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In modern times, an alkaline diet has become popular among many celebrity influencers online. From well-known nutritionists to social media influencers and actors, everyone changes their diet using an alkaline diet. But what exactly is an alkaline diet?
To explain it in simpler terms, an alkaline diet is alkalizing or less acidic and has a pH value greater than 7. Specific fruit and vegetable pH greater than seven are considered alkaline-based foods.
A common misconception about an alkaline diet is that eating certain types of alkaline fruits or vegetables can change the harmful acids in our bodies.
However, this theory is simply false. Because an alkaline diet doesn’t change our body’s pH level, it provides numerous advantages to our health with significant health benefits, like improving bone health, metabolism, and chronic diseases.
The pH Level
The complete form of pH is the “potential of hydrogen.” The pH determines whether something in our body is acidic, neutral, or alkaline.
- 0 is the most acidic
- Seven is neutral
- 14 is alkaline
A study states that following an alkaline diet will help reduce acidity and the metabolic complications connected with chronic kidney disease, such as insulin resistance and bone disease.
An alkaline diet has numerous health advantages, and if you are looking for what food to add to your diet, then here are the seven beneficial alkaline foods for you to add to your meal plan:
Alkaline-Based Foods to Add to Your Diet
Alkaline Fruits
Alkaline fruits are a prominent option that you must include in your daily diet. They benefit your health, improve your immune system, reduce heart disease and inflammation, and more.
Papaya
Papayas revive in nature and deliver antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. They are versatile tropical plants listed under alkaline fruits by health specialists. They are effective in digestion and stabilizing blood sugar levels, and based on research, they are also known for having anti-cancer effects.
Avocado
In addition to being ideal for a healthy heart and vision, avocados are also beneficial for helping with digestion and preventing chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease. Their creamy flavour makes them unique and loved by almost everyone worldwide, making them an excellent alkaline fruit option.
They contain various nutrients, like vitamins C, E, B6, and K. Moreover, they contain 10 grams of fiber, potassium, and magnesium, which help with obesity and diabetes. And they do not have any cholesterol.
Bananas
Bananas are a great pick, and doctors even suggest them. This is mainly due to the various amounts of nutrients stored in them, like magnesium, potassium, fibre, and B6. This makes them a perfect option to add to your alkaline-based diet.
The presence of potassium and fibre makes them advantageous for cardiovascular health. Health specialists also prescribe them during diarrhea to improve kidney health, detoxify our bodies, and prevent constipation because of the pectin present in them.
Lentils
Different research claims that lentils have lowered certain health risks, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, they are proven capable of protecting against heart disease, lowering blood pressure, and helping during pregnancy, as they have folate. All these benefits can be attributed to the protein, fibre, vitamin B6, and many other nutrients in lentils.
Regarding production, Canada is the prime country that produces lentils worldwide.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables are well known to be attained from a species called the Brassicaceae family. Usually, we know them as dark-green vegetables that are full of vitamin A, carbohydrates, zinc, iron, calcium, and many other nutrients that help boost our immune system, detoxify our body, lower the risk of heart disease, and balance sugar levels.
Various studies have affirmed that these dark-green vegetables slow down cancer formation, tumour blood vessels, and tumour cells. According to an analysis, women who ate these specific vegetables in large portions had a lower risk of breast cancer.
These vegetables include:
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Bok Choy
- Radish
Alkaline Beverages
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea, which is the oldest tea, has plentiful qualities that people all around the world opt for.
They are neutralizing in nature. Aside from relaxing and detoxifying our bodies, they are beneficial in various health problems, like managing blood sugar levels, curing acidity, providing relief from headaches, reducing heart disease, and curing acid reflux symptoms.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is popularly known for its slight sweetness and floral taste. Its refreshing medicinal aspects make it a wise choice amongst people suffering from headaches and fatigue who usually make a cup of chamomile tea for themselves. Among other properties, this tea specializes in curing gastrointestinal disorders, stomach ulcers, inflammation, and insomnia.
Ginger Tea
Ginger Tea has been used for a long time, almost since ancient times. Its medicinal ability qualifies it for curing acid reflux symptoms like heartburn, acidity, and nausea. Furthermore, ginger has proven helpful in other health problems, like preventing cardiovascular diseases, and its antioxidant quality has shown that it helps prevent cancer.
Lemongrass Tea
The spicy and citrusy hint in a sip of lemongrass tea quickly refreshes you. Its medicinal qualities strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, and improve digestion and blood pressure.
Water
Water has an essential role in our body, including hydrating it, preventing constipation, supporting our digestive system, carrying oxygen to cells, managing body temperature, etc. Almost every health specialist has advised that men’s daily water intake must be 3000 ml and women’s should be 2200 ml.
Vegetable Juice
Vegetable juices from carrots, kale, celery, beetroot, and numerous other vegetables are the foremost and most efficient beverages for alkalizing, cleansing, nourishing immunity, and providing hydration.
Protein-Based Foods
Tofu
Tofu is a known plant-based food that comprises soybeans. Many health nutritionists, along with people following a vegan diet, replace it with animal products like cottage cheese, eggs, and other products. Tofu has been claimed to have vitamin A, iron, calcium, and manganese. These nutrients make tofu a better supplement than dairy products in managing cholesterol, supporting bone health, and reducing certain cancer risks.
Based on a study, it was found that people who consumed tofu once every week had an 18% lower risk of heart disease.
Nuts
Nuts are dried fruits confined inside a hard shell containing a dense flavour. They are the most convenient in aiding people who have metabolic syndrome, lowering calories, and reducing the risk of stroke or any other cardiovascular disease.
Poached Eggs
Poached eggs are the healthiest form of egg and are alkalizing compared to fried eggs. The main reason is that they are cooked in water instead of fat-based oil. This makes poached eggs high in protein and other micronutrients like zinc and vitamin A. People mostly opt for poached eggs, considering how low calories they contain, how they relieve acid reflux, and how they lower gastric acid.
Spices
Spices are unique in that they are multi-purpose. In addition to enhancing food flavour, they also assist with medicinal purposes.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is asserted to be efficient in circulating blood in the uterus. It is also widely used for its other health benefits, which include preventing Alzheimer’s, treating chronic wounds, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Turmeric
Turmeric has been used for around 4000 years. Ever since then, it has been used for culinary purposes and medicinal purposes. It is popularly used today not only for its flavour but also for medicinal advantages that entail helping with arthritis and metabolic syndrome. It is also therapeutic in nature as a result of its antioxidation and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cardamom
The queen of spices and the third most expensive spice on the planet, cardamom, is adored by everyone who admires the floral and bit of citrusy hint of flavour in their drinks and food.
It has multiple health advantages, including helping prevent vomiting and stomach disease. It also has anti-asthmatic, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
All of these benefits add up to the reason behind its wide use.
Root Vegetables
Root vegetables are grown underground. The starchy part of these vegetables grows underground, whereas the rest of the plant grows on the soil’s surface. Root vegetables comprise different parts such as bulbs, corms, tubers, and root crops. Each of these parts has a nutritional value of its own.
Root vegetables are distinguished by their abundant health advantages, such as their ability to regulate metabolic parameters, including glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure.
Besides having low calories, they also have high antioxidant properties as well.
Root vegetables have some cons; for instance, eating them in large quantities may cause the body to store the carbs as fat. This is why health professionals suggest eating root vegetables as side dishes. Let’s not forget that they still have numerous health benefits.
Here are some of the best root vegetables:
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Beets
- Sweet Potatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Radishes
Final Words
If done correctly, the alkaline diet is beneficial. It is helpful for several health issues, including acid reflux, gastrointestinal disease, in which the acid level increases, and many more. Moreover, it consists of several nutrients that maintain our health and benefit us in tackling severe diseases as well, like regulating blood pressure, preventing certain types of cancer, supporting cardiovascular health, and boosting our immune system.
Last Updated on by AnoushkaRoy
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