Posted 10/31/2010 9:43 AM (GMT 0)
I got the list of foods below from a doctor. The idea is that you need to eat the proper balance of alkaline and acid foods (supposedly something like 80% alkaline foods to 20% acid foods according to what I've read). The so-called 'acid' foods lower the pH of the body (make it more acidic) while the so-called 'alkaline' foods raise the pH of the body (make it more alkaline).
When I eat lots of alkaline foods, my body feels better, I don't get acid reflux, I sleep better, I don't wake up feeling like crud, and I feel more flexible.
Here's the breakdown of acid and alkaline foods:
Most Alkaline (most anti-acid): Baking soda, calcium, Limes, Nectarine, Persimmon, Raspberry, Watermelon, Tangerine, Lentils, Yams, Onions, Daikons, Taro Root, Sea Vegetables, Burdock, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin seeds
More Alkaline: Spices, Cinnamon, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Citrus, Mango, Dewberry, Loganberry, Kohlrabi, Parsnip, Garlic, Kale, Parsley, Endive, Mustard Green, Ginger Root, Broccoli, Poppy seeds, molasses
Low Alkaline: Herbs (most), Lemon, Pear, Apple, Avocado, Blackberry, Cherry, Peach, Papaya, Potato, Bell Pepper, Mushroom, Califlower, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Collard Greens, Primrose Oil, Sesame Seeds, Cod Liver Oil, Almonds, Sprouts, Quail Eggs, Green tea, Mu tea, Rice Syrup, Apple Cider Vinegar
Lowest Alkaline: Orange, apricot, banana, blueberry, pineapple, raisin, currant, grape, strawberry, brussel sprout, beet, chive, okra, turnip greens, squash, lettuces, avacod oil, seeds (most), coconut oil, olive oil, linseed oil, oats, quinos, wild rice, duck eggs, ginger tea, sucanar
Lowest Acid: Curry, Guava, Dry Fruit, Figs, Dates, Persimmon Juice, Spinach, Fava Beans, Kidney Beans, String Beans, Chutney, Rhubarb, Pumpkin seed oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, pine nuts, canola oil, millet, kasha, triticale, amaranth, brown rice, wild duck, venison, fish, chicken eggs, cream, yogurt, kona coffee, honey, maple syrup, rice vinegar
Low Acid: Vanilla, Plum, Prune, Tomatoes, Tofu, Pinto Beans, White Beans, Navy Beans, Adzuki Beans, Lima Beans, Chard, Almond Oil, Sesame Oil, Safflower Oil, Buckwheat, Wheat, Spelt, Semolina, Teff, Goose, Turkey, Lamb, Mutton, Elk, Shellfish, cow milk, goat milk, aged cheese, soy cheese, black tea, balsamic vinegar
More Acid: Nutmeg, Cranberry, Pomegranate, green pea, peanut, snow pea, legumes (other), carrots, chick pea, pistachio seed, pecans, corn, rye, oat bran, chicken, pork/veal, mussels, squid, casein, new cheeses, coffee, saccharin
Most Acid: Pudding, Jam, Jelly, Soybean, Carob, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, barley, pheasant, beef, lobster, processed cheese, ice cream, beer, sugar, cocoa, white vinegar
For an idea of what an acid-alkaline diet looks like, here is what I typically eat in a day:
Fresh, raw green kale (28-56 cups) (More Alkaline)
1 or 2 medium-sized watermelons (Most Alkaline)
1 cup of ground flax seed (Lowest Alkaline)
1 sweet potato or yam (Most Alkaline)
1 or 2 cups of molasses (More Alkaline)
1/2 chicken some days; entire chicken some days; no meat some days (More Acid)
green tea - drink all day as main beverage (Low Alkaline)
Other foods I mix in occasionally: onions, limes, lemons, tangerines, cantaloupe, broccoli, apples, blackberries, blueberries, almonds, oranges, grapes, beer, wild salmon, sardines in water