Foods are usually classified as acid or alkaline depending on the residue that they leave in the body after metabolism. Often, people recommend a total acid or a total alkaline diet to solve some related problems or diseases. However, in real life it is better to have a combination of the both types of diet to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Having a pure acidic or a pure alkaline diet can lead to a lot of health problems. When the body fluids become too acidic a condition called as acidosis develops and when the fluids become alkaline then alkalosis develops.

Foods are usually determined to have acid or alkaline forming potential that is based on their pH value. The pH value of 7 is considered as neutral. Foods that are alkaline have a pH above than 7 and those with acidic base have pH lower than 7. Pure water has a neutral pH. It is usually seen that most of the grains, meats, dairy products and nuts and legumes have acidic base. Cooked foods have alkaline ash as compared to the raw foods. Most of the fruits and vegetables also have alkaline ash.

There are many holistic practitioners that believe that the modern and western diets usually are too acidic to maintain good health, which is attributed to the lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet. They stress on the importance of modifying the diet to get a better balance of the acid-base balance. Assuming that your diet is predominantly acidic is not a good idea. There are several factors that can have an influence on the pH levels of the human body.

People who depend a lot on mineral supplements and have mineral water or have lots of alkaline rich food like potatoes and dandelion greens have a high alkaline level in their body. It has also been suggested that people should keep testing the pH levels of their body based on the saliva and urine samples.

Foods like lemon and orange juice are acidic in nature but they turn alkaline when metabolized in the body. For dietetic purposes these are considered as alkaline forming foods even though they are acidic before consumption. Most of the fruits are alkaline except some that include plums, cranberries and prunes. These fruits are considered as acidic because the body is unable to metabolize the acids that these fruits contain.

It is important to consult your doctor before trying any new diet. Alkaline diet should not be consumed by people suffering from acute or chronic kidney failures. Only, if the doctor recommends should an alkaline diet be given to such patients. Also, people with heart diseases and on medications that have an effect on the potassium levels of the body should check first with their doctor before changing their diet. It is best to have a balanced diet that contains both acidic as well as alkaline foods.

Jonathan Pitts

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