List of Alkaline Foods
At the top of any list of alkaline foods will be leafy greens and those fruits that are highly alkaline, like figs, oranges, and olives, but before I get to it, I think it’s important to cover a few idiosyncrasies of the list. Most natural foods have both acid and alkaline forming minerals in them. The dominance of either in a specific food determines whether it is an alkaline or acid forming food. Sometimes this can be confusing; for example, citrus and some tomatoes often taste acidic, but actually leave an alkaline ash, so are classified alkaline. Most nuts and seeds are considered acid unless they’re sprouted; however there are some that are neutral or just slightly alkaline such as almonds, Brazil nuts, and sesame seeds.
At the top of any list of alkaline foods will be leafy greens and those fruits that are highly alkaline, like figs, oranges, and olives, but before I get to it, I think it’s important to cover a few idiosyncrasies of the list. Most natural foods have both acid and alkaline forming minerals in them. The dominance of either in a specific food determines whether it is an alkaline or acid forming food. Sometimes this can be confusing; for example, citrus and some tomatoes often taste acidic, but actually leave an alkaline ash, so are classified alkaline. Most nuts and seeds are considered acid unless they’re sprouted; however there are some that are neutral or just slightly alkaline such as almonds, Brazil nuts, and sesame seeds.
You’ll see many green leafy vegetables on the list of alkaline foods, which is why I try to consume them at every meal. A green smoothie in the morning is an easy way to load up on your greens and get alkalized right off the bat. Green juices are another fabulous source of alkalizing minerals, which is what we’re really talking about when we say alkalizing. Alkaline minerals include calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and sodium.
Controversy over Fruit
Generally speaking most fruit is alkalizing; however for some people it can be acidic. They either don’t process it very well, the fruit is not ripe, or they are just eating too much. One symptom of this is high uric acid levels (gout), which can show up as red, tender/painful, and perhaps swollen toes. Along these lines there is some controversy over whether fruits are acidic or alkaline. Dr. Robert Young feels that most fruits ferment with digestion and produce acidity in the body and so are acid-forming. His exceptions are low sugar fruits like lemon, lime, and grapefruit. Long term raw fooder Dr. Gabrial Cousens disagrees and gives this explanation, “Almost all vegetables and fruits that are ripe are alkaline-forming. Fruits and vegetables grown in inorganic, commercially prepared soils are less alkaline forming because they are grown in mineral-depleted soils. Most fruits which are not ripe are acid-forming.”
All fast food, processed, preserved, canned, packaged, refined, microwave meals, dairy, and meat are acid forming foods and should be avoided like the plague if you plan to remain healthy or regain your health.
It is important to note that the list of alkaline foods below is for ripe foods in their raw state unless otherwise noted. Cooking or removing skins or peels can change a food from alkaline to acid. The condition of one’s digestive system can also effect whether a food is alkaline or acid. If the digestive system is weak, or the food was taken quickly or not chewed properly, then even alkaline foods can have an acid affect on the body. Mineral content of the soil where the food is grown will change the mineral content of that food and possibly change its designation of acid or alkaline.
To learn about the alkaline detox diet.
List of Alkaline Foods
Controversy over Fruit
Generally speaking most fruit is alkalizing; however for some people it can be acidic. They either don’t process it very well, the fruit is not ripe, or they are just eating too much. One symptom of this is high uric acid levels (gout), which can show up as red, tender/painful, and perhaps swollen toes. Along these lines there is some controversy over whether fruits are acidic or alkaline. Dr. Robert Young feels that most fruits ferment with digestion and produce acidity in the body and so are acid-forming. His exceptions are low sugar fruits like lemon, lime, and grapefruit. Long term raw fooder Dr. Gabrial Cousens disagrees and gives this explanation, “Almost all vegetables and fruits that are ripe are alkaline-forming. Fruits and vegetables grown in inorganic, commercially prepared soils are less alkaline forming because they are grown in mineral-depleted soils. Most fruits which are not ripe are acid-forming.”
All fast food, processed, preserved, canned, packaged, refined, microwave meals, dairy, and meat are acid forming foods and should be avoided like the plague if you plan to remain healthy or regain your health.
It is important to note that the list of alkaline foods below is for ripe foods in their raw state unless otherwise noted. Cooking or removing skins or peels can change a food from alkaline to acid. The condition of one’s digestive system can also effect whether a food is alkaline or acid. If the digestive system is weak, or the food was taken quickly or not chewed properly, then even alkaline foods can have an acid affect on the body. Mineral content of the soil where the food is grown will change the mineral content of that food and possibly change its designation of acid or alkaline.
To learn about the alkaline detox diet.
List of Alkaline Foods
| Very Alkaline Forming Alfalfa grass (lucerne) Barley grass Beet greens Bok choy Chard Collards Dandelion greens Figs Green juices Kale Lemons Limes Leafy greens (most) | Spinach Watercress Miso Olives Oranges Papaya Parsley Seaweed Sea vegetables Watermelon Wheatgrass juice Wild greens |
| Alkaline forming Foods Most vegetables Most fruits Apples Apricots Avocado Bananas Beet root Bell pepper Berries (most) Blackberries Broccoli Cabbage Carob Carrots Cauliflower Cayenne pepper Chlorella (some) Celery Cherries Chive Cilantro Corn (sweet) Cucumber Currants Dates Daikon Eggplant Endive Garlic Ginger root Grapes Grapefruit Green beans Green herbs Guava | Kohlrabi Kiwi fruit Leeks Lettuce Mango Mangosteen Melons Mustard greens Nectarines Okra Onions Parsnip Passion fruit Peaches Pears Peppers Persimmons Pineapple Prickley pear Pumpkin Raisins Raspberry Rutabaga Sapote Spirulina (some) Sprouts Strawberries Squash Sweet potato Tangerines Taro root Tomato Turnip Young coconut Zucchini |
| Slightly Alkaline Forming Almonds Amaranth Artichoke Brussel sprouts Buckwheat (sprouted) Flaxseeds Lentils (sprouted) Millet Mushrooms Olive oil | Potato (with skins) Pumpkin seeds Quinoa Sesame seeds Sprouted grains (possibly neutral) Sprouted seeds Sunflower seeds Wild rice |
| Acid Forming Foods Cranberries (slightly) Blueberries (slightly) Plums (slightly) Prunes (slightly) Unripe fruit Most nuts and seeds Fermented foods Processed fruit juices (store bought) | Peanuts Soft drinks Alcoholic beverages Dairy Meat Most grains Most beans Processed foods |
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