Back to Basics: 5 Alkaline Foods That You Must Include in Your Diet

Balance is the key to mastering anything. When speaking in terms of health, pH balance is a vital key. A healthy pH balance in the body is crucial for maintaining good health. The best ways to keep your body’s pH is to include basic/alkaline foods in your diet.

pH refers to hydrogen power, determining the concentration of hydrogen ions in the body. pH levels less than 7 are considered acidic, and greater than 7 are considered basic/alkaline foods. The ideal pH level for the human body is anywhere between 7.35-7.45. In simpler terms, it should be tilting a little towards the basic/alkaline end.

Many people follow an alkaline diet to maintain their body’s pH levels. However, if you’re someone new to this and wish to make a gradual shift, this blog post is for you. Including these, in your diet, as a first step can significantly impact your overall health. These alkaline foods’ pH is a good start in the right direction. Here is a list of 5 alkaline foods you must include in your diet.

Alkaline foods to include in your diet

If we were to prepare a list of acid and base foods, a straightforward distinction could be drawn between foods obtained from animals and plant-based foods. Meat, eggs, and dairy are very high in acidic content compared to plant products with high alkaline content. Here are some of the best alkaline foods you can include in your diet.

1.Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli

Including cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli is a great way to help balance your body’s pH levels. They are rich in phytochemicals that are vital for our bodies. These cruciferous vegetables are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and folate, helping tackle inflammation and even preventing cancer risk. The best part about these veggies? They’re universal. You can saute them with other vegetables, add them to your soups, or even cook a stew.

2. Green leafy veggies

There is a reason why green leafy vegetables are considered a superfood. They fit anywhere and everywhere. Green leafy vegetables are another great basic food that you can include in your diet. They are known to be rich in their alkaline content. These veggies are abundant in vitamins A, B, and E, folate, phosphorus, iron, and calcium. Now that is an impressive nutrition profile. It is self-explanatory why our elders have always advocated for including green vegetables in our daily diet.

3. Root vegetables

Root vegetables are an abundant source of alkali. Sweet potatoes, beets, and carrots are some of the popular ones, amongst others. The best part about root vegetables is that they’re also very sustainable foods. They are rich in soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. Including this basic food in your diet ensures gut-healthy bacteria, lowers high cholesterol levels, and even prevents the risk of bowel cancer. Make sure you don’t overcook these, which can reduce the alkaline content in these vegetables.

4. Citrus fruits

If vegetables aren’t your jam, even citrus fruits are high in alkaline content. Contrary to popular belief that citrus fruits must be rich in acid given their citric acid content, they are one of the best alkaline foods. These sweet, alkaline foods are a rich source of vitamin C, which helps eliminate harmful toxins in the body.

5. Nuts

Nuts are the perfect go-to snacks when that midday/midnight hunger kicks in. Most of us know that nuts are a great source of healthy fats. But here’s what makes it even better. They’re also great basic food. Including nuts in your diet is effortless; let your imagination run wild.

Final thoughts

So there you go. Here’s a list of 5 alkaline foods you should include in your diet. While it is best to consume these foods raw, some of these can also be considered alkaline foods to cook. Just make sure you don’t overcook these, for that can strip them of all their natural goodness and make them more acidic.