It can be challenging to stay on top of diet trends and even choose which to try, with new ones seemingly surfacing daily. Although the alkaline diet can be a little challenging to start, the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. You don't need to search any further for a diet that supports goals other than weight loss!
What Is the Alkaline Diet?
The fundamental tenet of the alkaline diet, sometimes referred to as the acid-alkaline or alkaline-ash diet, is that eating more alkaline foods will improve your health by taking the place of foods that cause acidity. Foods leave an ash behind when they are broken down and their energy (calories) extracted.It's that simple: acidic ash turns your body acidic, and alkaline ash turns it alkaline. Alkaline ash is thought to protect your body, while acid ash is thought to increase your susceptibility to diseases and illnesses. Neutral acid doesn't do anything.
Acidic ash foods include meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, grains, caffeine and alcohol, and consist of protein, phosphate, and sulfur. Alkaline foods are typically fruits, nuts, vegetables, soybeans, tofu and seeds, consisting of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Neutral acids include natural fats, starches, and sugar.
To achieve alkalinity in the body, it is okay to consume a few foods from the acidic food list above, however, these shouldn’t be making up the main part of your diet! Consider minimizing these foods significantly while dramatically upping your intake of alkaline foods and then see just how your body responds!
The great thing about the alkaline diet is that it can work for vegetarians, vegans (with minimal substitutions) and even gluten intolerant people as well, so the transition can be smooth. Check out this helpful infographic and added list to get you started:
Vegetables
- Mustard Greens
- Mushrooms
- Nightshade Veggies
- Parsnips (high glycemic)
- Sweet potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Peppers
- Wild Greens
- Sea Veggies
- Edible Flowers
- Eggplant
- Fermented Veggies
- Green Beans
- Chard Greens
- Chlorella
- Collard Greens
- Spirulina
- Alka
Fruits
- Tropical Fruits
- Umeboshi Plums
- Dried figs
- Honeydew Melon
- Sour cherries
- Rhubarb
Protein
- Tempeh (fermented)
- Millet
- Chestnuts
Spices & Seasonings
- Sea Salt
- Miso
- Tamari
- All Herbs
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Curry
- Chili pepper
Others
- Mineral water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Green Juices
- Veggie Juices
- Fresh Fruit Juice
- Molasses
- Probiotic Cultures
- Bee pollen
Main Benefits
Heart Disease
An alkaline diet helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol which are the biggest contributing factors to heart problems.
Inflammation
This is the body’s way of dealing with irritation or pain by attempting to remove it. It can often come as a result of infection or injury, so by alkalizing your body you are protecting it.
Diabetes
Alkalization influences and helps weight loss which is good at preventing diabetes and osteoarthritis.
Cancer
This diet can make certain chemotherapy drugs more effective and less toxic. It has yet to be proven if changing acidity can actually prevent cancer, but consuming more fruits and vegetables is known to help.
The reason this diet works so well is due to increased consumption of healthy foods like fruits, vegetable, seeds and other greens while reducing or even completely removing processed junk foods. So even if you’re not looking to completely jump on board, eat more of these foods and you’re sure to feel great!