The alkaline foods are responsible for regulating the pH of the body , ie, the degree of acidity or alkalinity. The pH of the skin is the best known, and is usually part of many hygiene products; However, the pH of foods is less known, but they also have different degrees of acid content.
The human body has a slightly alkaline neutral pH, so an alkaline food can increase the body’s average pH, and other foods with higher levels of acidifying minerals would produce the opposite effect. This may seem a bit confusing, but keep reading this FastlyHealarticle where we explain the most alkaline foods in more detail .
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What effect do alkaline foods have
In addition to alkaline foods, we can also differentiate between neutral and acidic foods. The body has a neutral pH with slightly alkaline levels between 7.35 and 7.45, so an alkaline food would increase the average pH of the body and, on the contrary, other foods with a higher level of acidifying minerals would reduce the alkaline levels.
When the consumption of acidic foods is high, the body can suffer acidosis due to an alkalinity deficit, being more sensitive to bacteria and infections and, as a consequence, more susceptible to illness. These foods are dairy, sugars, refined flours, meats, and ethyl alcohol. On the contrary, fruits, vegetables and seeds are foods rich in alkalines that allow to regulate the pH. These foods supply bicarbonate to the body and naturally alkalize it by reducing acidosis in the body. However, an excessively alkaline-rich diet can lead to excess body fluids, known as alkalosis .
As a result, the important thing is to eat a varied and balanced diet, taking into account the food pyramid , in which foods rich in alkaline and acidic foods are combined, since the latter are also necessary.
Alkaline food deficit
A lack of alkaline foods in our diet could produce the following effects in our body:
- Alteration in the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients.
- Reduced ability to repair damaged cells.
- Decreased energy production in cells.
- Less ability to detoxify heavy metals.
- Decreased ability of the immune system to deal with cancer cells.
Avocado
The avocado is one of the richest foods in healthy fats for the body, but should be consumed in moderation to having a high caloric level. This fruit contains a wide variety of nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties that benefit heart and cardiovascular health, as well as reducing blood glucose levels and preventing cancer as it is an alkaline food. Also, its oleic acid content helps reduce cholesterol and stop the development of cardiovascular diseases. Finally, avocado is very rich in antioxidants that are very important for the proper functioning of the body, such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein and selenium.
Spinach
It is one of the most alkaline foods, and its health benefits are well known. We can easily incorporate it into many dishes to get tired and it has a large amount of chlorophyll, in addition to promoting the creation of red blood cells. Spinach is one of the most powerful alkalizing vegetables, and it is also rich in vitamins K, A, B, C, and E , and is rich in manganese, iron, potassium, calcium, glyic acid, and dietary fiber. Therefore, it is one of the most complete and healthy foods that we have available to incorporate into our diet.
Kale
Kale is another of the vegetables rich in alkalis, which will help regulate the pH of our skin. It is an antioxidant vegetable, so it will help fight free radicals in the body and reduce cholesterol levels. In this way, including kale in our diet will help our body reduce high levels of acidity.
As in spinach, this alkaline food is rich in vitamins and chlorophyll , which stimulates the production of red blood cells by increasing their quantity, and improves hemoglobin. By containing glucosinates, they block acids and protect cells from metabolic and dietary acids responsible for different diseases, such as cholesterol.
Celery
Celery is another of the foods rich in alkaline, which along with kale and spinach makes up part of the list of alkaline vegetables. This vegetable contains a lot of water and is very rich in nutrients that facilitate the reduction of cholesterol, in addition to inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. Being a food very rich in vitamin C, celery helps to strengthen the immune system preventing diseases, arthritis and osteoporosis, and other vascular problems. Its high water content makes celery an alkaline food with diuretic effects , since it also has potassium and partner, which stimulate the elimination of liquids.
Peppers
Red pepper is another of the alkaline-rich foods that we can easily obtain and incorporate into our diet. In addition, we can eat it raw, boiled, roasted or fried, always keeping its unique flavor. This vegetable is a powerful antioxidant and has high levels of various carotenoids, which decrease the chances of suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes or macular degeneration. It is considered one of the foods that can protect the immune system against the proliferation of cancer cells due to its flavonoid content.
The cucumber
An alkaline food known mainly for its benefits in aesthetic treatments. These are due to the fact that cucumber contains a lot of water, which gives it great hydrating properties . 95% of this water is alkaline with antioxidant and hydrating effects. In addition, cucumber has pinoresinol, lariciresinol, and secoisolariciresinol, lignans that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer of the bladder, ovaries, prostate and breast. Likewise, its benefits are also due to the beneficial alkaline minerals present in this vegetable, such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, manganese, copper, zinc, calcium and iron.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.