Every food that you consume either breaks down into acid-forming or alkaline-forming compounds in the body. An acidic environment is where various kinds of bacteria and viruses thrive, leading to the person getting infected by major as well as minor diseases. In today’s world, the average person’s diet is full of acidifying foods, whether it be grains, meat, dairy, legumes, eggs, coffee, nuts, vegetable oils, refined sugar, etc.
That’s the reason why the majority of the people in the world are suffering from one or the other disease. So the best way to stay away from various diseases and avoid your usual quarterly or monthly trip to the family doctor is by incorporating a majority of alkaline foods in your diet.
1. Bell peppers
One of the most colorful vegetables in the market, bell peppers are as healthy as they are good-looking and vibrant in color. Available in a plethora of colors like green, yellow, red, orange and purple, bell peppers are an ideal addition to sandwiches and salads. Along with their pretty appearance, they are also highly alkaline and contain essential carotenoids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids.
2. Avocados
Avocados besides being alkaline in nature are the perfect food for meeting your body’s requirement of healthy fats. Due to the high content of fat in this green fruit, regular consumption can aid in maintaining high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which are required for brain health, eye health and heart health. Research has shown that eating avocados regularly corresponds to lower blood cholesterol levels which is crucial in keeping away heart disease.
3. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are one of those foods which are blessed with almost all the qualities a health-conscious person would look for in his ideal food. To start with, they are low in calories courtesy of having a high water content of 95% which also implies that they keep you hydrated.
They are rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C(also an antioxidant) and a lot of essential minerals. The antioxidants present in cucumbers consists of some especially essential lignans which are known to aid in the prevention of various cancers. Their direct application on the skin is also known to revitalize the skin making a person look fresher and younger for a longer period of time.
4. Celery
Another one of those regular salad vegetables, celery has similar properties to that of cucumber. It has a high water content, is very low in calories and is a rich source of vitamin C, aside from being highly alkaline in nature.
5. Wheatgrass juice
Probably the most healthy beverage you can consume for significantly enhancing your health is wheatgrass juice. With all the 9 essential amino acids and ample amounts of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many other nutrients, it is no surprise that this superfood has a range of health-beneficial effects on the human body.
It is a powerful alkalizing agent that can get your body into an alkaline state from that of an acidic one and also helps in maintaining that alkaline state. It has high levels of minerals and is known to be anti-inflammatory & extremely detoxifying in nature along with being able to stimulate the production of the thyroid hormone.
6. Asparagus
This green veggie apart from being highly alkaline has a glut of vital nutrients our body requires for optimal functioning, such as vitamins A, C, E, K and fiber, folate & chromium, all of which are present in large quantities.
7. Sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are an example of complex carbohydrates as they stabilize blood sugar levels, along with being high in starch and fiber. They are perfect for having a consistent flow of energy and have a strong alkalizing property.
8. Broccoli
Broccoli is an abundant source of calcium, folate, phytonutrients, fiber, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants, besides being stocked with chlorophyll. The antioxidants present in broccoli are effective in combating cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other severe and chronic diseases. This along with the highly alkalizing property of broccoli makes it a highly nutritious vegetable for you to include in your diet.
9. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a staple in the American diet, with them being used in almost everything from healthy salads to not-so-healthy pizzas. Along with having a highly alkaline nature, they are also the most abundant source of lycopene, a carotenoid pigment and phytochemical that is known to fight cancer and is associated with longevity.
10. Carrots
Carrots are a very rich source of beta-carotene which is an antioxidant form of vitamin A. They have a high alkaline pH of 8.0 which makes them potent in neutralizing the effect of acidic foods eaten alongside them. Besides being good for our eyesight, carrots also have anti-cancer properties and are known to promote younger and brighter looking skin.
11. Cabbage
Cabbage is an excellent alkaline food and is chock-full of green chlorophyll which assists in the building and cleansing of blood in our body.
12. Kale
Another ‘superfood’ like wheatgrass, this dark green leafy vegetable is popular for its cancer-preventive effects and for inducing a reduced risk of heart disease. It is one of the topmost alkaline green leafy veggies and has considerable amounts of calcium, plant iron, vitamin C and vitamin K which is said to aid in protecting the body against many types of cancer.
13. Spinach
Spinach, like its predecessor’s kale and cabbage, is highly alkaline and has a high amount of calcium in it. Due to its highly alkaline nature, it is known to help in combating cancer and is a part of cleansing juicing procedures.
14. Lemons
This might seem to be a surprise to many, but lemons despite being acidic in physical form generate an alkaline ash when they are metabolize by our bodies, leading to them being included in this list. Drinking lemon juice in warm water is a great alkalizing detox for the liver.
15. Parsley
Parsley, a herb used mainly for garnishing purposes is particularly rich in alkaline compounds. Especially freeze-dried parsley is known to be one of the most alkaline foods in nature. It is known to boost immunity, stimulate detoxification, eliminate bacteria and make you feel energize.
