Alkaline Foods are classified based on their pH balance. Inherently, our body is more alkaline than acidic, which makes it crucial for us to maintain a healthy alkaline balance. This is especially true in today’s world where our diets have become increasingly more acidic, with junk foods such as burgers, pizzas and huge assortments of “fizzy” drinks. Experts have theorized that maintaining a healthy diet by consuming foods high in alkaline can really help us boost and maintain optimum health. An alkaline food list is one of the best ways to quickly find out where your currently situated.
The Importance of Alkaline Foods
Alkaline Foods are naturally healthy as they generally consist mostly of fruits, vegetables and various other foods which already have abundant health benefits. Thus, even if we aren’t conscious of the benefits of alkalizing foods per se, consuming a wholesome healthy diet naturally maintains the pH balance in our body.
The right pH balance is essential for almost all of our normal bodily functions. All of our vital organs require the blood that pumps in our body and are extremely sensitive to the pH levels within our blood. Alkaline producing foods ensure that all your vital organs are in good condition and function to their optimum capacity.
Thanks to our hectic modern day lives and lifestyles, we may be living longer, but we sure do age faster than our parents and grandparents. These foods can prevent degeneration of cells by maintaining the right levels of alkalinity and acidity within our body, thus giving us a great anti-aging tool.
Brief Overview of Alkaline Foods
Vegetables: Veggies are the most alkaline foods you can find anywhere. Generally speaking, the greener the vegetable the more alkaline it is. It is said that about 80% of the foods we ingest should be alkaline by nature, and the easiest way to ensure this is to increase our daily intake of vegetables. Broccoli, artichokes, leek and bamboo shoots are on the top of the list of alkalizing vegetables. Not exactly your favorite type of food? Well, don’t fret because almost all vegetables, including ones that make yummy additions to your food, are non acidic foods.
Ideas: Have them as fresh salads, pop them into your wraps, toss them into your Pasta or even make some fresh fruit veggie juices.
Fruits: Fruits have always been healthy and great tasting although it has been edged out of our diets over the years and replaced with unhealthy, sugary, corn syrupy and starchy foods. If you want to boost your energy levels and vitality starting today, learn to appreciate the pleasure of consuming fresh and delicious fruits. In this way, you will not only be eating less junk food, but you will also be increasing your consumption of alkaline foods. Keep in mind however that some fruits which are really sweet, like pineapples, despite their alkaline content, are usually neutralized due to their high sugar content. Even in light of this fact, pick it up and eat it because it is nowhere as bad as eating processed or other junk foods.
Ideas: Snack on fruits instead of acidic junk food like cookies and chips. Make fruit smoothies and substitute them for highly acidic sodas.
Healthy Foods: Most of these fall under the alkaline category. This includes foods like nuts, teas, spices such as cinnamon, chili peppers, etc.
Ideas: Sprinkle nuts and spices on salads or on main meals like pastas and sandwiches. Have green tea instead of acidic coffee.
If you haven’t already been incorporating alkaline forming foods in your diet, now is the time to start. It’s really easy to take small steps and just add just a few of these into your diet every day and slowly build up from there. The health benefits associated with alkaline foods are just too great to pass up so take action today and start by incorporating just one new item to your current diet plan.
