My primary naturopath informed me that disease cannot survive in an alkaline state. Such a statement gave me much incentive to watch very carefully what I ate.
She handed me a chart that listed foods that produced alkaline ash in the body and foods that produced acid ash in the body. At the time, my immune system was greatly compromised and most susceptible so I followed the chart religiously, and still do.
According to my naturopath, eighty percent of my diet would need to be foods in the alkaline category and 20% needed to be foods in the ash producing category. Once the PH in my body was in normal range then I wouldn't have to be so strict with the percentages.
You may be wondering what foods produce alkaline ash in the body and which ones produce acid ash in the body. Generally your fruits and vegetables land in the alkaline group. Cranberries, prunes, plums and blueberries are the exception to the rule. Meat, poultry and dairy land in the acid section. Raw goats milk, however, falls in the neutral category. Grains are acid (wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, amaranth, rice, spelt, etc.) Sorry to say, nuts fall in the acid group with the exception of almonds (neutral) and chestnuts.
So one needs to concentrate on eating vegetables and fruits - especially fresh fruit and vegetables. Even more healthy would be organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Limiting the amount of meat and dairy that one consumes would be wise.
Whenever I look at the Food Guide pyramid (put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Health and Human Services) I just shake my head. According to the chart it is presumed we will eat 15 to 26 servings of food a day. (The chart doesn't define what a serving is.) Out of that, it is recommended that 10-17 servings are taken from the meat, poultry, fish, milk and milk products groups. That means approximately 66% of your intake would be foods that produce acid ash. The chart recommends only 5-9 servings in the vegetable/fruit group. That means only 1/3 (or 33%) of your diet would consist of alkaline ash producing foods. What I'm trying to say is this - I don't recommend the food pyramid chart if you want to have a healthy body.
You may be thinking that I am proposing that everyone become a vegetarian. Be assured that I am not doing that. A vegetarian diet isn't for everyone and according to Dr. Bernard Jensen it doesn't work well for those who have a demanding job with a lot of stress, or for those in extremely competitive occupations. He states, "If you use up a lot of adrenaline in your way of life, then the vegetarian diet will not accommodate your needs."
Foods That Heal, Dr. Bernard Jensen, p. 103.
So, how does one know if their body is acidic? There are Ph test kits available to test saliva and the urine. I put more faith in muscle testing, however. And, you may be asking what symptoms would indicate a person's body is acidic? I heard one Naturopath say that a Ph imbalance is indicated in most all health issues. If one's body is acidic the body will naturally rob calcium from the bones in an attempt to neutralize the acid. The calcium from the bones can result in hardening of the arteries and osteoporosis. Acid reflux is a common symptom of an acidic state. When a body is acidic the body can become deficient in sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium resulting in muscle cramps and other maladies. The reason the body becomes deficient in those vital nutrients is because the acidic state hinders the body's ability to assimilate those nutrients from the food one eats or even from the supplements that are taken. In like manner, the thyroid cannot assimilate much-needed iodine if the body is acidic.
NOTE: If you take a lot of vitamin C, make sure it is a buffered form - not ascorbic acid.
I have compiled information from three different sources and produced a
Alkaline/Acid Ash chart for your convenience. The chart will provide a quick reference for you if you are interested in following it.
Alkaline Ash Producing Foods:
| Almonds |
Cherries, sour |
Millet |
Radishes |
| Apples |
Chestnuts |
Molasses |
Raisins |
| Apricots |
Cucumbers |
Mushrooms |
Raspberries |
| Avocados |
Dandelion Greens |
Muskmelon |
Rhubarb |
| Bananas |
Dates, Dried |
Nectarine |
Rutabagas |
| Beans, fresh string |
Figs, dried |
Okra |
Sauerkraut |
| Beet greens |
Flaxseed |
Olives |
Soy beans, green |
| Beets |
Garlic |
Onion |
Spinach, raw |
| Blackberries |
Grapefruit |
Oranges |
Sprouts |
| Blueberry |
Grapes |
Parsley |
Squash |
| Broccoli |
Green beans |
Peach |
Strawberries |
| Brussels sprouts |
Green peas |
Pears |
Tangerines |
| Cabbage |
Lemons |
Peas |
Tomatoes |
| Cantaloupe |
Lettuce |
Peppers |
Turnip & turnip greens |
| Carrots |
Lima beans, dried |
Pineapple |
Watercress |
| Cauliflower |
Limes |
Potatoes, Sweet |
Watermelon |
| Celery |
Mango |
Potatoes, White |
Winter squash |
| Chard leaves |
Milk, goat |
Pumpkin |
Yellow squash |
Acid Chart
| Alcohol |
Coffee |
Macaroni |
Rye |
| Bacon |
Corn |
Maple syrup |
Salmon |
| Barley |
Corned Beef |
Mayonnaise |
Sardines |
| Beef |
Crab |
Milk, cow |
Sausage |
| Blueberries |
Crackers, soda |
Nuts |
Scallops |
| Bran, oat |
Cranberries |
Oatmeal |
Shrimp |
| Bran, wheat |
Currants |
Oysters |
Soybeans |
| Bread, whole wheat |
Duck |
Pasta |
Spaghetti |
| Bread, white |
Eggs |
Peanut butter |
Sugar |
| Butter |
Flour, white |
Peanuts |
Sunflower seeds |
| Carob |
Flour, whole wheat |
Peas, dried |
Tuna |
| Cashew nuts |
Haddock |
Persimmon |
Turkey |
| Cereals (processed) |
Ham |
Pike |
Veal |
| Cheese |
Hominy |
Plums |
Walnuts |
| Chicken |
Honey |
Pork |
Wheat germ |
| Chocolate |
Lamb |
Prunes |
Yogurt |
| Clams |
Lentils, dried |
Rice, brown |
|
| Codfish |
Lobster |
Rice, white |
|