Acid vs. Alkaline forming foods
Our blood needs to maintain a pH of 7.4 (slightly alkaline) for optimal health and survival. And your body is working hard constantly to maintain this balance.
When it comes to food, everything you eat can fall somewhere along the pH scale of acid to alkaline once it’s digested. The important point here is not the pH of the actual food itself, but, the pH the food has on your body. Hence, when a food is digested, it can be either acid-forming or alkaline-forming.
For example, when you think of a lemon, would you guess acid or alkaline? Many would guess it’s acid forming since it’s an acidic fruit. However, in your body, the by-product of the digested lemon is alkaline-forming. I know, so tricky.
Whether a food is alkaline-forming or acid-forming depends largely on its mineral content after the food has been ‘burned’ in your body.
Acid-Forming Foods:
- Foods that are acid-forming leave a high residue of phosphorus, chloride and/or sulfer, which are used to create acids in the body (hense acid-forming)
- Some of these foods include: Coffee,Tea, Soda, Alcohol, Meat, grains, wheat products, cheese, sugar, and a few fruits, including: blueberries, cranberries and mandarin oranges
Alkaline-Forming Foods:
- Foods that are alkaline-forming leave a high residue of calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are alkaline minerals.
- Some of these foods include: All dark leafy greens, sprouts, veggies, almonds, seeds, most fruits including, avocado, lemons, limes, tomatoes
What does this have to do with bone health?
If you eat PREDOMINANTLY foods that are acid-forming you’re putting your body (and blood and bones) in a deficit state. Because your blood needs to maintain a pH of 7.4 for health, and your body is slightly acidic as a result of an acid-forming diet, it will pull alkalizing minerals from wherever it can to neutralize blood pH. Calcium is one of those minerals. And guess where the greatest keeper of calcium is? Ah-ha, that’s right smarty pants, your bones. And the result: bone loss.
Yes, we need to keep a balance of acid and alkaline foods in our diet, but keep a conscious effort about adding the alkaline-forming foods, as it’s really easy to have the majority be acid-forming!
