How Do Acidic Foods & Alkaline Foods Affect Your Health?

How Do Acidic Foods & Alkaline Foods Affect Your Health?

Most people don’t know or understand how acidic foods and alkaline foods affect your health. They may ask what does it mean to be acidic or alkaline/basic, and what are examples of those foods?

I’ll give you a quick rundown of this information and hopefully it will help you make better choices for your health.

Scientists report that being acidic or alkaline/basic refers to the pH measurement in your body, fluids and foods. The pH range is from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral.

The higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is, the lower the pH, the more acidic and oxygen deprived the fluid is.

Even though many things can affect the pH of your body, one of the major determining factors is food. In fact, many Americans have an acidic body due to their poor food choices. 

Foods that are high in acidic value include processed foods, sugar, cheese/dairy, eggs. red meat, fish, refined carbohydrate foods (bread, rice, pasta), and some nuts. 

Alkaline/basic foods include vegetables and fruits. 

Your body’s pH level is just over 7 (neutral) and has a pH level that has a very small variance allowed before symptoms and health issues start to creep in. However, having a steady neutral pH is vital for your survival.

One way your body maintains a steady pH level when you consume large amounts of highly acidic foods is to take important minerals from your bones.

These minerals sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium are taken from your bones and given to vital organs to neutralize the acid. 

Acidic Foods & Alkaline Foods Can Affect Your Health

If you continue to eat highly acidic foods without an adequate amounts of alkaline foods, like as fruits and veggies, this can lead to serious health problems.

You may experience cardiovascular problems, weight loss/gain, low energy, stressed liver, osteoporosis, kidney/bladder issues, muscle and joint pain, immune deficiency, and cancer to name a few.

How do you change your pH? First, do your best to eliminate processed foods, and limit grains and diary.

After that, increase your vegetables and fruits, especially the dark green leafy kind. I recommend any kind of berry as they are lower in sugar, but are packed with nutrients and antioxidants.

Similarly, eating protein is important and necessary, just be sure that you have a side of veggies with it. Most of the healthy fats have a neutral pH, so enjoy plenty of those as well.

If you consume the proper amounts of these macro-nutrients, you should have no trouble balancing your pH levels.  It makes sense to eat a balance of healthy acidic and alkaline foods. 

If you need guidance and help with your nutrition and fitness goals, I’m here to help. Go to the services tab for more information.