Basic pH Foods to Lose Weight

Several health experts point to the growing number of acidic foods in people's kitchens as the cause of many health problems, including weight gain. To combat fat, many are encouraging increased consumption of foods with a basic pH, otherwise known as alkaline foods. Generally, alkaline foods can be broken into three categories--fruits, vegetables, and grains, nuts and seeds.

Fruits

• Several types of popular fruits fall on the basic pH side of the scale. Lemons, limes, avocados, bananas, grapefruits and tomatoes all are basic and could be eaten as part of an alkaline-heavy diet. However, many fruits, like apples and oranges, are on the opposite side of the spectrum and are highly acidic.

Vegetables

• A wide variety of vegetables are basic and are welcome additions to any diet focusing on alkaline foods. Most popular vegetables--carrots, peas, onions, cauliflower, lettuce, celery and garlic, to name a few--have a basic pH. Other alkaline vegetables include brussel sprouts, leeks and spinach. In fact, people seeking a basic pH diet can generally rely on vegetables to provide it, as very few common vegetables are high in acidity.

Grains, Nuts and Seeds

• A wide variety of grains, nuts and seeds also are basic and can be included in an alkaline diet. Popular grains with a basic pH include flax, spelt, and buckwheat groat. Basic nuts include almonds, and there are a number of basic seeds as well, such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and cumin seeds. In general, any sprouted seed has a basic pH.

  However, people seeking a basic diet should stay away from some popular types of nuts, including peanuts and cashews, because they have high acidity levels.