Alkaline diets are a popular choice for people who want to achieve optimum good health. However, many people don’t actually understand this diet or how it works. The concept is actually fairly simple – the diet just focuses on regaining the balance that was lost when man started to eat a more domesticated diet. Instead of focusing on foods that are high in sugar, fat, and cholesterol, an alkaline diet primarily consists of fresh 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 work 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 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 proper pH level. On the other hand, when the pH of the body is 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 too acid, it makes good sense to eat 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 foods. If this level is maintained in the diet, the end result is a slightly alkaline pH in the body, which is perfect for optimum good health.

Choosing Foods for an Alkaline Diet

It’s actually quite easy to eat a diet rich in alkaline-producing foods. Most fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent choices. 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 almonds. You should eliminate unhealthy fats from your diet, but you can use good fats such as olive, canola, and flax seed oil. High fat dairy products should be avoided, but you can drink soy milk and goat’s milk. 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, but you can drink hot herbal or 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’ll have many nutritious choices that are both delicious and high in alkalizing properties.

Use the food chart and acidity test below to make your lifestyle more alkaline and reap the benefits of vibrant health & abundant energy.

Note: if you cannot see the chart and test, please click the banner below:

If your body is not in the healthy range of the acid to alkaline spectrum, you may be experiencing, or at risk of developing,  some of the following symptoms:

• Weight gain or weight loss
• Bladder / kidney problems
• Poor immune system
• Aching joints and muscles
• Hormone imbalance
• Lack of energy
• Indigestion and / or constipation
• Yeast or fungal problems

Why has our pH balance, and hence our health, deteriorated so badly over recent years?

• Many people don’t eat a healthy diet
• Modern farming methods lead to imbalances and deficiencies in the correct minerals in the soil
• Foods are sprayed with toxic chemicals and pesticides
• “Fresh” food often isn’t fresh, and may have been stored for months
• Farmed foods (e.g. farmed salmon) may have additives injected to appear the correct colour
• Airborne pollution – the UK has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world

What can we do to correct the pH imbalance?

• Eat as healthy a diet as possible – given the above restrictions
• Use good quality nutritional supplements to “fill in” the gaps left by our modern diet
• Make sure that your bodily excretory systems are working well (bladder, colon) by drinking plenty of water and eating a fibre rich diet
• Ensure your liver is correctly functioning to excrete toxins from the body

Learn more about an Acid/Alkaline balancing diet below.