You Are Here: Home Seperator

Acid-Alkaline Balance

It is vitally important for health that your body maintains the correct acid-alkaline balance, and this is best done by balancing the amounts of acid and alkaline forming foods in your diet.

Acid-Alkaline Balance & Body pH

Regulation of the acid-alkaline balance in the body is vital for health, and if the food you eat does not have the right balance of acid forming and alkaline forming foods. Specific health problems such as osteoporosis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis have been linked with an imbalance.

Modern diets can contain too many acid forming foods. The extra acidity is neutralised by the body's buffering action, which results in alkaline metals being used as neutralisers, which are calcium and magnesium. These are leached from the bones and this can lead to a weakening of the bone structure which can lead to to osteoporosis. Research shows that women whose diets include high levels of alkalising fruit and vegetables have stronger bones and less incidence of osteoporosis.

Acidity and alkalinity are measured on the pH scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, and values below 7 being acid, and above 7 being alkaline. Just over half of the fluid in the body is contained within cells, and this has a neutral pH of about 7. The rest of the fluid in the body, such as blood, which is outside the cells is slightly alkaline, with a pH of about 7.4. Exceptions to this are the stomach which produces a very acid secretion of about pH 1.5, and saliva, which after eating can be as high as 8.

However, not all foods that are acidic themselves are acid forming after they are digested in the body. For example citrus fruits are acidic, but are alkaline after being digested, and so contribute to the alkaline side of the equation.

The Ideal Balance

The ideal balance is considered to be about 80% alkaline and 20% acid, both acid and alkaline foods are needed for health to obtain the full spectrum of nutrients.

Alkaline Foods

Alkalising foods are rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium or sodium, such as vegetables. These should form the bulk of the diet, ideally 5-10 portions of fresh vegetables and fruit a day. Other ways of increasing your vegetable intake include juicing or supplementing with sprouted grains or algae such as spirulina or chlorella.

Highly alkaline foods include avocado, beetroot, carrots, spinach and potatoes.

Moderately alkaline foods include beans, lentils, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, rot vegetables, cabbage, lettuce, celery, and most fruit.

Acid Foods

Acidifying foods are rich in phosphorus, sulphur or chlorine, such as protein. The body can only neutralise about 70g of animal protein a day, however plant proteins such as lentils and beans are not so acidifying, and so it is best to obtain protein from both sources. Protein from meat, fish and cheese should be consumed in moderation.

Highly acid foods include meat, eggs and most fish and shellfish. Refined sugar is also acid forming and is present in many processed foods as a hidden ingredient.

Moderately acidic foods include Brazil nuts, walnuts, olives and cheese. Grains are also in this section and so all bread, cake, biscuit and pasta products are included. Coffee, tea and caffeinated drinks are also moderately acidic.