Foods to Restore Acid/Alkaline Balance in the Body

The fluids in the human body are affected by alkaline and acid levels. The body is healthiest and functions properly when your pH balance is at neutral to slightly alkalized levels, and not extreme in terms of acidic or alkalized content. The "potential of Hydrogen" or pH balance is measured on a scale of zero to fourteen, with 6.8 to 7 being considered within normal limits. Eating certain foods can help keep your bodily acid/alkaline levels well-balanced.

Extremes in pH Levels

• Lower pH levels indicate a diet that is highly acidic, and higher pH levels indicate a diet contains excessive alkaline content. Your pH levels can be tested by your doctor or at home kits with that test your saliva, your sweat, and your urine to determine your pH levels. You should perform at home tests sixty minutes before you eat a meal, and your levels should be tested two times weekly to get an accurate assessment of your pH balance.

  When pH levels are low, enzymes have difficulty functioning, and when pH levels are high, a host of symptoms can manifest. According to Dr. David Murphy PhD, ND, CHT of the International Wellness Institute, a high acidity level is a common pH balance problem that causes the body to use mineral sources from vital organs when natural mineral sources are depleted. Eventually, muscles and organs weaken with high acidity levels, and you might develop issues with the kidneys, bladder, heart, immune system, your energy levels, and weight gain. Dr Murphy argues that eighty percent of your diet should contain alkaline foods, and the remaining twenty percent of your diet should contain acid ash producing foods for well-balanced pH levels. Dr. Murphy further asserts that the American diet ends up producing a lot of acid ash; a residue that remains after your body has processed foods that have been ingested. This ash production has a higher acid content level that is higher than the acid generated by cells in the body.

Alkaline Producing Foods

• Eighty percent of your food consumption should consist of alkaline containing foods for proper pH balance. Foods that are extremely high in alkaline-ash content can be consumed in order to improve an acid imbalance in the body. Some of these foods include asparagus, broccoli, garlic, kiwi lemons, limes, mangoes, olive oil, onions, parsley, papaya, raw spinach, and watermelon. Other foods that have an alkaline-ash content include: almonds, apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, beets, brussel sprouts, chard leaves, cucumbers, grapes, green beans, and raw honey. Consuming alkaline juices made from carrots, beets, and celery is also recommended to counteract a high acid content in the body.

Acid Ash Producing Foods

• While you do require acid ash producing foods in your diet, you only require a small amount (20% of your total intake), so it is best if you minimize foods in your with super high acid-ash producing potential. You will need to limit foods like artificial sweeteners, beer, beef, blueberries, carob, cranberries, peanuts, shellfish, prunes, soybeans, and walnuts. Acid ash producing foods that have a reduced effect on pH balance include foods high in calcium and magnesium, foods enriched with Vitamin A and D, bacon, dried beans, wheat bran, oat bran, whole wheat bread, corn, corn oil, plum, whole wheat flour, processed honey, dried lentils, molasses, oatmeal, peanut butter, peas, pinto beans, and squash.