| Acid-Forming
and Alkali-Forming Foods
For
optimal bone health, you don’t want to eat only alkali-forming
foods. It’s important to have a balance between both
acid forming and alkali forming. The problem is the typical
American diet has become more acid forming and doesn’t
contain enough alkali-forming foods.
It’s
also important to keep in mind that a food’s acid or
alkali-forming effect is not the same as the actual pH of
the food itself. For instance, we all know that citrus fruits
are acidic, but they produce alkali in the body once they’re
digested.
All
of the following foods cause the body to produce alkali that
will compensate for the acid-forming proteins from meat, cow’s
milk, and high-protein legumes:
High
Alkali-Forming:
Asparagus, Onions, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Lemons,
Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, and Papayas
Moderate
Alkali-Forming:
Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery, Lettuce, Zucchini,
Sweet Potatoes, Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi,
Berries, Apples, Pears, and Raisins
Low
Alkali-Forming:
Carrots, Tomatoes, Fresh Corn, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflower,
Turnips, Olives, Soybeans, Tofu, Oranges, Bananas, Cherries,
Pineapples, Peaches, Avocados, and Potato Skins
And,
of course for the best in health, you should try to eat organic
forms of these foods to cut back on the consumption of pesticides.
The
following acid-forming foods aren’t necessarily bad
for you, but you should try to balance your consumption of
them with the alkali-forming foods listed above:
Low
Acid-Forming:
Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans, String Beans, Plums, Processed
Fruit Juices, Whole Grain (brown) Breads, Brown Rice, Liver,
Oysters, Venison, Cold Water Fish, Cream, Eggs, Butter, Yogurt,
Buttermilk, Cottage Cheese, Corn Oil, Sunflower Oil, Margarine,
Lard, Tea, Cocoa, Processed Honey, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds,
and Sunflower Seeds
Moderate
Acid-Forming:
Potatoes (without skins), Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Lima Beans,
Sour Cherries, Rhubarb, Canned Fruit, White Rice, Corn, Buckwheat,
Oats, Rye, Turkey, Chicken, Lamb, Raw Milk, Pecans, Cashews,
Pistachios, Coffee, Wine, White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Molasses,
Jam, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, and Vinegar
High
Acid-Forming:
Blueberries, Cranberries, Prunes, Sweetened Fruit Juice, White
Bread, Pastries, Biscuits, Pasta, Beef, Pork, Shellfish, Wheat,
Cheese (especially sharp or crumbly cheeses), Homogenized
Milk, Ice Cream, Custard, Peanuts, Walnuts, Beer, Liquor,
Soft Drinks, Artificial Sweeteners, and Chocolate
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