Alkaline Foods
We could all stand to eat more alkaline foods. Alkaline foods may help to protect against certain types of cancer and arthritis. Many people who follow an alkaline diet tend to also shed weight because they take out the heavier, more acidic, foods like refined sugar, processed foods, wheat, dairy, eggs, and meat (ironically and unfortunately, these foods characterize the standard American diet). Our bodies, especially the kidneys, have to a do a lot of work to get rid of excess acid. On the flip side, we want acid in our stomachs to break down food. A certain amount of acid in our bodies is a good thing, but the ultimate goal is to find that perfect pH balance in our blood which is somewhere around 7.
Luckily, there are foods we can eat that can have an alkalizing effect on our bodies. Below is a list of my favorite alkaline foods:
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Leafy greens
- Onions
- Garlic
- Beets
- Radishes
- Lemons (even though lemons may seem acidic, they actually has an alkalizing effect on our bodies)
- Berries
- Watermelon
- Apples
- Cherries
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Almonds
- Cayenne pepper
- Cinnamon
- Curry
- Ginger
- Sea Salt
I am not advocating that you take all of the acidic foods out of your diet, but I do think we can all do a better job of incorporating more alkaline foods. Check out your local farmer’s market to find the foods above and more!