are the guidelines of the alkaline diet?
An alkaline diet is composed of approximately 75% alkaline foods and 25% acid foods.
Acid-Alkaline Food List
These alkaline diet lists are combined from various resources. Among these food, some are obviously alkaline, some obvious acid, some are weak acid / alkaline. Choose the strong alkaline diet 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 alkaline diet 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 alkaline diet is about balance – it should never be used to be strictly alkaline – think 75% alkaline, 25% acid for a healthy balance.
These alkaline diet 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 on the alkaline diet.
Enjoy and happy eating.
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ALKALINE FRUITS | ACID FRUITS | ||
Apples and Cider Apricots Avocados Bananas (speckled only) Berries Breadfruit Cacius Cantaloupe Carob – pod only Charlmoyes Cherries Citron Currants Dates Figs Grapes Grapefruit Guavas Kumquats |
Lemons – ripe Limes Loquats Mangoes Melons, all Nectarines Olives, sundried Papaya Passionfruit Peaches Pears Persimmons Pineapples PLUMS Pomegranates PRUNES & JUICE Quince Raisins Saponins Tamarind Tangerines Tomatoes |
All preserved or jellied Canned: sugared Dried, sulphured Glazed Fruits Raw with sugar Bananas if green tipped Cranberries Olives, pickled, green |
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ALKALINE VEGETABLES | ACID VEGETABLES | ||
Veggie-broth Artichokes Asparagus, ripe Bamboo shoots Beans, green, lima, string, sprouts Beets and tops Broccoli Cabbage, red & white Carrots Cauliflower Chard Chayotes Chicory Chives Collards Cowslip Cucumber Dandelion greens Dill Dockgreen Eggplant Endive Escalo Garlic Horseradish Jerusalem Artichoke |
Kain Kolrabi Leek Legumes (except peanuts & lentils) Lettuce MUSHROOMS most varieties Okra Onions Oyster Plant Parsley Parsnip Peppers red or green Potatoes all varieties Pumpkin Radish Sals Sauerkraut (lemon only) Sorrel SOY BEANS Soy Bean Extract Spinach Squash Turnips Water Chestnut Watercress |
Asparagus tips, white Beans, all dried Brussel Sprouts Garbanzos Lentils Rhubarb |
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ALKALINE DIARY PRODUCTS | ACID DIARY PRODUCTS | ||
Acidophilus Buttermilk Kourniss Milk, raw (human, cow or goat) Whey Yoghurt |
Butter Cheese, all Cottage Cheese Cream Custards Ice Cream, ices Milk, boiled, cooked, dried |
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ALKALINE FLESH FOODS | ACID FLESH FOODS | ||
None (blood and bone only are alkaline forming) | All meats, fowl & fish Beef Tea Fish, Shellfish, all Gelatine Gravies |
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ALKALINE CEREALS | ACID CEREALS | ||
Corn, green (fresh) | All flour product Buckwheat Barley Bread, all kinds Cakes Corn, Cornmeal, corn flakes starch and hominy Crackers, all Doughnuts |
Dumplings Grapenuts Macaroni and Spaghetti Noodles Oatmeal Pies and pastry Rice Rye-crisp |
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ALKALINE MISC. | ACID MISC. | ||
Agar Alfafa products Ginger, dried, unsweetened Honey Kelp (edible) Teas, unsweetened Yeast Cakes |
All alcoholic beverages Candy and Confectionery Cocoa & chocolate Coca-cola Coffee Condiments as: Salt Pepper Curry, Spices, etc Dressings and thick sauces Drugs and aspirins Eggs, especially whites Ginger, preserved |
Jams and Jellies Flavourings Marmalades Preservatives as: Benzoate Sulphur Vinegar Salt, brine Smoke Sago (starch) Soda water Tapioca (starch) Tobacco, juice, smell, smoke Vinegar Lack of sleep Overwork Worry |
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ALKALINE NUTS | ACID NUTS | ||
Almonds Chestnuts, roasted Coconut, dried |
Other nuts, more so if roasted Peanuts |
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Note: Because a fruit is “acid” is not an indication that it’s reaction is the same when it enters the body, because it really may be alkaline. Honey and raw sugar yield alkaline, but on account of high concentrate of sugar, become acid-formers. Rhubarb with raisins is very good. |
Acidifying Foods (Avoid)
Alcohol including wine.
Dairy except organic unpasteurized milk and Cottage cheese.
Grains except millet.
Meat including fish except for white meat chicken and eggs.
Nuts except for almonds and chestnuts.
Oils including olive oil.
Natural and artificial Sweeteners except Stevia.
Alkalizing Foods (Good)
Fruits except Cranberries.
Vegetables except potatoes.
White meat chicken and eggs.
Spices including salt and all herbs.
pH Range and Significance
7.0 to 7.5+ is healthy
6.0 to 6.5 could develop disease
4.5 to 5.5 disease may be present
Alphabetical Listing
alk = alkalizing, acid = acidifying, Red = strong acidifying; Blue = strong alkalizing
Alfalfa- alk Alkaline Antioxidant- alk Almond Milk – acid Almonds- alk Amaranth – acid Apple- alk Apple Cider Vinegar- alk Apricot- alk Asparagus – alk Avocado- alk Avocado Oil – acid Banana (ripe) – alk Banchi Tea- alk Barley – acid Barley Grass- alk Beans – acid Bee Pollen- alk Beef – acid Beer – acid Beets- alk Berries (not cranberry)- alk Black Beans – acid Brazil Nuts – acid Broccoli- alk Brussel- alk Buckwheat – acid Butter – acid Cabbage- alk Cakes – acid Canola Oil – acid Cantaloupe– alk Carrot- alk Cashews – acid Cauliflower- alk Celery – alk Chard- alk Cheese – acid Chemicals – acid Cherries – alk Chestnuts – alk Chick Peas – acid Chicken Breast- alk Chili Pepper- alk Chlorella – alk Cinnamon – alk Clams – acid Coffee – acid |
Collard Greens – alk Corn – acid Corn Oil – acid Cottage cheese – alk Cranberries – acid Cucumber – alk Currants – alk Curry – alk Daikon – alk Dandelions – alk Dates – alk Drugs (most) – acid Dulce – alk Edible Flowers – alk Eggplant – alk Eggs – alk Figs – alk Fish – acid Flax Oil – acid Flax Seeds – alk Flour (except millet flour) – acid Fruit Juice unsweetened – alk Garlic – alk Ginger – alk Ginseng Tea – alk Grapefruit – alk Grapes – alk Green Juices – alk Green Peas – acid Green Tea – alk Greens – alk Hard Liquor – acid Hemp Seed – acid Herbal Tea – alk Herbs – alk Honeydew – alk Kale – alk Kamut – acid Kidney Beans – acid Kohlrabi – alk Kombu – alk Kombucha – alk Lamb – acid Lard – acid Lecithin Granules – alk Lemon – alk Lentils – acid |
Lettuce – alk Lima Beans – acid Lime – alk Lobster – acid Macaroni – acid Maitake – alk Melon – alk Milk – acid Milk organic unpasteurized – alk Millet – alk Mineral Water – alk Miso – alk Mushrooms – alk Mussels – acid Mustard – alk Nectarine – alk Noodles – acid Nori – alk Oats – acid Oil – acid Olive Oil – acid Onions – alk Orange – alk Oyster – acid Parsnips (high glycemic) – alk Peach – alk Peanuts – acid Pear – alk Peas – alk Pecans – acid Peppers – alk Pineapple – alk Pinto Beans – acid Pork – acid Potatoes – acid Powder – alk Probiotic Cultures – alk Pumpkin – alk Pumpkin – alk Quinoi – acid Rabbit – acid Red Beans – acid Reishi – alk Rice – acid Rice Milk – acid Rutabaga – alk Rye – acid |
Safflower Oil – acid Salmon – acid Salt – alk Scallops – acid Sea Veggies – alk Seeds – alk Sesame Oil – acid Shitake – alk Shrimp – acid Soy Beans – acid Soy Milk – acid Spaghetti – acid Spelt – acid Spirulina – alk Sprouted seeds – alk Sprouts – alk Squash Seeds – alk Squashes – alk Stevia – alk Sunflower oil – acid Sunflower seeds – alk Tahini – acid Tamari – alk Tangerine – alk Tea (black) – acid Tempeh fermented – alk Tofu – alk Tomato – alk Tropical Fruits – alk Tuna – acid Turkey – acid Umeboshi – alk Vegetables Juices – alk Vinegar Distilled – acid Wakame – alk Walnuts – acid Water – alk Watercress – alk Watermelon – alk Wheat – acid Wheat Grass – alk Whey Protein – alk White Beans – acid Wild Greens – alk Wine – acid Yogurt – alk |
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 for the alkaline diet are a compilation of information taken from two web sites:
and
WARNING — an alkalizing diet will deplete your body of potassium. You must take potassium supplements while on this alkaline 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.