Our bodies constantly strive for balance in all aspects of life. And when we eat an alkaline diet with the right balance of neutral to acidic foods, along with positive thinking and self-talk, we can allow our bodies to maintain a healthy, alkaline state.
I don't know how many of you think about the effects certain foods have on our body, but if you read my last entry about sugar, then you have some insight there:). What we eat directly impacts how our bodies feel, have you noticed? For instance, you indulge in a night of alcoholic drinks, and along with drinking usually comes bad food choices, right? We tell ourselves, "I'll only have a couple drinks". And before we know it we have had a couple more then planned, and usually forget to rehydrate with water. What comes next is what is referred to as the "drinking munchies"; we crave salty, or sweet treats, loading our body with a so-called toxic combination of junk food and alcohol. The next day result... the infamous "Hangover". Yes, the hangover comes from the body being extremely dehydrated, but also can be intensified by a higher acidic state from the bad food choices as well. You may have noticed in the past that a morning after indulging the night before in rich foods can leave your body waking up feeling sluggish, irritable, and with a headache, and you didn't consume any alcohol... this is referred to as the "Food Hangover".
The signs of Over-Acidity in the Body...
-Overweight
-Acne
-Headaches
-Anger
-Insomnia
-Tense Muscles
-Blotchy complexion
-Itchy scalp
-Negative thoughts
-Discoloration of skin
-Chronic fatigue
-Anxiety
-High stress
-Depression
-Extreme highs and lows throughout the day
-Addiction to coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, any other drug, or prescription
The signs of Over-Alkalinity in the Body...
-Lethargy
-Mental spaciness
-Extreme passivity
-Cold extremities
-Lack of enthusiasm or drive
The signs of Acid/Alkaline Balanced Body...
-High energy
-Felling balanced
-Bright eyes
-Calm
-Perfect weight for body type
-Loving
-Mental clarity
-Positive thoughts
-Inspiring
-Clear skin
So you may be able to identify with some of these signs and if you are to one extreme or the other, and don't know what foods you are eating to cause this, or what foods to eat to counter it, please continue reading:).
What foods can we eat create or maintain a Balanced Body?
After you read the following food chart, you will be able to pick acidic foods to pair with alkalizing foods to create a good balance, and you will notice the difference immediately.
Alkaline-Acidic Ranked Chart for food, condiments, beverages.
Extremely Alkaline Foods:
Lemons, and Watermelon
Alkaline Forming Foods (eat these to help create alkalinity within the body):
Cantaloupe, Cayenne, Celery, Dates, Figs, Kelp, Limes, Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley, Seaweeds, Seedless Grapes, Watercress, Asparagus, Fruit Juices, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Passion Fruit, Pears, Pineapple, Raisins, Plums, Vegetable Juices.
Moderately Alkaline Foods:
Apples, Alfalfa Sprouts, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Dates, Figs, Garlic, Grapefruit, Green Grapes, Guavas, Herbs, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Pumpkins, Sea Salt, Green Apples, Green Beans, Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Ginger, Oranges, Peaches (less sweet), Potatoes (with skin), Raspberries, Strawberries, Squash, Sweet Corn, Apple Cider Vinegar.
Slightly Alkaline Foods:
Almonds, Brussels Sprouts, Cherries, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Eggplant, Raw Honey, Leeks, Mushrooms, Ripe Olives, Radishes, Sea Salt, Spices, Tomatoes, Brown Rice Vinegar, Chestnuts (dry, roasted), Eggs Yolks, Goat's Milk, Olive Oil, Whole Sesame Seeds, Dry Soy Beans, Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Sprouted Grains, Nutritional Yeast.
Neutral Foods:
Butter (fresh, unsalted), Cream (fresh), Cow's milk and Whey (raw), Margarine, Oils (except olive), Yogurt (plain).
Moderately Acidic Foods:
Bananas (the greener, the better), Barley (rye), Blueberries, Bran, Butter, Cereals (unrefined), Cheeses, Crackers (unrefined rye, rice, and wheat), Cranberries, Dried Beans (pinto, kidney, garbanzo), Dry coconut, Egg whites, Whole eggs (cooked hard), Fructose, Goat's milk (homogenized), Honey (pasteurized), Ketchup, Maple syrup (unprocessed), Cow's milk (homogenized), Molasses (unsulfured, and organic), Most nuts, Mustard, Oats (rye, organic), Olives (picked), Pasta (whole grain), Pastries (whole grain), Plums, Popcorn (with salt and/or butter), Potatoes, Prunes, Rice (basmati and brown), Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), Soy Sauce, Wheat Bread (sprouted grain).
Extremely Acidic Foods (our bodies are better off without most of these kinds of foods and substances, yet we still may consume them on occasion, and if that is the case then you will want to make sure to counter them with moderately or extremely alkalizing foods, or the alkaline forming foods):
Artificial Sweeteners, Beef, Beer, Breads, Brown Sugar, Carbonated Soft Drinks, Cereals (refined), Chocolate, Cigarettes and Tobacco, Coffee, Cream of Wheat (unrefined), Custard, Deer, Drugs, Fish, Flour (white, wheat), Fruit juices with Sugar, Jams, Jellies, Lamb, Liquor, Maple syrup (processed), Molasses (sulfured), Pasta (white), Pastries, Pickles, Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Sugar (white), Table Salt (refined, iodized), Tea (black), White Bread, White Vinegar (processed), Whole Wheat Foods, Wine (and I drink red often, with cheese or chocolate, so it is important to counter it with fueling my body throughout the day with as many alkalizing foods as possible), Yogurt (sweetened).
If you would like to test your body's PH you can do so by purchasing PH paper strips at a Health foods store or Whole Foods (if you have one in your area), if not then I recommend shopping online.
*Note: Just because a food is acidic doesn't mean you shouldn't eat it. However, I do highly recommend avoiding substances such as Tobacco, liquor, drugs, and artificial ingredients. Once you gain the knowledge of acidic and alkaline foods you will instantly know what else you should be eating that day to counter the acidity and get your PH back to neutral or into a more alkaline state.
A Body in Balance.... Love2LiveFit!
