This edition of Hood Health 101 covers the differences between an alkaline diet verses an overly acidic diet.
I know that we here the terms alkaline and acidic quite a bit when it comes to diet and I wanted to touch on it more for clarity. Acidic foods are foods that help to raise the acidic levels of your blood. It is said and research suggests that consuming a diet that is abundant with acid producing foods can potentially damage your liver and kidneys. Alkaline foods increase the alkaline levels of your blood. A diet high in alkaline foods have been shown in research studies to help prevent kidney stones, improve overall heart health, improve brain function, lower risk for colon cancer, strengthen and keep bones and muscles strong, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Most alkaline producing foods are fruits and vegetables which we know are better choices for an overall well-balanced diet. In addition to the reasons listed above and others, alkaline foods can also assist you in trimming down access fat. Ultimately when we look at an alkaline diet we see the benefits in incorporating such a diet in our daily lifestyle. Usually with such a diet comes the increase in the intake of water as well verses the sugary drinks that contain acidic ingredients. Listed below are the foods that are alkaline producing from the highest to the lowest producing alkaline foods.
Alkaline Foods:
Raisins
Spinach
Bananas
Celery
Carrots
Apricots
Potatoes
Cauliflower
Radishes
Cherries
Tomatoes
Green beans
Hazelnuts
Zucchini
Apples
Watermelon
Mineral water
Marmalade
Broccoli
Margarine
Asparagus
Honey
Tofu (Not sure where this falls on the hierarchy of this list)
All of the ingredients listed above can be used to create some amazing meals if you take the time to look up recipes and prepare accordingly. Hood Health 101 has several articles that contain Vegan recipes which are suitable for an alkaline diet, so be sure to check out those articles on the column. In addition to the alkaline foods, I want you to see how many foods you are eating that may be on the following list of acidic foods. Again, the foods are listed from the most acidic to the least.
Acidic Foods:
Parmesan cheese
American/cheddar cheese
Cooked turkey bacon
Canned sardines
Mozzarella
White canned tuna fish
Cooked salmon
Brown rice
Oats
Whole egg, hard boiled
Wild cooked trout
Lean beef
Pepperoni
Chicken
Hot dog
Walnuts
Peanuts, dry-roasted
Plain bagel
Whole-wheat cooked spaghetti
White bread
Lentils, boiled
Butter
Whole milk
Low-fat yogurt
Now that you have had the chance to view the list of some acidic foods, you can begin to get an idea of which foods you may want to reduce or cut out of your diet all together. As always, you need to consult your health care provider prior to making dietary changes to ensure a smooth transition and that no underlying issues are present. No one expects change overnight so be patient with yourself as you try to transition into a healthier you. Remember to drop a line and show me love on Twitter @NakeashaJ and Instagram @Melanated_Beauty.
-Nakeasha Johnson (@NakeashaJ)
