Creating Balance With An Alkaline Food Chart

Learn to follow alkaline food charts to improve your health.

There is an alkaline food chart found in many publications that talk about balancing the pH of a body. The alkaline or acidic value of a food is determined by forming an ash and placing it in water that has no pH and testing the pH levels of the water. Foods high in acid will increase the acidity of the water while foods high in alkaline and low in acid will increase the alkaline level of the water. A well balanced diet of both types of foods helps to maintain the pH balance in ones body, improving overall health.

Food charts available online

Printable charts are found on the internet and most are free to download. The majority of the charts contain a list that is not considered complete by any means, but show foods that are rich in alkaline and foods that are considered acidic. Foods that are considered acidic should only be consumed in moderation to avoid digestion issues and other problems associated with a highly acidic pH level. Respiratory problems have also been connected to a pH imbalance, generally high alkaline levels. pH levels are tested through both urine and blood samples. First morning urine samples are thought to be the best indicator of pH levels in ones body as it will not be affected by meals that have recently been consumed.

What foods are alkaline?

Many vegetables are considered high in alkaline and are listed as foods that should be included in ones diet as much as possible. Fresh vegetables such as spinach, wheat grass, zucchini, cabbage, peas, onions, cucumbers and green beans are on that list. Foods that should be consumed only moderately, mainly because they are not highly alkaline, include most fruits such as apples, bananas, coconuts, dates, figs, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon. Foods are also listed that should be avoided as much as possible including nearly all meats, processed foods, and dairy products. For many people, avoiding meat products altogether is not possible. Vegetarians on the other hand usually have a very high alkaline content because they do not consume foods that contain high levels of acid.

Alkaline food charts are an effective guideline to follow when one is trying to improve their overall health. A side benefit from changing one’s lifestyle to incorporate an alkaline rich diet includes weight loss in most cases. Improved metabolism, the reduction of fatty foods and the increase in healthy foods generally will cause a body to shed excess fat stores and maintain a healthy weight. There are many recommended levels for consumption of alkaline foods. Some experts say that 80% or more is the best while others maintain that a diet that is 70% alkaline is fine. When sorting through the various diets, charts and lists, it is important to understand that one must maintain a healthy pH balance. pH is made up of both alkaline and acid, so to reach an optimal level, one must have both in their diet.