Anyone who follows natural health magazines or social media sites knows that acidity is a topic that has been on a lot of peoples’ minds in recent years. This is because studies continue to uncover the fact that the typical American diet, which includes high amounts of animal proteins, sugar and hydrogenated
fats, has a tendency to lower the pH of the body and produce an acidic environment. This acidic environment, however, can lead to long-term health issues: it has been linked to worsening of chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia and it also provides a more hospitable environment for the development of cancer cells. The good news is, however, that this condition of acidity can be reversed, often through simple changes in the diet. Below is an outline of different groups of alkalizing foods that can restore the body to a healthy pH balance.
Group 1: Berries, bananas, avocadoes, celery, dates and currants, and garlic
Foods from this group have a pH value of around 8 so they are able to react to and raise the pH value of foods around the 5.0 mark for an overall alkalizing effect. They also promote bodily health because they are rich in antioxidants and make it easier for the body to naturally detoxify itself.
Group 2: Apricots, apples and alfalfa sprouts
This group of foods also has a pH value of around 8, and in addition to this provides generous amounts of fiber to not only cleanse the body but to improve digestion and even aid in weight loss. These high fiber foods have also been linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer.
Group 3: Grapes, pears, pineapples, passion fruit, umeboshi plums
Group three foods are even more alkalizing and have an overall pH value of 8.5. In addition to being able to lower acid levels in the bloodstream, this group of foods is rich in nutrients like Vitamins A, B and C, antioxidants, and compounds like L-carnitine which help to speed up metabolism and shed excess weight.
Group 4: Watercress, asparagus and seaweeds
Group four also has a pH value of 8.5 and are very effective at alkalizing the blood. In addition to this, they are incredibly rich in minerals and seaweed in particular is a great source of iodine which can help stimulate a sluggish thyroid gland and balance out its hormones.
Group 5: Lemons
Lemons, with a pH value of 2, are considered to be the best alkalizing food around. In spite of the fact that they contain high amounts of citric acid, their high mineral content actually has the effect of raising the pH of the blood. They are also a great source of Vitamins A and C and antioxidants.
So consider incorporating some of the foods listed above into a daily eating program that will provide the body with the alkalizing foods it needs to maintain a healthy pH balance to ward of cancer and chronic inflammatory disease.
Sources: livingthepresence.org, vividlife.me, balance-ph-diet.com
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