The Health Benefits of Alkaline Foods
Some meals make you feel energetic, vibrant, and alive, while others make you feel sluggish, sleepy, and ready for a nap. When food leaves you feeling like you could take on the world, you can bet it’s good for you, rejuvenating and nourishing your mind and body with essential nutrients. When you have balance in your diet, your body becomes a fine-tuned instrument or a well-nourished system that enables you to do anything.
This article covers alkaline foods and their positive mental and physical health effects. Your mind and body crave balance, so give them the gift of proper nutrition for a healthier, happier you.
Alkaline vs. Acidic: Understanding the Basics of Your Diet
Many foods you consume are ranked on an alkaline and acidic scale, highlighting how they affect your body’s pH balance. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 0 being very acidic and 14 being very alkaline, and you generally want to aim for a balance of 7 to 9 in alkaline foods. Your body needs a balanced alkaline level to maintain metabolic processes, enzyme activity, and oxygenation.
When your pH levels are skewed in one extreme direction or another, you may feel:
Too Much Acidity (Acidosis):
- Fatigue and low energy levels.
- Digestive issues like acid reflux, heartburn, and indigestion.
- Frequent infections and a weaker immune system.
- Muscle weakness, soreness, cramps, and body aches.
- Bone health problems like weaker bones and increased risk of fractures.
- Skin problems like acne, dryness, frequent rashes, and eczema.
- Frequent headaches or severe migraines.
- Weak and brittle nails and hair.
- Shortness of breath or shallow breathing.
Too Much Alkalinity (Alkalosis):
- Muscle spasms or cramps.
- Nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal issues.
- Mental confusion, disorientation, or trouble concentrating or focusing.
- Shaky hands.
- Numbness or tingling in fingers, toes, and around the mouth.
- Mood swings and extreme anxiety.
- Frequent urination and extreme thirst.
Addressing symptoms of pH imbalance, whether acidosis or alkalosis, begins with hydration. Aim for 64 ounces of water daily, flushing your system of excess acid or alkaline elements. From there, incorporate more fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts into your diet until you achieve optimal pH levels and feel better.
The perfect pH balance for most humans is slightly alkaline, with blood levels between 7.35 and 7.45. Urine levels should be between 6 and 7.5, and saliva pH levels will range from 6.2 to 7.6, giving a rough indication of where your health can be improved or maintained.
Alkaline Foods:
- Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, and other dark leafy greens.
- Beets, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips, and other root vegetables.
- Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and other cruciferous vegetables.
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Seaweed and kelp.
- Bell peppers
- Almonds, almond milk, walnuts, pistachios, and other nuts and nut milk.
- Lemons, limes, bananas, and watermelons.
- Chamomile, ginger, peppermint, and other kinds of herbal teas.
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and other berries in moderation.
Acidic Foods:
- Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat.
- Cheese, milk, cream, yogurt, and other dairy products.
- White bread, white rice, pasta, and other refined grains.
- Coffee, soda, energy drinks, beer, wine, and liquor.
- Fried foods and processed foods like ready-made meals or fast food.
- Candy, cakes, cookies, and other sugar-laden snacks.
Alkaline Foods and Your Health
Alkaline foods improve your overall health with rejuvenating minerals to restore your mind and body balance. These foods reduce inflammation and lower the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. They also improve bone health, preserving essential minerals to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and weak bones.
Other health benefits include:
- Better digestive health with regulated bowel movements, improved fiber absorption, and reduced bloating.
- Sustained energy with improved focus, concentration, and reduced fatigue.
- Better heart health with lower blood pressure, balanced sodium, and reduced oxidative stress.
- Enhanced immune function to ward off illnesses and everyday colds and flu.
- Easier weight management to promote a healthier, better-functioning metabolism and reduced cravings for junk food.
- Improved skin health with smoother, softer skin, reduced acne and eczema, and a brighter complexion.
The Importance of Balance and Moderation
While a nutrient-rich, alkaline-balancing diet is essential for good health, balance and moderation are important. You should enjoy your food, and that means following a moderation rule that allows you to indulge in junk foods that may be acidic, like cakes, cookies, and coffee. You don’t have to eliminate the foods you love to be healthier. Follow an alkaline diet 90 percent of the time, then satisfy cravings occasionally. Incorporate various foods into your diet to maintain a positive balance that is as good for your mental health as it is for your body.
Grow a Garden of Alkaline Foods
Alkaline foods are easy to find in grocery stores, but gardening alkaline foods can help you live a sustainable lifestyle while yielding a bountiful year-round harvest.
Here are some tips for growing a garden of alkaline foods:
- Use organic, nutrient-rich soil or compost to support healthier growth.
- Pair compatible plants with alkaline fruits and veggies to repel pests, encourage healthier growth, and enrich the soil.
- Practice crop rotation to encourage healthier, continued growth and a thriving garden with regular harvests in a cycle of year-round alkaline plants.
- Create an eco-friendly garden with water conservation techniques that maintain the health of your plants while promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
Learn more about growing alkaline foods in your garden with Stoney Creek Farm in Tennessee. Our e-book highlights how to garden without pesticides, providing you with a healthier, cleaner harvest year-round.
Join the Sustainable Living Movement
Cultivating a garden of alkaline produce encourages biodiversity, improves soil health, and enables the natural elimination of pests without chemicals. When you choose sustainable living, you reduce reliance on store-bought fruits and vegetables, lessening your carbon footprint. Sustainable living helps you nourish your mind and body while contributing to a healthier environment.
Further your research about sustainable living, alkaline foods, and gardening with Stoney Creek Farm in Tennessee. Contact us by email and check out our YouTube channel covering Gardening 101.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-alkaline-diet-myth#impact-of-food
https://draxe.com/nutrition/alkaline-diet/
