An alkaline diet is one in which the main goal is to keep your body’s acid and alkaline levels correctly balanced. In actual fact, while an excess of acidity can be damaging to your health, it is acceptable to eat some acidifying foods. The trick is to keep your body in a moderately alkaline state.
The food that we eat plays a major part in maintaining this balance. A low-alkaline diet can create an unbalanced state in our organs, and if left unrepaired for a long period of time, the result can be illness. The natural state of the human body is slightly alkaline. Our ancient ancestors would automatically have eaten an alkaline diet. This is because fresh fruit, vegetables, and other whole foods create an alkaline body once taken in.
Some foods are strongly acidic before they are eaten, but once ingested and digested, they become strongly alkaline-forming. The lemon is one such fruit. Outside of the body it is classified as highly acidic, but once digested, the body is capable of breaking down the lemon’s ingredients, and the mineral “ash” that remains after digestion, is alkaline and therefore beneficial.
The goal in avoiding the harmful consequences of a low-alkaline diet is to follow eating plenty of the right foods. The beauty of this diet is that most alkaline foods are also healthy in other ways, as they are full of vitamins and minerals, and are also lower in fats and refined carbs. It is no surprise that fresh produce forms a large part of both a well-designed weight loss plan and a good alkaline diet; fruits and vegetables are superstars in both types of diet.
Low-alkaline foods that are the most acidifying, and that therefore should be minimized on an alkaline diet to keep excessive acid production in check, include meat and poultry, fish and seafood, many dairy foods, and eggs. Sugar, processed starches, and alcohol are also strongly acidic and should therefore be consumed in strict moderation.
A good, well-balanced alkaline diet is not only good for improving overall well-being, it is also an excellent diet for weight loss. In short, it’s the best of all possible worlds.
The author answers questions about health and nutrition for the Alkaline Diet Blog. Visit now to learn more about the low alkaline diet.