In the search for health, more and more people are turning their focus to dietary modification to achieve new and positive health milestones. While the effectiveness of some diet changes can vary from person to person, it’s very clear that there are a wide variety of benefits to be gained from adjusting your diet. One of the easier dietary adjustments is to simply incorporate more alkaline foods into your diet. These amazing foods can improve health for a range of important systems.
What are Alkaline Foods?
Alkaline foods have a pH above 7 and they can lower acidity in the body. The majority of these types of foods have an excellent impact on the body and tend to contain many of the vitamins and minerals that we rely on to fight disease and promote healing.
Though the body must remain in a somewhat narrow pH window to stay alive, and much of the relationship between acid and alkaline sources are not completely understood, it is clear that many of these alkaline foods have health benefits that everyone can enjoy.
Here is a list of some of the foods that fall into the alkaline category:
Hummus
This wonderful snack food is made from ground chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. It has a number of awesome trace minerals, is high in protein, and full of healthy fats that promote heart health. It can be flavored in a variety of ways, and comes with the added bonus that it can lower your cholesterol. It also contains natural chemicals that can help fight cancer causing damage.
Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit known for its ability to aid in calming the stomach and reduce the production of stomach acids, that can help to improve digestion. It’s full of vitamins B, and C and is heavily antioxidant, which fights free radicals that can cause cancer.
Hemp Oil
This oil is very rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, making it great at fighting the free radicals that cause cancer. It is often associated with slowing the effects of ageing of the skin and combating signs of oxidative stress. It is high in protein and full of both omega 6 and omega 3 essential fatty acids.
Avocado
Avocado is among the most popular for use as a condiment, topping, or filling. One thing few people know is that they are higher in potassium than the average banana. They are also high in fiber and can help to lower your cholesterol. Avocados contain massive amounts of vitamins and minerals that help to nourish the body.
Olive Oil
As a rich source of monosaturated fats, this wonderful oil can help prevent heart disease, and greatly reduces the risk of stroke. Olive oil is famous for its anti-inflammatory action, as well as its ability to combat free radicals and other oxidative effects. It can be used as a vegetable oil substitute because it produces less harmful chemicals when heated to higher temperatures.
Garlic
Garlic is an excellent alkaline vegetable with a multitude of useful properties. It has long related to healing, and medicine because of its anti-bacterial and antifungal properties. It also contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, selenium, B6, and B1, but retains a very low calorie count, which makes it an excellent food additive.
Ginger
This famous root is known for its powerful odor, and antibacterial properties. It can help manage stomach issues including nausea and morning sickness, is a powerful anti-inflammatory and lowers blood sugar. If you have been doing strenuous work, ginger can also help to reduce muscular pains.
Lettuce
Along with its alkalinity, lettuce provides a lot of the important trace minerals our bodies need. These include phosphorous, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6, vitamin K, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Studies have also found that lettuce contains chemicals that help to improve mood, and can help to regulate anxiety.
Carrot
A high fiber vegetable, the carrot is well known for its starchy fibrous body, it is high in pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese, and has excellent antioxidant properties. Carrots have long been associated with the improvement of eyesight, and studies have shown that carrots can prevent some forms of muscular degeneration that are common as humans age. Carrots make an excellent addition to any meal, and can be cooked in a variety of ways or eaten raw with a serving of hummus.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a leafy green vegetable that is packed with a wide array of vitamins, and many of the very important trace minerals. The stem is a great source of dietary fiber, and roasted it is a terrific addition to any salad mix. Rhubarb is also connected to weight loss because of its extremely low calorie count. Another one of its awesome attributes is that it is known for is its ability to help with constipation which can prevent other conditions of the colon from developing and becoming dangerous. Rhubarb leaves are not edible!
Herbal Tea
Tea has a 2,000-year-old association with medicine. Herbal teas have been known to provide nourishment due to their high vitamin content and promote healing, emotional wellbeing, as well as aid with calmness and sleeping. Teas are also very effective in helping the body to prevent bone loss due to ageing. Drinking at least 2 cups of tea a day will help boost your immune system, and keep you feeling energised through the day.
Cauliflower
This interesting vegetable is highly anti-inflammatory and provides a good amount of choline which is an important B vitamin for brain health. Studies have been known to show that it can help reduce the speed of brain deterioration due to old age. It is also an excellent source of antioxidants and phytonutrients which give the body a better chance at fighting free radicals. Cauliflower also helps cardiovascular health because of the agent sulforaphane which promotes proper cell formation within the veins and arteries.
Celery
Celery is a heavily fibrous plant that has its roots deep in history as a medicine to combat high blood pressure. Highly anti-inflammatory with powerful anti-oxidant properties, celery also contains quite a few trace minerals and vitamins. Another amazing effect of celery is its ability to stimulate liver function by helping the liver to produce cleansing enzymes. Celery can help to lower cholesterol and fight microbial infections in the body.
Coconut
This hard-shelled fruit is packed with a ton of benefits. Coconut has a history of improving skin by aiding elasticity and fighting oxidative stress. It is also great for your immune system, because it has a large amount of anti-parasitic and antimicrobial properties. Coconut can also help to improve digestion of food and make it easier for the body to absorb valuable nutrients. One of the best attributes of coconut is that it can help to regulate insulin, which can help to prevent diabetes.
Green beans
More than just a staple food for some cultures, green beans are another highly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food with great health benefits. Green beans have been found to be effective at reducing risks associated with heart disease, believed to be due to the high number of flavonoids they contain.
Cherries
Cherries are an amazing natural source of melatonin with is a hormone producing by your pineal gland. Science has discovered that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice can greatly help you to stay asleep for longer periods. Melatonin is also an antioxidant that can help to combat free radicals. Cherries are also full of powerful naturally occurring anti-inflammatory chemicals.
Radishes
Radishes are known to have a cooling effect on the body and were used by ancient Chinese doctors to help people deal with heat during hot weather. There are also diuretic and help the body to flush toxins by passing them into urine and out of the body. They are high in vitamin C and other trace minerals.
Bananas
This yellow tree fruit is packed with great carbs and vitamins. Even though it contains a healthy dose of nutrition, it still has less than 120 calories. Eating a banana won’t spike your blood sugar, and they are absorbed quickly. They are very high in fiber and can help you to have proper elimination. This fast absorption and high fiber will make you feel more satisfied and fuller. Bananas also have a positive effect on mood, can help you to relax and to sleep better.
Lemon
While citrus fruits such as lemons and grapefruits have pH levels below 7, they are not acidic in the body when eaten, and actually have an alkaline effect. Lemon juice is a great way to stimulate activity in the liver, which can help to break down a number of toxins in the body. Citric acid in lemon is also effective at dissolving small kidney stones (or preventing stones from forming) and can help to improve digestion. If you were to consume at least a glass of lemon juice a day, the acids can stimulate your intestines to create a bowel movement, and the juice can help to dissolve various substances that form plaque on the intestinal walls.
Grapefruit
This larger citrus fruit can help with cholesterol levels, and greatly impacts lipid levels. Grapefruit is associated with weight loss because of its effect on fats in the body and it is full of vitamin C, amongst others. It can also help to erode calcium build ups like those found in painful kidney stones. To help prevent stones, you can try consuming at least a cup of grapefruit juice each day. Grapefruit is commonly eaten for breakfast and is also popular as a late-night snack instead of eating carb-filled junk foods.
Tomatoes
Like citrus fruit, tomatoes have an acidic pH but they also have an alkaline effect on the body when consumed. Tomatoes are heavily antioxidant because they are very high in lycopene, which is very effective at preventing oxidation that can lead to various diseases and conditions. One such effect that has been studied is lycopene’s ability to prevent lipids from building up in the veins and arteries. These free-floating fats are a primary cause of heart disease and arterial obstructions that can cause strokes. Tomatoes also have a positive effect on bone development in post-menopausal women.
These are some of the best alkaline foods to include in your daily diet. Eat well!
