Acidic and alkaline foods
It is essential to balance the acid and alkali levels in our bodily systems. The body has an internal mechanism to balance the acid-alkaline ratio, but it is important to have a balanced acid-alkaline diet. The pH factor indicates the acidity and alkalinity of the body and plays a vital role in the chemistry of the body. The normal pH value is 7 and below this indicates acidity, while values above 7 are an indicator of alkalinity.
The pH value of saliva and urine is 6 and 6.8 respectively, which shows that they are slightly acidic in nature. These are the mean values; any value above this would indicate an alkaline nature, while any value below this would indicate a more acidic nature. High levels of acidity in the body can cause various problems such as heartburn, heartburn, indigestion, headaches, nervous disorders, excessive hunger, and even drowsiness.
Acidosis causes many diseases such as high blood pressure, skin diseases, frequent cough, cold and fever, rheumatism, premature aging, and low immunity. Given this, one would think that a high level of alkalinity is better, but that cannot be further from the truth because a high level of alkalinity in the body causes sluggishness, lethargy, water retention, lack of concentration, lack of drive. and willpower, etc. . However, studies indicate that people with higher alkaline levels are less prone to disease and have stronger immune systems.
Acidosis can be easily controlled through a carefully controlled diet. In certain cases where acidosis is due to disease it has to be managed by treating the disease. A proper diet goes a long way in maintaining good health.
All meat foods, refined foods like sugars and maida, coffee, grains like wheat, oats, barley etc, legumes and eggs are high in acid. On the other hand, foods such as leafy vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, etc. they are alkaline in nature. Citrus fruits, although sour in taste, become alkaline when digested and help restore the acid-alkali balance in the body. Foods that contain higher levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium reduce acidity and help maintain alkalinity.
To balance acid and alkali levels, 80 percent of the food we eat should be alkaline, while 20 percent should be acidic. This means that we must incorporate more tubers such as yams, beets, carrots, radishes, etc. on the menu, avoiding acid-forming foods such as wheat, oats, rice, barley, fish, eggs, legumes, etc. Most green vegetables like peas, cucumbers, squash, biscuits, cabbages, onions, beans, cauliflower, etc., are also alkaline in nature. Adding fruit juices is a very safe method of adding alkali to the body. Fruit and vegetable juices are extremely beneficial for health.
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, methi, beet greens, spring onion leaves, radish leaves and amaranth leaves are particularly helpful in trying to balance acid and alkali levels and are recommended to be included in diet properly.