30/09/2016
ALKALINE DIET
1. Almonds & Almond Milk
Almonds consistently rank on the list of healthiest foods to eat, so it’s no wonder that they’re also an alkaline food. They’ve also been linked to increased muscle gain, a lowering of cholesterol levels, and are able to assist with fat loss. You don’t have to eat a lot of almonds in order to enjoy their benefits, but they do make a great snack that you can take anywhere and can help you between meals.
stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 27%
Iron – 25%
Protein – 44%
2. Amaranth
This is a grain that not many people are familiar with, but that makes a great addition to any alkaline-focused diet plan. In addition to being an alkaline forming food, it’s also known for its relatively high levels of protein for a grain, and it’s full of vitamins and minerals that are essential for overall health. If you’re not sure how to prepare it for you and your family, there are plenty of recipes available to bring you up to speed.
Top stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 16%
Iron – 42%
Protein – 14g
3. Artichokes
Artichokes are often seen on top of salads, or used in a dip, but there are a number of reasons why you can bring them to the forefront of your diet. One of those reasons is their alkalinity, helping to raise your body’s pH levels. They’re also full of antioxidants, help to purify the liver, and aid in digestion. So having a salad with leafy greens and topped with a hearty amount of artichokes is a great idea.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 20%
Vitamin K – 12%
Folates – 17%
4. Arugula
Here’s a leafy green that’s worth getting to know. Arugula is often used as part of a detox diet plan, and the fact that it’s an alkaline food is a big part of that. This is full of Vitamin A and has an impressive amount of calcium in it as well. We usually associate dairy products with calcium, but here is a non-dairy way to make sure you’re getting enough. Add arugula to your cart next time you go shopping
Top stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 16%
Vitamin A – 47%
Iron – 8%
5. Asparagus
Asparagus has an alkaline effect on the body, and it just so happens that it’s one of the strongest foods you can eat in terms of alkalinity. Each food is ranked according to how alkaline it is, and asparagus is one of the “big dogs”. But it brings a lot more than that to the table, including antioxidants, nutrients, and plenty of detoxifying qualities. It’s even been noted that asparagus has anti-aging benefits, which is enough for most people to start adding more of it to their menu.
stats (per 100g):
Vitamin A – 15%
Vitamin C – 9%
Iron – 12%
6. Avocado & Avocado Oil
It’s no surprise that avocado is on our list of alkaline foods. It’s managed to make it onto our list of superfoods as well, so you know it’s packing a nutritional punch. Avocados are high in potassium as well as healthy fat, so in addition to helping you be more alkaline, you’re getting other perks as well. You can also use avocado oil in favor of other oils that don’t provide any alkaline benefit, or worse are acid-forming in the body.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 17%
Vitamin A – 3%
Fiber – 27%
7. Basil
You might not have thought that the herbs and spices you use on your food have an effect on how alkaline or acidic your pH levels are. But as it turns out there are good spices and bad spices. Basil happens to be one of the ones that helps keep you alkaline, and it also has plenty of other things going for it, such as the flavonoids it contains. These help the body to heal and basil in general can help with several different areas of the body.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin A – 175%
Vitamin K – 345%
Calcium – 18%
8. Beetroot
Beetroot gets more attention now than ever before, and it’s one of the foods out there that will act to help raise your pH levels. The reason it’s an important vegetable to include in your arsenal is because it’s one of the only sources of the phytonutrient betalain which may have anticancer properties. Add these as a side, or use them as a salad topper. Be sure to buy this one fresh and steam it, as the pickled variety has reduced nutritional value.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 8%
Vitamin K – 11%
Folate – 75%
9. Broccoli
This is a quintessential healthy food and it’s easy to understand that it’s an alkaline food. Broccoli is one of those vegetables that has so much going on you simply have to make an extra effort to get more of it into your system. Some people eat broccoli every day as a way to maintain good health and make sure they’re on the alkaline side. You at least want to eat it multiple times a week, with 3 or 4 times being a good rule of thumb.
Top stats (per 100g):
Vitamin C – 135%
Vitamin A – 11%
Calcium – 4%
