Acidity of food products. Acids and alkalis in food

The acid-base balance in the body is as important as the balance of amino acids, fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Ideally, the proportion of acid-base balance looks like this: 70-80% alkali and 20-30% acid.

The acid-alkaline environment is formed by the foods we eat. Some of them produce alkaline substances during the splitting process, others - acidic ones. The alkali, which is formed during the metabolic process, is needed in order to reduce the acidity level to an acceptable level.

A high level of acidity entails many consequences, including the formation of malignant tumors. An acidic environment in the body interferes with the functioning of internal organs and slows down metabolism, causing obesity. Increased acidity creates the need for a protective reaction: in the absence of alkali from the outside, the body compensates for it with its resources, calcium and sodium.

Bones and joints suffer first, immunity decreases, and the body loses its ability to regenerate. An acidic environment provokes the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

Despite the consequences, few people think that the source of diseases can be poor nutrition. Maintaining the acid-base balance is one of the main conditions for the normal functioning of all body systems. Only the inclusion of certain types of foods in the diet can ensure a normal balance and eliminate all unfavorable causes.

Chemical composition, properties and effect on the body

Alkaline products in total contain many chemical components that are necessary for the normal functioning of the brain, stomach, nervous and circulatory systems, and musculoskeletal system.

Among them:

  • calcium;
  • potassium;
  • sodium;
  • magnesium;
  • manganese;
  • copper;
  • iron.

In addition, they contain many vitamins, minerals and beneficial microelements.

The main function of alkaline foods is to maintain the balance of acidity in the body. They have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, liver, kidneys, heart, hematopoiesis, gastrointestinal tract, bones and joints. They also strengthen and rejuvenate the body, increase immunity and natural resistance of the body.

Alkaline foods, in the proper amount, can cure ailments such as insomnia, increased nervous excitability, systematic migraines and chronic fatigue. They are an excellent means of preventing the development and exacerbation of osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, hypertension, aneurysm and a number of cardiovascular diseases.

Alkaline foods are an important element of the diet, but balance must be maintained. An excess of alkaline foods and a lack of acidic foods can also cause diseases. An alkaline environment is preferable for the body, but a lack of acids, in turn, leads to problems with the liver and pancreas.

List of acidic and alkaline foods

In order to properly organize your diet, you need to know which products are alkaline or acidic, and some can be called conditionally alkaline; the table below provides a list of products by category

Product group Acidic Alkaline Conditionally alkaline
Meat and fish Everything + bird eggs - -
Vegetables, herbs and root vegetables Peas and beans (dried) Everything + peas and beans (sprouted), any green root vegetables.
Fruits Any fruit juices with sugar or other sweeteners, any cooked fruits with added sugar. Raw and dried fruits: apples, bananas, grapes, peaches. Especially citrus fruits: lemon and lime. -
Berries Only with added sweeteners. Any fresh berries, including cranberries, currants, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc. -
Dried fruits - Figs, raisins, prunes, dates -
Cereals Barley, oatmeal, all grains Unpolished rice, pearl barley Millet
Seeds and nuts All dried and fried: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews. - Almonds and Brazil nuts, soaked groundnuts.
Dairy Cow's milk (pasteurized and sterilized), cottage cheese, any cheeses. Goat's milk and cheese. Raw cow's milk.
Bakery products All products are made from premium flour. - -
Seasonings, spices and sauces All - -
Sugar Refined Unrefined

Acid foods include any semi-finished products, confectionery, canned and fried foods, any alcoholic products, tobacco and anything that contains caffeine.

Acid-base balance according to I.P. Neumyvakin

Recommendations for maintaining acid-base balance can be found from Professor Ivan Pavlovich Neumyvakin. I.P. Neumyvakin is a Doctor of Medical Sciences, a state prize laureate and the author of numerous works on medicine.

From the professor’s point of view, the optimal ratio of consumed foods is ¾ alkaline and ¼-1/5 acidic foods. Moreover, oxidation of the body should occur only with the help of natural products. Additional medications do not work in this case.

To restore the acid-base balance, breathing exercises are recommended, since the balance in the body is also built due to the ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The first thing that will help is the practice of holding your breath. Professor I.P. Neumyvakin recommends holding your breath for one minute. On the day of such “exercises” there should be a total of 30 minutes to an hour.

Regular baking soda will also help restore the acid-base balance. A quarter of a teaspoon is diluted in hot water. Drink the solution 20-30 minutes before meals. Soda has vascular cleansing properties and helps dissolve cholesterol plaques and blood clots.

An important factor is the presence of water in the body. You need to drink as much as possible, this will help ensure normal gastric microflora and reduce the acid-base ratio.

The greatest danger is meat as one of the most acidic foods. Excessive consumption of meat and any other animal products provokes the leaching of calcium from the bones, as the body is forced to neutralize increased acidity. This is especially noticeable in women and can cause cancer.

Diet planning plays an important role. It never hurts to have a few simple recipes on hand that could make breakfast, lunch and dinner not only as healthy as possible, but also delicious.

  1. Preference should be given to vegetable salads. The combination of green root vegetables and raw vegetables saturates the body with many beneficial elements. Steaming vegetables is allowed. It should be seasoned with olive oil. You can add goat cheese to taste. The main thing is to avoid frying, as it makes the vegetables acidic.
  2. Vegetable or mushroom soup, which includes cabbage of all varieties, fresh carrots and broccoli, is perfect for lunch. It is not recommended to cook soups with frying.
  3. Stewed vegetables can be served with boiled potatoes or rice. Potatoes should not be overused; this dish is best left for lunch, not dinner.
  4. Many people love fruit salads. A banana, citrus and apple salad can add variety to your breakfast. You can combine fruits and berries, for example with cherries, lingonberries or raspberries.

Maintaining acid-base balance in the body will help solve and prevent many health problems. The diet should contain a large amount of food that causes alkaline reactions in the body; this is one of the main principles of a healthy diet. It is important to remember that acid-base balance means just balance: you should not completely give up oxidizing foods, including meat. Planning your diet and giving up bad habits will help you achieve optimal ratios.


In contact with

Back in the 50s, it became known about the benefits of alkaline foods. Based on them, many diets have been developed, which are especially popular with people involved in sports and actors. According to many experts, using this scheme you can quickly lose weight without compromising your health. However, there are also opponents of alkaline diets. In their opinion, such nutrition can disrupt the acid-base balance in the body, which will lead to a lot of problems. Is it so? It's worth looking into.

Features of acid-base balance

The concept of “acid-base balance” (pH) is familiar to many people from school. A scale immediately appears before your eyes, the divisions at one end of which correspond to an alkaline environment, and at the other - to an acidic environment. Numbers are indicated in the range from 0 to 14. In the center is a neutral medium, it corresponds to the number 7. Everything above 7 corresponds to an alkali, more to an acid.


Optimal pH level in the human body

To maintain the functioning of all organs and systems in the human body, the pH needs to be at a level of 7.4. Small deviations are allowed in the range of 7.36−7.44. An imbalance of acids and alkalis disrupts the functioning of the human body associated with the transport of oxygen and other valuable substances.

On a note! There are always reserve alkalis in the body. He stores them in case of acid-base balance disturbance. However, someday they come to an end. And if these reserves are not replenished, negative consequences are possible.

To get rid of alkali deficiency, you need to introduce foods containing them into your diet. Special tables have been compiled where the ingredients are listed, indicating the amount of substance included in their composition. As for excess alkalis, this, as a rule, does not occur. The excess is stored “in reserve”, which the body does to avoid increased acidity.

Causes of acid-base imbalance

To avoid disturbances in the acid-base balance, it is necessary to understand why it occurs in the first place? The reasons are as follows:

  • poor nutrition – lack of alkali-containing foods in the diet;
  • increased physical activity;
  • frequent depression, stress;
  • inactive lifestyle.

The most common cause of increased acidity is poor diet. The modern human diet contains a lot of sugar, foods high in carbohydrates, and animal products. But they are the sources of acids.


An inactive lifestyle plays an important role, which is not surprising given such a scientific and technological breakthrough. Modern people move less and less, and machines do most of the work for them. This also leads to the fact that the acidic environment predominates over the alkaline one.

Symptoms of pH imbalance

The following symptoms indicate that the body contains many acids and few alkalis:

  • skin diseases;
  • constant nausea;
  • allergy;
  • Digestive problems.

With a lack of alkalis, collagen synthesis decreases, which causes an increased risk of developing cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurosis.

On a note! An alkaline filter is currently used to alkalize water. According to reviews, it helps restore the acid-base balance in the human body.

List of products containing alkalis

Vegetables and fruits occupy an honorable place in the list of products rich in alkalis. However, to normalize the acid-base balance, you will have to eat them fresh. The fact is that after heat treatment they lose their beneficial properties.

In addition to vegetables and fruits, the list of foods high in alkalis includes:

  • berries;
  • greenery;
  • pearl barley;
  • green tea;
  • vegetable seeds;
  • olive oil;
  • wild rice.

As for neutral products, the list is supplemented by:

  • poultry meat;
  • dairy products;
  • fish;
  • corn lard;
  • most seafood;
  • oatmeal.

The list of the most alkaline foods includes:

  • lemon – ranks first in the list of products with a high alkali content;
  • dill, cilantro, parsley;
  • cucumber;
  • broccoli, celery;
  • carrots, asparagus, beets, turnips;
  • papaya, avocado;
  • almonds are perhaps the only type of nut that does not contain acid;
  • watermelon is an exclusively “alkaline” product with a pH of 9 units;
  • garlic.

An alkaline diet has been developed based on these products.


On a note! Many people believe that food that tastes sour necessarily increases acidity in the human body. In fact, this is not true. Often acidic foods are a source of alkalis. And a clear example of this is lemon.

When on an alkaline diet, it is prohibited to consume legumes, flour products, confectionery, nuts (except almonds), red meat, sugar, cheese, juices and drinks with gases.

Alkaline Food Chart

Adherents of a healthy diet are advised to include in the diet the list of products indicated in the table.

Products with a high content of alkalis

Foods with moderate alkaline content

Low alkali foods

Products with very low alkali content

Baking soda

White cabbage

Blueberry juice

Potato

Grape

Nectarine

Grapefruit

Currant

Eggplant

Coconut oil

Beet juice

Pumpkin seeds

Duck eggs

Lentils

Japanese rice

Mandarin juice

Green tea

Squash

Sea salt

Apple cider vinegar

Sunflower seeds

Seaweed

Fish fat

Olive oil

Herbal teas

Quail eggs

Ginger tea

Broccoli

Chicken egg yolks

Celery

Leek

Soy sauce

Nutritional yeast

Corn

Kohlrabi

Orange

Broccoli

Still mineral water

If you regularly consume alkaline foods from the list indicated in the first column of the table, the likelihood of the pH value deviating from the established norm is minimal.

Table of foods with high acidity

Some foods tend to increase acidity in the human body, so when following an alkaline diet, it is recommended to exclude such foods from the diet. A list of such ingredients is presented in the table.

Foods with very low acidity

Low acidity foods

Moderately acidic foods

High acidity foods

Brown rice

Alcohol

Barley grits

Artificial sweeteners

Balsamic vinegar

Dried fruits

Black coffee

Processed cheese

Fructose

Wheat flour

Goat cheese

Goose meat

Egg white

All fried food

Almond oil

Canned juices

Semi-finished products

Black tea

Mutton

Oat bran

Pine nuts

Tomatoes

White rice

Carbonated drinks

Pumpkin oil

Shellfish

Palm oil

Ice cream

Prunes

Salt

Pasta

Veal

Squid

With an alkaline diet, food from the last columns of the table is unacceptable. As for the list of products in the first column, they should be limited in the diet.

Benefits of an alkaline diet

An alkaline diet is necessary for people who have an imbalanced acid-base balance in the body. The menu is designed in such a way that it includes food rich in alkalis. Thanks to this nutritional scheme, it is possible to restore the functioning of individual organs and the entire body as a whole.


When following an alkaline diet, visible improvements are observed after a certain time. The condition of the skin, nails, and hair improves. It is even possible to break down kidney stones. In addition, normalization of the functioning of the gallbladder is noted.

The alkaline diet helps you lose weight because there are no harmful foods in its menu. The diet includes healthy foods that help speed up metabolic processes.

However, this does not mean that in order to maintain the acid-base balance for the rest of your life, you need to consume exclusively “alkaline” foods. When the ratio of alkalis and acids is restored, you can replace half of the ingredients with foods with high acidity.

In 1932, Otto Warburg, a biochemist from Germany, proved that acidification of the human body leads to the development of cancer! Cancer cells live only in c ]]>

About acid-base balance


Proponents of alternative medicine believe that the need for alkalizing foods is inherent in nature. Thus, blood is more alkaline in nature, since its pH is 7.35–7.45. Therefore, food with an acidic environment disrupts the harmony of the body, balance, as a result of which diseases arise. And then you need an alkaline diet.

According to this theory, acidic environments in the intestines provoke rotting processes, pathogenic microbes multiply in the organ, and waste products are formed. Alkaline food neutralizes acids, helps cleanse the body, remove toxins, and prevent their re-formation.

How to check your balance?


The pharmacy sells litmus paper - the kind they used in chemistry lessons. This is an instrument used to measure environmental parameters. Two biological fluids are examined - urine and saliva. The urine is checked after the second trip to the toilet. The first morning urine that is tested is always acidic, since excess acid is removed from the body through the kidneys overnight. Measurements are carried out repeatedly, and based on their results, an arithmetic mean is derived.

Results:

  • pH up to 7 – oxidation;
  • pH above 7.5 - alkalization.

Alkali or acid?


There is no such choice - the body needs all kinds of food, but the diet must be balanced. Oxidizing and alkalizing products are present in the diet equally - 50/50, some sources indicate other proportions - 35/65, respectively. But the diet of patients provides for a different ratio - 20/80 in favor of alkalizing foods.

Attention, meat and other foods that acidify the body cannot be excluded from nutrition even on a diet, since essential amino acids enter the body with it.

Food combination


According to nutritionists who are supporters of this nutrition theory, foods on the menu should be combined as follows:

  1. Meat and fish are eaten with vegetables, not grains.
  2. Berry sauces and berry side dishes are served with meat.
  3. Coffee and alcohol are washed down with water.
  4. A snack of fresh vegetables reduces the acidic properties of alcohol.

By eating right, a person not only restores the natural acid-base balance, improves the health of the body, but also loses weight.

List of acidic and alkaline foods

It is believed that a product with an oxidizing effect is determined by taste. But this is a mistaken opinion. Often acidic fruits and dishes - for example, lemon - alkalize the environment.

The table contains a list of basic food products from the daily diet. The numbers in the column on the right (1–4) indicate how pronounced the acidifying/alkalinizing properties are.

Acidifying products

Fruits
Fruits boiled with sugar 1–3
Bananas are green 2
Plums - compote, pickled 2
Sweetened grape juice 3
Orange juice with sugar 3
Lemon juice with sugar 3
Vegetables, greens, legumes
Dried beans 1
Dry peas 2
Baked beans 3
Cereals
Brown rice 1
Spelled 1
Sprouted wheat bread 1
Black bread 1
Barley 1
Buckwheat 2
Starch 2
Corn 2
Mamaliga, corn flakes 2
White flour 2
White rice 2
Rye 2
White bread 2
Barley grits 2
Dairy group
Soft cheese 1
Cream, butter 2
Hard cheese 2
Nuts, vegetable oils
Corn oil 1
Sunflower seeds and oil 1
Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil 1
Groundnuts 2
Cashew 2
Pecan 2
Peanut 3
Walnuts 3
Eggs
Egg (whole) 3
Egg white 4
Meat
Game 1–4
Lamb stew 1
Fatty bacon 1
Beef 1
Boiled lamb 2
Bacon skinny 2
Fresh lean ham 2
Turkey 2
Chicken 2
Pork lean 2
Beef liver 3
Chickens 3
Fish, seafood
Fish 2–3
Mussels 3
Halibut 3
Cancers 4
Oysters 4
Confectionery, sugar and substitutes
Processed honey 1
Syrup 1
White, brown sugar 2
Cocoa 3
Sweeteners 3
Chocolate 3
Beverages
Black tea 1
Coffee 2
Alcohol (strong and weak), beer 4
Sweet sparkling waters 4

Alkalizing Products

Fruits, juices
Berries 2–4
Cranberry 1
Ripe bananas 2
Grape 2
Natural grape juice 2
Cherries 2
Raisin 2
Dates 2
Fresh, dried apples 2
Fresh apricots 3
Oranges 3
Watermelons 3
Avocado 3
Melons 3
Peaches 3
Dried plums 3
Currant 3
Lemon juice without sugar 3
Orange juice without sugar 3
Fruits (almost all) 3
Prunes 3
Cherries 3
Dried apricots 4
Grapefruit 4
Dried figs 4
Lime 4
Lemons 4
Mango 4
Papaya 4
Vegetables, greens, legumes
Green pea 2
Onion 2
Fresh beans 3
Broccoli 3
Potatoes with skin 3
Vegetable juices 3
Dandelion (greens) 3
Parsnip 3
Peppers 3
Parsley 3
Radish 3
Asparagus 3
Cauliflower 3
Spinach raw 3
lettuce 4
Carrot 4
Raw cucumbers 4
Raw tomatoes 4
Celery 4
Raw beets 4
Cereals
Amaranth 1
Wild rice 1
Quinoa 1
Millet 1
Oat groats 3
Dairy group
Kefir, curdled milk 1
Goat cheese 1
Goat milk 1
Whole milk 1
Soy cheese, milk 2
Serum 3
Cottage cheese 3
Nuts, vegetable oils
Flaxseed oil, seed 2
Almond 2
Olive oil 2
Rapeseed oil 2
Meat
Pork lard 1
Sugar, honey
Fresh honey 1
Raw sugar 1
Beverages
Green tea 2
Ginger tea 2
Lemon water 3
Herbal teas 3

Alkaline diet

Proponents of alternative medicine believe that diet helps get rid of ailments and some conditions of the body that arise due to the imbalance of acids and alkalis:

  • chronic fatigue syndrome and decreased tone;
  • runny nose, nasal congestion;
  • frequent respiratory infections, colds;
  • cystic formations on the ovaries, in the mammary gland;
  • regular headaches;
  • excess body weight.

A high-alkaline diet reduces the risk of kidney stones, obesity due to age-related metabolic disorders, and osteoporosis (brittle bones). Since a person’s diet contains a lot of dietary fiber (the main alkalizing foods are vegetables), blood pressure normalizes, mechanical cleansing of the intestines occurs, blood composition improves, and hormonal levels are adjusted.

Principles of dietary nutrition

Gradually, the proportion of foods with an oxidative effect in the diet is reduced to 20% (the table above provides a list of such foods) in order to restore the acid-base balance.

Vegetables are consumed boiled and the juice is squeezed out. Fruits are eaten raw, fresh juices, mousses, and jellies are prepared.

Fish (boiled or baked, low-fat varieties) is eaten no more than 3 times a week. As for meat, preference is given to veal and poultry. It is sometimes allowed to consume honey, molasses, cane sugar, and maple syrup. The diet allows snacks that consist of juices and dried fruits. The main fats in the diet are sunflower, peanut, and olive oil.

The diet does not allow drinking coffee or black tea. To maintain water balance, drink water, herbal infusions, and juices. Wash down your main meal with herbal teas.

Chew food thoroughly, making 30–50 chewing movements.

Menu for the day

  • Breakfast: fresh red and green vegetables, a glass of soy milk or natural yogurt without sugar, a peach or an apple.
  • Lunch: chicken meat (boiled) - 150 g, vegetable side dish, herbal tea.
  • Dinner: baked fish - 150 g, vegetable salad, natural yogurt.

The topic has not been explored deeply enough. Therefore, before changing your diet, it is recommended to consult a doctor, especially in case of chronic diseases, when a different diet has been prescribed or your health has worsened. An imbalanced acid-base balance can lead to negative consequences.

You may also be interested

Which foods are called acidic and which are alkaline, what is the difference between them, and how do they affect human health?

Human blood is alkaline. To maintain blood alkalinity, we need 80% alkaline foods and 20% acidic foods. After going through the full cycle of digestion and metabolic processes in the body, some foods leave behind alkaline waste, while others leave behind acidic waste.

We can call such products alkaline-genic and acid-genic, respectively.

Typically, acids synthesized during the metabolism of products (for example, uric acid, lactic acid, etc.) enter into a chemical reaction with alkalis in the blood, lymph, bile, etc., and are ultimately neutralized. But if acid-genic foods predominate in the diet, the body cannot cope with all the incoming acids, and then symptoms begin to appear: fatigue, headache, loss of appetite (anorexia), insomnia, nervous tension, hyperacidity, runny nose, etc.

There are other important side effects that occur due to increased blood acidity. The body uses sodium as a buffer to maintain homeostasis and return the acidic pH to normal levels, causing sodium stores to become depleted. When sodium can no longer buffer the accumulated acid, the body begins to use calcium as a second buffer. Calcium is leached from bones and teeth if there is not enough of it in the diet. This leads to weakened bones, which become porous and brittle. This condition is called osteoporosis in medical parlance.

Chronic hyperacidity is an abnormal condition in which the processes of degeneration and aging of the body are accelerated. All toxic substances in the body are in the form of acids and to prevent or counteract the accumulation of acids in the body, we must consume foods that are primarily alkaline in nature.

Therefore, it is important to know which foods are acidic and which are alkaline. Depending on the effect of food on urine, they are divided into acid- or alkaline-gene. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, copper, manganese and potassium in food create alkaline effects. Sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, iodine, carbon dioxide and carbonic, lactic and uric acids in products create an acidic effect.

List of sour foods

1. All food products of animal origin: meat, eggs, fish, poultry, etc.
2. Dairy products: sterilized and pasteurized milk, cheese, cottage cheese and butter.
3. Dried peas and beans.
4. All grains and legumes: wheat, corn, rice and beans.
5. All nuts and seeds (dried): peanuts, walnuts, cashews, sesame, sunflower, melon seeds.
6. All prepared and semi-finished products: white bread, buns, baked goods, white flour, polished rice, white sugar.
7. Toxic products: tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, soft drinks.
8. All fats and oils.
9. All fried and spicy foods.
10. All sweet foods and candies (containing white sugar).

List of alkaline foods.

1. All fruits (fresh or dried), including citrus fruits.
2. All fresh vegetables and green root vegetables (except peas and beans).
3. Sprouts of beans, peas, cereal grains and seeds.
4. Sprouted grains and legumes??

Partially alkaline foods

1. Fresh raw milk and cottage cheese.
2. Soaked nuts and seeds.
3. Fresh nuts: almonds, coconut, Brazil nuts.
4. Fresh green beans, peas, grains and millet.

Some useful notes

1. As can be seen in the table, whole wheat flour, brown rice and other grains are mildly acidic in their natural state, but become more acidic when processed or refined.

2. Almost all grains, beans, all types of meat, eggs, fish are acidic in nature, while almost all fruits and vegetables are alkaline.

3. All citrus fruits (lemon, orange) initially seem sour, but their final effect in the body is alkaline. This is why they are classified as alkaline foods.

4. Legumes, which are difficult to digest, belong to the category of acidic foods, but when sprouted, they become more alkaline and less acidic.

5. There is virtually no doubt about the acidic or alkaline nature of milk. In this regard, it must be noted that fresh raw milk is alkaline, while heated or boiled milk is sour. Various products derived from milk such as cheese, butter, etc. are also sour in nature.

6. Among nuts, peanuts are the most acidic, while almonds are the least acidic. Coconut, on the other hand, is alkaline in nature.

The division of food into acidic and alkaline was made by yogis a very long time ago. All animal products, including many cereals, are considered sour.

Anastasia Solovyova

Greetings, my dear readers. This time, let's talk about the essence of the alkaline diet and its importance for our health. Probably each of us has heard about the acid-base balance, which is so important for health. But few people understand what this means and how to achieve this very balance.

I will try to explain it to you in a popular way, without complex scientific terms. Some foods, after complete digestion, leave alkaline waste. Others form acids, which, if in excess, cannot be completely neutralized or eliminated from the body. As a result, the acid begins to prevail over the alkali, which leads to the development of rather unpleasant ailments.

According to statistics, most urban residents consume daily up to 90% acid-forming products.

Signs of excessive oxidation in the body

Most protein products that are recommended to you by less than knowledgeable people as a guarantee of weight loss are capable of oxidizing, upsetting this very balance. That’s why, if you decide to lose weight on the Kremlin diet (read) or other similar ones, which contain an abundance of meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, then most likely this will lead to gradual oxidation of the body.

Moreover, these products do not taste sour at all, just during processing they release acid.

Why is excess acid so dangerous? Here's what:

  1. Have you ever experienced a feeling of overwhelming fatigue in the morning? Do you feel sleepy all the time during the day, even though you've had enough sleep? Do you ever feel like “a cart has passed through your body?” - these are signs of excessive oxidation of the body.
  2. An excess of acidic products neutralizes alkalis, while reserve reserves are used, which are contained in bones, teeth, and blood. This leads to the development of osteoporosis, tooth decay, and skin becoming loose. A lack of calcium and magnesium leads to muscle pain and the development of cramps and a feeling of numbness in the limbs.
  3. The signal about calcium deficiency is sent directly to the brain. The body responds to this by releasing calcium into the blood, which is then not used for its intended purpose, but is deposited inside the excretory organs. This is how stones appear in the kidneys and gall bladder, urolithiasis and various cysts develop.
  4. The risk of developing cancer increases, since cancer cells actively develop in an acidic environment.
  5. Oxidation contributes to the development of cataracts and clouding of the lens.
  6. The cardiovascular system also suffers, which is forced to work under overload.
  7. Anxiety, irritability, insomnia, swelling appear, immunity decreases, frequent colds, ailments, and weakness occur.
  8. Many organs begin to wear out, metabolism slows down, and the digestive system works worse.

Once you start eating alkaline foods, these ailments can go away on their own, as the body begins to work in the correct mode. Acid-alkaline diet for weight loss at the same time cleanses and heals the body.

Watch this video that explains why eating alkaline foods is so important:

How to independently determine your pH at home

There is a simple method for determining deviations in the acid-base balance of the body. To independently determine this parameter, you need to measure your blood pressure and pulse at rest.

1 Measure the lower diastolic pressure.

2 Determine your pulse. It’s good if you have an automatic tonometer that immediately shows this data.

3 Compare these two indicators:

  • Lower pressure is greater than pulse - your pH is alkaline (alkalosis);
  • Lower pressure below pulse - you have a predominant acidic environment (acidosis).

4 Identify the degree of imbalance. If the difference between the lower value of lower pressure and pulse is more than 20, then they speak of a significant deviation from the norm.

For example, your lower pressure is 65 and your pulse is 72 beats per minute. The body is slightly acidified.

Here you can watch video instructions:

What foods are acidic?

This begs the question: what foods should you eat to maintain the notorious balance? Should you give up acidic foods altogether? The answer can be unequivocal: both types of products are needed, but in the right ratio.

An alkaline diet for weight loss is considered the most acceptable, since eating only acidic or only alkaline foods upsets the very balance that is responsible for health.

  • For healthy people, it is necessary to consume 50% acidic and 50% alkaline foods. If there are pathologies, or you feel a loss of vigor, the appearance of chronic fatigue, decreased performance, it’s time to switch to another mode, in which 20% will be acidic products, and 80% alkaline;
  • The recommended alkaline balance is from 7.36 to 7.44 pH. If this indicator increases, we can talk about excessive alkalization, and if it decreases, we can talk about oxidation of the body.

I have put together an easy-to-use chart for you that will immediately show which foods are acidic and which are alkaline.

Alkaline diet chart:

Strong oxidizing agents pH 4 Weak oxidizing agents pH 5-6 Slightly alkaline pH 8-9 Highly alkaline pH 10
White bread, rolls, white flour products, semolina Meat, poultry, offal, sausages, smoked meats All types of fruits are boiled. baked, including citrus fruits All fresh fruits
Alcoholic drinks, beer Sea and river fish Greenery Asparagus
Sweet soda Nuts: peanuts, walnuts, cashews Whole grains, unprocessed cereals, grains and millets Watermelon
Sugar and all dishes containing it fermented milk products, boiled milk, cheeses, plums. oil Almonds, soaked nuts and seeds, coconut Sea kale
Confectionery, sweets, desserts sesame, sunflower, melon seeds Mushrooms Sprouts of beans, peas, cereal grains and seeds
Dried legumes, wheat, corn, rice Eggs Fresh raw milk, cottage cheese All fresh vegetables and raw root vegetables, celery, cucumbers, avocados (except peas and beans)
Fats, oils, lard Pasta Fresh green beans, peas alkaline mineral waters - hydrocarbonate
Tobacco, black tea and coffee All types of vegetables after cooking Cooked root vegetables Garlic

Conclusions about the alkaline nutrition system

In order not to get confused among the abundance of data, let's draw general conclusions. They will help you navigate independently when choosing the right products for you.

  • all types of culinary processed products, polished cereals, wheat, flour have an acidic nature of transformation;
  • meat, fish, chicken dishes, eggs have a high degree of oxidation;
  • legumes that are stored for a long time and cooked for a long time have high acidity;
  • at the same time, if you use fresh, green legumes, or sprout them, they become alkaline;
  • boiled or pasteurized milk is an acidic product, while fresh milk is alkaline;
  • all products made from milk that are heated or fermented become acidic;
  • citrus fruits: lemons and oranges, grapefruits, which initially have a sour taste, turn into alkaline during digestion. The same can be said about sour berries, apples, cranberries, prunes, and dried apricots. They all transform their original pH, becoming alkaline;
  • Peanuts are the most acidic product, almonds have a lower degree of acidity, but coconuts are alkaline even by nature.

To follow the rules of a balanced diet, you need to choose one of the acid-forming foods and combine it with an alkaline one. This way you can get closer to the golden mean.

TOP 10 best products for maintaining acid-base balance

For myself, I have long compiled a list of products for an alkaline diet, which can quickly change the increased acid background, making it neutral, or shifting it towards alkaline.

As soon as I feel:

  • prostration;
  • lack of vigor in the morning;
  • fatigue in the middle of the day;
  • initial signs of colds, then

  1. All types of greens. Celery changes the acid background especially quickly, but dill, fresh parsley, and all types of lettuce will undoubtedly be beneficial.
  2. Lemons and lemon juice. Do not look at the fact that this product is highly acidic. When digested, it is converted into an alkaline compound. Add lemon to tea, season salads with its juice. But there is absolutely no need for sugar here!
  3. All types of raw root vegetables: radishes, radishes, carrots, beets, parsley root, parsnips - almost instantly shift the balance in the right direction. When boiled or baked, this quality decreases, but neutral acidity can be achieved. In addition, these vegetables act as a brush for the digestive system, because they are rich in fiber, which can carry all harmful substances on its fibers.
  4. Garlic, onion. There is probably no need to even praise the properties of these vegetables, famous for their healing powers. They have antiviral, antifungal properties, restore reduced immunity. In addition, it is enough to eat them regularly, and your acid-base balance will always strive for ideal.
  5. All types of cabbage: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage. As soon as you feel an overabundance of protein foods, for example, as happens after the holidays, after an abundance of meat dishes, make yourself a light cabbage salad, season it with fresh herbs, add a spoonful of lemon juice. You will see, you will immediately feel a surge of strength!
  6. Celery is good in all forms: you can use its greens, grate its roots, add it to salads and chop it instead of carrots. It normalizes the alkaline background, saturates the body with useful vitamins and minerals.
  7. Avocado. Contains healthy fatty acids, antioxidants, and has a pleasant nutty taste. It goes well with other vegetables; in addition, it is one of the leaders in quickly restoring pH balance.
  8. Coconut- You don’t have to eat it whole. Rub a little shavings on any dish, this will be enough to change the pH for the better.
  9. Sprouts of oats, wheat, millet. In case of any ailment or loss of strength, sprout these grains and eat them. Not only do they normalize the alkaline balance, but they also saturate with vitamins and provide energy.
  10. Fresh cucumbers. These vegetables should always be kept on hand. Even if they are grown in a greenhouse. Cucumber salad should accompany any protein dish, be it chicken, chop or regular scrambled eggs. This way your body will not have a single chance to oxidize.

If you feel signs of illness or fatigue, include any of these products in the menu.

My advice: With the onset of autumn, when there is little greenery in the markets, sow the seeds in an oblong flower pot and place it in the window. Don't forget to water your mini flowerbed and you'll soon have fresh sprouts to add to every dish. Beautiful, interesting and very useful! You can involve children in the process of raising children.

Sample alkaline diet for weight loss

To make it clear to you how to properly combine acidic and alkaline foods with each other, I will give you a sample alkaline diet menu:

1

1 day

  • First breakfast: omelette with milk, two cucumber salad
  • Lunch: grated raw carrots
  • Dinner: baked chicken and vegetable salad
  • Afternoon snack: A glass of tomato juice
  • Dinner: grilled fish, lettuce with herbs
2

Day 2

  • First breakfast: buckwheat porridge, tomato
  • Lunch: grated apple
  • Dinner: two pieces of boiled chicken, cauliflower salad with herbs and wheat sprouts
  • Afternoon snack: grated raw beets
  • Dinner: salad of shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and sprinkled with herbs, flax seeds and sesame seeds
3

Day 3

  • First breakfast: oatmeal with water and fresh berries
  • Lunch: carrot juice
  • Dinner: baked veal, seaweed salad with lemon juice
  • Afternoon snack: fresh low-fat cottage cheese with herbs and garlic, sprinkled with grated almonds
  • Dinner: stewed fish, cabbage-cucumber salad with herbs

If you understand the principle of menu planning, you can easily create an alkaline diet menu for yourself for a week or longer.

Also for these purposes it is very potatoes are healthy, which is not entirely deservedly often excluded from diets due to its high starch content. Believe me, there are many other, more harmful foods that many eat constantly and do not even realize how many harmful substances they contain. If you need to quickly achieve balance, you can include 1-2 baked or boiled potatoes in your daily menu - they will not harm your figure.

Another important tip: the ratio of greens and protein dishes on one plate should be 3:1.

Table of mineral content of selected foods

To make your knowledge of the acid-base balance even stronger, I made a small table for the alkaline diet, which indicates the exact ratio of acid and alkaline elements.

By looking at this plate, you will know exactly which foods are good for you and which ones are better to avoid for a while. When your condition returns to normal, you will again be able to eat a little more acidic foods.

Product Name Content of acid and alkaline elements in%
Acids Alkalis
Eggs 72,7 27,3
Rice 72,6 27,4
White bread 72,0 28,0
Beef, lean pork, chicken 70,8 29,2
Cottage cheese 70,1 29,9
Pasta 69,7 30,3
Fish 68,8 31,2
Legumes 61,8 38,2
Salo 58,9 41,1
Butter 56,1 43,9
Cheese 54,4 45,6
Rye bread 53,9 46,1
Nuts 52,2 47,8
Cocoa 51,8 48,2
Beet 45,6 54,4
String beans 42,3 57,7
Spinach 40,9 59,1
Tomatoes 38,0 62,0
Strawberry 37,4 62,6
Potato 36,6 63,4
Onion 35,5 64,5
Carrot 28,9 71,1
Apples 27,3 72,7
Gooseberry 25,5 74,5
cucumbers 25,0 75,0
Plums 23,1 76,9
Lemons 20,5 79,5
Related publications