Alkaline vs Acidic Foods – Chart

Alkaline Versus Acidic -The Blood Should Be Slightly Alkaline

There is a lot of interest about the alkaline vs acidity levels in foods, because the thought is that consuming too much acidic foods causes or supports illness in the body.

The reason behind this alkaline vs acidic foods thought is research indicates that the normal pH of blood should be around 7.4 which is slightly alkaline, so to support this level we should eat alkaline foods.

PH stands for “potential hydrogen” and is the ability of molecules to attract hydrogen ions. The scale for the pH measurement ranges from 0 to 14, and 0 represents the highest acidic level and 14 represents the highest alkaline level.

More: Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide »

When the body’s pH level is too acidic for an extended period of time, acidosis can set in. When the body is too alkaline for an extended period of time, alkalosis can set in. Most people who have an unbalanced pH are acidic, and being too alkaline is very rare.

Alkaline vs Acidic Foods And Acidosis

Acidosis occurs when there is a build up of too much acid in the body. There are two types of acidosis: Respiratory acidosis which develops when there is too much carbon dioxide in the body, and metabolic acidosis which occurs when the body produces too much acid or when the kidneys are not able to remove enough acid from the body.

What Determines Alkaline vs Acidic Foods

Food is digested in our bodies and is broken down to an ash residue, which determines alkaline vs acidic foods. This ash residue can be neutral, acidic, or alkaline, and consists of the basic building blocks or nutrients of the food.

For instance, alkaline foods may contain higher amounts of, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and will leave an alkaline ash, while acidic foods may contain higher amounts of sulphur, phosphorus, and chlorine leave acid ash.

When it comes to alkaline vs acidic foods, these foods have both alkaline and acidic properties, but alkaline foods will have more alkaline properties than acidic properties. The body is made up of both alkaline an acidic properties and needs both to function properly.

The body does work to maintain a balance though, which is represented by the slightly alkaline 7.4 pH of the blood.

Eat More Alkaline Foods To Reduce Acid Levels In The Body

The American diet consists largely of acidic foods such as meat, eggs, dairy, soda, sugar, and coffee. We can reduce acid by eating more alkaline plant foods on the Dr. Sebi nutritional guide.

This may seem too simple of a way to strengthen the immune system and fight off disease, but it is this simple. Instead of alkaline foods being an afterthought of a meal, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes should be the main part of the meal.

I have included blending of alkaline foods into my diet, so I am able to get far more alkaline foods into my diet on a regular basis.

Fruits Are Alkaline Forming Though They Are Acidic Outside The Body

When we eat foods our bodies reduce the food to an ash of nutrients which are then absorbed into our various organs. Though fruits register as acidic outside the body, these foods are reduced to alkaline substances which are used to strengthen our life energy.

Plant Based Life Foods Are Mostly Alkaline Foods And They Contain Protein

Many people think that we need to eat meat to get protein, but the fact is most plant based foods: vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds, and alkalizing grains contain protein, some just contain more than others.

We can get enough protein from a alkaline plant based diet, which will support our healthy living. You will find nuts and legumes listed for alkalizing protein on the alkaline vs acidic foods chart, but the other foods listed in the alkaline side of the chart also contain protein.

Nuts and legumes just generally contain more vegetable protein than the other alkaline food sources. You can check the recommended daily intake of protein and calories using the NLE protein calculator and NLE calorie calculator.

Alkaline vs Acidic Foods – Chart

References:
PubMed Health: Osteoporosis
The New York Times: Acidosis
Wikipedia: Metabolic acidosis
Altic Health Prevention: Acidosis

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