We normally don’t care whether the food we are eating is acidic or alkaline. But when people start developing acidity and heartburn, their doctor recommends they avoid acidic foods. The pH level of your foods determines whether they are acidic or alkaline. If the pH is closer to 0, it is acidic, 7 is neutral, and pH near 14 is alkaline.
Let’s take a look at the difference between an acidic and alkaline diet.
We Eat a Variety of Acidic and Alkaline Foods
As discussed before, alkaline foods have a high pH. You must include alkaline foods like seeds, nuts, avocados, olive oil, herbal teas, whole grains, beans and lentils, herbs and spices, most fruits, potatoes, fresh vegetables, and soy in your diet. The organs in your body produce more bicarbonate because of the substances in alkaline foods.
On the other hand, nutrients in acidic foods cause an additional amount of ammonium to be produced in the kidneys. An acidic-rich diet results in sensitive gums, brittle nails and hair, poor digestion, mood swings, dry skin, acne, headaches, depression, and bone loss. Too much acid in the body lowers the cellular energy since the free radicals in the body increase.
How do you know if a food is considered alkaline or acidic?
If you are concerned about how acidic a food is, you must ask some questions like:
Is it green? Does it have a high-water content? Is it a vegetable? What’s the mineral content? Is it fresh? Less processed foods have more chances of being alkaline because they haven’t gone through processing to make them acidic, and their nutrients are still in place. Search for alkaline minerals like iron, manganese, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium to determine which foods are alkaline. What we know is that, foods with high-water content, fruits, and vegetables are mostly alkaline.
Health Benefits of Alkaline Foods
There are numerous health benefits if you opt for alkaline-rich foods and you should know these.
They help in maintaining a healthy weight. These foods, in some cases, prevent cancers and improve the immune system. Alkaline foods prevent magnesium deficiency by boosting vitamin absorption. Furthermore, they decrease inflammation and chronic pain. These foods also lower the risk of stroke and hypertension. Alkaline-rich foods protect muscle mass and bone density. Moreover, they also enhance alertness and memory which means a stronger state of mind.
Consider watching this video to know more about toxic chemicals found in food…
Do You Need a pH Balance?
Not every acidic food is bad. Some acids in food are important such as fatty acids and amino acids. Eating alkaline food means you are focusing on eating natural, unprocessed foods. These foods are full of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. If you want to increase the pH, it might be because you have some health issues. With these issues, you need to keep pH in the safe zone.
You should lower the consumption of processed and acidic foods and eat more fruits and vegetables. Also, drink more water, and reduce stress levels through different stress management activities, like spending more time doing what you love or meditating. If it becomes impossible to manage your stress, you should also seek professional help from therapists or groups. Combine all of these, and you reach the best pH balance.
After understanding the differences between acidic and alkaline diets, you should now cautiously observe the foods you consume daily.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!